TIMES AND FULLNESS OF THE GENTILES
“For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery– so that you will not be wise in your own estimation– that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in;” Rom 11:25
Paul is speaking here of the restoration of Israel. The mystery is revealed that Israel is partially blinded until the “fulness of the Gentles has come in”. Paul speaks here of the “fulness of the Gentiles” while Luke speaks of the “times of the Gentiles” (Luke 21:24). Are they the same or different?
The “Times of the Gentiles” began with the rise of the Babylonian Empire against Israel in 606 B.C. and will end with the 2nd Coming of Yeshua at the end of the Tribulation period. Notice that in the last forty-two months of the Tribulation, the Gentiles will control the temple and the city of Jerusalem (Rev. 11:2b). Gentile dominion will end with the breaking in pieces of the image of Nebuchadnezzar by the stone “cut out without hands” described by the prophet Daniel symbolising the everlasting kingdom of Messiah Yeshua (Dan. 2:34-35; 44-45).
The “Fulness of the Gentiles” represents the full number of Gentiles that will be saved during the church age which will complete the Body of Messiah (Acts 15:14).
Although the Old Testament mentions that salvation will come to the Gentiles, it was neither explained nor expounded upon. Remember, during Yeshua’s ministry here on earth, He initially told His disciples NOT to go unto the Gentiles, but only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. (Matt. 10:5-6; 15:24) The OT Prophets and even Yeshua’s disciples likely thought that salvation would come to the Gentiles after the Kingdom was established, when Israel would become the light of the world to the nations, since until that point they were the only ones who worshipped the true God. (Ex19:5-6, Isa 2:2-4; 49:6, Amos 9:12)
Expositors, pondering the meaning of Luke 21:24, soon become aware of the fact that the term, “Times of the Gentiles,” is found only here in this place in the Scriptures. So, here in this passage we have only the description that Jerusalem “shall be trodden down by the Gentiles” as describing this period.
When the “Times of the Gentiles” and “Fullness of the Gentiles” are placed side by side, we see that the former primarily describes a political term regarding the rulership of Jerusalem. This will end only when Israel permanently regains full control of Jerusalem at the Second Coming of Yeshua.
In contrast, “The Fullness of the Gentiles” refers to the present age that will be completed when the last Gentile comes to the knowledge of Yeshua when the rapture takes place.
Scripture strongly supports the biblical and prophetic importance of the present reoccupation of Jerusalem by Israel that occurred in 1967. Although the time of political rulership is not complete, it does provide the necessary interlude whereby following a negotiated treaty made with the Anti-Christ, following the rapture, Israel will live temporarily at peace under covenant relationship with her Gentile neighbours and build a temple on the Temple Mount in which sacrifices are once again offered as indicated in Dan 9:27. This will be one of the preparatory steps in the sequence of events that will lead to the Second Coming of Yeshua.
Even though one can never out-give God, most people only give Him the crumbs under the table, the left-overs, the scraps; whatever is convenient and cheap. It is an amazing thing that even then, God will embrace us with recognition of the little because a small crumb is slightly better than an empty hand.
When we truly understand the manner in which God extravagantly has lavished His gift of love upon us through His Son, is it such a difficult choice to remember at this season that the most we can ever give Him is the least He deserves!
Maranatha!
Raphael ben Levi
