The Times of the Gentile nations. "Hou plerothosin kairoi ethnon." Luke 21v24, Rev 11v1,2.
This appears to have begun with the Babylonian captivity of Judah under Nebuchadnezzar, and will end with the destruction of Gentile power at the coming of Christ. Dan 2v31-45. During all this time, Jerusalem has only known temporary periods of freedom from foreign rule, like the one she is at present enjoying, and even now her sacred Temple area has the Mosque upon it, which was built by Caliph Omar in the 7th. century, and so it is being “trodden down of the Gentiles,” (“pateo” Strongs NT:3961, to trample underfoot, and treat with contempt) and it appears will continue to be so trodden under, “until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.” Luke 21v24. (In Heb 10v29 the strengthened form “katapateo” Strongs NT:2662, is used to speak of the even more serous sin of trampling under foot the Lord Jesus). The rule of Jerusalem by foreign powers will only cease when Christ returns to reign.
“Kairoi,” “times,” is used to show these are special divine times and epochs which are ordained by God, and prove that, “The Most High rules in the kingdom of men and gives it to whomsoever He will.” Dan 4v17,25. The times of the Gentiles is the period when God has allowed Gentile nations in sequence to have empires and rule large areas of the world, and for much of this time Israel has been subjugated under Gentile nations. The sinfulness of these nations and their leaders has allowed Satan to dominate and control them, as we can see from the seven heads of the beast in Rev 13 and 17. God has allowed these Gentile nations to have empires in order to reveal their hearts and break the pride of the Gentiles by their total failure to produce justice and the desired happiness of their subjugated nations. This will demonstrate that without God's loving rule, sin will dominate and happiness will be impossible and all will fail. The appalling misery, carnage and destruction brought about by Satan and Antichrist will demonstrate the fearful end of evil, and break the pride of man. It will be obvious that man cannot manage to rule the world without the grace of God. The nations entering the Millennium will realise the wisdom and righteousness of God's ways, and also be willing to learn from the despised Jew. Zech 8v23.
When we consider the plans and purposes of God we are left in wonder and amazement at God's unsearchable wisdom. When Jesus comes returns He will terminate the times of the Gentiles, the age of grace, and the fullness of the Gentiles.
The Fullness of the Gentile nations. "To pleroma ton ethnon." Rom 11v25,26, 15v16,18.
The apostle Paul says, “I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery ... that blindness in part is happened to Israel, UNTIL the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob.” Rom 11v25,26. In Rom 11v25,26, Paul is quoting and explaining the prophecy of Isaiah 59v16-21; which confirms that the fullness of the Gentiles and the times of the Gentiles finish at the same time, the day when Christ comes to set up His kingdom and judge the wicked. The fullness of the Gentiles is the time when Christ returns and the purpose of God in calling out Gentile believers into Christ's Church is completed. Eph 1v22,23, 2v11-22, Acts 15v14, 1Cor 12v12,13. In Rom 15v16, Paul writes of “the offering up of the Gentiles,” “he prosphora ton ethnon.” Paul looks upon himself as a minister (“leitourgon,” someone who performs a public service, and particularly a religious service), who is ministering the Gospel, (“hierourgounta,” to serve as a priest, to work in sacred things, particularly of sacrifices), and he sees his sanctified Gentile converts as a pleasing and acceptable offering to God. This is the “obedience of the Gentiles,” “to hupakoen ethnon,” which Paul refers in Rom 15v18.
The blindness of the Israelites will continue until the fullness of the Gentiles comes in at the close of the age, when Christ appears in His glory to deliver the godly seed of Jacob. If the Church were to be removed before the great tribulation it would make nonsense of Paul's statement in Rom 11v25,26, that Israel experiences a “blindness in part until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in;” for Israel is almost completely deceived and corrupted by Antichrist and experiences her time of greatest spiritual blindness during the great tribulation. The fullness of the Gentiles takes place on the same day that the times of the Gentiles closes, the same day that Jesus, “The Deliverer,” comes out of Zion and sets up His kingdom on earth, this is when “the fullness of Israel” starts, and the reproach of Israel is taken away. Rom 11v12. Which, according to Isaiah 25v6-9, is when the marriage supper of the Lamb, the resurrection, and the binding and execution of Satan and his angels occurs. “The fullness of the Gentiles” is a major part of the divine purposes for this age of grace.
