What will the times of the Gentiles tell us about rightly dividing the word of truth using earthly Time as our divider (As God dwells outside of time).  

So, are the times of the Gentiles related to the rapture?  And if so what time does it point to?

Luke 21:20-25 “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that her desolation is near. Then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains, and those who are in the midst of the city must leave, and those who are in the country must not enter the city; because these are days of vengeance, so that all things which are written will be fulfilled. Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days; for there will be great distress upon the land and (wrath to this people; [what people] and they will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations); and Jerusalem will be trampled under foot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. “There will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves, 

This is a post on the proper division of times in Scripture (the word of truth).  I have underlined here in this passage the restoration of “all things”, which If you will remember Jesus stated that Elijah will take a major role in making happen, before Jesus comes.  Elijah’s involvement was prophesied elsewhere to be a part of this time of which Jesus speaks of here in this portion of these verses. 

Israel’s dispersion throughout the nations spoken of here, tells us that part of this prophecy took place in ancient history, surrounding the Jerusalem temple’s destruction.  We see here in the dispersion of the Jews that they were placed in almost every nation, even as it says. But this same prophecy about fleeing and an obvious regathering, will at some point bring about the fulfillment of all scripture.  So it is also a future prophecy.  And the people for whom there is wrath are Jews, who have been scattered throughout those nations. In many ways that wrath continued against Israel’s Jews throughout the last over 1900 years.  Remember Jesus called them (their leaders) children of the Devil.  They are chosen, but not all. 

Additionally, the Gentiles will be dominant throughout this age in human history based on Jesus’ words from this passage seen here in Luke.  The Gentile dominance is present through and right up unto the surrounding of Jerusalem during Armageddon itself.  We can discern this, by knowing that residents of Jerusalem will again flee Jerusalem during this latter day event, for we see 2/3rds of Israel destroyed in Zachariah 13, likely at this very time spoken of, just before Jesus returns.  Are the remaining 1/3 not those who have fled Jerusalem?  Isa. 63 seems to say yes they have gone into Edom. And these are the days of Tribulation and Great Tribulation (the time of Jacob’s trouble) for these remaining Jews, but more than that these are days of vengeance for the enemies of God and of His people.  “Vengeance is Mine saith the Lord”.  So right up until the very end of this age Gentiles will trample on Jerusalem.  Yet, the Dispensationalists teach that the rapture is of a predominantly Gentile Church (His people) and it will be scheduled to occur before Tribulation, because (they say) God is finished with the gentiles.  So this speculation concerning Gentiles (to them), is proof that the Rapture is, before Israel’s time of Jacobs trouble, which they make to cover this entire Tribulation. Yet Jacob is still not saved, but some are to be sealed from every tribe, for their protection.  They say that because the times of the Gentiles is over and the turning of God from the Gentiles toward the Jews, is proof of the pre-Trib Rapture of the Church.  Yet they also say that hordes of Gentiles will be saved to make up the great crowd that is seen coming out of the Great tribulation??  

A close reading of the prophetic passages dealing with Jerusalem in the O.T. and including even The Revelation, will yield obvious facts that the Gentiles will rule through a treaty made with Jerusalem. And it will continue beyond the beginning of and far into the Tribulation.  And this system will persecute and even behead Jesus followers. One Scripture involves the prophecy up to and including this time as seen in Daniel:

Daniel 9:24  “Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy [place.] (NASB)

These weeks will bring an end to Gentile rule.  Our next post will deal with this prophecy more closely.  

Daniel 9:27  “And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations [will come] one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate.” (NASB)

The one who makes desolate prophesied in this verse is the last Gentile power to ever rule over Jerusalem. 

This is a Gentile rule which leads to the final Battle of Armageddon between Gentile nations from whom saints are being saved. This Gentile involvement then continues up until the time when Israel is added back into their natural Olive Tree, where they will accompany unnatural branches. This climax will occur during Armageddon and will lead to Messiah’s second coming.  It is their cry for Him that He is awaiting. It will lead to His return. 

Paul makes clear that there are vessels of wrath to be led to destruction. Listen:

Romans 9:22  What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: (KJV)

Among these were many of the Jews who were dispersed.  God has patiently awaited His day of Wrath. It begins with Armageddon.  In (Isa. 63: 1-8) Jesus makes clear His Intent on for this day.  He will begin the outpouring of wrath in His planned deliverance of Israel’s remnant, in answer to their cry for Him, who is their longed for, Yeshua the Messiah their savior. (See Hos. 5:15).

So Paul has told of God’s long suffering concerning the vessels of wrath.  Then we hear:

Romans 9:23-25 And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory, even us, whom He also called, not from among Jews only, but also from among Gentiles. As He says also in Hosea,“I will call those who were not My people, ‘My people,’And her who was not beloved, ‘beloved.’” 

