Correction to Vol 5 - No 28 published May 24, 2021, titled: Romans 11: Part 6: Election and Restoration; The Unfathomable Riches of the Wisdom and Knowledge of God:

A reader pointed out an error in my last publication and I stand corrected, appreciate the input, and present this correction. The error is in the first paragraph of the study, quoted as follows:

“Remembering that Romans 11 deals with the restoration of the Nation of Israel and the salvation of Gentile Nations we continue where we left off in the last study at Romans 11:2121 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.

: “For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.” This has nothing to do with the individual believer’s eternal security, , it has to do with the Gentile Nations vis-à-vis the Nation of Israel. The “natural branches” refer to the Nation of Israel and the warning to heed lest “God also spare not thee” is directed to the Gentile Nations. The Nation of Israel was set aside almost 2000 years ago when they rejected the offer of the Kingdom by Peter and the 12 as documented in the first part of Acts. Since then, it has been the “times of the Gentiles,” but that period will run its course at the Tribulation, which will end when the Lord Jesus Christ returns to earth to rule over Israel and the Nations, Luke 21:24 - 2824 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;

26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;

26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

. Only then will God’s promises to Israel be finally and eternally fulfilled.”

The inaccuracy is bolded and in italics: “The Nation of Israel was set aside almost 2000 years ago when they rejected the offer of the Kingdom by Peter and the 12 as documented in the first part of Acts. Since then, it has been the “times of the Gentiles,” but that period will run its course at the Tribulation, which will end when the Lord Jesus Christ returns to earth to rule over Israel and the Nations, Luke 21:24 - 28.” In truth, it was the Gospel of the Kingdom to Israel that was set aside almost 2000 years ago. Israel’s rejection of the Kingdom Gospel reached its apex at the stoning of Stephen, Acts 7:54 - 6054 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.

55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,

56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.

57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,

58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.

59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

. The Lord Jesus Christ subsequently revealed the Gospel of the Grace of God to the Apostle Paul, Acts 9:1 - 61 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,

2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.

3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:

4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

; Acts 9:11 - 1611 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,

12 And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.

13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:

14 And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.

15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.

; Acts 20:2424 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

. Since then, all individuals who have believed that Gospel, whether Gentile or Jew, have been saved. Thus, the book of Acts records the transition from the Gospel of the Kingdom as presented in the first of Acts to the Gospel of God’s Grace, which is clearly stated in 1 Corinthians 15:1 - 41 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

.

My error was stating “The Times of the Gentiles” began almost 2000 years ago, when indeed, that began earlier. Israel was the prominent Nation from when Moses led them out of Egypt. Israel was a Theocracy when God resided in His Tabernacle in Israel for 40 years in the wilderness. After they entered the Promised Land, it remained a Theocracy ruled by Judges for 450 years. Then, when they wanted a King like other nations, King Saul reigned for 40 years. Israel reached its Zenith under King David, a man after God’s heart, who conquered its enemies. David reigned for 40 years (The Companion Bible dates his reign from 960 BC until 920 BC). Then King Solomon reigned for 40-years (The Companion Bible dates his reign from 920 BC until 880 BC). Solomon began well when he asked God for wisdom with which to judge, 1 Kings 3:5 - 125 In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.

6 And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.

7 And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.

8 And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.

9 Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?

10 And the speech pleased the LORD, that Solomon had asked this thing.

11 And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment;

12 Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.

. However, he proved the truth of what Paul later revealed in 1 Corinthians 1:18 - 2118 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.

20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

that the wisdom of this world is foolishness for as wise as Solomon was, he turned his back on the Lord and His Law, 1 Kings 11:1 - 61 But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites:

2 Of the nations concerning which the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love.

3 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.

4 For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.

5 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.

6 And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully after the LORD, as did David his father.

and his reign ended in disruption. Israel became divided, ruled by his sons, Rehoboam who ruled the 2 Southern Tribes known as Judah and Jeroboam who ruled the 11 Northern Tribes known as Israel. Israel had a total of 19 Kings, including Jeroboam and all were evil. Judah had 20 kings, including Jeroboam, 12 of whom were evil and 8 who were good. The good ones were Asa, Jehoshaphat, Joash, Amaziah, Azariah, Jotham, Hezekiah, and Josiah. Q: #128. How many kings were there in Israel and Judah, how long did each rule, and how many were good/bad?

With that background, following are two views explaining when “The Times of the Gentiles began:”

“A look at the Old Testament prophets helps to define the beginning of this period. The Gentiles referred to the non-Jewish people. Their "time" means that Gentiles rule over the world, including having dominion over the Jewish people. When did the Gentiles begin to rule Jerusalem? This started when the Jewish temple was destroyed in 586 BC by the Babylonians. Jewish rule ended and Gentile rule began.

“Between this time and the time of Jesus on earth, the Jewish temple was rebuilt. However, Jerusalem was not under Jewish rule. Instead, the Jews were allowed to rebuild the temple seventy years later as predicted by Jeremiah. The Roman Empire later ruled Jerusalem, even helping to improve and expand the temple structure. The Romans ruled during the time of Jesus. The Jewish people later rebelled against Roman authority and the temple was destroyed in AD 70.

“In Revelation, Gentiles are still ruling Jerusalem even during the seven-year tribulation period (Revelation 11:22 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.

). This does not change until Christ returns at the end of these seven years to begin His millennial reign (Revelation 19:17 - 20:6), a 1,000-year period during which Jesus will lead His people from Jerusalem (Revelation 20).

“In short, the "times of the Gentiles" refers to the period in which Gentiles (non-Jews) have dominion over the world. This is between the reign of Nebuchadnezzar and Jesus's second coming. We are currently living in the "Times of the Gentiles." When is the 'times of the Gentiles'?

Also, Pastor Charles F. Baker wrote in his book "Understanding The Gospels” (page 200 in the digital version, page 226 in the hard copy version): “Jerusalem has been trodden down for nineteen centuries by Gentiles, and the times of the Gentiles has not yet ended, neither has the Lord returned to stand again on the Mount of Olives. The times of the Gentiles refers to the times during which Gentiles have exercised dominion over Jerusalem, beginning with Nebuchadnezzar.”