Chapter nine of Daniel and the seventy weeks begins by focusing on the 70 weeks of years.

 Daniel 9:24 NASB "Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy place.”

I have come to understand that the lead-in to the 70th year includes:

• The catching away of the bride.

• The introduction of the antichrist.

• The unleashing of God's wrath upon Israel and the nations.

• And has to include the beginning of the millennial reign. 

All of which comprise that 70th year.

The problem with understanding lies in preachers who weakly try to explain what to do with this over 2000-year-old gap. Daniel 9:26 tells us that the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. This event, which happened once, is a definition of the event that is yet to come. Paul, writing to the church in Thessalonica, a place where he initially only spent three weeks, went deep rather quickly as he explained to them that the antichrist will not come on the scene until the church is removed. You have to go into the Literal Translation of the Holy Bible or the Geneva Bible to find this clearly laid out.

Since we will not witness the antichrist making his moves, then it would make sense that this transition to the 70th week brings about the removal of the church, the advent of the antichrist, and the unleashing of God's wrath.

Sir Robert Anderson tells us this about the 70^th week:

Seventy weeks. Note: “That is, seventy weeks of years, or 490 years, which, reckoned from the seventh year of Artaxerxes, coinciding with the 4256th year of the Julian period, and in the month Nisan, in which Ezra was commissioned to restore the Jewish state and polity (Ezr_7:9-26), will bring us to the month Nisan of the 4746th year of the same period, or A.D. 33, the very month and year in which our Lord suffered, and completed the work of our salvation. Sir Robert Anderson has since given a detailed calculation regarding the seventy weeks, a period which begins March 14, B.C. 445, and for the sixty-ninth week, ends Sunday, April 6, A.D. 32, the day of the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem (Luke_19:28-40) in fulfillment of Zechariah_9:9” (Anderson, The Coming Prince, pp. vi., 128).

Despite all this horror that precedes God's wrath, it is also a time of much healing and freedom.

Pay attention to the following assertions.

• To finish the transgression - If the wrath has to be poured out upon Israel, up to and including the time Jesus comes back on the white horse, then it is safe to say that the transgression is NOT over. Clearly, the war, which Jesus fights with the sword in His mouth, is an aspect of this transgression being brought to an end.

• To make an end of sin - This, I conjecture, took place in that time between the cross, Jesus's death, His resurrection, and His placement upon the throne, where He now sits. Matthew 26 records Jesus telling the disciples that the wine was a symbol of His blood, which takes away the sin of the world. During the time between the cross and the throne, Jesus poured out His blood upon the mercy seat, in the heavenly temple, for all of us. (This one-time act is the culmination of our salvation if we will accept that He came to earth and did all that for our benefit.) Now, if you are saying to yourself, but I keep on sinning, first off, you would be correct because that attraction to sin is part of your DNA, thanks to Adam, and it is one of the primary reasons that in the twinkling of an eye, we who arise to go with Christ to meet Him in the air will be changed from air breathers to spiritual beings made wholly in the image of God. I would not be too hard on Adam because God needed a pathway into the earth by which He could, once and for all, eliminate Satan and his cohorts; Adam's actions gave Him just that opportunity. Now God, knowing full well the tribulations that are a part of our daily lives, made a covering for us, and that was the cross.

• To make atonement for iniquity - There, once again, goes that cross; and God, in the form of Jesus, put Himself on that cross, paying the outlandish price, once and for all.

• To bring in everlasting righteousness - Every minute we spend on this earth is an opportunity to show God's grace and mercy to others. This grace, mercy, and justice is the essence of God's character, and we have the privilege of sharing that. Eventually, and by that I mean sooner than you think, we will partake in His everlasting righteousness.

• To seal up the vision and prophecy - Some translations add the word "the." I think it makes more sense, as the vision and the prophecy are not in the control of any one human being; it belongs to all who believe, receive, and redistribute the vision to others.

