The Age of the Gentiles: God's Redemptive Timeline

Summary

In our journey through the Scriptures, we have come to understand the profound significance of the end times and the age of the Gentiles. The age of the Gentiles, as defined by our Lord Jesus Christ, is marked by three distinct characteristics: Israel's defeat by Gentile powers, Israel's dispersion among the nations, and Jerusalem being trampled by the Gentiles. This age began with Nebuchadnezzar's conquest of Israel and will continue until these conditions are no longer present, signaling the fulfillment of the times of the Gentiles.

The prophetic dreams of Nebuchadnezzar and Daniel in the Book of Daniel reveal a timeline of four Gentile kingdoms, culminating in a divided kingdom represented by iron and clay. This fourth kingdom, unlike the monolithic empires before it, is characterized by a lack of cohesion, resembling the modern-day alliances that have evolved from the Roman Empire. The Roman Empire, which dissolved and transformed into various forms such as the Holy Roman Empire and later alliances, continues to fulfill the role of the fourth kingdom in trampling Jerusalem and keeping the Jewish people under Gentile authority.

The age of the Gentiles is intricately connected to Israel's national covenant with God, which requires perfect obedience to the law. Failure to keep the law results in the curses outlined in Deuteronomy, which include the age of the Gentiles. However, there is a "loophole" in the law that allows Israel to receive the blessings of the kingdom through national confession and faith in Christ.

The timeline of the age of the Gentiles, as detailed in Daniel 9, spans 490 years but includes a pause that began with the Messiah's death. This pause, the current age we live in, is a period of grace for the Gentiles, allowing us to come to faith in Christ. Once this pause concludes, the final seven years will commence, leading to Israel's national confession of faith and the return of Christ to establish His kingdom.

Key Takeaways:

- The age of the Gentiles is a divinely appointed period where Israel is under Gentile rule, which began with Nebuchadnezzar and will end with the return of Christ. This age serves as a time of discipline for Israel and an opportunity for Gentiles to come to faith. [49:33]

- The prophetic dreams in the Book of Daniel provide a timeline and characteristics of the Gentile kingdoms, with the fourth kingdom being a fragmented entity that continues to this day in various forms of alliances and powers. [06:20]

- Israel's national covenant with God under the law is both a blessing and a curse. Perfect obedience brings blessings, while failure brings curses, including the age of the Gentiles. Yet, God's grace provides a path to blessings through national repentance and faith. [55:27]

- The pause in the timeline of the age of the Gentiles, initiated by Christ's death, is a manifestation of God's grace, allowing the inclusion of Gentiles into His plan of salvation. This pause will eventually end, leading to the fulfillment of God's promises to Israel. [01:13:29]

- Understanding the age of the Gentiles and its implications for both Israel and the church is crucial for discerning our place in God's redemptive history and recognizing the signs of the times as we anticipate Christ's return. [01:15:06]

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. Luke 21:24 - "They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled."
2. Daniel 2:40-44 - "And there shall be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron, because iron breaks to pieces and shatters all things. And like iron that crushes, it shall break and crush all these. And as you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter's clay and partly of iron, it shall be a divided kingdom, but some of the firmness of iron shall be in it, just as you saw iron mixed with the soft clay. And as the toes of the feet were partly iron and partly clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly brittle. As you saw the iron mixed with soft clay, so they will mix with one another in marriage, but they will not hold together, just as iron does not mix with clay. And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever."
3. Deuteronomy 30:1-3 - "And when all these things come upon you, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before you, and you call them to mind among all the nations where the Lord your God has driven you, and return to the Lord your God, you and your children, and obey his voice in all that I command you today, with all your heart and with all your soul, then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have mercy on you, and he will gather you again from all the peoples where the Lord your God has scattered you."

#### Observation Questions
1. What are the three characteristics that define the age of the Gentiles according to Luke 21:24? [18:32]
2. In Daniel 2:40-44, what are the characteristics of the fourth kingdom, and how is it different from the previous kingdoms?
3. According to Deuteronomy 30:1-3, what must Israel do to receive God's blessings and be restored?

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the age of the Gentiles serve as a period of discipline for Israel and an opportunity for Gentiles to come to faith? [49:33]
2. What is the significance of the "pause" in the timeline of the age of the Gentiles, and how does it reflect God's grace towards the Gentiles? [01:01:33]
3. How does the prophetic vision in Daniel 2:40-44 illustrate the transition from Gentile rule to the establishment of God's eternal kingdom?

#### Application Questions
1. Reflecting on the age of the Gentiles, how can we recognize the signs of the times and live with a sense of urgency in our faith? [01:15:06]
2. The sermon mentioned that the current age is a period of grace for the Gentiles. How can you personally take advantage of this period to grow in your faith and share it with others? [01:02:47]
3. Considering the prophetic dreams in Daniel, how can you remain steadfast in your faith even when the world around you seems fragmented and unstable? [06:20]
4. The sermon highlighted the importance of Israel's national covenant with God. How can you apply the principles of obedience and repentance in your own life to experience God's blessings? [55:27]
5. How can understanding the timeline of the age of the Gentiles help you to better appreciate God's redemptive plan and your role in it? [01:13:29]
6. The sermon emphasized the need for national confession and faith in Christ for Israel to receive the kingdom's blessings. How can you practice personal confession and faith in your daily walk with God? [54:23]
7. How does the concept of the "pause" in the age of the Gentiles encourage you to make the most of the time you have to serve God and others? [01:01:33]

Devotional

Day 1: Divine Discipline and Gentile Opportunity
The age of the Gentiles is a period foretold by Scripture where Israel would be under the rule of non-Jewish powers. This era began historically with the Babylonian conquest under Nebuchadnezzar and will persist until the prophesied return of Christ. It serves a dual purpose: as a time of discipline for Israel due to their disobedience and as a period where Gentiles are granted the opportunity to come to faith in Christ. This time of discipline is not without hope, as it is also a testament to God's patience and inclusivity, extending salvation beyond the boundaries of Israel to all who believe. [49:33]

"But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near." - Luke 21:20

Reflection: How does understanding the age of the Gentiles as a time of divine discipline and opportunity affect your view of God's sovereignty and grace in history?

