Who is “all Israel” today? 

Peter made mention of some things Paul taught that were hard to be understood causing the ignorant and unstedfast to wrestle with:

2 Peter 3:15-16 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also, according to the wisdom given to him, wrote unto you; (16) as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; wherein are some things hard to be understood, which the ignorant and unstedfast wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

One of those subjects Paul so eloquently proved but the church so violently opposes is the understanding of who the “Israel of God” is today:

Galatians 6:15-16 For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. (16) And as many as shall walk by this rule, peace be upon them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.

Let’s pull some key scriptures together to help lay the ground work for what Paul was saying :o)

Almost 2000 years before Christ, our Father made a covenant with a Gentile named Abram that he would be the father of a multitude of nations:

Genesis 17:1-8  And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, Jehovah appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be thou perfect. (2) And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly. (3) And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying, (4) As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be the father of a multitude of nations. (5)  Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for the father of a multitude of nations have I made thee. (6) And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. (7) And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee and to thy seed after thee. (8) And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land of thy sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.

Father required every male throughout Abraham’s generations that were born in his house, bought with money, or any foreigner in his house that were not of his seed were to be physically circumcised as a token of the covenant:

Genesis 17:9-14  And God said unto Abraham, And as for thee, thou shalt keep my covenant, thou, and thy seed after thee throughout their generations. (10) This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee: every male among you shall be circumcised. (11) And ye shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of a covenant betwixt me and you. (12) And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every male throughout your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any foreigner that is not of thy seed. (13) He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. (14) And the uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant.

Yes Abraham was a Gentile:

Acts 15:14-18 Symeon hath rehearsed how first God visited the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. (15) And to this agree the words of the prophets;

 Abraham, his son Isaac, and his grandson Jacob were all Syrians:

Deuteronomy 26:5 And thou shalt answer and say before Jehovah thy God, A Syrian ready to perish was my father(Jacob); and he went down into Egypt, and sojourned there, few in number; and he became there a nation, great, mighty, and populous(Israel).

God changed Jacob’s name to Israel:

Genesis 32:28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for thou hast striven with God and with men, and hast prevailed.

The name “Israel” means “he will rule as God”:

https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H3478&t=KJV

Please notice that Israel was promised to become both a nation as well as a company of nations:

Genesis 35:10-11 And God said unto him, Thy name is Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name: and he called his name Israel. (11) And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins;

This company of nations was a prophesy of the many believing Gentiles from all nations of the world who would become one holy nation with the believing Jews purchased unto God with the blood of Jesus from every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation to become ONE kingdom or company of people:

Revelation 5:9-10 And they sing a new song, saying, Worthy art thou to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and didst purchase unto God with thy blood men of every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation, (10) and madest them to be unto our God a kingdom and priests; and they reign upon the earth.

Peter as a believing Jew declared himself a part of this ONE holy nation with the believing Gentiles who are now the people of God as one body of Christ:

1 Peter 2:9-10 But ye are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that ye may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: (10) who in time past were no people, but now are the people of God: who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

Being bought by the blood of Jesus we claim by faith our bodies as the land for an everlasting possession ruling over it as a part of Israel bearing the good fruit that glorifies our Father in our bodies:

Genesis 35:12  and the land which I gave unto Abraham and Isaac, to thee I will give it, and to thy seed after thee will I give the land.

Genesis 48:4 and said unto me, Behold, I will make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, and I will make of thee a company of peoples, and will give this land to thy seed after thee for an everlasting possession.

Hebrews 6:7-8 For the land which hath drunk the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them for whose sake it is also tilled, receiveth blessing from God: (8) but if it beareth thorns and thistles, it is rejected and nigh unto a curse; whose end is to be burned.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Or know ye not that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which ye have from God? and ye are not your own; (20) for ye were bought with a price: glorify God therefore in your body.

For more on bringing forth fruit in our bodies as the good ground that Jesus requires please see this link:

https://sumofthyword.com/2017/03/19/parable-of-the-sower/

Israel’s hands were guided by the Holy Spirit to bless Ephraim above Manasseh. Manasseh represents the physical nation of Israel whereas Ephraim represents a multitude of Gentile nations: 

Genesis 48:14-20  And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim’s head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh’s head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh was the first-born. (15) And he blessed Joseph, and said, The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God who hath fed me all my life long unto this day, (16) the angel who hath redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth. (17) And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him: and he held up his father’s hand, to remove it from Ephraim’s head unto Manasseh’s head. (18) And Joseph said unto his father, Not so, my father; for this is the first-born; put thy right hand upon his head. (19) And his father refused, and said, I know it, my son, I know it. He(Manasseh) also shall become a people, and he also shall be great: howbeit his younger brother(Ephraim) shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations. (20)  And he blessed them that day, saying, In thee will Israel bless, saying, God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh: and he set Ephraim before Manasseh.

