The Times of the Gentiles

 "And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled." Luke 21:24 NKJV

A recent Bible study brought me to this verse. I did a quick study to find out if I could better understand what it means.

First, this times of the Gentiles statement is only used in this verse. There are a couple of places where a similar thought is conveyed, but not in this exact manner. Romans 11 talks about the fullness of the Gentiles coming in. Ezekiel 30 talks about the day of the Lord and the times of the Gentiles.

The word times is a word that in the original language means an appointed time. It is used to define a definite period or a particular season. What this means for us is that the times of the Gentiles is a definite time that happens at the right time. Gentile rule of Jerusalem is not an accident or a coincidence.

Some theologians suspect that the times of the Gentiles began at the Babylonian captivity and continues to this day. Even in light of 1967 and the Six Days War, Jerusalem has not been without Gentile rule or influence. To this day with the temple mount under Muslim control and Gaza inhabited by Palestinians, Jerusalem and Israel is almost but not quite a sovereign nation.

I suspect that the times of the Gentiles ends at the rapture in Revelation chapter 4. Israel still has a part to play and the Gentile nations are doomed to judgement after the church is gone.

I wonder if rebuilding the Temple in Jerusalem will trigger the rapture, or if the chaos after the rapture will allow Israel to build a new temple. I wonder if we, the church, will see these things come to pass.

There are events in Bible prophecy that the church will not see first hand. I am grateful for that!