I understand the scripture references you've shared. And agree that those who have
not been intentionally blinded must believe in Jesus and obey the gospel commands. However, scripture also indicates that God has kept some blinded so it is impossible for them to see until He allows it. The Apostle Paul pointed out that God is going to deal with those whom He blinded AFTER the times of the Gentiles has been fulfilled. And when God removes the vail from their eyes, the Jews do make the choice to believe in Jesus.
Rom 11:8-11
"(According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear
unto this day.
And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumbling block, and a recompence unto them:
Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.
I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy."
Rom 11:25-32
"For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, UNTIL the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes.
For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:
Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.
For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all."
"Until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled" (Luke 21:24) refers to the period between the destruction of Jerusalem (70 AD) and Christ's second coming, during which Gentile nations dominate, Israel is scattered, and Jerusalem is "trampled". This era signifies a temporary pause in Jewish dominion over Jerusalem, lasting until the end of the church age.
Key Aspects of "The Times of the Gentiles"
- Definition: Originating from Jesus' prophecy in Luke 21:24, this phrase denotes the era when non-Jewish nations hold authority over the world, particularly Jerusalem, following the Jewish diaspora.
- Context:It follows the Old Testament pattern of Gentile kingdoms (Babylon, Persia, Greece, Rome) dominating God's people and city
.
- Duration: This period is understood to last from the Roman destruction of Jerusalem until the return of Christ and the establishment of His kingdom.
- "Fulfilled" Meaning: The phrase means the time when Gentile domination will conclude, often associated with the finalization of the Gospel's spread to all nations and the end of the Tribulation.
- Connection to Prophecy: It is often linked with Daniel's visions of world powers (Daniel 2, 7) and Romans 11:25, which mentions a "partial hardening" of Israel until the "fullness of the Gentiles has come in". Excerpt from Internet.
“I understand the scripture references you've shared. And agree that those who have
notbeen intentionally blinded must believe in Jesus and obey the gospel commands”
Right.
This is what blinds isreal
“and not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that
the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: but
their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. But
even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.
( and when any individual israelite repents and turns to Jesus and the gospel the veil is removed )
Nevertheless
when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.”
2 Corinthians 3:13-16 KJV
The entire first church were isralites
individually called to believe the gospel . They began preaching to a people who had been blind but some then repented like these three thousand
“Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.”
Acts 2:22, 32-33, 36-41 KJV
Jesus death was the culmination of Israel’s blindness they had to reject him in order for him to be crucified and then the gospel sent to all nations them Included. As you see there three thousand isralites priorly who had rejected Jesus
repented and accepted Jesus Christ and the gospel and were readily accepted into the church. Along with as the booo continues any gentiles who repented from thier own wrong belief systems and accepted the gospel.
theres bo difference Jews today aren forced to not believe they trust in Moses law and can’t see ost it because they won’t accept Jesus as the messiah promised in the scriptures
theres no salvation for any Jew or gentile without Christ those Jews who rejected him will not be saved they will not inherit anything based on the Old Testament but the curses in it . They won’t inherit the kingdom of God promised in the New Testament either they’ll be like ishmael outcasts intentionally cut out of the inheritance.
Israel’s blindness happened so that the ot could be fulfilled regarding Israel’s rejection of him and then the gospel could be sent to all people as was foretold after his death and resurrection
Throughout the book of acts Jews are repenting and coming to belief of Jesus as well as gentiles. Thier blindness is part of the plan throughout the ot prophets …. But again as long as they individually reject Jesus they have no blessing from God or salvation to come
“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
Acts 4:12 KJV
sad long as an individual Jew rejects Jesus thier lost as well as gentile same result and if they repent and accept Jesus they are the same and will inherit the same inheritance that has been promised to all of
Abraham’s children
Being a gentile or Jew according to the flesh doesn’t mean anything …..faith in Christ is all that matters to God concerning our identity