The Times of the Gentiles
The End of Israel's Seven Times
“This long period ("seven times," or 2520 years) of Israel's punishment is the period of Gentile dominion--the "Times of the Gentiles." Since, as we have already shown, the "Gentile Times" began B.C. 606, and were to continue twenty-five hundred and twenty years, they will end A.D. 1914 (2520 – 606 = 1914). Then the blessings recorded in the latter part of the same chapter (Lev. 26:44, 45) will be fulfilled. God will remember and fulfill to Israel the covenant made with their fathers. Rom. 11:25-27
This may be shown more clearly to some thus: Israel's "seven times" of chastisement = 2520 years. They began when the lease of power was given to the Gentiles, which, as we have shown, was 606 B.C. Consequently, in A.D. 1, 606 years of their period had passed, and the remainder ----- would indicate the A.D. date, viz., 1914
In proof that a day for a year is Bible usage in symbolic prophecy, we cite the following instances thus fulfilled: (a) the spies were caused to wander forty days searching Canaan, typical of Israel's forty years wandering in the wilderness. (Num. 14:33, 34) (b) When God would announce to Israel by Ezekiel a period of adversity, he had the prophet symbolize it, declaring, "I have appointed thee each day for a year." (Ezek. 4:1-8) (c) In that notable and already fulfilled prophecy of Dan 9:24-27, (viz. “The Seventy Weeks of Daniel”), in which the time to the anointing of our Lord is shown, and also the seven years of favor to Israel thereafter, in the midst of which Messiah was "cut off," symbolic time is used: Each day of the seventy symbolic weeks represented a year, and was so fulfilled. (d) Again, in Dan. 7:25 and 12:7, the period of Papacy's triumph is given as three and a half times, and this we know was fulfilled in twelve hundred and sixty years (360 x 3 1/2 = 1260).
The same period is mentioned in the book of Revelation: In Chapter 12 verse 14 it is called three and a half times (360 x 3 1/2 = 1260); in Chapter 13 verse 5 it is termed forty-two months (30 x 42 = 1260); and in Chapter 12 verse 6 it is called twelve hundred and sixty days. The fulfillment of these prophecies will be particularly examined hereafter.
Suffice it now to note that the use by the Spirit of the word "time," elsewhere, agrees with the present use of that term--that in symbolic prophecy a "time" is a symbolic year of three hundred and sixty years; and the fact that three and a half times, applied as a measure to the triumph of the apostate church, has been fulfilled in twelve hundred and sixty years, establishes the principle upon which the seven times of Gentile dominion are reckoned (360 x 7 = 2520) and proves their end to be A.D. 1914; for if three and a half times are 1260 days (years), seven times will be a period just twice as long, namely, 2520 years.
Had Israel's "seven times" been fulfilled in literal time (seven years), the blessing guaranteed to them by God's unconditional covenant with their fathers would have followed. (See Lev. 26:45; Rom. 11:28.) But this was not the case. They have never yet enjoyed those promised blessings; and that covenant will not be fulfilled, says Paul (Rom. 11:25, 26), until the elect Gospel Church, the body of Christ, has been perfected as their deliverer, through whom the covenant will be put into operation. "This shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days [i.e., the seven times of punishment], saith the Lord: I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts, and will be their God and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord; for they shall all know me from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more." (Jer. 31:33, 34; Heb. 10:16, 17)
"In those days [the days of favor following the seven times of punishment] they shall say no more, the fathers have eaten a sour grape and the children's teeth are set on edge. But every one [who dies] shall die for his own iniquity; every man that eats the sour grape [sins], his teeth shall be set on edge." Jer. 31:29, 30
The restoration at the end of the seventy years in Babylon was not a release from Gentile rule; for they were a tributary people ever after that. That restoration served merely to keep together a people to whom Messiah should be presented. It was while Gentile rule was already holding Israel in subjection, and in view of that fact, that our Lord declared that they would continue to be trodden down until the Times of the Gentiles expired, or were fulfilled. The world is witness to the fact that Israel's punishment under the dominion of the Gentiles has been continuous since B.C. 606, that it still continues, and that there is no reason to expect their national reorganization sooner than A.D. 1914, the limit of their "seven times"--2520 years. But as this long period of their national chastisement draws near its close (remember these words were written in A.D. 1889), we can see marked indications that the barren fig tree is about to put forth, showing that the winter time of evil is closing, and the Millennial summer approaching, which will fully restore them to their promised inheritance and national independence. The fact that there are now great preparations and expectations relative to the return of Israel to their own land is of itself strong circumstantial evidence corroborative of this Scripture teaching.” (B90-93)
This last course of events is now not only history but fulfilled prophecy, note:
Berlin Congress of Nations, June 13, 1878
Founding of the Zionism movement, Basel Switzerland, 1897
On Nov 2, 1917 a statement was made by the British government known as the “Balfour Declaration” in which support was given for “the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people.”
On July 7, 1937 the British Royal Commission recommended partition of Palestine.
British White Paper issued May of 1939 declaring the establishment of a Jewish state.
Since the end of the “Times of the Gentiles” in A.D. 1914 no gentile nation has fully govern Israel, and on May 14, 1948 they became a recognized nation (once again) in their own right, just 70 years (one generation, Psa 90:10) after the Berlin Congress in A.D. 1878.
