Times of the Gentiles
The phrase "times of the Gentiles" is found in Luke 21:24.
Luk 21:24 They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
In this passage, Jesus was foretelling about the destruction of Jerusalem and its Temple. This is a continuation of verse 20-23, where we hear Jesus warning His disciples about the signs that will come before the great tribulation.
What was Jesus talking about here? He was continuing His speech from verse 20:
Luk 21:20 But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near.
So this verse 24 cannot be taken to stand alone, but must be read together in the Context of the earlier verses. Dispensationism says that the "times of the Gentiles" means all the Gentiles in the world, and because they have not all come to Christ, the Coming of Jesus is still in the future. This is a misunderstanding on the term "times of Gentiles". In fact, Luke 21:32 tells us that all these signs will be fulfilled within that generation of the audience. So how can we apply the "times of the Gentiles" to people 2000 years later?
The "times of the Gentiles are fulfilled" means that the time of the conquest of Jerusalem by a Gentile enemies (Roman armies) is completed. Jerusalem was invaded, felled and given over to the Romans who are Gentiles.
We see a similar parallel passage in Rev 11:2 when John was given a glimpse of what will happen to Jerusalem in the very near future.
Rev 11:2 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.
The courts of the Temple was "given to the Gentiles" and this was exactly what happened in AD70 when the Romans invaded Jerusalem and trampled underfoot their Temple for 42 months (three and a half years). The courts of the Temple were reserved for the Gentiles to be trampled.
This was the physical presence of the Gentiles within the Temple and in Jerusalem. It was the physical fulfillment of the "times of the Gentiles" in that generation.
However we are also drawn to a spiritual understanding to the fulfillment of the "times of the Gentiles".
We know that the Old Testament was written about the Jews, their nation Israel and their relationship with God. But before we had the Jews, before we had Abraham, Moses and before we had Jacob (also called Israel), way back when God made mankind, there was no separation between Jews and Gentiles. There was no such terms as Jews or Gentiles. God just created Adam and Eve. They were human beings made in the image of God, and not termed Jews or Gentiles.
In the later part of Genesis, from the time of Moses onward, the Jews began to set up a religious system to imitate that of the surrounding nations that did not know God. They instituted the priesthood and established a tabernacle and then a temple to be the meeting place with God. The performance based religion started with temple sacrifices and observation of special days and feasts. They try to make themselves righteous based on their own obedience. That was what the religions of the neighboring nations doing also.
That means the destruction of the Temple and their religion (Judaism) together with all the religious practices would then make their former way of access to God through the Holy Place impossible since there will be no more Temple. God has brought the Israel's practice of religion obsolete. This is the spiritual fulfillment of the "times of the Gentiles".
There is now no more distinction between Jews and Gentiles. The door of access to God through the Temple had ceased. And all these made possible because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ at the Cross and the destruction of the holy city Jerusalem and its Temple. Because of Jesus Christ who instituted the New Covenant through His shed blood, there is no more separation between God and man. Previously, only the Jews had access to God, and the Gentiles did not. But the event of AD70 brought about the "times of the Gentiles" and God does not show any more distinction of mankind based on race or religion.
Gal 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
Gal 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
Gal 3:29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Let us look at how the word "Gentile" was established right from the beginning. The word "Gentile" first appear in Genesis 10:5.
Gen 10:5 By these were the isles of the Gentiles divided in their lands; every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations.
Here we find that after the flood of Noah, the Gentiles were separated from the Jews, the people of God, into their own nations and languages.
However, prior to Gen 10, there was no distinction between Jews and Gentiles. In fact, these terms or categories do not even exist. In the New Covenant, God brought about a reunification of all races, both Jews and Gentiles, all mankind, into a relationship with God. God brought back all of humanity to Himself.
On the day of Pentecost in Acts 2, the Holy Spirit came upon the people, and they began to speak in various tongues and languages of man until everyone could understand the gospel. And as a result, they heard the wonderful works of God in their own mother tongue, and 3000 people believed in Jesus (Acts 2:41). God reunited back all the people of various nations and languages into the kingdom of God.
The world fights very hard to maintain distinction of race, species and religion, resulting in many wars and tribulations continuously. But those in the New Covenant, they lose their separation and are brought near to God as one. The kingdom of God is the melting pot and the spiritual glue that brings all of us together. This was what Jesus accomplished at the Cross.
The whole bible, and particularly Isaiah has many passages that God was interested to bring His kingdom and blessing not only to Israel but to the Gentiles and the nations of the world. Isaiah prophesied many times that God will bring His kingdom to the Gentiles. Let us look at some of these in Isaiah:
Isa 11:10 And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.
The root of Jesse is Jesus. The Gentiles will seek for Jesus and it shall be glorious. Isaiah was written to the Jews, and yet it speaks of a time when the Gentiles will seek after their root of Jesse and finding the glory.
Isa 42:6 I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;
God will establish a covenant and a light to the Gentiles.
Isa 49:6 I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.
Israel will bring salvation and light to the Gentiles.
Isa 49:22 Thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people: and they shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders.
God will raise up the Gentiles to take care of Israel's sons and daughters.
Isa 60:3 And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.
Isa 66:12 For thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream: then shall ye suck, ye shall be borne upon her sides, and be dandled upon her knees.
God will bring about the glory of the Gentiles.
Isa 66:19 And I will set a sign among them, ... and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles.
From the above, you can see that God had the nations, both Jews and Gentiles in His eternal plan. That fulfillment of the "times of the Gentiles" happened on the Cross, and completion in AD70 when the Temple was no longer the access route to God.
The Gentiles did not have a Messiah promised to them like the Jews had all through the Old Testament, but they have a share of the Savior (Messiah) now that Jesus is the Redeemer of all mankind. Jesus has completely eradicated the difference between a Jew and a Gentile. Now everyone can come to God through Jesus Christ. God does not have any future plans to put aside the New Covenant and restore the natural nation of Israel again, like what some of these new organizations are advocating.
Some are trying to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem to bring back the glory of Israel and usher in a new Messiah. But this is never the plan of God.
Some are telling people and naive believers that God is only interested in Israel and Israel Only (IO). Again, from all throughout the Old and New Testament, we have seen the goodness of God for all nations, not just Israel only.
Paul told the Galatians:
Gal 6:15 For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.
Gal 6:16 And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.
In Jesus, there are no more rituals called circumcision or uncircumcision and especially upon the Israel of God. This complements what Paul said in Gal 3:26-29.