• And to anoint the Most Holy Place - The writer of the book of Hebrews tells us that Jesus did just that. Our struggle is to envision that this took place on His traverse from the cross to the throne.

Daniel 9:25 BSB  “Know and understand this: From the issuance of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem, until the Messiah, the Prince, there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks. It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of distress.”

Trying to ascertain this particular moment in time (the decree to rebuild Jerusalem) has always been a cloudy issue for me. I can tell you that my personal cloud lay in my hesitation to look at the wording of the statement, "from the issuance of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem."

There were four decrees from the mouth of the kings, but three of them were specific to the temple alone. Finally, Artaxerxes I made his last decree in 445 BC and specified that Jerusalem be rebuilt. There the clarity was all along.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary informs us of this: “Artaxerxes’ permission to rebuild the city of Jerusalem is the decree Daniel had prophesied 95 years earlier in 539 B.C. This decree was issued on March 5, 444 B.C. (See comments on Daniel_9:25).

Daniel 9:25 goes on to say, "From the issuance of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem, until the Messiah, the Prince, there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks." This is 69 weeks of years, or 490 years.

Do you realize that Jesus did not have to struggle to understand this bit of history and put Himself on that donkey's colt and ride through the Eastern Gate, the Sheep Gate, on that specific morning?

Why point out that it was the Sheep Gate?

Because the Lamb of God, the King of Kings, the Son of God, the Son of Man, and the Savior of the world, the Messiah, rode into town that day. Jesus was not caught up in all the accolades because He knew their hearts. He also knew how much this was going to cost Him.

Here we are, once again, staring at those 69 weeks of years out of 70. Jesus died, rose again, and walked the earth for a short period of time after He rose, demonstrating that He is God. This gap between the 69th and the 70th week would require preparations and the hardening of hearts in order to bring everything into alignment. As I pointed out earlier, the church would have to be retrieved, battles would have to be prepared, the attempts to split Jerusalem would be made, and the world would have cried peace and security, while others screamed out, for no good reason, their hatred of the Jews and Israel.

Is that happening?

Oh, you bet it is.

Back to the Bible Knowledge Commentary:

“The divisions of the 70 “sevens” (Daniel_9:25-27) 

“Important revelation was then given to Daniel about the inception of this important time period and its divisions. The 70 “sevens” would begin, Gabriel said, with the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem. This decree was the fourth of four decrees made by Persian rulers in reference to the Jews.”

“The fourth decree was also by Artaxerxes Longimanus, issued on March 5, 444 b.c. (Nehemiah_2:1-8). On that occasion Artaxerxes granted the Jews permission to rebuild Jerusalem’s city walls. This decree is the one referred to in Daniel_9:25.”

“This prophecy of the 70 sevens, then, ends not with the First Advent of Christ, as some suggest, but rather with the Second Advent and the establishing of the millennial kingdom.”

Daniel 9:26 BSB  Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and will have nothing. Then the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood, and until the end there will be war; desolations have been decreed.

Once again, ignoring the seven weeks that initiated this course of action, we are told that AFTER the 62 weeks the Messiah will be cut off.

What does that mean?

That means Jesus would be falsely accused, beaten severely, and nailed to a cross; this was the price paid for all of our sins—past, present, and future.

Moving on.

Daniel, in the interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar's vision, which Daniel saw, is told that the people of the prince that is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary.

The religious explanation of the prince is to say that the revised Roman Empire will rise up, and we should see someone from that region rise up. This also implies that we may see a pope take this role. Don't be so cloddish.

The Ultimate Cross-Reference Treasury also takes the safe, traditional path when giving an answer about whom they think will take the lead as the antichrist; they do this by pointing us, incorrectly, back to Rome.

The answer as to the nationality and region from which this "prince" will come is found in Daniel when he interprets the golden image for Nebuchadnezzar.

