What do you mean when you say the Church “does not belong” in the Tribulation Period? (3) Romans 11:25-36

We have noted that the Church in Rev. 4-19 is seen in heaven, including as the Bride of Christ that accompanies Him as He rides out of heaven at His revelation (Rev. 19:7-10,14).  We have noted that while there are saved Jews today who are the remnant at this time, they are members of the Body of Christ.  But it will be different in the 70^th week of Daniel when God deals with Israel.  It will be a return to what it was like during the first 69 weeks.  Consider …

·        What was the relationship of Israel and the Church in the Old Testament, especially in the first 69 weeks of Daniel’s prophecy?  The answer: There was no Church in the OT.  It was a mystery which God knew, of course, but which He did not reveal until NT times (Matt. 16:18; Eph. 3:1-7).  And it had its birth in Acts 2 at Pentecost.  In OT times Israel was God’s witness on earth, and Gentiles were to come to the Lord by Israel’s testimony.  In the future it will be the same: Israel as God’s light to the nations.

·        How can Israel be saved in the Tribulation Period if the Church is not there to witness to the death and resurrection of Christ?  The answer I believe is found in Revelation 7 and 11.  In Rev. 7 God speaks of 144,000 Jews, people of Israel, 12,000 from 12 tribes who are protected by God.  These are not all the people of Israel who will be saved; Rev. 11:13 speaks of a time when those in Jerusalem who are not killed in a great earthquake give glory to God.  That is the time when the nation is saved.  But the 144,000 belong to Christ (Rev. 14:1-5) and serve Him.  It is quite reasonable to think that they are witnesses who take the gospel message to the world.  By them Israel is saved as well as a great multitude of the Nations.  In addition there are two great witnesses who also serve to spread the word to the world during the last half of the tribulation (Rev. 11:3-13).  This picture, which is reasonable very, indicates the gospel is preached to the ends of the earth with Israel at the center of the preaching ministry.  That is how it was to have been in OT times.

·        Does Romans 11 indicate that there will come a time when the Church will not be spared by God because of unbelief?  Does it indicate that the time will come when Israel will not continue in unbelief and will be grafted back into the tree as they were before they were temporarily blinded?  I would say that Paul did not predict a time when the Church would be cut off; but he clearly did indicate that it was possible (Rom. 11:20-22).  And in that connection we do understand that in the latter days the visible Church will be very apostate (2 Thess. 2:3).  As for Israel, it does seem that Paul does say that their blindness is temporary: until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in (11:25).  Then he says, so all Israel will be saved (11:26).  And again, the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable (11:29).  It seems he is saying that the time will come when Israel will be grafted into their own olive tree (11:24).

These are things to consider in seeking to understand that there will be a time in the future when the Church will be removed and Israel will again be front and center in God’s workings on earth.  For me, the Church does not belong in Daniel’s 70^th Week, the time of Jacob’s trouble.