The correct quote is "I have reserved to Myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.." Paul is quoting IKings 19:10-18. God Himself has reserved to Himself 'seven thousand men'.
Then Paul goes on to quote Isaiah 29:10 "God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear:;) unto this day......
Reason: Romans 11:11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.
Now Paul declared in Ephesians 1:4 that the 'elect'.... According as He hath chosen us (election) in Him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.
This before the foundation of the world is when Satan rebelled and some stood against Satan. They are the 'elect'. They have already been chosen because of the stand they took when Satan decided he was going to replace God. (Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28 describes his rebellion and first deception)
God is just and He elected already proved servants that will in this flesh age serve Him. Paul is to me the most prominent of any to represent those of the 'elect'. Because up until Paul had his awakening on the road to Damascus, Paul was doing with zeal what he believed was right.
Here are facts we do know was revealed: - 144,000 will be sealed and they will come from the tribes of Israel (for some reason the JWs think they have a lock on this figure, so do the Mormons, and to some degree Armstrongite off shoots) - We also see multitudes in heaven no man can’t count coming from the tribulation (last I checked my 10 yr old can count to and beyond 7000 if properly motivated)
Why do you care what others claim? What did God have John write down? Revelation 7:3 Saying, "hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads."
I read it as TIME specific as those of the election need be sealed before the false messiah gets tossed out of heaven. This is God's doing not mans. And it applies to those of the election still walking around here in flesh bodies. As noted by you and your 10 year old there is already in heaven a multitude which no man can number of ALL nations that have over come. I do not get the problem you have with what God had John write down. It is what it is. I sure could not tell you who is of the tribe of Reuben or any of the tribes noted. And I do not know any flesh being walking the earth today that can either.
No 7000 mentioned. Don’t you think such a central teaching of 7000 would be mentioned in the premiere end times book (Revelation)? Would you also not want other Scriptural evidence to support this one verse? Bad theology is built on a few verses of scripture. Go to an RC caucus thread for examples. For a CLEAR example of solid doctrine which withstands all scriptures see 1 Corinthians 15. THAT will with stand the whiles of the devil and antichrist.
You need to ask God why He had Paul quote Him from back in IKings. He obviously had it put there for cause. Some do have free will to pick and choose what scriptures they deem more important than the rest. Given the prominence of Elijah and John the Baptist in serving the Lord, I take it as a sign of what the times will be like, the majority of the inhabitants on this earth will be deceived. The issue to me is to learn what the deception is. And IF I am still here when the revival of the fake messiah takes place at least I will know the majority is wrong. After all Paul did write the majority of the new testament.
What do we have from Sheperds Chapel and Murray’s teaching? One verse (Romans 11;4) clearly out of context for not only the chapter but chapters (Romams 9-11) And an entire book (Romans)! This is akin to Rome wresting verses and metaphors to promote transubstantiation. At least they have a metaphor. Murrayites have nothing close. Finally is it “fluff” to point out Murray is not clear on the Nature of Jesus Christ? He never answered the Trinity question. He did give an answer but his answer is similar to Modalism where God has three offices but that not all are eternal nor simultaneous.
Actually I do not know what you have from Shepherd's Chapel. You are free to make whatever context you decided over Romans 11:4, God will be the judge NOT you!!!
>>The correct quote is “I have reserved to Myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal..” Paul is quoting IKings 19:10-18. God Himself has reserved to Himself ‘seven thousand men’.
Then Paul goes on to quote Isaiah 29:10 “God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear:;) unto this day......
Reason: Romans 11:11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.<<
I suggest you read Romans 9-11 to fully grasp the context. Paul is addressing Israelites of the physical nation. He is not discussing the church at all. So are you of Hebrew origin? If so the then it applies if not you are a Gentile or Jew who is part of Christ’s church.
This is where you explain to me identity theology? Somehow the Anglo Americans are the true Israel?