In Luke 21:24, Jesus prophesies concerning the fate of Jerusalem, introducing a pivotal concept: the “times of the Gentiles.” This phrase encapsulates a period of Gentile dominion over Jerusalem, stretching from ancient times to the present day, and pointing towards future eschatological events. To grasp the full significance of Jesus’ statement, it is essential to delve into its context within biblical prophecy, particularly as it resonates throughout both the Old and New Testaments.
Jesus’ Prophetic Utterance: Luke 21:24 records Jesus’ prophecy: “They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.” Here, Jesus foretells the devastation of Jerusalem, a prophecy partially fulfilled in AD 70 by the Roman destruction of the city and its holy Temple.
The phrase “trampled on by the Gentiles” reflects historical realities wherein Jerusalem has endured foreign dominion since ancient times. Beginning with the Babylonian conquest in 586 BC, followed by subsequent empires—Medo-Persian, Greek, and Roman—the city has witnessed periods of foreign rule. This ongoing “times of the Gentiles” underscores a divine plan wherein Gentile nations exert authority over Jerusalem until God’s appointed time.
Since 1948, Israel has regained political sovereignty, yet the biblical concept of “times of the Gentiles” extends beyond politics to encompass spiritual and geopolitical dimensions. Politically, Israel navigates a complex global landscape influenced by international relations, maintaining ongoing Gentile influence. Religious diversity within Israel, including Jewish, Arab Muslim, Christian, Druze, and Bahá’í communities, reflects a complex societal fabric. Despite sovereignty, Israel engages extensively with Gentile nations economically, diplomatically, and culturally, underscoring the ongoing relevance of Gentile involvement in its affairs. This interaction, alongside internal religious divisions, shapes interpretations of biblical prophecy and Israel’s role in global dynamics, highlighting the complexities of religious coexistence and geopolitical realities in the region.
The duration of the “times of the Gentiles” suggests a predetermined period in which Gentile powers maintain influence over Jerusalem, in accordance with prophetic timelines extending into the future. This epoch is anticipated to reach its climax during the eschatological events surrounding Christ’s return, a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies such as those found in the book of Daniel (Daniel 2:44-45, 7:13-14). Christ’s return will herald his establishment as the rightful King of the world, fulfilling the promise of reigning from David’s throne in Jerusalem (Isaiah 9:6-7, Luke 1:32-33). This divine fulfillment underscores the sovereignty of God’s plan, bringing an end to the “times of the Gentiles” and initiating an era of universal peace and righteousness under Christ’s eternal rule (Revelation 19:11-16, 20:4-6).
Daniel’s Incredible Prophecies
Daniel, a prominent figure in biblical history, is renowned for his unwavering faith and profound prophetic insights. He served as a wise counselor in the courts of Babylonian and Persian kings during Israel’s exile, demonstrating remarkable integrity and dedication to God amidst cultural challenges. His prophecies, recorded in the Book of Daniel, offer profound glimpses into future events, showcasing God’s sovereignty over nations and His faithfulness to fulfill His promises.
The period of Gentile rule over Jerusalem began with the Babylonian exile in Daniel’s time and will continue until the Second Coming of Christ. This concept is primarily derived from the prophetic writings in the Book of Daniel, which outline a series of Gentile empires that will have authority over Israel.
“The times of the Gentiles refers to that long period beginning with Nebuchadnezzar’s overthrow of Jerusalem, B.C. 606, and to continue until the destruction of Gentile world-power by the return of the Lord in glory.”
C.I. Scofield
Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream
In the second chapter of the Book of Daniel, we encounter a pivotal moment in the prophet’s life and the history of ancient Babylon. Around the year 603 BC, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, troubled by a dream of great significance, summoned his wise men, magicians, sorcerers, and astrologers to interpret its meaning. Faced with the threat of execution for failure, these learned men were unable to satisfy the king’s demand. Hearing of this, Daniel, a young Hebrew captive known for his wisdom and faith in God, sought an audience with the king. Through divine intervention and prayer, Daniel not only received the dream’s contents but also its interpretation from God Himself. This event marked the beginning of Daniel’s rise to prominence in the Babylonian court and underscored the prophetic gift that would characterize his life and writings.
