Romans Chapter 10 Vs. 21

 The Message of Salvation to All

But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people. Rom 10:21

All day long... Five purposes for using Old Testament Scripture:

1. To show similarity of ideas (Rom. 10:6-8).

2. To show parallel cases (Rom. 2:24; 8:36; 9:27-29;      11:2-10; 15:21).

3. To explain a doctrinal point (Rom. 1:17; 4:6-8,            4:18-21; 9:20-21; 10:15; 15:3).

4. To prove a doctrinal point (Rom. 3:4, 3:10-19;            4:3-  17; 5:12-14; 9:7-17; 10:5, 10:11,                    10:1312:19-20; 13:9; 14:11).

5. To prove the fulfillment of prophecy(Rom.9:25- 26,      9:33; 10:16, 10:19, 10:20-21; 11:26-27; 15:9-          13).

unto a disobedient... Means “to contradict” or “to speak against.” As throughout her history, Israel once again had contradicted the Word of God. This time it was the truth of the gospel.

And yet concerning Israel, God has been gracious in spite of her disobedience (a quotation of Isa. 65:2). Israel’s continuing rebellious and unbelieving disobedience was judged by God’s turning to the Gentiles (Rom. 10:20; cf. Acts 8:1-8, 8:10). At the same time God has not withheld salvation from Jews. He has held out His hands, imploring them to return to Him.

Ezekiel Chapter 38 Vs. 22

 Prophecy Against Gog

And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that [are] with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. Eze. 38:22

and I will... This bothered me a lot as I could only think of this happening (in Rev. 19), but not so. This happens in many other places (such as Rev. 8:7, 11:19, and 16:17-21), which is actually the end when Jesus returns.

In the Book of Revelation (Chapters 17 & 18) continues that describe the Harlots; (Chapter 19) the marriage supper of the Lamb; (Chapter 20) Satan is bound; (Chapter 21) the New Heaven and New earth; and (Chapter 22), The River of Life and a description of heaven.

Other scripture where hail is described (is in Psalms), 6 verses; and Exodus (in 14 places).

In the natural, this appears to be an atomic war of great magnitude. This however, comes from God. This fire and brimstone is like that which fell upon Sodom and Gomorrah. All of this is judgment upon these atheistic people by God, Himself. This is too horrible to even imagine. (The Israelites are not harmed, even though they are near).

Those who are killed by the rain, hailstones and brimstone are those who are enemies of God. What then happens to those who are God’s faithful that may be close by?

Do you remember the 6 angels (of Ezekiel in chapter 9), who were charged with the killing of those who didn’t mourn the abominations that the people of Judah were doing? They were spared when they were marked by the angel with the inkhorn. God can do that even when fire, brimstone and even great hailstones are falling in the midst of the Israelites and their enemies.

It is easy to confirm the events which happen here (in Ezekiel 38), especially the last several verses (from 18 to 22), which sound so close to those of (Revelation 6:12-21 and 19:11-21). However, there are some differences which must be looked at.

(1) Even a casual reader plainly sees that Israel is the object of Gog’s and Magog’s hatred. The happenings of Revelation are that of the Antichrist’s and his insane hatred of Jesus Christ which culminates with his bringing together, even from the orient over the dried up river Euphrates, hordes of people against, not Israel, but Jesus Christ the coming King.

(2) We will look at and talk more about (Ezek. 39:8-10), when it comes to Israel’s burning of the weapons of war left by Gog and Magog (in chapter 39:9), and look at some scripture that will leave no doubt as to the timing of some of these scriptures.



The slaughter of the armies will be aided by additional “natural” catastrophes, including torrents of rain, hailstones, and burning sulphur (Eze. 38:22). The rain will combine with dirt and debris from the earthquake to produce massive mud slides and floods. Large hailstones will pelt the survivors, killing many (cf. Jos. 10:11). The “burning sulphur” might be volcanic ash.

Romans Chapter 10 Vs. 20

The Message of Salvation to All

But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me. Rom 10:20

I was found... The 11th Old Testament prophecy fulfilled in Romans (Rom. 10:20-21; Isa. 65:1-2). Next, Rom. 11:8. I have put My salvation in reach of the Gentiles who were not seeking for it and who knew nothing about it and they have received it (Rom. 9:30). As to Israel, I have done my best to save them, but they refuse to listen after many centuries.

