(December 31, 2021)
The Olivet Prophecy
One of the most comprehensive prophecies of the New Testament is found in Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21. These chapters describe the same action — Jesus answering an important question from His disciples — “what will be the sign of your coming, and of the end of the age?” (Matthew 24:4)
Jesus and His disciples had been to the temple. They observed the activity, and Jesus pointed out an example of giving that most would miss. A poor widow gave a greater proportion of her substance than anyone else. (Luke 20:41-44)
The disciples were impressed with the Temple buildings, but Jesus told them the Temple would be destroyed. This prophecy was fulfilled in 70 A.D. as Roman legions sacked Jerusalem and tore down the temple. (Mark 13:2)
In Mark’s account, he recalls that 4 disciples, Peter, James, John and Andrew asked Jesus; “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign when all these things will be fulfilled?” (Mark 13:4) Many Bible students know that prophecy is often dual, so an end time fulfillment of the Olivet prophecy is anticipated. This is augmented by Jesus’ warning that unless God would cut short the time the time of “great tribulation,” “no flesh would be saved.” (Matthew 24:21-22) The extermination of all human life was not possible until the midpoint of the 20th century, when mass destruction potential was realized with the development of nuclear arsenals.
“Times of the Gentiles?”
Luke’s account contains a phrase which has intrigued students of prophecy. In Luke 21:20, we read that Jerusalem will be surrounded by armies, and in verse 24, Jesus said Jerusalem would “be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.”
Many have wondered; what are “the times of the Gentiles?” Is Jesus reference to a specific time period of history or prophecy?
“Times” and “Day for a Year” Principle
The Bible specifies 2 types of nations — the first being those of the 12 Tribes of Israel, described in Genesis 49 and Deuteronomy 33. Each of Jacob’s 12 sons had families that became tribes. Eventually they would become nations (Genesis 48:19-20) and Jacob (Israel) prophesied what would happen to them “in the last days.” (Genesis 49:1) Therefore, the modern descendants of these sons are the “nations of Israel” from the Biblical historical point of view. All other nations of the world are “gentile.”
The Bible is also very clear that the prophecy of Genesis 49, which includes specific bountiful blessings of international significance would not begin to be realized for thousands of years. God promised the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob incredible abundance (Genesis 48:15-16) but these blessings were withheld because of disobedience. In Leviticus 26:14-21, God promised punishment for a period of 7 times (v.18).
“Times” is defined in the Bible as year, as shown in Revelation 12:6 and Revelation 12:14, which describes a period of 1260 days as “times, time and half a time.” Seven “times” would be “seven years,” each containing twelve 30-day months, or a total of 2520 days (7x12x30).
Another principle to extract regarding the time of Israel’s punishment is found in Numbers 14:34. God told Israel they would bear their iniquities in the wilderness after the number of days the searched the land of Canaan, forty days, each day for a year.
Seven times or 2520 prophetic days would equal 2520 years! The House of Israel (10 tribes/nations) eventually went into captivity by the ancient Assyrians, 721-718 B.C. After this time of punishment, the blessings of Abraham, especially to Joseph’s sons, Ephraim and Manasseh began to be realized. Ephraim became a great “Commonwealth of Nations” in Great Britain, and Manasseh also began to rise to prominence, and both nations became exceedingly blessed in fabulous and bountiful resources, at the beginning of the 19th Century — exactly 2,520 years later!
Nebuchadnezzar’s Seven Times Punishment
Some have suggested the dating principles of God’s punishment has also been upon the Gentile nations of the world since the fall of the first major world ruling Kingdom, Babylon, in 539 B.C. Since King Nebuchadnezzar was punished by God for 7 “times” or years, some have wondered if the Gentile nations have also been cursed for 2,520 years as well? This possible explanation of the “times of the Gentiles” being fulfilled at the return of Jesus is highly unlikely.
First, the supposed end of Gentile “punishment” would have ended 40 years ago, in 1982! But unlike the rise to prominence of the United States with the expansion westward with the Louisiana purchase, the acquisition of the Gadsden purchase later, or the growth of the British Empire, nothing happened during the early and mid 1980s to signal a rise of domination by nations other than the descendants of ancient Israel. Some have pointed to Pope John Paul’s speech given at Santiago de Compostela on Nov. 9, 1982: “I, the bishop of Rome and pastor of the universal church, cry out with love from Santiago to you, ancient Europe: ‘Rediscover yourself. Be yourself.’ Rediscover your beginnings. Let your roots live again.” Despite his plea, much of Europe remains divided and secular.
“Babylon Is Fallen, Is Fallen”
What led credence to the theory above is that Babylon did fall, as the dream God gave to Nebuchadnezzar prophesied in Daniel 4:13-15 and the King was given the mind of a wild beast. (Daniel 4:31-33) Symbolically, his kingdom, is represented in Daniel 4 as a tree (Daniel 4:10-11) that was cut down by an angel, and a band of iron and bronze, bound the stump that remained. (Daniel 4:13-15)
The end time system that will be defeated by Jesus Christ at His return is called “Babylon the Great.” (Revelation 17:5) In Revelation 18:1-3, we read that “Babylon” — an economic, political, military and religious system which includes all nations prior to Jesus’ return, is once again cut down. The defeat of this system is further described in Revelation 19, and many other prophecies describing Jesus’ return to earth. Some have thought that Pope John Paul II’s remarks for Europe to let “your roots live.” might be a fulfillment of the previously banded (tree) Babylon, cut down by the Persian Empire in 539 B.C. to begin a period of growth or domination by gentile nations in the 1980’s. But the premier power for 8 decades has been the United States of America. It is difficult to apply the 2,520 year / 7 times principle of prophecy to the Gentile nations. It is a square prophetic peg in a round hole!
“Times of the Nations”
What then did Jesus mean by “times of the Gentiles” being fulfilled? Some versions of the English language of The Holy Bible shed light on this question. “Gentiles” is translated in several modern versions as “nations.” Luke 21:24-27 describes the return of Jesus Christ to earth. He will rule all nations! (Revelation 12:5) The nations of the earth will no longer be cursed by the unrighteous rule of man and his systems. Man’s rule, apart from God will finally be over.
What will be the result of God’s dramatic intervention?
In Micah 4: 1-2 we read; “Now it shall come to pass in the latter days That the mountain of the Lord’s house Shall be established on the top of the mountains, And shall be exalted above the hills; And peoples shall flow to it. 2 Many nations shall come and say, “Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, To the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, And we shall walk in His paths.” For out of Zion the law shall go forth, And the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.”
The good news is that the curse of man’s government will be over when the “times of the nations” are fulfilled!
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