Historians such as Josephus and Tacitus recorded that Assyrians, as conscript troops who had an intense hatred of the Jews, waged a war against the Jews' temple, despite orders from Titus.

“AI” informs me of this: "While Emperor Vespasian was the Roman Emperor during the time of the First Jewish-Roman War and the events leading to the siege of Jerusalem, his son Titus commanded the Roman legions that besieged and destroyed Jerusalem and the Second Temple in 70 AD." Josephus recorded that the Assyrian troops ignored the commands from Titus to cease and desist in their destruction.”

So, the people of the prince also included Assyrians, a fact that was documented by two historians. So when you generalize and say it will be a Roman that will return as the Antichrist, you are ignoring the obvious: Assyrians.

Back to Daniel and the interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar's dream statue.

One more piece of evidence about the people of the prince that is to come.

Micah 5:5 NASB: This One will be our peace. When the Assyrian invades our land, when he tramples on our citadels, then we will raise against him seven shepherds and eight leaders of men.

You can make the mistaken assumption that the Assyrian is a generalized statement about anyone from the Middle East attacking Israel, an event we have been watching for several months. Micah speaks about the end of time.

Daniel's explanation to Nebuchadnezzar went as follows.

Daniel 2:31-35 BSB  As you, O king, were watching, a great statue appeared. A great and dazzling statue stood before you, and its form was awesome.  (32)  The head of the statue was pure gold, its chest and arms were silver, its belly and thighs were bronze,  (33)  its legs were iron, and its feet were part iron and part clay.  (34)  As you watched, a stone was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay, and crushed them.  (35)  Then the iron, clay, bronze, silver, and gold were shattered and became like chaff on the threshing floor in summer. The wind carried them away, and not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that had struck the statue became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.

The specifics about the first head read like this:

Daniel 2:38 BSB "Wherever the sons of men or beasts of the field or birds of the air dwell, He has given them into your hand and has made you ruler over them all. You are that head of gold."

The second kingdom is best defined in the Amplified Bible.

Daniel 2:39 AMP "And after you shall arise another kingdom [the Medo-Persian], inferior to you, ..."

The Amplified Bible continues to explain.

Daniel 2:39 AMP “…and still a third kingdom of bronze [Greece under Alexander the Great], which shall bear rule over all the earth.”

And though the AMP Bible declares that the Greeks “shall bear rule over all the earth,” we don't see that; and, like the Romans that are yet, in this narrative, to come, they, like the Greeks, will come to a crashing halt.

Now let's examine the Macedonians/Greeks for a moment.

They initiated their foray into world domination under a powerful man, Alexander, but he, like everyone else, eventually died. Upon his death, four generals grabbed control. They collapsed down to two: Ptolemy 1 in the South, Egypt, and Seleucus in the North. In trying to find some depth to back up my assertions, I found this https://biblehub.com/topical/t/the_four_successors_of_alexander.htm; there it says the “Seleucus' dynasty is noted for its attempts to integrate Greek and Eastern cultures.”

Eastern culture has effectively come to be known as Islam.

If you are struggling to understand the implications of an assertion such as this, then I suggest you consider what is happening to America where Muslims are concerned. Perhaps this website will open your eyes. https://www.theunitedwest.org/2017/06/27/islams-conquest-of-america-one-town-at-a-time/. Consider the opening statement from this website,

“Minneapolis (MN) to Hamtramck (MI) to Falls Church (VA) to Paterson (NJ) and many other towns and cities across the fifty states, the Islamic Movement is quietly conquering America (Just as they have done in the UK)

The federal government sleeps; many state governments – including those controlled by Republicans – do their best to accommodate Muslims waging Civilization Jihad against America, and the hard-left Marxists – including nearly all of the local and national media – are collaborators in the enemy’s efforts.

