Hello Mike,
Thank you for the email clarifications.
I have a question about the teaching of the “sinners and hypocrites in Zion”. As part of that study, you had written:

Rom 11:31 Even so have these [ all in unbelief] also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.
Rom 11:32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

It is “through your mercy that they [“all { those} in unbelief”] also may obtain mercy,” not eternal torment in literal flames of literal fire. That ‘fire’ symbolizes the fiery, purifying word of God. But who has that Word? It is only in the mouths of God’s elect.
And had attributed that ultimate salvation to all those in unbelief. But as I study the entire chapter carefully, I see that Paul seems to be talking about the natural olive tree, the Jews, and not about all men. This entire chapter seems to be written exclusively about the descendants of Abraham who did not believe, who instead rejected Jesus (Joh 8 as one chapter of many).
Could I have missed something in the plain reading of the text?

Blessings and thank you,
J____

Hi J____,
You refer to a paper I wrote which deals with “sinners and hypocrites in Zion” and note that Rom 11 is speaking of Abraham’s descendants. Then you ask:

And [ you] have attributed that ultimate salvation to all those in unbelief. But as I study the entire chapter carefully, I see that Paul seems to be talking about the natural olive tree, the Jews, and not about all men. This entire chapter seems to be written exclusively about the descendants of Abraham who did not believe, who instead rejected Jesus (Joh 8 as one chapter of many).
Could I have missed something in the plain reading of the text?

No, you have not missed anything “in the plain reading of the text” but you have missed the spiritual message of the text. Here is that message, from this same apostle:

Gal 3:29  And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

… and this…

Rom 9:6  Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:
Rom 9:7  Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.
Rom 9:8  That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.
Gal 4:28  Now we, brethren [ Gentile Galatians], as Isaac was, are the children of promise.

In other words the “natural olive tree” has now become those who are in Christ, instead of Abraham’s natural physical descendants.
In Paul’s day physical Israel was God’s saints, the church out of which Christ and His disciples had been cast. It is right here in Rom 11:

Rom 11:7  What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded
Rom 11:8  (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.
Rom 11:9  And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:
Rom 11:10  Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.
Rom 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 hope this helps you to see that “the election” of verse 7 and “the Gentiles” of verse 11 are those who are the “in Christ… seed of Abraham… [ who] as Isaac was are the children of promise”, through whose mercy “all in unbelief may obtain mercy” in verse 31. “The election” of verse seven is the key to understanding that ‘the seed of Abraham who do not believe,” as you put it, are just as spiritual as the election who are “counted for the seed”.

Rom 9:8  That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these [ are] not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.
Rom 2:28  For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:

This principle applies even to believers in Christ. If they believe on Him and call themselves Abraham’s seed because they believe in Christ and still do not obey and “continue in His Word”, then they are not really believers at all. So it is with being “Abraham’s seed”.

Joh 8:31  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, [ then] are ye my disciples indeed;
Joh 8:32  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Joh 8:37  I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.
Joh 8:38  I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.
Joh 8:39  They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham.
Joh 8:40  But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.

“I know you are Abraham’s seed… If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham.” You see, even Christ was showing us what is meant by being Abraham’s seed and Abraham’s descendants. The apostle Paul is telling us in Rom 11 that our faith, as Abraham’s true “children of promise,” will be the true “in Christ children of Abraham”, who will be used of God to show mercy on “all who are in unbelief.”

Gal 3:29  And if ye [ Gentile Galatians] be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

So you have seen the “plain reading” of Rom 11, but you have missed the spiritual message of that chapter:

Rom 11:7  What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded

The message of this chapter and all of Paul’s letters, is that being Israel, being Abraham’s seed and being a Jew, no longer has anything to do with physical descent.

Gal 6:15  Can’t you see the central issue in all this? It is not what you and I do– submit to circumcision, reject circumcision. It is what God is doing, and he is creating something totally new, a free life!
Gal 6:16  All who walk by this standard are the true Israel of God— his chosen people. Peace and mercy on them! (MSG)

It is God’s “election [ who] have obtained what Israel sought for”. It is that ‘Israel’ who has been given  to be “counted as the true seed of Abraham”, and it is they who will “show mercy to all unbelievers”. Paul calls this “comparing spiritual with spiritual”, and he tells us that this is how the holy spirit now teaches us.

Joh 6:63  It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
1Co 2:13  Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
1Co 2:14  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spiri t of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

I hope this is all of some help to you. If it is still unclear, then please let me know.
Your brother in Christ,
Mike