“This long period ("seven times," or 2520 years) of Israel's punishment is the period of Gentile dominion--the "Times of the Gentiles." Since, as we have already shown, the "Gentile Times" began B.C. 606, and were to continue twenty-five hundred and twenty years, they will end A.D. 1914 (2520 – 606 = 1914). Then the blessings recorded in the latter part of the same chapter (Lev. 26:44, 45) will be fulfilled. God will remember and fulfill to Israel the covenant made with their fathers. Rom. 11:25-27
This may be shown more clearly to some thus: Israel's "seven times" of chastisement = 2520 years. They began when the lease of power was given to the Gentiles, which, as we have shown, was 606 B.C. Consequently, in A.D. 1, 606 years of their period had passed, and the remainder ----- would indicate the A.D. date, viz., 1914
In proof that a day for a year is Bible usage in symbolic prophecy, we cite the following instances thus fulfilled: (a) the spies were caused to wander forty days searching Canaan, typical of Israel's forty years wandering in the wilderness. (Num. 14:33, 34) (b) When God would announce to Israel by Ezekiel a period of adversity, he had the prophet symbolize it, declaring, "I have appointed thee each day for a year." (Ezek. 4:1-8) (c) In that notable and already fulfilled prophecy of Dan 9:24-27, (viz. “The Seventy Weeks of Daniel”), in which the time to the anointing of our Lord is shown, and also the seven years of favor to Israel thereafter, in the midst of which Messiah was "cut off," symbolic time is used: Each day of the seventy symbolic weeks represented a year, and was so fulfilled. (d) Again, in Dan. 7:25 and 12:7, the period of Papacy's triumph is given as three and a half times, and this we know was fulfilled in twelve hundred and sixty years (360 x 3 1/2 = 1260).
The same period is mentioned in the book of Revelation: In Chapter 12 verse 14 it is called three and a half times (360 x 3 1/2 = 1260); in Chapter 13 verse 5 it is termed forty-two months (30 x 42 = 1260); and in Chapter 12 verse 6 it is called twelve hundred and sixty days. The fulfillment of these prophecies will be particularly examined hereafter.
Suffice it now to note that the use by the Spirit of the word "time," elsewhere, agrees with the present use of that term--that in symbolic prophecy a "time" is a symbolic year of three hundred and sixty years; and the fact that three and a half times, applied as a measure to the triumph of the apostate church, has been fulfilled in twelve hundred and sixty years, establishes the principle upon which the seven times of Gentile dominion are reckoned (360 x 7 = 2520) and proves their end to be A.D. 1914; for if three and a half times are 1260 days (years), seven times will be a period just twice as long, namely, 2520 years.
Had Israel's "seven times" been fulfilled in literal time (seven years), the blessing guaranteed to them by God's unconditional covenant with their fathers would have followed. (See Lev. 26:45; Rom. 11:28.) But this was not the case. They have never yet enjoyed those promised blessings; and that covenant will not be fulfilled, says Paul (Rom. 11:25, 26), until the elect Gospel Church, the body of Christ, has been perfected as their deliverer, through whom the covenant will be put into operation. "This shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days [i.e., the seven times of punishment], saith the Lord: I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts, and will be their God and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord; for they shall all know me from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more." (Jer. 31:33, 34; Heb. 10:16, 17)
"In those days [the days of favor following the seven times of punishment] they shall say no more, the fathers have eaten a sour grape and the children's teeth are set on edge. But every one [who dies] shall die for his own iniquity; every man that eats the sour grape [sins], his teeth shall be set on edge." Jer. 31:29, 30
The restoration at the end of the seventy years in Babylon was not a release from Gentile rule; for they were a tributary people ever after that. That restoration served merely to keep together a people to whom Messiah should be presented. It was while Gentile rule was already holding Israel in subjection, and in view of that fact, that our Lord declared that they would continue to be trodden down until the Times of the Gentiles expired, or were fulfilled. The world is witness to the fact that Israel's punishment under the dominion of the Gentiles has been continuous since B.C. 606, that it still continues, and that there is no reason to expect their national reorganization sooner than A.D. 1914, the limit of their "seven times"--2520 years. But as this long period of their national chastisement draws near its close (remember these words were written in A.D. 1889), we can see marked indications that the barren fig tree is about to put forth, showing that the winter time of evil is closing, and the Millennial summer approaching, which will fully restore them to their promised inheritance and national independence. The fact that there are now great preparations and expectations relative to the return of Israel to their own land is of itself strong circumstantial evidence corroborative of this Scripture teaching.” (B90-93)
This last course of events is now not only history but fulfilled prophecy, note:
Berlin Congress of Nations, June 13, 1878
Founding of the Zionism movement, Basel Switzerland, 1897
On Nov 2, 1917 a statement was made by the British government known as the “Balfour Declaration” in which support was given for “the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people.”
On July 7, 1937 the British Royal Commission recommended partition of Palestine.
British White Paper issued May of 1939 declaring the establishment of a Jewish state.
Since the end of the “Times of the Gentiles” in A.D. 1914 no gentile nation has fully govern Israel, and on May 14, 1948 they became a recognized nation (once again) in their own right, just 70 years (one generation, Psa 90:10) after the Berlin Congress in A.D. 1878.