Joseph being sold into Egypt by his physical brethren represents what Jesus, born of the tribe of Judah, experienced at the hand of His Jewish brethren.  Though both Judah and Joseph came through Israel, Jesus became the spiritual seed that bears spiritual children while the birthright passed through Joseph’s two sons being Manasseh as type of the believing Jews and Ephraim as a type of the believing Gentiles from many nations:

1 Chronicles 5:1-2 And the sons of Reuben the first-born of Israel (for he was the first-born; but, forasmuch as he defiled his father’s couch, his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph the son of Israel; and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright. (2) For Judah prevailed above his brethren, and of him came the prince(Jesus); but the birthright was Joseph’s),

Jesus made this analogy abundantly clear when He said “there are last who shall be first, and there are first who shall be last”:

Luke 13:28-30 There shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and yourselves cast forth without. (29) And they(believing Gentiles) shall come from the east and west, and from the north and south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God. (30) And behold, there are last(believing Gentiles) who shall be first, and there are first(believing Jews) who shall be last.

First born Manasseh represents the lost sheep of physical Israel who Jesus said must first be invited into the kingdom:

Matthew 10:5-6 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and charged them, saying, Go not into any way of the Gentiles, and enter not into any city of the Samaritans: (6) but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

But the majority of the citizens of His physical country hated Him and refused the invitation of their King:

Luke 19:14 But his citizens hated him, and sent an ambassage after him, saying, We will not that this man reign over us.

So Ephraim represents a much greater company of Gentile nations who began being grafted into the ONE olive tree:

Deuteronomy 33:17  The firstling of his herd, majesty is his; And his horns are the horns of the wild-ox: With them he shall push the peoples all of them, even the ends of the earth: And they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, And they are the thousands of Manasseh.

The high priest over Jesus’ death prophesied that Jesus would gather into “one” all the children of God that are scatter all over the earth:

John 11:49-52  But a certain one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all,  (50)  nor do ye take account that it is expedient for you that one man(Jesus) should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.  (51)  Now this he said not of himself: but, being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for the nation;  (52)  and not for the nation only, but that he might also gather together into one the children of God that are scattered abroad. 

Immediately after this prophecy of His death, Jesus went into the country near to the wilderness to the city of Ephraim as a type of the much greater company of Gentile nations who began being grafted into the ONE olive tree shortly after His death, burial, and resurrection:

John 11:53-54  So from that day forth they took counsel that they might put him to death.  (54)  Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews, but departed thence into the country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim; and there he tarried with the disciples.

The day of Jesus’ ascension to the right side of His Father, He commissioned the disciples to make disciples of all nations fulfilling the Ephraim prophecy:

Matthew 28:19-20  Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit:  (20)  teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.

Paul tells us twice in Romans chapter 11 that part of Israel will be hardened until all the believing Gentiles are grafted into the ONE olive tree:

Romans 11:5-7  Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.  (6)  But if it is by grace, it is no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace.  (7)  What then? That which Israel seeketh for, that he obtained not; but the election obtained it, and the rest were hardened:

Romans 11:17 & 25  But if some of the branches(Jews) were broken off, and thou, being a wild olive(believing Gentiles), wast grafted in among them, and didst become partaker with them of the root(Jesus) of the fatness of the olive tree;….(25)  For I would not, brethren, have you ignorant of this mystery, lest ye be wise in your own conceits, that a hardening in part hath befallen Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in;

Then a remnant of the physical Jews will be unhardened to the gospel as the Lord finishes the executing of His Word upon the earth:

Romans 9:27-28 And Isaiah crieth concerning Israel, If the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, it is the remnant that shall be saved: (28) for the Lord will execute his word upon the earth, finishing it and cutting it short.

This is the time Jesus said will be shortened at the end of the tribulation:

Matthew 24:21-22  for then shall be great tribulation, such as hath not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, nor ever shall be.  (22)  And except those days had been shortened, no flesh would have been saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.

