This phrase is found in Luke 21:24.
Who are the Gentiles? The Holy Scriptures reveal that the Gentiles are people
and nations who are non-Jewish. [By implication they are usually pagan, heathen
nations.]
Does this mean that if I have been
brought up in a Christian country, that I am a Gentile? Yes - that is exactly
what it means! If I am non-Jewish I am a Gentile.
So far we have learned that anyone who
is not a Jew is automatically classified as a Gentile. Therefore,
any nation other than Israel is a Gentile nation; regardless of skin colour,
religion or culture.
Luke 21:24,
"And they 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." These words were spoken by the Lord
Jesus Christ.
History has proved the truth of this.
The Jews were dispersed among the nations for many centuries. Jerusalem was
trodden under foot by the Romans, then the Saracens and finally by the Turks;
until Israel was allowed to be a nation again in 1948.
Although modern Israel is a sovereign
State it is much smaller in size than ancient Israel. Continuing conflicts with
its neighbouring countries are ongoing. On the site of its ancient Temple in
Jerusalem sits a Muslim mosque. The Jews have no Temple to offer sacrifices to
God, no ruling King and no effective priesthood. So in a practical sense even today
the ancient city of Jerusalem is heavily influenced by the Gentiles.
The time is coming however when "the times of the Gentiles"
will be fulfilled. Gentile dominance will cease! Israel will become the
dominant nation in the world.
Deuteronomy 28:12,13, "(12) The Lord will open to you His good treasure, the heavens, to
give the rain to your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your
hand. You shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. (13) And the
Lord will make you the head and not the
tail, you shall be above only, and not be underneath, if you heed the
commandments of the Lord your God, which I [Moses] command you today, and are careful to observe them."
Israel as a nation were disobedient and
rebellious to the Lord their God. Most of the Old Testament is taken up with
their waywardness and consequent punishments. They will however become "the head and not the tail"
because God has decreed it! When will this take place? After Armageddon when Christ comes back to
save Israel and set up His millennial kingdom on earth. Gentile dominance will be finished!
For a fuller explanation I refer you to
my 2011 blog posts:
Armageddon - Could it impact on you? [August]
Israel - The Time of Jacob's Trouble [September]
Israel - Salvation from the Great
tribulation [September]
The times of the Gentiles will be fulfilled,
and finished, and no man or nation will be able to stop it!
Jon Peasey
[All
Scriptures quoted are from the New King James version; unless otherwise noted.
Word enclosed in [ ] are inserted
for clarity. Words in bold type
emphasise a point]
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