Is Israel's program suspended throughout Christ's heavenly ministry?

Is Israel's program suspended throughout Christ's heavenly ministry?

QUESTION:

You quote Rom 11:25 about the blinding of Israel, but the very next verse clarifies that God has not suspended His plan with Israel but that they would all still be rescued. Rather God encourages them doing so by opening the door to the Gentiles via Paul. Please explain. 

Also, I find it interesting but rather strange that you conclude that Jesus has two ministries. The triune God is the Alpha and the Omega and knew from the very beginning all that would unfold in future. What is your meaning on this?

ANSWER:

The word "suspend", (as in, God would suspend His plans for Israel), is just that. It does not mean cancelled. The plan for Israel is temporarily halted, by design of our all-knowing God, and because of the unbelief of Israel. During this suspension, God is saving all men (Jews and Gentiles) by means of grace, through the cross work of Christ. This too was in the plan of God because God's plan is two-fold. He will use Israel to restore the earth and He will use the Body of Christ to restore the heavens.

Israel's suspension will be removed at the Tribulation when God reinitializes the prophetic program. This occurs after the rapture of the Body of Christ. Why? Because these two programs cannot run at the same time. Mystery and prophecy are mutually exclusive. This is also why God blinded Israel in order to send Paul to the Gentiles. There is a beautiful illustration of this in the first official ministry of Paul after he was sent from the church at Antioch. Read Acts 13:6-12 that shows a 'type and shadow' of Israel (represented by Barjesus). The key verse in this account is,

Acts 13:11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.

Notice how the scripture says that Barjesus was blinded for a 'season'. This is the same with Israel during this dispensation of grace. The season will end at the Tribulation when God once again puts His hand upon them to purge them and save them. Remember that prophecy dictates that Israel will be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. This will be fulfilled in the Millennial kingdom when Israel again is preeminent and at the head of all nations on earth.

Thus, Jesus had two ministries. An earthly ministry in which He deals with Israel who inherits the earth, and a completely different heavenly ministry (appearing to Paul from heaven) in which Jesus called and furnished Paul with a new gospel and progressively revealed doctrine to teach the Body of Christ. It is the Body of Christ that will inherit the heavens so that one day in the future, God can fulfil the verses I quoted in my article, namely, Col 1:19-20; Eph 1:10, in which God brings both those in heaven and those in earth together in one at the end of the Millennial Kingdom of Christ.

I hope this provides more clarity. Let me know if anything is still unclear.