Did you notice the phrase, “Republicans, do their best to accommodate Muslims waging … Jihad against America...” It should not surprise you to know that a powerful Imam from America recently told the world, from his mosque, that soon, Muslims will have full control of our governmental systems, up to the White House. Let me remind you that the Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, had a Muslim woman, Huma Abedin, who was a former political staffer and an intern in First Lady Hillary Clinton's office in 1996. Internet information shows that after four years in the White House, Mrs. Clinton moved on to the U.S. Senate. Huma Abedin served as a senior advisor to Senator Clinton and was traveling chief of staff for Clinton's in 2008. She also served as the vice chair of Hillary Clinton's 2016 campaign for President of the United States. During much of this time, she was the wife of Anthony Wiener, who served on the New York City Council. Mrs. Clinton allowed that woman to access and process state secrets. (This information can be freely accessed on the internet.)

So, the Seleucid Empire had attempted to integrate into the Assyrian culture, a powerful and deadly culture, that affected “nations” such as the Ninevehites, whom Jonah was willing to commit suicide to prevent God from showing these people, whom Jonah hated, mercy, which He did.

We are given NOTHING that indicates that the Assyrians ever extracted themselves from attempts at controlling this region of the world.

The fourth empire is a transition from the Grecian empire as it dissolved into the two legs and feet of iron. The iron shows the influence of Islam.

Daniel 2:41-43 AMP And as you saw the feet and toes, partly of [baked] clay [of the potter] and partly of iron, it shall be a divided kingdom; but there shall be in it some of the firmness and strength of iron, just as you saw the iron mixed with miry [earthen] clay. (42) And as the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of [baked] clay [of the potter], so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly brittle and broken. (43) And as you saw the iron mixed with miry and earthen clay, so they shall mingle themselves in the seed of men [in marriage bonds]; but they will not hold together [for two such elements or ideologies can never harmonize], even as iron does not mingle itself with clay.

A key word that many miss, simply because it is relatively common, is the word mixed. ‛arab is an Aramaic verb meaning to mix, to mingle, to join together. (Word Study Dictionary.)

When I, an American, see these letters, I only think of two things: Middle Easterners and Muslims. You should know that Muslims and Islam did not come on the scene until some time after 600 AD.

Also consider what God had to say about Ishmael.

Genesis 16:11-12 NASB The angel of the LORD said to her further, "Behold, you are with child, And you will bear a son; And you shall call his name Ishmael, Because the LORD has given heed to your affliction. (12) "He will be a wild donkey of a man, His hand will be against everyone, And everyone's hand will be against him; And he will live to the east of all his brothers."

So we already had a picture of what we are seeing now in the Middle East.

We are never given any information to define any furtherance in kingdoms beyond Alexander.

Since God never promoted the Roman Empire, why do we?

I suppose the obvious: the Roman Empire did play a role in the rule and law of Israel; and, under the rule of Titus Vespacian, the temple was destroyed for the second time in 70 AD. This information still gives me no right to declare Rome to be the empire that will bring on the antichrist.

History and the writings etched into stone tell us that the Medes and Persians were the second kingdom. Here is an oddity that no one will tell you: the Babylonians, the Medes, and the Persians all had the Assyrians as their common ancestry, and they were descendants of Noah.

Take a read of Micah's writings, where it informs us that one of the names of this "prince" is the Assyrian. (Note: Not Roman.)

Micah 5:5 KJV  “...when the Assyrian shall come into our land: and when he shall tread in our palaces, ...”

Consider that it would be rare if you found someone who agreed with the Word of God that this man who destroyed the temple in 70AD is the Assyrian, nor will they agree that the “prince that is to come” will be the Assyrian.

Isaiah 31:8 NASB “And the Assyrian will fall by a sword not of man, And a sword not of man will devour him. So he will not escape the sword, ...”

In Revelation 19, we see Jesus coming back to earth on a white horse, and He has a sword coming out of His mouth.

Revelation 19:11-15 KJV  And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.  (12)  His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.  (13)  And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.  (14)  And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.  (15)  And out of his mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

While many are killed, we are only told that He kills two people and throws them into the lake of fire: the antichrist and the false prophet.

