Here is an email where Ray say's it is physical Israel that will be saved last, and spiritual Israel (Gentiles) will be saved first.
http://www.bible-truths.com/emails.htmlDear Gina:
Thank you for your kind words and encouragement.
Sadly, not all get as excited over the grand Truths of God as you do, but we know this is a time of apostasy and failing faith. Jesus asked, when the Son of Man returns to this earth, will He find faith? Not much! But it is all part of God's plan, just as your questions confirm.
Many are called, but few are chosen, and the last shall be first and first shall be last. Israel was hand-picked of all nations to be God's example of how a nation can be blessed and prosper when they obey and love God. Israel did not pass the test. God proved through Israel, that the carnal mind cannot keep the laws of God, nor can the carnal mind live God and love neighbor. So God is calling out a people who are not in a place of honor in this world. Poor people in the city, farmers, peasants, unlearned, people to a large extent.
As in the bidding to the wedding feast, God said bid the poor, maimed, the blind, etc., to come to the feast (of salvation). Paul said,
"For ye see your calling, brethren, how that NOT MANY wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God has chosen the weak thing of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and thighs which are despised, has God chosen, yes, and things which are not, to being to naught things that are" (I Cor. 1:26-28).
I know that I fit into this bunch of social rejects. But thank God He is making KINGS out of peasants!
So God is now calling a "spiritual Israel" who obey from the mind and heart, seeing that that is where God has placed His Holy Spirit. And so the "Children of the kingdom" (those who were in line for he throne--Israel) are set aside unto God chooses from the Gentiles a people to bear His Name. And then, Israel of old will be grafted back into the tree of life (Rom. 11), all Israel will then be saved, as well as the rest of Gentile world.
May God continue to bless and inspire you, Gina, as you yield to His perfect will for your life.
Ray
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Here is an copy and paste where Ray talks a little of WHY Israel will be the last to be saved.
http://www.bible-truths.com/kendy2.htmGod is now calling sons out of the nations, while Israel [the hardened ones] "stumble on the stumbling stone" (Vers. 25-33). Paul’s heart is set on their salvation, however (Rom. 10:1-2). "Everyone, whoever should be invoking the name of the Lord, shall be saved" (Ver. 13). Paul says, however, that this is not possible unless they "believe," "from one heralding," who is "commissioned" (Vers. 14-16). But Isaiah asks: "Lord, who believes our tidings?" (Ver. 16). Obviously not "hardened Israel." So God says: "I became disclosed to those who are not inquiring of Me" [the Gentiles] (Ver. 20).
Paul then says:
"Does not God thrust away His people? May it not be coming to that!" (Rom. 11:1).
That is unthinkable to Paul. So he quickly assures us that:
"God does not thrust away His people whom He foreknew" (Ver 2).
Of course God foreknew everything that is happening in the history of Israel from their beginning. Although Israel as a nation has been hardened, and become "a stubborn and contradicting people" (Ver. 21), nonetheless, even in Paul’s day God called a "... remnant according to the choice of grace" (Ver. 5). However,
"Now the rest were calloused, even as it is written, God gives them a spirit of stupor, eyes not to be observing, and ears not to be hearing, till this very day" (Ver. 6).
Why does God harden Israel and callous them? So that He can torture them in fire for all eternity? Ridiculous. Paul answers his own question:
"Do they [Israel] not trip that they should be falling? May it not be coming to that! But in their offense is salvation to the nations, to [to what? Have a reason for throwing them in Hell for eternity?] provoke them to jealousy" (Ver. 11).
God uses evil FOR GOOD! Israel’s hardened and calloused heart is preparing them for salvation! They will be so jealous when they see what God has done for the Gentiles.
Paul summarizes this whole process by stating:
"For if their [Israel] casting away is the conciliation of the world, what will the taking back be if not life from among the dead?" (Ver. 15).
And this: "... that callousness, in part, on Israel has come, until the complement of the nations may be entering" (Ver. 25).
And then what happens?
"And thus ALL ISRAEL SHALL BE SAVED ..." (Ver. 26). "I should be eliminating their sins" (Ver. 27).
This is all temporary. Being "hardened" back in Chapter 9:18 is not an eternal judgment. Temporarily, for a grand purpose,
"... they [Israel] are enemies because of you [Gentiles], yet, as to choice, they are BELOVED ..." (Rom. 11:28).
Notice that Israel is God’s "enemy." What did Christ teach us regarding our "enemies?"
"Yet I am saying to you, LOVE your enemies ..." Matt. 5:44).
God our Father is not a hypocrite. Do you have the audacity, Dr. Kennedy, to tell us that Almighty God is going to torture in Hell fire for eternity, His "BELOVED"?
Here is exactly how this scenario plays itself out:
"For unregretted are the graces and the calling of God. For even as you [Gentiles] once were stubborn toward God, yet now were shown mercy at their [Israel’s] stubbornness, thus these also are now stubborn to this mercy of yours, that now they also may be shown MERCY. For God locks up all (Jews and Gentiles) together in stubbornness, that He should be merciful to ALL" (Rom. 11:29-32).
It is very clear, Dr. Kennedy, the ones that are "hardened" in Romans 9:18 are not forever rejected by God as you teach, but are rather the very ones that God "saves" in Romans 11:26).
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Peace,
G.Driggs