Please notice the tribe of Joseph and Manasseh are named but not Ephraim in this sealing of 144,000 physical Jews who are sealed after the 6th seal is opened but before the 7 trumpets begin to be blown. This is the last remnant of physical Jews that Paul and Isaiah are referring to when the great tribulation will be cut short:

Revelation 7:1-8  After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that no wind should blow on the earth, or on the sea, or upon any tree.  (2)  And I saw another angel ascend from the sunrising, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a great voice to the four angels to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,  (3)  saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we shall have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.  (4)  And I heard the number of them that were sealed, a hundred and forty and four thousand, sealed out of every tribe of the children of Israel:  (5)  Of the tribe of Judah were sealed twelve thousand: Of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand; Of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand;  (6)  Of the tribe of Asher twelve thousand; Of the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand; Of the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand;  (7)  Of the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand; Of the tribe of Levi twelve thousand; Of the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand;  (8)  Of the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand; Of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand; Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand.

For more understanding on this “company of nations” also called the “congregation of God” please see this link:

https://sumofthyword.com/2019/03/16/psalm-82-the-congregation-of-god/

God’s covenant was made with the Gentile Abraham around 1900 BC. But it was not until 1200 years later, during the reign of king Ahaz, about 700 BC, that the word “Jew” was first recorded in the bible as being used to refer to the people of Israel:

2 Kings 16:5-6 Then Rezin king of Syria and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel came up to Jerusalem to war: and they besieged Ahaz, but could not overcome him.  (6) At that time Rezin king of Syria recovered Elath to Syria, and drove the Jews from Elath; and the Syrians came to Elath, and dwelt there, unto this day.

About 200 years later many foreign peoples in the Medo~Persian empire became Jews for fear of the Jews as a prophecy of a large number of Gentiles coming into the commonwealth of Israel through Christ:

Esther 8:17 And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever the king’s commandment and his decree came, the Jews had gladness and joy, a feast and a good day. And many from among the peoples of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews was fallen upon them.

The Holy Spirit moved Isaiah to prophecy that Jesus Christ was going to be a light to the Gentiles so that salvation spreads to the ends of the earth:

Isaiah 42:1-6 Behold, my servant, whom I uphold; my chosen, in whom my soul delighteth: I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the Gentiles. (2) He will not cry, nor lift up his voice, nor cause it to be heard in the street. (3) A bruised reed will he not break, and a dimly burning wick will he not quench: he will bring forth justice in truth. (4) He will not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set justice in the earth; and the isles shall wait for his law. (5) Thus saith God Jehovah, he that created the heavens, and stretched them forth; he that spread abroad the earth and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein: (6) I, Jehovah, have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thy hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;

Isaiah 49:6-8 yea, he saith, It is too light a thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth. (7) Thus saith Jehovah, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nation abhorreth, to a servant of rulers: Kings shall see and arise; princes, and they shall worship; because of Jehovah that is faithful, even the Holy One of Israel, who hath chosen thee. (8) Thus saith Jehovah, In an acceptable time have I answered thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee; and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to raise up the land, to make them inherit the desolate heritages:

After the resurrection and ascension of Christ, the nickname of a “Jew” is now assigned to those who are circumcised inwardly in their heart in the spirit not in the letter:

Romans 2:28-29 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh: (29) but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

Jesus rebuked those in the church who declared themselves spiritual Jews who were to be circumcised in heart but have allowed their temple to become a synagogue of satan:

Revelation 2:9  I know thy tribulation, and thy poverty (but thou art rich), and the blasphemy of them that say they are Jews, and they are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.

Revelation 3:9  Behold, I give of the synagogue of Satan, of them that say they are Jews, and they are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.

So the gospel that was preached to Abraham 4000 years ago was a prophecy of the Gentiles becoming Abraham’s seed through faith in Christ:

Galatians 3:7-9 Know therefore that they that are of faith, the same are sons of Abraham. (8) And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all the nations be blessed. (9) So then they that are of faith are blessed with the faithful Abraham.

The fact that this gospel was spoken by God to a Gentile named Abraham 2000 years before Christ proves our Father always intended to bring a remnant of Gentiles with a remnant of physical Jews into one man in Christ Jesus:

Galatians 3:26-29 For ye are all sons of God, through faith, in Christ Jesus. (27) For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ. (28)  There can be neither Jew nor Greek(Gentile), there can be neither bond nor free, there can be no male and female; for ye all are one man in Christ Jesus. (29) And if ye are Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, heirs according to promise.