“A sword not of man” is Jesus, and it is the antichrist that fits the description of the Assyrian.

So, there you are, stuck without a satisfying answer, while at the same time you have a somewhat vague answer that points to the vast Muslim community. We will not know who this man is, and he will not be released into public view until the Church has made its escape from this earth.

The 483 Years in the Jewish and Gregorian Calendar
Jewish Calendar (360 days per year)*					Gregorian Calendar (365 days a year)
(7 x 7) + (62 x 7) years = 483 years					444 b.c. to a.d. 33 = 476 years†
		483 x 360	years years			476 x 365	years days
	173,880		days			173,740 + 116 + 24 173,880	days days in leap years†¡ March 5-March 30 days
*See comments on Dan_9:27 for confirmation of this 360-day year.
† Since only one year expired between 1 B.C. and A.D. 1, the total is 476, not 477.
†¡A total of 476 years divided by four (a leap year every four years) gives 119 additional days. But three days must be subtracted from 119 because centennial years are not leap years, though every 400th year is a leap year.

Has God rejected His own people? Romans 11:1-24.

We open our study of Romans 11 with the last three verses of Romans 10. Why?

Because chapter 11 is a continuation of thought, and, as you will see, opens with what seems like an important.

If we have some form of Christian world view, one that is aware of the angry tones which accompany the voices of those who say, God is done with Israel, and their fate is hell. Is this question that Paul asks, “did the people of Israel really understand,” a valid one? Paul tells us that they did understand, and he uses himself as an example, but, as he says in verse 21, “they were disobedient and rebellious.”

Romans 10:19-21 NLT  But I ask, did the people of Israel understand? Yes, they did, for even in the time of Moses, God said, “I will rouse your jealousy through people who are not even a nation. I will provoke your anger through the foolish Gentiles.”  (20)  And later, Isaiah spoke boldly for God, saying, “I was found by people who were not looking for me. I showed myself to those who were not asking for me.”  (21)  But regarding Israel, God said, “All day long, I opened my arms to them, but they were disobedient and rebellious.”

When we open chapter 11, we immediately we see Paul using another rhetorical question. Watch how he answers it analytically and insight-fully.

”I ask, then, has God rejected his own people, the nation of Israel?
Of course not!
I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham and a member of the tribe of Benjamin.”
(Romans 11:1 NLT)

Far too many have tried to answer this question; however, they would tell you that God has rejected His own people. How and why would you do that, when the Holy Spirit has seen fit to put an answer there on the page for you to see. A man I sat under for a short time, would say things that conflicted with the Word of God. Called on his error by showing him the truth in the Word, he would respond with, “that's my opinion, and that is all that matters.”

So then, God has not rejected his people and the fact that Paul is speaking into our lives proves that point.

God didn't turn his back on his people. After all, he chose them. Don't you know what Scripture says about Elijah? He complained to God about Israel.
(Romans 11:2 NIrV)

Look at what Leviticus says,

But for all that, when they are in the land of their haters, I will not let them go, or be turned away from them, or give them up completely; my agreement with them will not be broken, for I am the Lord their God. (Leviticus 26:44 BBE)

I believe that 1Kings 19, beginning with verse 10, is what Paul is referring to when he speaks of Elijah's complaint.

"Yet I will leave 7,000 in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal and every mouth that has not kissed him." (1 Kings 19:18 NASB)

It is evident that Elijah felt very alone,

"Lord, THEY HAVE KILLED YOUR PROPHETS, THEY HAVE TORN DOWN YOUR ALTARS, AND I ALONE AM LEFT, AND THEY ARE SEEKING MY LIFE."
(Romans 11:3 NASB)

Paul pointed out in the ninth chapter of this letter to the church in Rome that only a remnant would survive; is God telling us, based upon the number that He gave to Elijah, that the remnant will equal 7000? I am not so sure, and here is why.

