[FONT=Tahoma, sans-serif]Sunday, February 24 [/FONT] [FONT=Tahoma, sans-serif]The ones chosen obtained it.[/FONT] —[FONT=Tahoma, sans-serif]Rom. 11:7.[/FONT] [FONT=Tahoma, sans-serif]When the selection of those who[/FONT][FONT=Tahoma, sans-serif] would form the heavenly [/FONT][FONT=Tahoma, sans-serif]“kingdom of priests†[/FONT][FONT=Tahoma, sans-serif]started at Pentecost[/FONT] [FONT=Tahoma, sans-serif]33 C.E., there were some[/FONT][FONT=Tahoma, sans-serif] right hearted Jews who accepted[/FONT][FONT=Tahoma, sans-serif] the invitation. [/FONT][FONT=Tahoma, sans-serif](Ex. 19:6)[/FONT][FONT=Tahoma, sans-serif] Numbering[/FONT][FONT=Tahoma, sans-serif] a few thousand, these were[/FONT][FONT=Tahoma, sans-serif] just like[/FONT][FONT=Tahoma, sans-serif] “a remnant†[/FONT][FONT=Tahoma, sans-serif]in comparison[/FONT][FONT=Tahoma, sans-serif] with the whole Jewish nation.[/FONT] [FONT=Tahoma, sans-serif] How, though, would Jehovah[/FONT][FONT=Tahoma, sans-serif] complete [/FONT][FONT=Tahoma, sans-serif]“the full numberâ€[/FONT][FONT=Tahoma, sans-serif] of[/FONT][FONT=Tahoma, sans-serif] those who were to become Abraham’s[/FONT] [FONT=Tahoma, sans-serif]seed? [/FONT][FONT=Tahoma, sans-serif](Rom. 11:5, 12, 25)[/FONT][FONT=Tahoma, sans-serif] Notice the answer given by the[/FONT][FONT=Tahoma, sans-serif] apostle Paul: [/FONT][FONT=Tahoma, sans-serif]“It is not as though the word of God had failed. For[/FONT][FONT=Tahoma, sans-serif] not all who spring from [natural][/FONT][FONT=Tahoma, sans-serif] Israel are really ‘Israel.’ Neither[/FONT][FONT=Tahoma, sans-serif] because they are Abraham’s seed[/FONT] [FONT=Tahoma, sans-serif][offspring] are they all children [part of the Abrahamic seed] . . .[/FONT][FONT=Tahoma, sans-serif] That is, the children in the flesh[/FONT][FONT=Tahoma, sans-serif] are not really the children of God,[/FONT][FONT=Tahoma, sans-serif] but the children by the promise[/FONT][FONT=Tahoma, sans-serif] are counted as the seed.†(Rom. 9:6-8) [/FONT][FONT=Tahoma, sans-serif] So physical descent from[/FONT][FONT=Tahoma, sans-serif] Abraham was not a rigid requirement[/FONT][FONT=Tahoma, sans-serif] for the fulfillment of Jehovah’s[/FONT][FONT=Tahoma, sans-serif] purpose regarding the seed.[/FONT] [FONT=Tahoma, sans-serif] w11 5/15 4:11, 12[/FONT]