The church existed 1500 years before Christ when Moses led the children of Israel out of Egypt into the wilderness:

Acts 7:37-39 This is that Moses, who said unto the children of Israel, A prophet(Jesus) shall God raise up unto you from among your brethren, like unto me. (38) This is he(Jesus) that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel that spake to him in the Mount Sinai, and with our fathers: who received living oracles to give unto us: (39) to whom our fathers would not be obedient, but thrust him from them, and turned back in their hearts unto Egypt,

Jesus said He would build His church on Himself as the Rock:

Matthew 16:18  And I also say unto thee, that thou art Peter(petros~stone), and upon this Rock(petra~large Rock~Jesus)  I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

Paul understood this when the Holy Spirit had him reference Jesus Christ as the spiritual Rock that was with Moses and the Jews that were called out(ekklesia) of Egypt:

1 Corinthians 10:1-4  For I would not, brethren(church), have you ignorant, that our fathers(Jews) were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;  (2)  and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;  (3)  and did all eat the same spiritual food;  (4)  and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of a spiritual rock that followed them: and the rock was Christ.

Both the OT church and the NT church are held to the same standard of obedience or we will fall and be cut off our Father’s ONE olive tree:

1 Corinthians 10:5-12  Howbeit with most of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness(natural branches broken off of the ONE olive tree).  (6)  Now these things were our(NT church’s) examples, to the intent we(NT church) should not lust after evil things, as they(OT church) also lusted.  (7)  Neither be ye(NT church) idolaters, as were some of them(Jews who as God’s children who He called out of Egypt to prove in the wilderness and broke those who fell out of His ONE olive tree); as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.  (8)  Neither let us(NT church) commit fornication, as some of them(OT church) committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.  (9)  Neither let us(NT church) make trial of the Lord, as some of them(OT church) made trial, and perished by the serpents.  (10)  Neither murmur ye(NT church), as some of them(OT church) murmured, and perished by the destroyer.  (11)  Now these things happened unto them(OT church) by way of example; and they were written for our(NT church’s) admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages are come.  (12)  Wherefore let him(any believer in the NT church) that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

So if Paul referred to the children of Israel as the church and the NT covenant is with the house of Israel who is also the church then we are all the house of Israel as God’s chosen people since the foundation of the world:

Hebrews 8:9-10 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers In the day that I took them by the hand to lead them forth out of the land of Egypt; For they continued not in my covenant, And I regarded them not, saith the Lord. (10) For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel After those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, And on their heart also will I write them: And I will be to them a God, And they shall be to me a people:

Romans 10:12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek(Gentile): for the same Lord is Lord of all, and is rich unto all that call upon him:

Colossians 3:10-11 and have put on the new man, that is being renewed unto knowledge after the image of him that created him: (11)  where there cannot be Greek(Gentile) and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondman, freeman; but Christ is all, and in all.

Under the old covenant the Gentiles were alienated from the commonwealth of Israel but the new covenant reconciled both the Jew and the Gentile into one body. The Gentiles became fellow-citizens of Israel as fellow saints of the household of God:

Ephesians 2:11-22 Wherefore remember, that once ye, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called Circumcision, in the flesh, made by hands; (12) that ye were at that time separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God in the world. (13) But now in Christ Jesus ye(believing Gentiles) that once were far off are made nigh in the blood of Christ. (14) For he(Jesus) is our peace, who made both one(believing Jew and believing Gentile), and brake down the middle wall of partition, (15) having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; that he might create in himself of the two one new man, so making peace; (16) and might reconcile them both in one body(believing Jew and believing Gentile) unto God through the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: (17) and he came and preached peace to you(believing Gentile) that were far off, and peace to them(believing Jew) that were nigh: (18) for through him we both have our access in one Spirit unto the Father. (19) So then ye(believing Gentile) are no more strangers and sojourners, but ye are fellow-citizens with the saints(believing Jews), and of the household of God, (20) being built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief corner stone; (21) in whom each several building, fitly framed together, groweth into a holy temple in the Lord; (22) in whom ye also are builded together(believing Jew with the believing Gentile) for a habitation of God in the Spirit.

Zechariah prophesied 800 years before Paul that Gentiles who were “afar off” are now a part of the commonwealth of Israel as the temple of God when they put their faith in Jesus Christ as believers:

Zechariah 6:9 & 15 And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,….(15) And they that are far off(believing Gentiles) shall come and build in the temple of Jehovah; and ye shall know that Jehovah of hosts hath sent me(the Word made flesh who is Jesus) unto you. And this shall come to pass, if ye will diligently obey the voice of Jehovah your God.