"It will come about in all the land," declares the LORD, "That two parts in it will be cut off and perish, but the third will be left in it. 

(Zechariah 13:8 NASB)

Even though Zechariah speaks of a third that does not perish, a significant number of passages speak of only a few surviving. As of October 2019, Israel claims a population of 9,108,500 inhabitants. If a third survived what is coming, we could potentially be looking at somewhere around 3 million people; a tenth would be 900,000. To only have 7000 walking into the millennial reign is a shockingly small number.

But what is the divine response to him? "I HAVE KEPT for Myself SEVEN THOUSAND MEN WHO HAVE NOT BOWED THE KNEE TO BAAL."
(Romans 11:4 NASB)

Don't we also sometimes feel alone, especially when we see the truth in God's Word, and it conflicts with what is being taught from the podium and then professed by the lost sheep that we sit by in our churches? I have experienced this feeling on multiple occasions. A pastor of mine was trying to explain the communion, and it’s origins, in his closing comments to a men’s retreat. He said, “Jesus did not want to die for you.” Now, I can give the man some grace and say that he misspoke, but the damage was done, and he made no attempts to correct his error. If you are one of those lost sheep, and cannot, or will not read for yourself, then this conversation is pointless to you. However, I have studied my bible and know what it says,

fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author, and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2 NASB)

The Apostle John tells us this about God and His attitude toward us.

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. (John 3:16 NASB)

Does that sound like someone who did not want to die for you? No, I didn't think so.

Now watch as Paul, speaking to an audience in which the majority are Jewish Christ-followers, says, it is not so different today. Remember, context is everything and may exclude me from applying this next verse to the time frame in which we live.

“In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God's gracious choice.”
(Romans 11:5 NASB)

Just as the story about Elijah lamented what appeared to be his solitary efforts to promote God, we too are not alone, and, though you may not see them, the others are out there. Many, not needing the spotlight, pray their tears out before God; they pray in this manner because they too feel alone.

The NLT translation does a better job of moving us through Romans 11:5, so let's look at that.

It is the same today, for a few of the people of Israel have remained faithful because of God’s grace—his undeserved kindness in choosing them.
(Romans 11:5 NLT)

Note the phrase undeserved kindness.

And since it is through God’s kindness, then it is not by their good works. For, in that case, God’s grace would not be what it really is—free and undeserved.
(Romans 11:6 NLT)

“And since it is through God’s kindness, then it is not by their good works.” Who is the “they” in this sentence? The Jews, but as Paul already pointed out, anyone can jump on board.

But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.
(Romans 3:21-24 NLT)

• “God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law”
• “We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ.”
• “this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.”
• “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.”
• “Yet God, in His grace, freely makes us right in his sight.”
• He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.”

What is Israel seeking?

What then [shall we conclude]? Israel failed to obtain what it sought [God's favor by obedience to the Law]. Only the elect (those chosen few) obtained it, while the rest of them became callously indifferent (blinded, hardened, and made insensible to it).
(Romans 11:7 AMP )

So the question is, what is Israel seeking?

Some might say they are seeking a Messiah. Sadly, He came, and they would not recognize Him. Will they know Him when God's wrath is poured out on them once again?

Have a look at Eugene Peterson's translation.

Romans 11:7 MSG  And then what happened? Well, when Israel tried to be right with God on her own, pursuing her own self-interest, she didn't succeed. The chosen ones of God were those who let God pursue his interest in them, and as a result, received his stamp of legitimacy. The "self-interest Israel" became thick-skinned toward God.

Has Israel ever stopped trying to be right, pursuing her own self-interests?

If what Peterson sees is those who allow God to pursue His interests in them, do we see Israel as doing that? Apparently not.

2 Corinthians 3:15-16 NASB, But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart; but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.

So Israel will have to turn to the Lord, and that day will come.

Romans 11:8 NET. as it is written,

"God gave them a spirit of stupor,

eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear,

to this very day."