The Gentiles. God would provoke the Jews to jealousy by the Gentiles who are not a part of Israel, God’s special, chosen nation.

We see that verses 20 and 21 are quotes from Isaiah 65:1-2.

Both Old Testament leaders wrote about God’s turning to the Gentiles, whom the Jews thought had no understanding (asynetō, “senseless”; cf. Rom. 1:21, 1:31). And yet concerning Israel, God has been gracious in spite of her disobedience (a quotation of Isa. 65:2). Israel’s continuing rebellious and unbelieving disobedience was judged by God’s turning to the Gentiles (Rom. 10:20; cf. Acts 8:1-8, 8:10). 

Ezekiel Chapter 38 Vs. 21

 Prophecy Against Gog

And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains, saith the Lord GOD: every man's sword shall be against his brother. Eze. 38:21




I will call... The great confusion caused by all of these calamities, will cause the army of Gog and his companions to turn their swords on each other by the Fathers design as state above.



In the pandemonium, communication between the four invading armies will break down and they will begin attacking each other. Every man’s sword will be against his brother (Eze. 38:21). Fear and panic will sweep through the forces so each army will shoot indiscriminately at the others.

Romans Chapter 10 Vs, 19

The Message of Salvation to All

But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you. Rom 10:19

Did not Israel... Paul here answers a third question in the Jewish mind: "Why did not Israel know about these things?" He proves by Moses and Isaiah that they were made clear to Israel centuries ago (Rom. 10:19-21).

I will provoke... The 10th Old Testament prophecy fulfilled in Romans (Rom. 10:19; Deut. 32:21). Next, Rom. 10:20. Just as Israel made God jealous and angry over their worship of gods which are not real, so God was to provoke Israel to jealousy and anger by choosing a people who were not His chosen ones.

Israel was ignorant of the salvation truth contained in their own Scriptures, including that the gospel would reach the Gentiles (as promised in Deut. 32:21 and Isa. 65:1-2).

With these verses the argument takes a turn. The apostle anticipated another objection. Someone might argue, “Yes, Israel heard but she did not understand that God purposed to offer righteousness by faith to all mankind, including Gentiles.” So Paul wrote, Again I ask (lit., “But I say”), did Israel not understand? (egnō, “know”) His answer this time was from two Old Testament quotations, one as early as Moses (Deut. 32:21) and the second by Isaiah (Isa. 65:1). 

Ezekiel Chapter 38 Vs. 20

 Prophecy Against Gog

So that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep upon the earth, and all the men that [are] upon the face of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground. Eze. 38:20




shall shake at... This will be a great earthquake, which the entire world will feel. Every living creature upon the earth will fear the Lord at this point.

This sounds like it could be the sixth seal (mentioned in Revelation).

Revelation 6:12-17. "And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;" "And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind." "And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places." "And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;" "And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:" "For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?"




But notice (in verse 18 above), that this is coming at the time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel. Therefore, this probably is a completely different earthquake being mentioned here that affects only the mountains around Israel.

Romans Chapter 10 Vs. 18

 

The Message of Salvation to All

But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world. Rom 10:18

Have they not... Questions 70-71. Next, Rom. 11:1. In this verse Paul answers another Jewish question, "Have they not heard"; that is, have all the Jews of the world heard the gospel? Yes, for like the heavenly bodies of Psm. 19:4 that send forth their testimony of a living God to all the world, so the gospel of Christ has borne testimony to all the Jews of the known world.

Paul cited this quotation from the LXX which is the Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament’s version of (Psalms 19:4), to show that even David understood that God’s revelation of Himself has reached the entire earth.

The Greek word akoē (“hearing”) can mean the thing heard (the message; Rom. 10:16) or the act or sense of hearing (Rom. 10:17).

Someone, however, might insist that the Jews were not given adequate opportunity to hear the message. So, Paul said, But I ask (“say”), Did they not hear? He then quoted Psm. 19:4, concerning God’s general revelation in the cosmic heavens (cf. Rom. 1:18-20). However, that psalm also discusses God’s special revelation in the Old Testament (Psm. 19:7-11). Paul’s obvious answer to his question is that Israel had ample opportunity by both general and special revelation to respond to God. Certainly she heard.