So Paul make clear also that we Gentiles, who were not a people are together with the remnant of Jews, who also were not His people and we are all beloved.  But Paul states two additional things in this next section in Romans:

Romans 11:11, 14-15, 17, 19-20, 24-27 I say then, they did not stumble so as to fall, did they? May it never be! But by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make them jealous. if somehow I might move to jealousy my fellow countrymen and save some of them. For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? 

Note I have skipped some verses, in order to make Paul’s point here. This is an important clue.  For when they as a purged remnant nation will by their acceptance produce for us “Life from the dead” (resurrection).  Additionally we learn:

But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree, You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear; For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these who are the natural branches be grafted into their own olive tree?  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 [come in to what: the same thing that Israel will come back into]; and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written,“The Deliverer will come from Zion,He will remove ungodliness from Jacob.” “This is My covenant with them,When I take away their sins.” 

The fullness of the Gentiles must come in and it will come during the Tribulation during the time of Jacob’s trouble.  The Gentiles of the Church, which Jesus established is not ever taught in Scripture to be separated from the olive tree (the people of God). Being part of that tree makes us His. A people, who are sustained by the root of that tree (Jesus).  And except for one reason only (— unbelief), can we be removed.  There is never a Rapture taught to take place from this tree, but there is a potential apostasy (unbelief) warned of.  

Galatians 2:7-9, 14 But on the contrary, seeing that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised for He who effectually worked for Peter in his apostleship to the circumcised effectually worked for me also to the Gentiles, and recognizing the grace that had been given to me, James and Cephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we might go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all, “If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?  

Only one gospel is mentioned here for all. 

I truly understand the reason for the rejection of replacement theology. I agree that it is cut from wrinkled or twisted cloth.  Gentiles are added to Israel’s Messiah, they do not replace her.  Christ’s Church that He established includes her. We are not a Gentile Church, we are Christ’s Church.  To the Jew first. 

With that as a backdrop you should consider that Jesus came to join the Gentiles to Israel.  Jesus spoke of other sheep not of this fold; israel His bride (Isa: 54) was the fold of which He spoke.  Paul speaks of one new man, and of one olive tree, and of one bride. Interestingly enough John the Baptist includes Old Testament Jews as part of that bride, when he tells his disciples that the one (Jesus), who has the bride is the bridegroom.  Have you considered that the Bride coming down out of heaven (the new Jerusalem) is made up of the twelve patriarchs of Israel, and the twelve apostles of New Covenant Israel (All of Whom were Jews), aka- Messiahs Church. His bride.  His One new man. 

Have you considered that paradise where Abraham resided and where Jesus met the thief on the cross, and then spent three days and nights before the resurrection, was then transferred to heaven following Jesus’ resurrection. One new man. 

Have you considered that Paul identified our Resurrection and or Rapture as being identified with Israel’s acceptance of Messiah when he said we who have been blessed by Israel’s rejection of Messiah will receive life from the dead at her acceptance –Rom 11:15.  One new man, one holy Nation; one Royal Priesthood. One bride. 

Have you considered that Israel who was widowed in chapter 53 of Isa. Is promised remarriage to her redeemer in chapter 54. One Bride. 

Have you considered that there is but one gospel by which all men must be saved?  God did not create two religions:  there is but one faith, one nation that He will gather us all into.  “No man cometh to the Father but by Me”. 

Have you considered that if Seven churches of Revelation represent 2000 plus years of church history wrapped up in 7 divisions or dispensations of time, that then there could not have possibly been a rapture until all prophesy is fulfilled (Acts 3:18-20), thus nullifying an imminent return until all prophesy is fulfilled, including the salvation of the Nation Israel’s remnant in one day.  Occurring at the battle of Armageddon following Israel’s refining, and her confession.  (Hosea 5:15). Confirmed again when Jesus said: “You will not see me again until you say blessed is He who comes in the name of The Lord.”  One new man. One Nation. 

Have you considered that Gods Wrath is not the Great Tribulation, for Gods wrath is intended for all men of all time who have rejected Him. Before we were saved we too were under the curse of Gods wrath. Read Eph. 2.  

Now consider that the times of the Gentiles must include those times when Gentiles are still being saved.  Because it is the last Gentile saved who opens the door for Israel’s salvation. (Rom. 11: ) Can you honestly say that Gentiles will not be saved (added to the Church) during the Tribulation? Can you say that, when Jesus says that the great Tribulation will teach the churches a lesson concerning sin? (Rev. 2:22-23)

Not mine, not yours,  but only God’s truth matters.  Remember John never in his Gospel or in his epistles called the universal body of believers by the name    ”Church”.  Nor does he use the term “Church” for the Bride or universal body of believers anywhere in the Revelation.  So why would he speak of believers as the Church in chapters 4-19?