This appears to have begun with the Babylonian captivity of Judah under Nebuchadnezzar, and will end with the destruction of Gentile power at the coming of Christ. Dan 2v31-45. During all this time, Jerusalem has only known temporary periods of freedom from foreign rule, like the one she is at present enjoying, and even now her sacred Temple area has the Mosque upon it, which was built by Caliph Omar in the 7th. century, and so it is being “trodden down of the Gentiles,” (“pateo” Strongs NT:3961, to trample underfoot, and treat with contempt) and it appears will continue to be so trodden under, “until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.” Luke 21v24. (In Heb 10v29 the strengthened form “katapateo” Strongs NT:2662, is used to speak of the even more serous sin of trampling under foot the Lord Jesus). The rule of Jerusalem by foreign powers will only cease when Christ returns to reign.
“Kairoi,” “times,” is used to show these are special divine times and epochs which are ordained by God, and prove that, “The Most High rules in the kingdom of men and gives it to whomsoever He will.” Dan 4v17,25. The times of the Gentiles is the period when God has allowed Gentile nations in sequence to have empires and rule large areas of the world, and for much of this time Israel has been subjugated under Gentile nations. The sinfulness of these nations and their leaders has allowed Satan to dominate and control them, as we can see from the seven heads of the beast in Rev 13 and 17. God has allowed these Gentile nations to have empires in order to reveal their hearts and break the pride of the Gentiles by their total failure to produce justice and the desired happiness of their subjugated nations. This will demonstrate that without God's loving rule, sin will dominate and happiness will be impossible and all will fail. The appalling misery, carnage and destruction brought about by Satan and Antichrist will demonstrate the fearful end of evil, and break the pride of man. It will be obvious that man cannot manage to rule the world without the grace of God. The nations entering the Millennium will realise the wisdom and righteousness of God's ways, and also be willing to learn from the despised Jew. Zech 8v23.
When we consider the plans and purposes of God we are left in wonder and amazement at God's unsearchable wisdom. When Jesus comes returns He will terminate the times of the Gentiles, the age of grace, and the fullness of the Gentiles.
The Fullness of the Gentile nations. "To pleroma ton ethnon." Rom 11v25,26, 15v16,18.
The apostle Paul says, “I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery ... that blindness in part is happened to Israel, UNTIL the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob.” Rom 11v25,26. In Rom 11v25,26, Paul is quoting and explaining the prophecy of Isaiah 59v16-21; which confirms that the fullness of the Gentiles and the times of the Gentiles finish at the same time, the day when Christ comes to set up His kingdom and judge the wicked. The fullness of the Gentiles is the time when Christ returns and the purpose of God in calling out Gentile believers into Christ's Church is completed. Eph 1v22,23, 2v11-22, Acts 15v14, 1Cor 12v12,13. In Rom 15v16, Paul writes of “the offering up of the Gentiles,” “he prosphora ton ethnon.” Paul looks upon himself as a minister (“leitourgon,” someone who performs a public service, and particularly a religious service), who is ministering the Gospel, (“hierourgounta,” to serve as a priest, to work in sacred things, particularly of sacrifices), and he sees his sanctified Gentile converts as a pleasing and acceptable offering to God. This is the “obedience of the Gentiles,” “to hupakoen ethnon,” which Paul refers in Rom 15v18.
The blindness of the Israelites will continue until the fullness of the Gentiles comes in at the close of the age, when Christ appears in His glory to deliver the godly seed of Jacob. If the Church were to be removed before the great tribulation it would make nonsense of Paul's statement in Rom 11v25,26, that Israel experiences a “blindness in part until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in;” for Israel is almost completely deceived and corrupted by Antichrist and experiences her time of greatest spiritual blindness during the great tribulation. The fullness of the Gentiles takes place on the same day that the times of the Gentiles closes, the same day that Jesus, “The Deliverer,” comes out of Zion and sets up His kingdom on earth, this is when “the fullness of Israel” starts, and the reproach of Israel is taken away. Rom 11v12. Which, according to Isaiah 25v6-9, is when the marriage supper of the Lamb, the resurrection, and the binding and execution of Satan and his angels occurs. “The fullness of the Gentiles” is a major part of the divine purposes for this age of grace.
