The Beginning of Gentile Times

“Our Lord’s words, “until the times* of the Gentiles be fulfilled,” imply that the times of the Gentiles must have a definitely appointed limit; because an unlimited, indefinite period could not be said to be fulfilled. So, then, Gentile rule had a beginning, will last for a fixed time, and will end at the time appointed.

The beginning of these Gentile Times is clearly located by the Scriptures. Hence, if they furnish us the length also of the fixed period, or lease of Gentile dominion, we can know positively just when it will terminate. The Bible does furnish this fixed period, which must be fulfilled; but it was furnished in such a way that it could not be understood when written, nor until the lapse of time and the events of history had shed their light upon it; and even then, only by those who were watching and who were not overcharged by the cares of the world.

The Bible evidence is clear and strong that the “Times of the Gentiles” is a period of 2520 years, from the year B.C. 606 to and including A.D. 1914. This lease of universal dominion to Gentile governments, as we have already seen, began with Nebuchadnezzar–not when his reign began, but when the typical kingdom of the Lord passed away, and the dominion of the whole world was left in the hands of the Gentiles. The date for the beginning of the Gentile Times is, therefore, definitely marked as at the time of the removal of the crown of God’s typical kingdom, from Zedekiah, their last king.

According to the words of the prophet (Ezek. 21:25-27), the crown was taken from Zedekiah; and Jerusalem was besieged by Nebuchadnezzar’s army and laid in ruins, and so remained for seventy years–until the restoration in the first year of Cyrus. (2 Chron. 36:21-23) Though Jerusalem was then rebuilt, and the captives returned, Israel has never had another king from that to the present day. Though restored to their land and to personal liberty by Cyrus, they, as a nation, were subject successively to the Persians, Grecians and Romans. Under the yoke of the latter they were living when our Lord’s first advent occurred, Pilate and Herod being deputies of Caesar.

With these facts before us, we readily find the date for the beginning of the Gentile Times of dominion; for the first year of the reign of Cyrus is a very clearly fixed date—both secular and religious histories with marked unanimity agreeing with Ptolemy’s Canon, which places it B.C. 536. And if B.C. 536 was the year in which the seventy years of Jerusalem’s desolation ended and the restoration of the Jews began, it follows that their kingdom was overthrown just seventy years before B.C. 536, i.e., 536 plus 70, or B.C. 606. This gives us the date of the beginning of the Times of the Gentiles–B.C. 606.

Recognizing God’s lease of power to these worldly or Gentile governments, we know, not only that they will fail, and be overthrown, and be succeeded by the Kingdom of Christ when their “times” expire, but also that God will not take the dominion from them, to give it to his Anointed, until that lease expires–“until the Times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.”

Consequently, we are guarded right here against the false idea into which Papacy has led the world–that the Kingdom of God was set up at Pentecost, and more fully established when, as it is claimed, the Roman empire was converted to Christianity (to Papacy), and it attained both temporal and spiritual empire in the world.

We see from this prophecy of the Times of the Gentiles that this claim made by the Church of Rome, and more or less endorsed by Protestants, is FALSE. We see that those nations which both Papacy and Protestantism designate Christian Nations (parts of Russia, most of Europe, North and South America), and whose dominions they call Christendom (i.e., Christ’s Kingdom), are not such. They are “kingdoms of this world,” and until their “times” are fulfilled Christ’s Kingdom cannot take the control, though it will be organizing and preparing to do so at the close of the Gentile Times, while these kingdoms will be slowly trembling, disintegrating and preparing to fall into the Great storm of anarchy which will end this age.

During the Gospel age, the Kingdom of Christ has existed only in its incipient stage, in its humiliation, without power or privilege of reigning–without the crown, possessing only the scepter of promise: unrecognized by the world, and subject to the “powers that be“–the Gentile kingdoms. And the heirs of the heavenly kingdom must so continue, until the time appointed for them to reign together with Christ. During the time of trouble, closing this age, they will be exalted to power, but their “reign” of righteousness over the world could not proceed A.D. 1915–when the Times of the Gentiles have expired.” (B78-81)

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*The Greek word here rendered “times” is kairos, which signifies a fixed time. It is the same word translated “times” in the following passages: Mark 1:15; 1 Tim. 6:15; Rev. 12:14; Acts 3:19; 17:26. The word “seasons” in Acts 1:7 is from the same Greek word.

Note: the following was taken from the Author’s Forward written in A.D.1916.

“We of course could not have known in A.D. 1889 (25 years earlier); whether the date A.D. 1914, so clearly marked in the Bible as the end of the Gentile lease of power or permission to rule the world, would mean that they would be fully out of power at that time, or whether, their lease expiring, their eviction would begin. The latter we perceive to be the Lord’s program; and promptly in August, A.D. 1914, the Gentile kingdoms referred to in the prophecy began the present great struggle (WWI)…” (The Authors Forward, IX)

Continued with next post.