Gentile "Goodness," Western Civilization, and What Delays the Catching Up (Rapture)

"Catching us up" refers to the rapture---the "harpazo," or being caught up to meet the Lord in the air as described in 1 Thessalonians 4. The question is whether something about the present state of the Gentiles is delaying that event.

The text most relevant to this question is not Romans 11:2 so much as Romans 11:11--24, and especially verse 22.

subsubsectionPaul's Argument in Romans 11

In Romans 11 Paul addresses the relationship between Israel and the Gentiles in the present age. Several key statements are crucial to this question:

• Romans 11:12 -- "Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fullness?" Israel's fall and present "diminishing" have resulted in "riches" for the world and "riches of the Gentiles." That is, the temporary setting aside of Israel in unbelief has opened a period of rich blessing for the nations.
• Romans 11:15 -- "For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?" Israel's "casting away" has produced "the reconciling of the world"---the present age in which a worldwide ministry of reconciliation is preached (cf.~2 Corinthians 5:18--20). But Paul anticipates a future "receiving" of Israel that will be associated with resurrection "from the dead."
• Romans 11:17--21 -- Paul uses the imagery of an olive tree: beginitemize
• Some of the natural branches (Israel) were broken off because of unbelief.
• Wild olive branches (Gentiles) were grafted in among them and now partake of the root and fatness of the olive tree.
• The warning is clear: "Be not highminded, but fear: For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee."

item Romans 11:22 -- This is the key verse for the question:

"Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off." enditemize

Paul contrasts God's severity toward unbelieving Israel with his goodness toward the Gentiles. But that goodness is conditional in this verse: "if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off."

subsubsectionWhat Is This "Goodness"?

The word translated "goodness" here has a broad sense. It includes:

• God's gracious generosity in opening salvation to Gentiles apart from Israel's national restoration.
• But also the moral and social outworking of that grace: an atmosphere where kindness, mercy, and general beneficence flourish enough that the gospel can meaningfully be proclaimed and received.

It is important not to reduce "goodness" merely to individual justification. Paul is speaking to Gentiles corporately---"thee" as a class---contrasting their current favored status with Israel's present hardness. As long as there remains a measure of goodness in the Gentile sphere---a general moral and social environment where the gospel can function---this present dispensation continues.

subsubsectionThe Conditional Warning

"Otherwise thou also shalt be cut off."

This "cutting off" is not the loss of individual salvation. Paul is speaking about historical roles in God's plan:

• Israel was originally at the center of God's earthly dealings. Through unbelief, they were "broken off" from that place of privilege.
• Gentiles have now been grafted into a position of privilege---a season described as "riches" and "reconciling of the world."
• Paul warns that Gentiles could likewise be "cut off" from this position of privilege.

In the context of the broader biblical picture, this cutting off is best understood as the end of the present dispensation of grace, when:

• The body of Christ is caught up (raptured).
• God resumes his direct dealings with national Israel, leading into the events commonly called the tribulation and ultimately Israel's restoration.

subsubsectionSo Are the Gentiles Keeping God from Catching Us Up?

In a real sense, yes---but not because Gentiles are resisting God and he is unable to act. Rather, according to Romans 11:22, as long as there remains "goodness" among the Gentiles, God, in his goodness, continues the present grace-oriented administration.

To put it more precisely:

• The continuation of Gentile "goodness" is a condition under which God is pleased to extend the present age. This includes the space for: beginitemize
• The free proclamation of the gospel.
• The formation and growth of the body of Christ.
• A social and moral environment where the message can spread.

item When this goodness no longer persists at a level suitable to God's purposes, the Gentile position of privilege will be cut off.

At that point, the catching up of the body of Christ and the transition back to a focus on Israel will take place. enditemize

In that sense, Gentile "goodness" is delaying the rapture. It is not that Gentiles are stronger than God or can hinder his plan, but that God has chosen, in his goodness, to extend this age as long as there remains a meaningful context in which his grace can operate among the nations.

subsubsectionWestern Civilization as a Case Study

While Scripture does not use the term "Western civilization," one can make a reasonable theological application:

• For many centuries, what we call Western civilization has been deeply shaped by Christianity and by the Scriptures.
• It has, with all its sins and failures, been comparatively rich in: beginitemize
• Rule of law and personal liberty.
• Protection and elevation of women.
• Efforts toward the abolition of slavery.
• Economic productivity and generosity.
• Medical care and advancements in health.
• Education and literacy, including the spread of the Bible.

item Because of these factors, people worldwide have often sought to immigrate to Western nations, perceiving them as places of greater opportunity, justice, and material well-being. enditemize

These features can reasonably be seen as evidence of a certain "goodness" in the Gentile sphere---a goodness deeply influenced by the biblical worldview. This is not to say Western civilization is righteous in a salvific sense, but that it has, in many ways, provided fertile soil for the gospel of grace and for human flourishing.

If that general goodness erodes---if societies abandon even basic moral structures, suppress the word of God, and destroy the conditions under which the gospel can meaningfully spread---then the condition of Romans 11:22 would no longer be met. God has said, "if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off."

subsubsectionThe Trigger for the Rapture

Scripture does not give a date or a precise measurable metric, but Romans 11:22 does provide a principle:

• There is a conditional continuation of Gentile privilege in this age: "if thou continue in his goodness."
• There is a threatened termination of that privilege: "otherwise thou also shalt be cut off."

When that cutting off occurs, it is reasonable to understand it as:

• The removal of the body of Christ from the scene (the catching up).
• The resumption of God's direct dealings with Israel as a nation, leading into the events prophesied for the end of the age.

Thus, to answer the question succinctly:

• Yes, the present Gentile "goodness" is, under God's design, a factor in the ongoing delay of the catching up.
• When that goodness is no longer present at a level God deems sufficient, he will end this dispensation, cut off Gentile privilege, and call the body of Christ home.

Until then, the existence of goodness among the nations---especially where it enlarges the spread of the gospel and honors basic moral truth---is one of the reasons this age continues.