2023.11.05.Sermon.FULLNESS of the TIMES OF THE GENTILES FULFILLED
William Akehurst, HSWC
Romans 1:16-17 (NKJV)
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”
Scriptures: Romans 1:16-17, Hebrews 11:13-16, Hebrews 11:39-40, John 20:29, Luke 21:24, 2 Corinthians 3:14-18, Romans 11:25, Acts 13:46-48, Isaiah 17:7, Ephesians 2:11-18, Romans 11:11-27, Zechariah 12:10, Genesis 7:15-16, Genesis 7:17-23.
BIG IDEA. Scripture speaks of a the “Times of the Gentiles”. What does that mean? And if there is a time for the Gentiles in Scripture, was there a time for the Jews?
The Ancient Hebrew Scriptures or Old Testament is the history of the world before Messiah, as GOD used the Hebrew Nation, the Jews, the Israelites to show the world WHO HE IS. From GOD’s Creation through the Fall, the Flood and the Nations of Israel and the “Covenant”. We could say that this was the “Time of the Jews”.
In the New Testament, the New Covenant, we read about the Jews being blinded to JESUS the MESSIAH and Salvation through HIM, and that this will be until the “Times of the Gentiles are Fulfilled.
And lastly, were people in the Old Testament “saved”? Will we see them in Heaven?
This thought began with a discussion with a pastor friend of mine regarding “Believing”, Faith, and the Jews and Salvation.
Hebrews 11 speaks of “their faith as counted unto righteousness”, which is filled with Old Testament Saints. And that they “all died in faith”. So those who had FAITH, BELIEVING, received “Righteousness”.
So we can see that FAITH is key in salvation. FAITH is believing in action. And Salvation is Righteousness through JESUS CHRIST the MESSIAH.
Hebrews 11:13-16 (NKJV)
13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. 15 And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.
Hebrews 11:39-40 39 And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, 40 God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.
They were waiting for the promises, the prophecies to be fulfilled, but didn’t receive those promises during their lifetime. But, they were not made perfect apart from us!
Salvation wasn’t only for those who knew JESUS, but for all who “BELIEVED”, HOPED, TRUSTED and took GOD at HIS WORD by FAITH.
SALVATION came through the JEWISH line. JESUS was a Jew.
John 4:22 You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews.
FAITH Believing…
John 20:29 (NKJV) 29 Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Romans 1:16-17 (NKJV)
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”
Scripture speaks of “the blindness of the Jews until the time of the Gentiles is full, then they shall see be saved”.
So to understand this, we have to understand the times…
there was a time for the Jews,
and a time for the Gentiles.
In the OT, GOD chose the Jews to show the world who HE is. In the NT, the revelation of who the Messiah is began with the Jew first, but then was also to the Gentile.
We are living in New Testament times. So there’s a difference between the 2. But its based on GOD’s timetable for mankind.
Times of the Gentiles fulfilled
In Luke 21:24 JESUS speaks of Jerusalem’s trampling under Gentile authority until that time (of the Gentiles) is fulfilled. I think about what we saw at the Temple Mount. Muslims are also Gentiles. And that Temple Mount is a form of synagogue of satan, though that’s not what Revelation 2:9 or 3:9 is referring to.
Luke 21:24 And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
TEMPLE MOUNT TODAY. I’ve been to the Temple Mount and seen the Muslim Dome of the Rock and Al Aqsa Mosque. The Jews referred to the Greeks and Gentile nations as Heathen. I can tell you from my experience, that there is an Anointing on Israel and Jerusalem, but when I went up to the Temple Mount, there was a Spiritual battle raging there. I could sense it and even see it in the walls of the Temple Mount. It was evil. Jerusalem “Trampled by Gentiles”.
But for the JEWS, they missed out on CHRIST, having turned aside with a veil that covers their understanding.
2 Corinthians 3:14-18 (NKJV)
14 But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. 15 But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. 16 Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
THE MYSTERY. Blindness until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.
Romans 11:25 25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.
What is that “fullness”? Is that the last non-Jewish person who receives JESUS, then we get to the next level?
This should cause us to desire to SHARE CHRIST with the Whole World!
In Romans 11:25, we get an understanding of GOD’s purpose in the “times of the Gentiles” which is regarding the spread of the gospel throughout the whole world. Saul/Paul started with the Jews, but was turned by GOD to the Gentiles. Peter also had the dream and saw the vision of the unclean meats and was told to share the Gospel with the Gentiles.
In Romans 11, when the Jewish people rejected Christ, they were cut off, though temporarily, from the blessings of a direct relationship with GOD. Think about it. Old Testament is all about the Hebrew Nation of the Jews and their relationship with GOD.
Acts 13:46-48 (NKJV)
46 Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. 47 For so the Lord has commanded us:
I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ”
48 Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.
