Bible Prophecy: Times of the Gentiles vs. Fullness of the Gentiles

 

Bible Prophecy:

Times of the Gentiles vs Fullness of the Gentiles

 

BACKGROUND: Times of the Gentiles

Late during His earthly ministry, the disciples of our Lord Jesus privately asked Him: “…what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?” The Lord’s response gave several indicators that provided signs that the end was approaching. Among those signs, in the Book of Luke, Chapter 21, the Lord Jesus prophesied that there would be “…great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people (Israel). And they shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.” (Luke 21: 23-24).  In 70 A.D., Israel’s Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans, and the people were either slaughtered or dispersed throughout the known world.

As God’s Chosen People Israel, losing their Homeland and the Temple through which they could worship God were seemingly impossible circumstances to overcome. As prior history had shown, another Temple could be built, but possession of Jerusalem and the Promised Land would be more difficult. (Genesis Chapter 15; Genesis 17; 1-8) Regaining the land that had been given to the Patriarch Abraham under the “Palestinian Covenant” would require God’s direct intervention. Numerous references are found in: https://printer.gotquestions.net/GeneratePF?articleId=1575  and,  https://www.gotquestions.org/Palestinian-covenant.html

Another account of the Lord’s response to His disciples is found in the Book of Matthew, Chapter 24. One of the most significant points was His reference to the words of the Prophet Daniel. (Matthew 24:15) During Daniel’s visions, Israel’s Babylonian captors were replaced by other Gentile conquerors, including the Medes and Persians, and both the Greek and Roman Empires, as noted in the Book of Daniel, Chapters 2 and 8. These and later conquerors continued the pattern of Gentiles reigning over the Holy City Jerusalem and other areas of Israel’s Promised Land.

In Daniel Chapter 9, the Archangel Gabriel appeared to Daniel in another vision. He laid out the critical timeline for Israel’s future, covering the period of their captivity and extending into the distant future for “Seventy weeks” / (490 years) … including the coming of the Messiah; His being “cut off”; the Nation’s betrayal in the middle of the Tribulation by the individual we now recognize as the Antichrist; through the end of the Tribulation.  More details of the vision are provided in the closing chapters of the Book of Daniel, Chapters 10 – 12. These visions from the LORD through Gabriel provided important context for events beyond the destruction and devastation of 70 A.D…both those that have already taken place, those in progress, and those still ahead.

[As an aside, it is important to recognize that the vision / prophecy of “Seventy weeks” was given specifically to the Nation of Israel, even though it had implications for the rest of the world. Our Omniscient God knew that there would be a break in that timeline to allow for this 2,000-year period we call the “Church Age”. That has direct bearing on the second part of this discussion: the “Fullness of the Gentiles”.]

Consistent with the vision given by the LORD to the Prophet Ezekiel, the people of Israel began to return to their Homeland. (Ezekiel Chapter 37) This return / immigration began in the late 1800s, even in the face of significant hostility from neighboring Gentile populations. https://www.arij.org/atlas40/intro.html

Although Israel was able to declare its independence on May 14, 1948, and became a member of the United Nations a year later, it has been continually under the threat of armed conflict with its Arab neighbors.  Until Israel is free to inhabit all the land that the LORD gave deed to Israel’s Patriarch Abraham, these will continue to be regarded as the Times of the Gentiles.

 

BACKGROUND: Fullness of the Gentiles

In the Book of Romans, the Apostle Paul wrote to those who had believed in our Lord Jesus to be the Son of God.  Some were of the Nation of Israel, who had believed that the Lord was their long-awaited Messiah, who was to fulfill the prophecies of a King who would lead Israel and establish His eternal kingdom in Jerusalem. (https://www.gotquestions.org/Abrahamic-covenant.html ; Exodus 19: 1-6; and others.)  Most were Gentiles to whom Paul was providing background and doctrinal substance for the Gospel of Grace, distinguishing between the requirements of the Law of Moses and the role of faith, …revealed to him by the Ascended Lord Jesus. (Acts 9: 1-16, Romans 10: 9-13, 1 Corinthians 15: 1-4, and the “Faith Chapter” / Hebrews Chapter 11)

In Romans Chapters 9 and 10, Paul provided evidence of the Nation of Israel’s failure to believe God’s prophets and follow through in keeping the Covenant He established with them. (Note references above.) Israel’s rejection and demand for the crucifixion of our Lord Jesus, the Son of God, and their stoning of the disciple Stephen, the voice of the Holy Spirit offering them a final chance at repentance (Acts Chapters 6 and 7), had resulted in God’s turning to the implementation of the next phase of His plan for the redemption of man.  The plan to have Israel serve as a Holy Nation of priests to evangelize the Gentile world was set aside. (Exodus 19: 1-6)

In Romans Chapter 11, Paul makes it clear that God has not rejected His Chosen People Israel because of their unbelief. “…but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.” (verse 11) It was in that context that Paul further clarified: “For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.” (verse 25) (See also Psalms 69: 22-23; Isaiah 6:9, Ezekiel 12:2)

The ”come in” phrase of that verse refers to the completion of the “gathering in” of the Gentile members of the “Body of Christ”. The concept of Gentiles enjoying fellowship with Israel’s God was first raised in the Old Testament prophecy of Amos concerning the End Times. (Amos 9: 11-12) It was later shared by the Apostle Peter during the contentious debate (known as the Jerusalem Council) between the Jewish believers who insisted that all who followed Jesus had to also follow the Laws of Moses.  This was in direct contrast to the arguments of the Apostle Paul and his followers that under the Gospel of Grace, Gentiles need only have the necessary faith in the finished work of the Cross. (Acts 15: 1-17; Galatians 2: 1-9; Romans 10: 9-13; 1 Corinthians 15: 1-4) Fortunately for Gentiles, the resolution of the meeting was that the Jewish members of the Jerusalem Church would continue to take the message of the Gospel of the Kingdom to the Nation of Israel, while Paul and his followers would continue to carry the message of the Gospel of Grace to the Gentiles. Today, we believing Gentiles have become members of the Body of Christ. (1 Corinthians Chapter 12).

Again, the “fullness of the Gentiles” refers to the completion of the filling of that Body of Christ. (Romans 11:25)  The Bible does not say when the first believers entered the Body.  Many believe that it began when the Holy Spirit sent Peter to the Gentiles at the House of Cornelius, resulting in that family’s salvation. (Acts Chapter 10)  Others believe that the Body was initiated when the first non-Jews believed in the LORD God, dating even before Ruth the Moabitess (Book of Ruth),  and Rahab the Harlot (Joshua Chapter Two), back to Abel, who was slain by his brother Cain. (Genesis Chapter Four) Their expressions of faith / believing God might have gained their being regarded as members of the Body. (Hebrews Chapter 11)  Only the Lord Jesus knows those who comprise His Body.

Regardless of when the first members were added to the Body, the addition of the last one will presumably be at the Rapture of the Church. (1 Corinthians 15:44-54; 1 Thessalonians 4: 13-17) The “fullness of the Gentiles” will be complete. That will be the event leading to God’s return to His Plan for the Nation of Israel including the resumption of the timeline of Daniel’s vision and the coming of the Antichrist. (Daniel 9: 20-27).

Dr. W.A. Robinson