Father never intended for His children to be just from the physical seed of Abraham but the children of His promise:

Romans 9:6-8 But it is not as though the word of God hath come to nought. For they are not all Israel, that are of Israel: (7) neither, because they are Abraham’s seed, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. (8) That is, it is not the children of the flesh that are children of God; but the children of the promise are reckoned for a seed.

Christ redeemed both the physical Jews and the Gentiles so that both might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith:

Galatians 3:13-14 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us; for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: (14)  that upon the Gentiles might come the blessing of Abraham in Christ Jesus; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

As our Father chose us all before the foundation of the world and foreordained us unto adoption as sons through Jesus Christ:

Ephesians 1:3-11 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ: (4) even as he(God and Father) chose us(believing Jews and believing Gentiles) in him(Jesus) before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blemish before him in love: (5) having foreordained us unto adoption as sons through Jesus Christ unto himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, (6) to the praise of the glory of his grace, which he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved: (7) in whom we have our redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, (8) which he made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, (9) making known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he purposed in him (10) unto a dispensation of the fulness of the times, to sum up all things in Christ, the things in the heavens, and the things upon the earth; in him, I say, (11) in whom also we were made a heritage, having been foreordained according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his will;

Some of those “elect” Gentiles and Jews “chosen” before the foundation of the world are living in these last days and will experience tribulation such as there hath not been the like from the beginning of the creation:

Mark 13:19-20  For those days shall be tribulation, such as there hath not been the like from the beginning of the creation which God created until now, and never shall be.  (20)  And except the Lord had shortened the days, no flesh would have been saved; but for the elect’s sake, whom he chose, he shortened the days.

We must never forget it was Father who declared from the beginning of the world who His sons will be in the end:

Isaiah 46:9-10 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me; (10)  declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done; saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure;

The nation of Israel is NOT a physical country in the middle east but a nation of people who should be devoted to God! Please notice God promised to recognize them as a holy nation while in the desert before they entered their promised land:

Exodus 19:3-6  And Moses went up unto God, and Jehovah called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel:  (4)  Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself.  (5)  Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be mine own possession from among all peoples: for all the earth is mine:  (6)  and ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

John while exiled on the isle of Patmos made it very clear that the church made up of believing Jews and Gentiles were that kingdom of priests unto our God through Jesus:

Revelation 1:4-6  John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace, from him who is and who was and who is to come; and from the seven Spirits that are before his throne;  (5)  and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loveth us, and loosed us from our sins by his blood;  (6)  and he(Jesus) made us(believing Jews and believing Gentiles as ONE) to be a kingdom, to be priests unto his God and Father; to him be the glory and the dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Father’s Word declares in Isaiah that only a remnant of physical Israel will be saved when He is about to finish His Word upon the earth:

Romans 9:27-28  And Isaiah crieth concerning Israel, If the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, it is the remnant that shall be saved:  (28)  for the Lord will execute his word upon the earth, finishing it and cutting it short.

But two chapters later Paul is declaring “all Israel” shall be saved:

Romans 11:26  and so all Israel shall be saved: even as it is written, There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer; He shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

The only way for this to be true is if Father declared from the beginning that the commonwealth of Israel will be made up of many Jews and Gentiles grafted into ONE olive tree through the “election of grace”:  

Romans 11:5-7  Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.  (6)  But if it is by grace, it is no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace.  (7)  What then? That which Israel seeketh for, that he obtained not; but the election obtained it, and the rest were hardened:

Some description was added in parenthesizes within Romans chapter 11 to help demonstrate that the ONE olive tree is going to be made up of both Jew and Gentile believers who will be called “all Israel”:

Romans 11:1-31  I say then, Did God cast off his people? God forbid. For  I (Paul) also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.  (2)  God did not cast off his people(Jews) which he foreknew. Or know ye not what the scripture saith of Elijah? how he pleadeth with God against Israel:  (3)  Lord, they have killed thy prophets, they have digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.  (4)  But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have left for myself seven thousand men(Jews), who have not bowed the knee to Baal.  (5)  Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant(of Jews) according to the election of grace.  (6)  But if it is by grace, it is no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace.  (7)  What then? That which Israel seeketh for, that he(Israel) obtained not; but the election(a chosen remnant of Jews) obtained it, and the rest(the majority of the Jews) were hardened:  (8)  according as it is written, God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear, unto this very day.  (9)  And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, And a stumblingblock, and a recompense unto them(the majority of the Jews):  (10)  Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, And bow thou down their back always.  (11)  I say then, Did they stumble that they might fall? God forbid: but by their(the majority of the Jews) fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, to provoke them to jealousy.  (12)  Now if their(the majority of the Jews) fall is the riches of the world, and their loss the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?  (13)  But I speak to you that are Gentiles. Inasmuch then as  I (Paul) am an apostle of Gentiles, I glorify my ministry;  (14)  if by any means I may provoke to jealousy them that are my flesh, and may save some of them(a chosen remnant of Jews).  (15)  For if the casting away of them is the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?  (16)  And if the firstfruit(Jesus) is holy, so is the lump(Israel): and if the root(Jesus) is holy, so are the branches(individual believing Jews).  (17)  But if some of the branches(unbelieving Jews) were broken off, and thou, being a wild olive(believing Gentiles), wast grafted in among them(believing Jews), and didst become partaker with them(believing Jews) of the root(Jesus) of the fatness of the olive tree(Israel);  (18)  glory not over the branches(believing Jews): but if thou(believing Gentiles) gloriest, it is not thou(believing Gentiles) that bearest the root(Jesus), but the root thee(believing Gentiles).  (19)  Thou wilt say then, branches(unbelieving Jews) were broken off, that  I  (believing Gentiles) might be grafted in.  (20)  Well; by their(unbelieving Jews) unbelief they were broken off, and thou(believing Gentiles) standest by thy faith. Be not highminded, but fear:  (21)  for if God spared not the natural branches(Jews), neither will he spare thee(Gentiles).  (22)  Behold then the goodness and severity of God: toward them(unbelieving Jews) that fell, severity; but toward thee(believing Gentiles), God’s goodness, if thou(believing Gentiles) continue in his goodness: otherwise thou(believing Gentiles that fall) also shalt be cut off.  (23)  And they also, if they(unbelieving Jews) continue not in their unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them(believing Jews) in again.  (24)  For if thou(believing Gentiles) wast cut out of that which is by nature a wild olive tree(all Gentiles), and wast grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree(Israel); how much more shall these(Jews), which are the natural branches(Jews), be grafted into their own olive tree(Israel)?  (25)  For I would not, brethren(believing Jews and believing Gentiles), have you ignorant of this mystery, lest ye be wise in your own conceits, that a hardening in part hath befallen Israel(the majority of the Jews), until the fulness of the Gentiles(all the believing Gentiles) be come in;  (26)  and so all Israel(all the believing Jews and believing Gentiles elected by grace from the foundation of the world) shall be saved: even as it is written, There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer; He shall turn away ungodliness(all the unbelieving Jews cut off their olive tree) from Jacob:  (27)  And this is my covenant unto them(Jews), When I shall take away their sins.  (28)  As touching the gospel, they(unbelieving Jews) are enemies for your(believing Gentiles) sake: but as touching the election, they(believing Jews) are beloved for the fathers’ sake.  (29)  For the gifts and the calling of God are not repented of.  (30)  For as ye(believing Gentiles) in time past were disobedient to God, but now have obtained mercy by their(unbelieving Jews) disobedience,  (31)  even so have these(unbelieving Jews) also now been disobedient, that by the mercy shown to you(believing Gentiles)  they(believing Jews) also may now obtain mercy.

So the “mystery” mentioned in verse 25 is the commonwealth of Israel made up of only those believing Jews and believing Gentiles who are not broken off of that ONE olive tree called “all Israel”:

Ephesians 3:1-7 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus in behalf of you Gentiles,– (2) if so be that ye have heard of the dispensation of that grace of God which was given me to you-ward; (3) how that by revelation was made known unto me the mystery, as I wrote before in few words, (4) whereby, when ye read, ye can perceive my understanding in the mystery of Christ; (5) which in other generations was not made known unto the sons of men, as it hath now been revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit; (6) to wit, that the Gentiles are fellow-heirs, and fellow-members of the body, and fellow-partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel, (7) whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of that grace of God which was given me according to the working of his power.

Some try to accuse this inclusion of the believing Gentiles into the commonwealth of Israel as replacement theology. But God told us in the days of Hosea that He always intended on making the believing Jews and believing Gentiles one people:

Romans 9:22-26  What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering vessels of wrath fitted unto destruction: (23) and that he might make known the riches of his glory upon vessels of mercy, which he afore prepared unto glory, (24) even us, whom he also called, not from the Jews only, but also from the Gentiles? (25) As he saith also in Hosea, I will call that my people, which was not my people; And her beloved, that was not beloved. (26) And it shall be, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, There shall they be called sons of the living God.

