Introduction
In Romans 11:25, the apostle Paul sheds light on the mystery of God’s plan. He emphasizes that partial spiritual blindness has befallen Israel, but only until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. This aligns perfectly with Luke 21:24, where Jesus foretells the plight of Jerusalem. It reveals a dual timeline: one of the Gentiles filling their cup of iniquity, and the other of God calling out a people for His name, referred to by the apostle Paul as the Body of Christ. The unfolding events in Jerusalem and among the Gentiles are intricately connected, forming a prophetic timeline that underscores the precision and sovereignty of God’s ultimate design.
As we observe the current status of world events, especially in the Middle East, believers should rejoice. The time of the Gentiles is indeed almost at its end, and our Lord will soon take us home to be with Him forever. Let this truth fill you with hope and anticipation, for our redemption is drawing near. Stay steadfast in faith, keep your eyes on the promises of God, and find comfort in the knowledge that His plan is unfolding precisely as He foretold.
Now let’s look into this amazing prophecy part fulfilled and part awaiting fulfillment found in Luke 21:24
Luke 21:24
“And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and 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.”
Again let us look at Luke 21:24:
“And they (referring to the Jews) shall fall by the edge of the sword and shall be led away captive into all nations…”
This verse clearly indicates that it doesn’t pertain to the return of Christ or Armageddon, but rather, it’s about the events led by the Roman general Titus in 70 A.D.
Titus’ attack, approximately 40 years after Christ’s Crucifixion, fulfilled this prophecy. The Romans besieged Jerusalem, resulting in one of the most tragic sieges in history. The Roman soldiers faced intense resistance, even having boiling oil poured on them. This enraged them, leading to ruthless tactics upon entering the city. Jesus referred to this event when He said:
“‘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.’ Luke 21:24
But remember, there’s a significant word here: ‘until.’ It signifies a future point when the Gentiles will no longer dominate Jerusalem. Jesus affirms that Jerusalem will regain its sovereignty from the Gentiles once the times of the Gentiles have run their course.”
Now, let’s look at the historical context. Starting in 606 B.C., before the Crucifixion, Nebuchadnezzar from Babylon besieged Jerusalem. He not only destroyed the Temple but also took the Jews into captivity. From this point on, empires like the Medes, Persians, Greeks, and Romans continued to control Jerusalem and Palestine.
Even today the Jewish people are still under the heavy boot of Gentile influence. While they became a sovereign state in 1948, their independence remains limited. Their survival is closely tied to external support, particularly from the United States. Therefore, from 606 B.C. until Christ’s return, Jerusalem won’t experience true peace. This isn’t about the Rapture, but rather, when Christ returns to Jerusalem. Only then, with the arrival of the Prince of Peace, will Jerusalem find lasting peace.
The “times of the Gentiles” is akin to a container filling with Gentile iniquity. Concurrently, from the period after the Cross until the Lord takes the Church, there’s the fullness of the Gentiles and the emergence of the Body of Christ. These two aspects complement each other beautifully. While God forms the Body, the Gentiles are accumulating iniquity until the Second Coming.
To gain a comprehensive view of this iniquity filling up, let’s turn to Revelation:
Revelation 9:21
“Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.”
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