Day 2: The Prophetic Timeline of Empires
The dreams of Nebuchadnezzar and Daniel in the Book of Daniel outline a succession of empires that would dominate Israel, culminating in a fragmented fourth kingdom. This kingdom, symbolized by iron mixed with clay, represents a lack of unity and strength, akin to the diverse and often divided nature of modern-day political alliances. These visions provide insight into the historical and ongoing fulfillment of Gentile dominion over Jerusalem, which continues to this day in various forms, reflecting the persistent influence of the Roman Empire's legacy. [06:20]

"And as you saw the iron mixed with soft clay, so they will mix with one another in marriage, but they will not hold together, just as iron does not mix with clay." - Daniel 2:43

Reflection: In what ways can you see the influence of historical empires in today's world, and how does this perspective shape your understanding of biblical prophecy?

Day 3: Covenant Blessings and Curses
Israel's national covenant with God is a central theme in Scripture, promising blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience. The age of the Gentiles is one such curse, a consequence of Israel's failure to uphold the law. Yet, the covenant also contains the promise of restoration through national repentance and faith in the Messiah. This "loophole" demonstrates God's desire for reconciliation and His provision of grace, allowing Israel to ultimately receive the blessings promised in the covenant. [55:27]

"But if they confess their iniquity and the iniquity of their fathers in their treachery that they committed against me, and also in walking contrary to me... if then their uncircumcised heart is humbled and they make amends for their iniquity, then I will remember my covenant with Jacob, and I will remember my covenant with Isaac and my covenant with Abraham, and I will remember the land." - Leviticus 26:40-42

Reflection: How does the concept of God's covenant with Israel challenge your understanding of His justice and mercy, and how can you apply the principle of repentance and faith in your own life?

Day 4: The Pause of Grace
The prophetic timeline given in Daniel 9 includes a significant pause initiated by the Messiah's death, marking the current age as a special period of grace. This interruption in the timeline serves as an extension of God's mercy, allowing Gentiles to become part of God's redemptive plan through faith in Christ. This pause is temporary and will conclude with the final seven years of the age, leading to Israel's national confession and the establishment of Christ's kingdom. [01:13:29]

"Therefore, know and understand that from the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem to the coming of an anointed one, a prince, there shall be seven weeks. Then for sixty-two weeks it shall be built again with squares and moat, but in a troubled time." - Daniel 9:25

Reflection: What does the current age of grace mean for your personal mission as a Christian, and how can you actively participate in God's redemptive plan during this time?

Day 5: Discerning Our Place in Redemptive History
Understanding the age of the Gentiles is crucial for discerning the role of both Israel and the church in God's redemptive history. Recognizing the signs of the times and the fulfillment of biblical prophecy equips believers to live with anticipation of Christ's return. This knowledge should not lead to idle speculation but rather inspire active engagement in the mission of the church and personal spiritual growth as we await the coming of the Lord. [01:15:06]

"And they will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled." - Luke 21:24

Reflection: How can your understanding of the age of the Gentiles inform your daily life and ministry, and what steps can you take to prepare yourself and others for Christ's return?

Quotes

- "The age of the Gentiles is an age in which Jews are being disciplined under the age of Gentile rulers, therefore the end of the age of the Gentiles will mean the end of Gentile rule over Israel." [37:57](Download | )

- "The Roman Empire has slowly dissolved and evolved into what we now look at as the European Union or the states of Europe and Eastern Europe, and into the Middle East." [32:39](Download | )

- "The age of the Gentiles only lasts 490 years, but the thing is right now the clock is stopped. We're still waiting for that last seven years to start." [01:00:33](Download | )

- "The age of the Gentiles was necessary in order for God to bless all the Gentile nations. Why did he need it? Why does he set Israel aside? Why is there a pause on the clock? Let me show you why." [01:02:47](Download | )

- "The kingdom of God cannot be said to be present on Earth until the age of the Gentiles is fulfilled according to Daniel chapter 2." [38:33](Download | )

- "The age of the Gentiles is our present age and the age to come is the one Jesus sets up upon his second coming." [39:09](Download | )

- "The age of the Gentiles is the fulfillment of those curses. It's God acting according to the old Covenant law to fulfill what his word said he would do against the people who could not keep the law perfectly." [49:13](Download | )

- "The old Covenant requires perfect obedience to the law. Failure to keep it results in the curses. The age of the Gentiles that we're currently in is the fulfillment of those curses." [52:22](Download | )

- "The fourth Beast will be a fourth Kingdom on the earth which will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth and tread it down and crush it." [43:57](Download | )

- "The present age that we are a part of, the age of the Gentiles, it's defined by a time in which Israel is defeated by Gentile powers, Israel is dispersed into all the nations, and Jerusalem the city is trampled by the Gentiles." [18:32](Download | )

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Transcript

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