Is Prophecy Being Fulfilled Now? #8
The End of the Age of the Gentiles
One of the signs of the end of times is the end of the age of the Gentiles. Obviously when this happens it will be clear that the return of the Messiah is immanent. How does this information help us now? Once we understand what the age of the Gentiles is then we will recognize the signs of it coming to an end.
What is the age of the Gentiles? This phrase is mentioned only one time in the Scriptures. Luke 21:24 uses the term “times of the Gentiles.” The context refers to prophetic events that will happen to Israel. Luke says Jerusalem will be trodden down until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. The context indicates that the times of the Gentiles is a time when Jerusalem (a reference to the Temple and all of the parts of the worship system) is defunct and controlled by unbelievers. It can thus be inferred that the “times of the Gentiles” will end when the Temple is rebuilt in Jerusalem and the Temple worship system is re-established. It is important to understand that the Temple building is not the only aspect necessary to re-establish Temple worship. According to God’s law there has to be many other parts re-established as well, such as the mikvah (Pool of Siloam), the red heifer sacrifice, the Ark of the Covenant, and the High Priest’s breastplate.
Although he does not use the same term, Paul describes the theological aspects of the age of the Gentiles in his letter to the church at Rome. Romans 11:25 uses the term “fullness of the Gentiles.” Paul begins the context by asking the question, “has God cast away His people?” Paul answers his rhetorical question, “No way!” Because Israel has stumbled God has given the responsibility of proclaiming the message of salvation to the Gentiles. God has done this to cause Israel to be jealous and return to Him (verse 11). The age of the Gentiles is a time when the world will know God through the Gentiles rather than the Jews.
Most theological systems I know have wrongfully distinguished the age of the Gentiles as a time when God has set aside the Old Testament Law. These systems of belief state that we, the church, are not under the law but under grace. By taking this phrase from Romans 6:14-15 out of context (not under the law but under grace) these systems of belief imply that Israel in the Old Testament obtained salvation by keeping the Law. Paul is very clear in Galatians 3:11 that no man is justified by keeping the Law.
What is the difference between believers before Christ died on the cross and believers after His death? Did they obtain salvation in a different way? No. Hebrews 11 makes it clear that the patriarchs obtained salvation through faith. Was salvation only for Jews? No. Ruth the Moabitess obtained salvation and became part of Israel. Rahab the harlot at Jericho believed God and she became part of God’s people. When Moses led Israel out of Egypt and through the Red Sea, many Egyptians believed God and went with Moses. God told Moses if they would keep Passover to take them in. The fact is there were many non-Jews who joined God’s people.
When Jesus died on the cross, God tore the veil in the Temple in two from top to bottom. When the Holy of Holies was opened, the presence of God (the Holy Spirit) was not there. God indicated that the presence of the Holy Spirit no longer resided on the Mercy Seat above the Ark of the Covenant in the Holy of Holies in the Temple. The Jews called this bright glowing presence of God the Shekinah Glory. Jesus plainly told His disciples that He would send the Holy Spirit to live in them (John 14). Paul clearly states that the believer’s body is the Holy of Holies and the Holy Spirit of God dwells in us (I Corinthians 3:16; 6:19). Jesus Christ is our High Priest (Hebrews 4:14) who intercedes for us.
The difference between believers before Christ’s death and believers after Christ’s death is the residence of the Holy Spirit. Before Christ’s death on the cross the Holy Spirit resided in the Holy of Holies in the Temple. Since the day of Pentecost, fifty days after Christ’s death on the cross, the Holy Spirit resides in the believer. In Old Testament times a person had to go to the priest at the Temple in order to go to God. Today, believers can go directly to God. The light of salvation was proclaimed through the Temple before Christ. Today the light of the gospel is proclaimed through the Gentile believers.
When the age of the Gentiles ends, the seven-year tribulation will begin. Today it is the church’s responsibility to take the message of salvation through Jesus Christ to the world. This privilege for the church will end soon. It is vital that we be actively proclaiming the message of salvation through Jesus Christ the Messiah.
The message of salvation will once again be proclaimed to the world through the Temple when the age of the Gentiles comes to an end. When we see the Temple and its worship system being rebuilt we will know the end of the age of the Gentiles is coming to an end and the gospel of Jesus Christ will once again be proclaimed through the Temple. Yes, the gospel of Jesus Christ was proclaimed through the Temple. The sacrifices were object lessons that pictured Jesus. When sacrifices are resumed, they will proclaim Jesus Christ the Messiah.
I realize this idea of the change of residence of the Holy Spirit placing the responsibility of the gospel on the church may seem unorthodox to most systems of theological thought but this is the message that God has proclaimed throughout the Bible. When the Apostle Paul stood trial before king Agrippa he recounted his life’s work. He mentioned how he had studied the Law, became a Pharisee, persecuted Christians. Then God struck him with a bright light and spoke to him. When he said Moses and the prophets told about the day Jesus would suffer, rise from the dead, and show the light to the people and the Gentiles, Festus jumped to his feet. He told Paul he was crazy! (Acts 26:1-23). He thought it was impossible for God to spread the light of salvation through gentiles. This was God’s plan from the beginning.
The age of the Gentiles was prophesied in Isaiah 11:10. “There shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek.”
It is also prophesied in God’s covenant with Abraham. “And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.” -Genesis 22:18.
As we observe the movement to rebuild the Temple develop and parts of the Temple worship system be uncovered, we must realize the age of the Gentiles is coming to a close. This means the seven-year tribulation is quickly approaching. What is our responsibility? Our responsibility is to actively spread the message of salvation as much as we can while we are able. It is also our responsibility to support the rebuilding of the Temple. These things will happen because God said they would.