King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of a great statue made of different materials serves as a timeline of Gentile dominion and it’s prophesied end. Daniel miraculously stated the dream and then interpreted it to the King. His prophetic interpretation revealed a succession of empires. Here is a breakdown of his revelation:
Head of Gold – Babylonian Empire (626-539 BC)
- Scripture: Daniel 2:37-38: “Your Majesty, you are the king of kings. The God of heaven has given you dominion and power and might and glory; in your hands he has placed all mankind and the beasts of the field and the birds in the sky. Wherever they live, he has made you ruler over them all. You are that head of gold.”
- Historical Context: The Babylonian Empire, under Nebuchadnezzar, conquered Judah and destroyed Jerusalem in 586 BC, beginning the period of Gentile domination.
Chest and Arms of Silver – Medo-Persian Empire (539-331 BC)
- Scripture: Daniel 2:39: “After you, another kingdom will arise, inferior to yours.”
- Historical Context: The Medo-Persian Empire, established by Cyrus the Great, conquered Babylon in 539 BC and allowed the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem (Ezra 1:1-4).
Belly and Thighs of Bronze – Greek Empire (331-146 BC)
- Scripture: Daniel 2:39: “Next, a third kingdom, one of bronze, will rule over the whole earth.”
- Historical Context: Alexander the Great’s Greek Empire swiftly conquered the Persian Empire and extended Greek culture throughout the known world.
Legs of Iron – Roman Empire (27 BC – AD 476)
- Scripture: Daniel 2:40: “Finally, there will be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron—for iron breaks and smashes everything—and as iron breaks things to pieces, so it will crush and break all the others.”
- Historical Context: The Roman Empire was known for its military might and administrative efficiency. It played a significant role in biblical history, notably during the time of Jesus.
Feet partly of Iron and Clay – Future Confederation
- Scripture: Daniel 2:41-43: “Just as you saw that the feet and toes were partly of baked clay and partly of iron, so this will be a divided kingdom; yet it will have some of the strength of iron in it, even as you saw iron mixed with clay.”
- Interpretation: This symbolizes a future, unstable coalition of ten kings or kingdoms, often interpreted as a revived Roman Empire.
Rock that Struck the Statue – Kingdom of God
- Scripture: Daniel 2:44-45: “In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed… it will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever.”
- Fulfillment: This represents the establishment of Christ’s eternal kingdom following His second coming.
Seventy Sevens Prophecy
In Daniel 9:24, the prophecy of the “Seventy ‘sevens'” is introduced as a divine decree for the people of Israel and the holy city of Jerusalem. The term “sevens” refers to a set of seven years, making the total period 490 years. This period is designed to achieve six critical purposes: to finish transgression, put an end to sin, atone for wickedness, bring in everlasting righteousness, seal up vision and prophecy, and anoint the Most Holy Place.
The breakdown of this period is provided in Daniel 9:25, which specifies that from the issuance of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the coming of the Anointed One (the Messiah), there will be seven ‘sevens’ and sixty-two ‘sevens.’ The first segment, seven ‘sevens’ (49 years), covers the time it took to rebuild Jerusalem under the leadership of Nehemiah, starting from the decree given by Artaxerxes in 445 BC (Nehemiah 2:1-8). This decree marked the beginning of the 490-year period.
Following the initial 49 years, there are sixty-two ‘sevens’ (434 years). This period extends from the completion of Jerusalem’s rebuilding to the arrival of the Anointed One. Combining these two segments (7 ‘sevens’ + 62 ‘sevens’), we get 69 ‘sevens’ or 483 years. Historical records and scholarly calculations suggest that this timeline accurately matches the period from the decree in 445 BC to around AD 30, the time traditionally associated with the ministry and crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
The final ‘seven’ mentioned in Daniel 9:27, often referred to as the 70th week, is a seven-year period yet to be fulfilled. According to the prophecy, this period will begin with the Antichrist making a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ However, in the middle of this ‘seven’ (after 3 1/2 years), the Antichrist will break the covenant, put an end to sacrifice and offering, and set up an abomination that causes desolation at the temple. This final week, or seven-year period, is understood to be the Tribulation, a time of great distress that will culminate in the second coming of Christ.