The new covenant was made through Jesus’ blood and includes the salvation of souls from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation including physical Israel who all become one holy nation in Christ:

Revelation 5:9-10 And they sing a new song, saying, Worthy art thou to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and didst purchase unto God with thy blood men of every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation, (10) and madest them to be unto our God a kingdom and priests; and they reign upon the earth.

1 Peter 2:9-10 But ye are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that ye may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

Jesus declared that both the flock of believing physical Israel and the flock of believing Gentiles will become ONE flock with ONE shepherd:

John 10:16 And other sheep(believing Gentiles) I have, which are not of this fold(believing Jews): them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice: and they shall become one flock, one shepherd.

The Holy Spirit moved the high priest, who oversaw Jesus’ death, to prophesy that Jesus was to die for both the physical nation of Israel as well as all believing Gentiles into ONE body which is the ONE olive tree called “all Israel”:

John 11:51-52 Now this he said not of himself: but, being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for the nation; (52) and not for the nation only, but that he might also gather together into one the children of God that are scattered abroad.

This prophecy began with Abraham and 2 days/2000 years later was fulfilled in Jesus! Now 2 days/2000 years later the restoration of all into the ONE body of Jesus will be completed:

Acts 3:18-25  But the things which God foreshowed by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ should suffer, he thus fulfilled.  (19)  Repent ye therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that so there may come seasons of refreshing from the presence of the Lord;  (20)  and that he(Father ~ Most High God) may send the Christ who hath been appointed for you, even Jesus:  (21)  whom the heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, whereof God(Father ~ Most High God) spake by the mouth of his holy prophets that have been from of old.  (22)  Moses indeed said, A prophet(Jesus) shall the Lord God(Father ~ Most High God) raise up unto you from among your brethren, like unto me; to him shall ye hearken in all things whatsoever he shall speak unto you.  (23)  And it shall be, that every soul that shall not hearken to that prophet, shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.  (24)  Yea and all the prophets from Samuel and them that followed after, as many as have spoken, they also told of these days.  (25)  Ye are the sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with your fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.

Many bible teachers believe the tribulation is only for Old Testament Israel but the Word of God proves the church is the woman that as ONE flock must again flee out of spiritual Egypt that is a type of the world into their wilderness to prove who is worthy to be a part of “all Israel”:

Revelation 12:6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that there they may nourish her a thousand two hundred and threescore days.

Acts 14:22 confirming the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of God.

Mark 13:19 For those days shall be tribulation, such as there hath not been the like from the beginning of the creation which God created until now, and never shall be.

Paul made it very clear to the predominantly Gentile church at Corinth that everything that happened to the physical Jewish “fathers” were for our(churches) example(type~pattern) and were written for our admonition who are at the end of the ages:

1 Corinthians 10:1-12 For I would not, brethren, have you ignorant, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; (2) and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; (3) and did all eat the same spiritual food; (4) and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of a spiritual rock that followed them: and the rock was Christ. (5) Howbeit with most of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. (6) Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. (7) Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. (8) Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. (9) Neither let us make trial of the Lord, as some of them made trial, and perished by the serpents. (10) Neither murmur ye, as some of them murmured, and perished by the destroyer. (11) Now these things happened unto them by way of example; and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages are come. (12) Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

Just as the physical Jews were proven in their wilderness so too the new covenant children will be proven in their wilderness just as He did with Moses by example:

1 Peter 4:12-19 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial among you, which cometh upon you to prove you, as though a strange thing happened unto you: (13) but insomuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings, rejoice; that at the revelation of his glory also ye may rejoice with exceeding joy. (14) If ye are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are ye; because the Spirit of glory and the Spirit of God resteth upon you. (15) For let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or an evil-doer, or as a meddler in other men’s matters: (16) but if a man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God in this name. (17) For the time is come for judgment to begin at the house of God: and if it begin first at us, what shall be the end of them that obey not the gospel of God? (18) And if the righteous is scarcely saved, where shall the ungodly and sinner appear? (19) Wherefore let them also that suffer according to the will of God commit their souls in well-doing unto a faithful Creator.

