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NASB | Romans 11:25 ¶ For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery--so that you will not be wise in your own estimation--that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Romans 11:25 ¶ I do not want you, believers, to be unaware of this mystery [God's previously hidden plan]--so that you will not be wise in your own opinion--that a partial hardening has [temporarily] happened to Israel [to last] until the full number of the Gentiles has come in; |
Bible Question:
In the first century if an Emperor came to a city the following would occur: A great procession would precede the Emperor with blowing horns to announce his arrival. All the people of the city, village, or town would come out to meet the Emperor on the road to the city. After meeting the Emperor outside the city to greet him, they would all return to the city and celebrations would occur. These usually had to do with worship of the Emperor as a god and the “savior of the world.” The above is available to be learned in any public library in the history section. How would the people in Thessalonica have read Paul’s letter when he says, “16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.” Note, it does not mention what happens after we meet the Lord in the air. I assume we all agree we do not levitate for eternity with the Lord. This means a direction is required before the last sentence. It’s not in the text, but maybe the historical picture of the times helps us? Your thoughts? MJH |
Bible Answer: MJH I'm surprised you went with the Emperor theory after what you said about the bridegroom. The continuation of the story of the Bridegroom is that after the Groom finishes his addition to his father’s house for his bride. And after his father agrees it is finished the groom prepares to retrieve his bride. He dresses in his wedding attire and the groom’s wedding party is formed. The bride is unaware of what is taking place so to alert her, the groom sends ahead ‘groomsmen’ that as warning the groom approaches, proclaiming the Groom is coming. The bride when so alerted immediately prepares to receive her groom. Of course the groom tarries long enough for the bride to be fully ready and her wedding procession to form and then with a trumpet blast and further shouts the groom arrives at the Brides house as a great procession of people in celebration continues to build. At this point the Bride accompanies the groom back the father’s house they pass through the town or village and it is almost parade like. When they reach the father’s house the wedding ceremony is performed and everyone joins in and the great marriage supper is eaten. Later the marriage is consummated with bride in white raiment. Then the sheet proving the virginity of the bride is displayed. As the people of Thessalonica read what Paul has wrote they would have further added to what they already knew that they were the bride and the groom one day was coming for them. This would have just been further collaboration of the already well-known analogy of the church as the bride of Christ. Now back to your question. Yes I believe the wedding feast will be eaten in what is now heaven (presence of the Lord) and we will tarry there until all that must be accomplished here on earth is completed (that in itself open a whole new discussion Pre trib, mid trib, post trib etc.). However once again God and Christ will on day reside on the New Earth in the New Jerusalem. Therefore since we are eternally present with the Lord our final home will be the New Earth and the New Jerusalem, not heaven as such where many picture us dancing from cloud to cloud. Incidentally your analogy of the Emperor would have never sold to the readers of Paul’s letter. Their hatred of Roman and Roman custom( actually all Pagan culture) would have caused them to rent their clothing had the thought Paul was making such a collation. EdB |