Q: What Are the ‘Times of the Gentiles’?
The phrase times of the Gentiles is unique to the Gospel of Luke. Jesus said, “And they [the Jewish people] will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled” (Lk. 21:24).
Many people misunderstand and misinterpret Luke 21:24. Some claim that when Israel became a state on May 14, 1948, and then captured the Old City of Jerusalem during the Six-Day War in June 1967, the times of the Gentiles ended. But this is an erroneous interpretation of the verse.
The phrase times of the Gentiles refers to Gentile domination over the world and control over Jerusalem. The era began during the reign of Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. The Babylonians invaded Judah, destroyed Jerusalem, and exiled the Jewish people for 70 years (Jer. 25:11). Under King Cyrus of Persia the Jews were allowed to return to Jerusalem to rebuild their Temple (cf. 2 Chr. 36:23).
There have been times since the Babylonian Captivity when Israel has controlled Jerusalem, but Israel’s sovereignty did not last. For example, after Seleucid King Antiochus Epiphanes, who ruled ancient Israel from 175 BC to 163 BC, defiled the Temple, the Jewish people rallied under the Maccabees to revolt. They recaptured Jerusalem and cleansed and rededicated the Temple, but they only controlled the city for little more than 100 years.
Then the Romans took control. Again the Jewish people rebelled (AD 66–70); and again, in the Bar Kokhba revolt of AD 132, they were defeated. Even since becoming a state in 1948, eastern Jerusalem and the Temple Mount have been controlled largely by Muslims, not Jews.
The prophet Daniel described the times of the Gentiles when he outlined the successive Gentile nations that would rule throughout world history from Babylon to the Antichrist during the Great Tribulation (Dan. 2:31–45). Jesus predicted Jerusalem’s future destruction and the scattering of the Jewish people during the Antichrist’s persecution of Israel (Mt. 24:1–29). The Antichrist will seize Jerusalem and tread the city underfoot for 42 months (Rev. 11:2).
The times of the Gentiles will not end until Christ returns to Earth at His Second Coming, destroys Gentile rule, and establishes His universal reign forever (Mt. 24:30; Lk. 1:32–33; Rev. 19:16–21). Jerusalem will remain under Gentile domination until He returns. Therefore, the times of the Gentiles have not yet been fulfilled.
Based on biblical chronology, could it be possible that the end of the Gentile times was in 1914 and that the Kingdom of our Savior was established in heaven? Then would the Lord’s prayer “that may your kingdom come to earth as it is in heaven” apply?
❤️At the second coming all Israel will be saved. They will recognize HIM .
Thank you for your article on Israel and the Times of the Gentiles. It is a blessing as I try to learn and outline the PreMillennial view for my grand children because tough days lie ahead.
Revelation2:9
I know your works, tribulations, and poverty, (but you are rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Yahudiym and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.
Rev 3:9
Behold, I will make the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Yahudiym, and are not but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before your feet, and know that I have loved you.
Who would these scriptures refer to if the Yahudiyms are in Jerusalem already. He would have no need to have anyone come and worship and know that He loved them if where were not another He’s speaking of.
I am also intrigued by these verses.
Could it be talking about those that support a replacement theology for Israel? Those that teach that God is done with Israel, and all of the remaining promises fall to the Church which is now “spiritual Israel”.
Just a thought…
Thank you and God bless
Love the Israelmyglory.org, Been reading a long time…