Israel is NOT the church

Romans 11 clearly shows God will restore Israel when the
fulness of the Gentiles has come in. This entire
chapter makes a stark contrast between the fulness of Israel,
and the fulness of the Gentiles. There is no way anyone who
allows the words of this chapter to sink in, can confuse
"Israel", with the "Gentiles" and Jews who are now being saved
into the church. Romans 11 blows preterist heresy away, so
they try to confuse Israel with the church, so as to deny any
restoration for Israel. This couldn't be a more clear and
perfect contradiction to the plain statements of Romans 11.

That the Israel which will be saved when the fullness of the
Gentiles has come in, is not the church seems evident from the
following considerations:

1) At every point throughout Romans 11, the term "Israel" is
not only not a description of the church, or of Gentiles, but
is being contrasted to the Gentiles, and the church.

2) The "Israel" which will be saved when the fullness of the
Gentiles has come in, is the one that is an enemy of the
gospel (11:28). This is not referring to a group of people
who are getting saved during the time of the fullness of the
Gentiles, but who are "enemies" concerning the gospel. When
you're an enemy of the gospel, you're not getting saved, and
this is the condition of this "Israel" that "shall be saved"
(future), during the time of the fullness of the Gentiles.

3) It is for "your sakes" (Gentiles), that this "Israel", is
an enemy of the gospel (11:28b). If "Israel", here, were a
reference to all the church of both Jews and Gentiles who were
getting saved, not only would they not be the "enemies" of the
gospel, but they would not continue to be contrasted with the
"your sakes" who are being saved, in the very explanation of
why they are enemies of the gospel.

4) There is nothing in the context of this chapter, or
anywhere else in the Bible, which indicates "Israel" must be
understood as a spiritual reference to the "church", or the
time of the "fullness of the Gentiles" with which it is
constantly contrasted throughout Romans. Galatians 6:16 shows
that, although Paul condemned Jewish legalizers, he wished
peace on those of national Israel ("Israel of God") who were
truly believers (cf. Rom. 9:6) as well as (kai = "and") as
many others who walk according to the principle that
circumcision avails nothing.

5) The Israel which will be saved when the fullness of the
Gentiles has come in, is the elect Israel which God made
irrevocable covenants, gifts and promises to, and this is
national Israel (Isa. 11:11-16; 45:17; 54:6-10; Jer 3:17-23;
30:17-22' 31:31-37; Jer 32:37-41; 33:24-26; Eze. 34:22-31;
37:21-28; 39:25-29; Eze. 40:1-48:35; Ho. 3:5; Joel 3:16-21;
Am. 9:14,15; Mic. 7:15-20; Zep. 3:12-20; Zec. 10:6-12; Rom.
11:26; Rev. 7:4). This salvation will be fulfilled, when the
deliverer comes out of Zion (Rom. 11:26; Ps. 14:7; Isa.
59:20), which will not occur till the fulness of the Gentiles
"be come in" (past).

6) The contention there can't still be Jews, Gentiles, or a
national Israel, since Christ made the church, ignores the
plain, obvious statement of Scripture: "Give none offence,
neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of
God". --1 Corinthians 10:32. While it is true there is
neither Jew nor Gentile within the church, because all have
been made one in Christ, this does not change the status of
people who are not members of the church. Jews, Gentiles, and
the Church, are still three distinct groups of people.

7) There are 24 elders (not 12), and two sets of inscriptions
in New Jerusalem, one for the tribes of Israel (Israel), and
one for the apostles (representative of the church):

Re 21:12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates,
and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon,
which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of
Israel:
Re 21:14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and
in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

That both national Israel and the church are part of the same
vine of faith (Romans 11), doesn't do away with the fact there
remain two branches on the one vine.

Some preterists argue that the phrase "And so", in Romans
11:26, should be translated "thus", or "in this manner", and
therefore means the fulness of the Gentiles coming in, is the
manner in which "Israel" (which they claim means the Gentiles,
or the Church), shall be saved. This couldn't be a more clear
and perfect contradiction to everything Romans 11 says.

In Romans 11:26, neither the interpretation "And so", nor "in
this manner" presents a problem to the interpretation this is
"Israel", not the church. It does not say "in the manner of
the fulness of the Gentiles coming in, all Israel shall be
saved". It says, "And so all Israel shall be saved", "as it
is written". The deliverer shall come out of Zion, to save
Israel, when the fulness of the Gentiles "be come in" (past),
"as it is written", not "in the manner of the fulness of the
Gentiles coming in".

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--
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself
up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every
thought to make it obedient to Christ. †2 Corinthians 10:5

Christ died for our sins, and God raised Him from the dead.
Rely on this work alone to escape hell and receive eternal
life (Jn. 3:16; 1 Cor. 15:1-3; Eph. 2:8-10; 2 Thess. 1:8-9).

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