Paul poses two questions in Romans 11: Has God discarded Israel for all time? Will God graft physical Israel into the Covenant people of Abraham?

God's Word often employs the metaphor of grafting a branch into a rootstock, the best known of which is Paul's use of it in Romans 11.

Before the Flood, human thoughts and attitudes were evil continually, and civilization was rotten to the core. Universal sin was met with universal punishment.

Many of our friends and relatives will rise in the second resurrection, but what a shame it would be if we failed to be there to greet them!

In the second resurrection, billions of people who have never known God's plan will be given their first chance. We need to make sure we'll be there.