In summary, the seventy ‘sevens’ prophecy outlines a comprehensive timeline of 490 years, with 483 years already fulfilled in history, marking significant events from the decree to rebuild Jerusalem to the coming of Christ. The remaining seven years are anticipated to unfold in the future, leading to the ultimate fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan.
For more detail on timing, check my post titled Daniel’s Major Prophecies
Historical Correlation of World Powers
Babylonian Empire (626-539 BC)
- Key Figures: Nebuchadnezzar II
- Notable Events:
- Conquered Judah and destroyed Jerusalem in 586 BC
- Daniel taken to Babylon (Daniel 1)
Medo-Persian Empire (539-331 BC)
- Key Figures: Cyrus the Great, Darius the Mede
- Notable Events:
- Conquered Babylon in 539 BC
- Decree allowing Jews to return to Jerusalem (Ezra 1)
Greek Empire (331-146 BC)
- Key Figures: Alexander the Great
- Notable Events:
- Conquered the Persian Empire under Alexander the Great
- Division of Alexander’s empire among his generals
Roman Empire (27 BC – AD 476)
- Key Figures: Julius Caesar, Augustus, Nero
- Notable Events:
- Established dominance over the Mediterranean world, including Israel
- Birth, ministry, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus Christ
The fall of the Roman Empire was marked by internal decay and external pressures, leading to its division into the Western Roman Empire, centered in Rome, and the Eastern Roman Empire, centered in Constantinople, around AD 395. This split weakened the empire, making it vulnerable to invasions and strife. The Western Roman Empire fell in AD 476, while the Eastern Roman Empire, or Byzantine Empire, lasted until 1453. After the division, the Roman Empire fragmented into smaller kingdoms, often referred to as the ten kingdoms, correlating with Daniel’s interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream where the statue’s legs of iron symbolized the Roman Empire and its feet and toes of iron and clay depicted its divided, unstable state (Daniel 2:33-34, 41-43).
Daniel’s prophecy foretold that the iron strength of the Roman Empire would give way to a mixture of iron and clay, indicating a fractured political landscape. This accurately describes the post-Roman territories, which reflected enduring Roman influence and emerging independent kingdoms (Daniel 2:41-43).
The concept of a revived Roman Empire is based on biblical prophecy, particularly in Daniel and Revelation. Daniel describes a future kingdom of ten kings or kingdoms, symbolized by the statue’s feet and toes of iron and clay, which will form an unstable alliance (Daniel 2:41-43). In Daniel 7:7-8, the vision of a fourth beast with ten horns represents ten kings arising from this revived empire. A little horn, the Antichrist, will emerge, overthrowing three kings and establishing his rule. Revelation 17:12-13 further describes ten kings who will give their power to the beast, the Antichrist, signifying a significant end-time player.
This revived Roman Empire will play a central role in the end-times, particularly during the Tribulation period, with the Antichrist rising to power and making a seven-year covenant with Israel (Daniel 9:27). This period will culminate in significant eschatological events, including the Great Tribulation and Christ’s return.
These prophecies emphasize the continuity and fulfillment of biblical predictions, showing how ancient prophecies are expected to unfold in future geopolitical and spiritual realities.
Eschatological Events According to Biblical Prophecy
Revived Roman Empire
- Scripture References: Daniel 2:41-43, 7:7-8
- Description: Symbolizes a future confederation of ten kings or kingdoms, represented by the feet of iron and clay and the ten horns.
Rise of the Antichrist
- Scripture References: Daniel 7:8, 9:27
- Description: The Antichrist will ascend to power and make a covenant with Israel for seven years, initiating a period of significant global influence.
Great Tribulation
- Scripture References: Daniel 9:27, Matthew 24:21
- Description: The final week (seven years) of intense tribulation, characterized by unprecedented suffering and turmoil, especially in its latter half.