Romans 11:9 NLT  Likewise, David said,

“Let their bountiful table become a snare, a trap that makes them think all is well. Let their blessings cause them to stumble, and let them get what they deserve.

Romans 11:10 NLT 

Let their eyes go blind so they cannot see, and let their backs be bent forever.”

Paul is quoting much of Romans 11:8-10 from Psalms 69, but he, like Jesus frequently did, is only taking a portion for Psalm 69 speaks of their homes being deserted. Now, this may be the destruction that is coming to Israel, but who would wish that on someone?

Psalms 69:22-25 NIrV  Let their feast be a trap and a snare. Let my enemies get what's coming to them.  (23)  Let their eyes grow weak, so they can't see. Let their backs be bent forever.  (24)  Pour out your anger on them. Let them feel its burning heat.  (25)  May their homes be deserted. May no one live in their tents.

Romans 11:11 CEV 

Do I mean that the people of Israel fell, never to get up again?

Certainly not!

Their failure made it possible for the Gentiles to be saved, and this will make

the people of Israel jealous.

Pay attention to this next verse.

Romans 11:12 CEV  But if the rest of the world's people were helped so much by Israel's sin and loss, they will be helped even more by their full return.

Another translation.

Romans 11:12 Williams  But if their stumbling has resulted in the enrichment of the world and their overthrow becomes the enrichment of heathen peoples, how much richer the result will be when the full quota of Jews comes in!

Consider this idea of a full quota. Quota means a just part or share; or the share, part or proportion assigned.

So God already has a number in mind, knowing full well that, regardless of the open invitation, only so many will come.

Paul now speaks directly to those who were among the nations, but are now a part of the flock.

Romans 11:13 ERV  Now I am speaking to you people who are not Jews. I am an apostle to the non-Jewish people. So while I have that work, I will do the best I can.

Other terms for this people group are the nations and the Gentiles; it all works. The GW translation puts it this way.

(GW)  Now, I speak to you who are not Jewish. As long as I am an apostle sent to people who are not Jewish, I bring honor to my ministry.

Question: was Saul/Paul an apostle to the Gentiles from the very beginning? 

No.

What evidence do we have that Saul/Paul was initially an apostle to the Jews?

(Acts 9:22 BBE)  But Saul went on increasing in power, and the Jews in Damascus were not able to give answers to the arguments by which he made it clear that Jesus was the Christ.

Now some might try to argue that Paul was preaching to Greeks based on Acts 9:29, so let's look at that for a moment.

(Acts 9:29 NASB) And he was talking and arguing with the Hellenistic Jews; but they were attempting to put him to death.

Two things to note from Acts 9:29: In the NASB, the word Jews are italicized, meaning it is not found in the original text, it was added for continuity and understanding. Based on the context, I would agree that the term fits the conversation. The other thing to pay attention to is that many of the audience were deemed Hellenists. The word Hellenistic means a Jew by birth or religion who speaks Greek; it is used chiefly of foreign Jews and proselytes whether converted to Christianity. That term, Hellenist might seem odd in Jerusalem, but there was a change, and under Roman rule, Greek became the acceptable language. 

Could this term Hellenists just as easily apply to a Gentile who had converted to Judaism? 

Certainly, because the definition of a Hellenist also includes those who are Jews by conversion.

Almost as though the writers of the CEV translation had been there in Jerusalem, they state,

(Acts 9:28-29 CEV)  Saul moved about freely with the followers in Jerusalem and told everyone about the Lord.  (29)  He was always arguing with the Jews who spoke Greek, and so they tried to kill him.

In Acts 11, we see an interesting transition that eventually includes Paul.

(Acts 11:19-20 NASB) So then those who were scattered because of the persecution that occurred in connection with Stephen made their way to Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except to Jews alone. (20) But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus.