© Dr. Steven L Smith 2016
What is the age of the Gentiles? This phrase is mentioned only one time in the Scriptures. Luke 21:24 uses the term “times of the Gentiles.” The context refers to prophetic events that will happen to Israel. Luke says Jerusalem will be trodden down until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. The context indicates that the times of the Gentiles is a time when Jerusalem (a reference to the Temple and all of the parts of the worship system) is defunct and controlled by unbelievers. It can thus be inferred that the “times of the Gentiles” will end when the Temple is rebuilt in Jerusalem and the Temple worship system is re-established. It is important to understand that the Temple building is not the only aspect necessary to re-establish Temple worship. According to God’s law there has to be many other parts re-established as well, such as the mikvah (Pool of Siloam), the red heifer sacrifice, the Ark of the Covenant, and the High Priest’s breastplate.
Although he does not use the same term, Paul describes the theological aspects of the age of the Gentiles in his letter to the church at Rome. Romans 11:25 uses the term “fullness of the Gentiles.” Paul begins the context by asking the question, “has God cast away His people?” Paul answers his rhetorical question, “No way!” Because Israel has stumbled God has given the responsibility of proclaiming the message of salvation to the Gentiles. God has done this to cause Israel to be jealous and return to Him (verse 11). The age of the Gentiles is a time when the world will know God through the Gentiles rather than the Jews.
Most theological systems I know have wrongfully distinguished the age of the Gentiles as a time when God has set aside the Old Testament Law. These systems of belief state that we, the church, are not under the law but under grace. By taking this phrase from Romans 6:14-15 out of context (not under the law but under grace) these systems of belief imply that Israel in the Old Testament obtained salvation by keeping the Law. Paul is very clear in Galatians 3:11 that no man is justified by keeping the Law.
What is the difference between believers before Christ died on the cross and believers after His death? Did they obtain salvation in a different way? No. Hebrews 11 makes it clear that the patriarchs obtained salvation through faith. Was salvation only for Jews? No. Ruth the Moabitess obtained salvation and became part of Israel. Rahab the harlot at Jericho believed God and she became part of God’s people. When Moses led Israel out of Egypt and through the Red Sea, many Egyptians believed God and went with Moses. God told Moses if they would keep Passover to take them in. The fact is there were many non-Jews who joined God’s people.
When Jesus died on the cross, God tore the veil in the Temple in two from top to bottom. When the Holy of Holies was opened, the presence of God (the Holy Spirit) was not there. God indicated that the presence of the Holy Spirit no longer resided on the Mercy Seat above the Ark of the Covenant in the Holy of Holies in the Temple. The Jews called this bright glowing presence of God the Shekinah Glory. Jesus plainly told His disciples that He would send the Holy Spirit to live in them (John 14). Paul clearly states that the believer’s body is the Holy of Holies and the Holy Spirit of God dwells in us (I Corinthians 3:16; 6:19). Jesus Christ is our High Priest (Hebrews 4:14) who intercedes for us.
The difference between believers before Christ’s death and believers after Christ’s death is the residence of the Holy Spirit. Before Christ’s death on the cross the Holy Spirit resided in the Holy of Holies in the Temple. Since the day of Pentecost, fifty days after Christ’s death on the cross, the Holy Spirit resides in the believer. In Old Testament times a person had to go to the priest at the Temple in order to go to God. Today, believers can go directly to God. The light of salvation was proclaimed through the Temple before Christ. Today the light of the gospel is proclaimed through the Gentile believers.
When the age of the Gentiles ends, the seven-year tribulation will begin. Today it is the church’s responsibility to take the message of salvation through Jesus Christ to the world. This privilege for the church will end soon. It is vital that we be actively proclaiming the message of salvation through Jesus Christ the Messiah.
The message of salvation will once again be proclaimed to the world through the Temple when the age of the Gentiles comes to an end. When we see the Temple and its worship system being rebuilt we will know the end of the age of the Gentiles is coming to an end and the gospel of Jesus Christ will once again be proclaimed through the Temple. Yes, the gospel of Jesus Christ was proclaimed through the Temple. The sacrifices were object lessons that pictured Jesus. When sacrifices are resumed, they will proclaim Jesus Christ the Messiah.
I realize this idea of the change of residence of the Holy Spirit placing the responsibility of the gospel on the church may seem unorthodox to most systems of theological thought but this is the message that God has proclaimed throughout the Bible. When the Apostle Paul stood trial before king Agrippa he recounted his life’s work. He mentioned how he had studied the Law, became a Pharisee, persecuted Christians. Then God struck him with a bright light and spoke to him. When he said Moses and the prophets told about the day Jesus would suffer, rise from the dead, and show the light to the people and the Gentiles, Festus jumped to his feet. He told Paul he was crazy! (Acts 26:1-23). He thought it was impossible for God to spread the light of salvation through gentiles. This was God’s plan from the beginning.
The age of the Gentiles was prophesied in Isaiah 11:10. “There shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek.”
It is also prophesied in God’s covenant with Abraham. “And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.” -Genesis 22:18.
As we observe the movement to rebuild the Temple develop and parts of the Temple worship system be uncovered, we must realize the age of the Gentiles is coming to a close. This means the seven-year tribulation is quickly approaching. What is our responsibility? Our responsibility is to actively spread the message of salvation as much as we can while we are able. It is also our responsibility to support the rebuilding of the Temple. These things will happen because God said they would.
© Dr. Steven L Smith 2016