Second Coming of Christ
- Scripture References: Daniel 2:44-45, Revelation 19:11-21
- Description: Christ will return visibly and triumphantly to defeat the Antichrist, establish His everlasting kingdom, and bring an end to the “Times of the Gentiles.”
Future Restoration of Israel: Biblical Perspectives
Romans 11: Paul’s Teaching on Israel’s Restoration
- The Remnant of Israel: Paul affirms God’s continued covenant with Israel, noting a remnant chosen by grace, paralleling Elijah’s time (Romans 11:1-5).
- Hardening and Salvation: Paul explains Israel’s partial hardening and the salvation available to both Jews and Gentiles (Romans 11:7-12).
- Grafting In: Using the olive tree metaphor, Paul describes Gentiles being grafted into Israel’s promises, with a warning against arrogance (Romans 11:17-24).
- The Fullness of the Gentiles and Israel’s Salvation: Paul reveals a mystery that all Israel will be saved after the full number of Gentiles come in (Romans 11:25-27).
Relation to Jesus’ Teachings
- Jesus’ Lament Over Jerusalem: Jesus mourns over Jerusalem, foretelling a future acceptance of Him as Messiah by the Jewish people (Matthew 23:37-39).
- The “Times of the Gentiles”: Jesus predicts a period of Gentile dominion over Jerusalem until its fulfillment (Luke 21:24).
Old Testament Prophecies of Restoration
- Isaiah 11:11-12: Isaiah prophesies a future gathering and restoration of Israel by God (Isaiah 11:11-12).
- Ezekiel 37:21-23: Ezekiel foresees God gathering the Israelites from the nations and restoring them to their land (Ezekiel 37:21-23).
- Zechariah 12:10: Zechariah predicts Israel’s mourning and recognition of Jesus as the pierced Messiah in the future (Zechariah 12:10).
Future Restoration in the Book of Revelation
- The Sealed 144,000: John sees 144,000 sealed from the tribes of Israel, symbolizing God’s preservation and recognition of His people (Revelation 7:4-8).
- The Woman and the Dragon: The woman (Israel) protected from the dragon (Satan) signifies divine protection during tribulation (Revelation 12:1-6).
- The New Jerusalem: John envisions the New Jerusalem, symbolizing God’s ultimate fulfillment of His promises and the establishment of His eternal kingdom (Revelation 21:2).
Conclusion: God’s Plan and Prophecy Regarding Israel’s Restoration
Paul’s teachings on the restoration of the Jewish nation, intertwined with Jesus’ prophecies and the broader biblical narrative, underscore God’s unchanging plan for Israel. The theme of Israel’s partial hardening, their future recognition of Jesus as Messiah, and the ultimate fulfillment of God’s promises resonate throughout the Old and New Testaments.
John’s vision in Revelation 11:2 further illuminates the period of Gentile dominance over Jerusalem, emphasizing the prophetic continuity and destiny of the holy city. His visions in Revelation highlight Israel’s pivotal role in God’s redemptive plan, affirming the consistent message of Scripture regarding Israel’s past, present, and future.
Therefore, the concept of the “times of the Gentiles” serves as a theological framework spanning historical realities to future eschatological fulfillment. It underscores God’s sovereignty over human history, culminating in the restoration and exaltation of Jerusalem under divine rule. As believers reflect on these prophecies, they find assurance in God’s enduring faithfulness and the fulfillment of His redemptive plan for all nations.
Summary
The “Times of the Gentiles” as outlined in the Bible provides a comprehensive and coherent framework for understanding both historical events and future prophetic fulfillment. Dispensational premillennialism offers a lens through which the unfolding of God’s sovereign plan is viewed, emphasizing the centrality of Israel, the precision of biblical prophecy, and the ultimate triumph of God’s kingdom. By examining prophecies and apostolic doctrine, believers can gain a deeper appreciation for God’s control over history and find hope in the promised future where the times of the Gentiles will come to an end and Christ will reign supreme.
Ezekiel 36:24-28
“‘For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. Then you will live in the land I gave your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God.’
All Scripture quoted from:
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