For more understanding on who the wilderness tribulation is for; please see this link:

https://sumofthyword.com/2016/10/04/the-rapture-of-the-church-is-after-the-tribulation/

An angel shows John the bride, the wife of the Lamb which is the holy city Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven after the tribulation. She has twelve gates named after the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:

Revelation 21:9-12  And there came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls, who were laden with the seven last plagues; and he spake with me, saying, Come hither, I will show thee the bride, the wife of the Lamb.  (10)  And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, (11) having the glory of God: her light was like unto a stone most precious, as it were a jasper stone, clear as crystal: (12) having a wall great and high; having twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels; and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve(dōdeka) tribes(phylē) of the children of Israel:

The phrase “twelve tribes” comes from two Greek words: “dōdeka” which means twelve and “phylē” which means an offshoot, i.e. race or clan:—kindred, tribe:

https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G1427&t=KJV

https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G5443&t=KJV

Most bible teachers declare the bride is a part of the NT church so if the holy city of new Jerusalem is the bride with the gates named after the twelve tribes then they must be twelve spiritual tribes made up of both Jew and Gentile believers as “all Israel”:

Revelation 5:9-10 And they sing a new song, saying, Worthy art thou to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and didst purchase unto God with thy blood men of every tribe(phylē), and tongue, and people, and nation, (10) and madest them to be unto our God a kingdom and priests; and they reign upon the earth.

Here are the only other verses in the NT where the phrase “twelve tribes” is found that comes from the two Greek words: “dōdeka” and “phylē”:

Matthew 19:28  And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, that ye who have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit on the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Luke 22:30  that ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom; and ye shall sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

James 1:1  James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are of the Dispersion, greeting.

There is only one NT verse where the phrase “twelve tribes” comes from one Greek word: “dōdekaphylon” which means “the commonwealth of Israel” and speaks directly of the OT twelve tribes:

Acts 26:7  unto which promise our twelve tribes, earnestly serving God night and day, hope to attain. And concerning this hope I am accused by the Jews, O king!

https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G1429&t=KJV

There is another prophesy of the OT Jewish believers becoming one with the NT Gentiles as one branch which is one olive tree:

Ezekiel 37:15-19 The word of Jehovah came again unto me, saying, (16) And thou, son of man(type of Jesus), take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah(Lion of the tribe of Judah ~ Jesus), and for the children of Israel his companions(Jewish believers): then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph(another type of Jesus), the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions(Gentile believers from all nations): (17) and join them for thee one to another into one stick, that they may become one(one olive tree) in thy hand(son of man ~ type of Jesus).

A Christian is a part of the ONE olive tree made up of believing Jews and believing Gentiles:

Romans 11:17  But if some of the branches(unbelieving Jews) were broken off, and thou(believing Gentile), being a wild olive, wast grafted in among them(believing Jews), and didst become partaker with them of the root(Jesus) of the fatness of the olive tree;

A Christian is a part of the ONE body of Christ made up of believing Jews and believing Gentiles:

Romans 12:4-5  For even as we have many members in one body, and all the members have not the same office:  (5)  so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and severally members one of another.

A Christian is a part of the ONE temple made up of believing Jews and believing Gentiles:

Ephesians 2:19-22  So then ye are no more strangers and sojourners, but ye are fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God,  (20)  being built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief corner stone;  (21)  in whom each several building, fitly framed together, groweth into a holy temple in the Lord;  (22)  in whom ye also are builded together for a habitation of God in the Spirit.

A Christian is a part of the ONE man in Christ made up of believing Jews and believing Gentiles:

Galatians 3:26-29  For ye are all sons of God, through faith, in Christ Jesus.  (27)  For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ.  (28)  There can be neither Jew nor Greek, there can be neither bond nor free, there can be no male and female; for ye all are one man in Christ Jesus.  (29)  And if ye are Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, heirs according to promise.

So a Christian is also ONE generation and ONE holy nation and ONE people made up of believing Jews and believing Gentiles:

1 Peter 2:9-10  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:  (10)  Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

Please notice Jesus when speaking to the Jews around 30 AD clearly said “ye” slew Zacharias who live around 800 BC proving “this generation” was over 800 years old proving “this generation” is clearly His ONE body, His ONE temple, His ONE olive tree, His ONE nation, His ONE people as His ONE generation throughout His~story(History):

Matthew 23:34-36  Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:  (35)  That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.  (36)  Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.  

For much more scripture on “this generation” please see this link: 

https://sumofthyword.com/2022/07/18/the-generations-of-the-heavens-and-the-earth/