Pay attention to verse 19, as it says, that those scattered because of the persecution that occurred in connection with Stephen, preached the Word to no one except for Jews alone. This persecution can directly be tied back to Saul (soon to be called Paul.)

And now follow verse 20, where it states, “But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus.” Who or what gave them the freedom or thought to speak to the Gentiles about Jesus, the Jew that will return to rule the world, is not clear, however, I suspect the Holy Spirit's influence.

(Acts 11:22-26 NASB) The news about them reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas off to Antioch. (23) Then when he arrived and witnessed the grace of God, he rejoiced and began to encourage them all with resolute heart to remain true to the Lord; (24) for he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And considerable numbers were brought to the Lord. (25) And he left for Tarsus to look for Saul; (26) and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. And for an entire year, they met with the church and taught considerable numbers, and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

At this point, there is no aversion on the part of Paul to speak to Gentile believers. The word church here is ekklēsia, and, in this instance, means an assembly of Christians gathered for worship in a religious meeting. (Thayer Definition)

The phrase, an assembly of Christians, has no stipulations on it, and may well have included Jewish and Gentile converts. If I am following this story, holding to a chronological timeline, I still find Paul headed to the Synagogue on the Sabbath.

(Acts 13:13-14 NASB) Now Paul and his companions put out to sea from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia, but John left them and returned to Jerusalem. (14) But going on from Perga, they arrived at Pisidian Antioch, and on the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down.

(Acts 14:1 NASB) In Iconium, they entered the synagogue of the Jews together and spoke in such a manner that a large number of people believed, both of Jews and of Greeks.

When did his mission change based upon what we see in Acts?

Acts 13:46-49 NASB Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said, "It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first; since you repudiate it and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles. (47) "For so the Lord has commanded us, 'I HAVE PLACED YOU AS A LIGHT FOR THE GENTILES, THAT YOU MAY BRING SALVATION TO THE END OF THE EARTH.'" (48) When the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. (49) And the word of the Lord was being spread through the whole region.

So here in Acts 13:46-49, Paul says, because you (Jews) judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, we are turning to the Gentiles.

Was Peter prompted by the Holy Spirit to be an apostle to the Gentiles?

Yes.

Did Peter pursue his calling to the Gentiles? 

It would not appear so beyond the household of Cornelius.

So Paul made it his goal, “to make my fellow-countrymen jealous.”

(Romans 11:13-14 Williams)  Yes, I now am speaking to you who are a part of the heathen peoples. As I am an apostle to the heathen peoples, I am making the most of my ministry to them, to see  (14)  if I can make my fellow-countrymen jealous, and so save some of them.

What would possibly make them jealous? God is showing grace, mercy, and acceptance to the nations.

(Romans 11:15 Williams)  For if the rejection of them has resulted in the reconciling of the world, what will the result be of the final reception of them but life from the dead?

Since God has brought in the world under the same glorious terms He offered Israel, then life from the dead is also part of the deal.

(Romans 11:16 Williams)  If the first handful of dough is consecrated, so is the whole mass; if the tree's root is consecrated, so are the branches.

Then we are consecrated as well if we believe.

It is the rootstock that supports us.

(Romans 11:17-18 NASB) But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree, (18) do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you.

Romans 11:19-24 NASB, Williams.

You will say then,

"Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in."

Very well, but it was for lack of faith that they were broken off,
and it is through your faith that you now stand where you are. (Williams)
Do not be conceited, but fear; for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either.
Behold then the kindness and severity of God;
to those who fell, severity, but to you, God's kindness,
if you continue in His kindness;
otherwise, you also will be cut off.
And they also, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in,
for God is able to graft them in again. (NASB)
For if you were cut off from an olive wild by nature,
and contrary to nature were grafted on to a fine olive stock,
how much easier will it be for the natural branches to be grafted on to their own olive stock? (Williams)

Consider, if this is something that could happen, such as being cut off, why then would anyone be comfortable saying such lousy things about Israel as God has cast them aside, losing out on His mercy?