SIDE NOTE: The New Testament begins with the Book of Matthew. You’ll notice the lineage of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob all the way to Joseph and Mary, who gave birth to JESUS. Why? Because the true Jewish bloodline is traced through the woman. Mary was a Jew, therefore JESUS was Jewish.
On the other hand, Luke chapter 3 beginning with verse 23, traces the genealogy from JESUS all the way back to the beginning with Adam. We get the whole picture of the history in this passage.
BLINDED by the Veil of the Old Testament Laws of Moses.
The New Testament started with the Jews, but with their rejection, the relationship was extended to the Gentile/Heathen people, for all who believe. So with the Jews being “Blinded**”, the gospel was given to the Gentiles who gladly received it. While this partial hardening of the heart of Israel occurred, it doesn’t make it that individual Jews can’t be saved, but it prevents the nation of Israel from accepting JESUS as Messiah until HIS Plans are finished. Like when JESUS healed the blind man, it was as if scales fell off his eyes; so too it will be with the Jews, when the finally see, know and understand who CHRIST is.
And when the time is right and that happens, GOD will restore Jew and Gentile who are ONE in MESSIAH as One Nation. It’s at that time that Jews will come to faith in HIM, ending “the times of the Gentiles”.
Isaiah 17:7 In that day a man will look to his Maker, And his eyes will have respect for the Holy One of Israel.
When JESUS gave up the ghost upon the Cross, the Veil in the Holy of Holies was torn top to bottom. As a Believer we can understand that we now have access to that Holy Place with GOD, and moreso by the scriptures referring to our “body is the Temple of HOLY SPIRIT”. We are ONE with CHRIST because of HIS SPIRIT IN us.
AS a “Gentile”, let’s remember where we came from, and how GOD allowed us access to HIM through the JEWS. Jew and Gentile, ONE in MESSIAH!
Ephesians 2:11-18 (NLT)
11 Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called “uncircumcised heathens” by the Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts. 12 In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope. 13 But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.
14 For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. 15 He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. 16 Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.
17 He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near. 18 Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.
In the parable of the vine, the Gentiles are ‘grafted in’, and could also be easily pruned out, and it continues to state that Jews who were pruned out would be “reattached”. So this goes against “Replacement Theology” that is taught by some churches today.
THROUGH THEIR FALL, TO PROVOKE THEM TO JEALOUSY, SALVATION CAME TO THE GENTILES! BUT BE CAREFUL. GOD DIDN’T FORSAKE HIS OWN.
Romans 11:11-27 (NKJV)
11 I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles. 12 Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness!
13 For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, 14 if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh and save some of them. 15 For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?
16 For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches. 17 And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, 18 do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you.
19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.” 20 Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. 22 Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. 23 And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who are natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?
25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that **blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written:
“The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob;
27 For this is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins.”
Zechariah 12:10 “And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn.
We are living in the “times of the Gentiles”. And those days will soon be “fulfilled”.
When Noah’s Ark was completed, GOD commanded Noah and the animals to enter the Ark of Safety.
Genesis 7:15-16 15 And they went into the ark to Noah, two by two, of all flesh in which is the breath of life. 16 So those that entered, male and female of all flesh, went in as God had commanded him; and the LORD shut him in.
Then the LORD shut them in, and judgment came on the earth.
Genesis 7:17-23 (NKJV)
17 Now the flood was on the earth forty days. The waters increased and lifted up the ark, and it rose high above the earth. 18 The waters prevailed and greatly increased on the earth, and the ark moved about on the surface of the waters. 19 And the waters prevailed exceedingly on the earth, and all the high hills under the whole heaven were covered. 20 The waters prevailed fifteen cubits upward, and the mountains were covered. 21 And all flesh died that moved on the earth: birds and cattle and beasts and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, and every man. 22 All in whose nostrils was the breath of the spirit of life, all that was on the dry land, died. 23 So He destroyed all living things which were on the face of the ground: both man and cattle, creeping thing and bird of the air. They were destroyed from the earth. Only Noah and those who were with him in the ark remained alive.
JESUS is the ARK, and is opened now to the world, to the Gentiles. But the LORD will shut that door, and those who are left outside will be lost.
It’s time to get right before GOD.
It’s time to stop playing around, playing church.
It’s time to get serious about the future, because we do not know the day nor hour.
But “it is written” that the times of the Gentiles WILL be fulfilled and come to pass.
Question is, are you where you need to be?
FATHER, we come by the moving of HOLY SPIRIT upon our hearts. Knowing that we are nothing without CHRIST JESUS. We thank YOU for SALVATION to the whole world, to as many as BELIEVE and RECEIVE by FAITH. Our Righteousness is dependent upon JESUS, and HIS SPIRIT IN Us. Forgive our sins, and cleanse our Temple that YOUR SPIRIT may reside within us. Teach us to know YOUR ways and thoughts. Guide us into all TRUTH, in JESUS Name, we believe, trust, and put our Faith in YOUR Salvation. Amen and Amen.
Be Blessed and Be a Blessing
Bill
