When studying eschatology, the study of last things, eventually you will encounter the phrases "times of the Gentiles" and "fullness of the Gentiles." Are these terms synonymous, or do they differ in meaning? They actually refer to two separate differing events involving the Gentiles. The phrases can cause confusion, and can cause you to inadvertently misapply scripture concerning the timing of last things in relation to Gentiles.
Here are the Bible verses:
"When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that its desolation has come near. Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains. Those inside the city must leave it, and those who are in the country must not enter it, because these are days of vengeance to fulfill all the things that are written....They will be killed by the sword and be led captive into all the nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled." Luke 21:20-24
"I don't want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you will not be conceited: A partial hardening has come upon Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in." Romans 11:25
Firstly, both phrases are discussing Gentiles. Gentiles are all those people-groups which are not Hebrew/Jewish. The Hebrew word for Gentile is Goy and is typically used as meaning heathen or nation, implying a people-group that is not Hebrew. So, the difference in these two phrases comes down to the meaning of “times” and “fullness” of the Gentiles.
“Times” as used specifically in the context of this verse is the Greek word Kairos, and means a fixed and definite time. “Fullness” as used in the context of the above verse is the Greek word Pleroma, and means the full number of something. So how are these phrases different, and what time-period are they actually referring to?
Times of the Gentiles refers to the period of human history where Gentile kingdoms dominate the world scene. Daniel prophesied about these kingdoms in Daniel chapters two and seven. In chapter two, Daniel is given understanding to interpret the dream of King Nebuchadnezzar concerning a tall statue of a man made from different types of metals. The statue represents four successive kingdoms of Gentiles beginning with the Babylonian kingdom, and continuing through history culminating with the revived Roman kingdom of the antichrist in the last days. This kingdom is brought down by the “rock not made by human hands” striking the iron and clay feet of the statue.
In chapter seven, Daniel is given a vision of four beasts. The beasts represent the same four kingdoms as seen in the statue in chapter two. The last kingdom again is the kingdom of the antichrist which is destroyed by the coming of the “Ancient of Days.”
Luke chapter 21 is part of what is known as the Olivet Discourse where Jesus is telling His disciples about the destruction of the temple. They ask Him to tell them when this will occur, and what the signs will be of His coming and the end of the age. So, everything Jesus tells them during the Olivet discourse sections applies to the time after the rapture, specifically the tribulation period at the end of the age. The "times of the Gentiles" therefore refers to the last gentile kingdom of the antichrist and the fixed, definite time that kingdom is brought to an end by the return of Jesus at the end of the seven year tribulation period.
The "fullness of the Gentiles" used by Paul in Romans chapter eleven refers to the period of time known as the "church age". Paul is discussing the church, and when the "partial hardening" of Israel will come to an end. We know from other verses in the Old and New Testament that the remnant of Israel will be grafted back into the cultivated olive tree at some point during the last days. This will occur after the church is raptured to be with the Lord. The book of Revelation details the process of remnant Israel feeling remorse and mourning the Messiah they rejected, and the elect remnant being grafted back into the cultivated tree fed by the root of God's blessing. The “fullness of the Gentiles” therefore refers to the point in time when the full number of those who are to be added to the church, the Body and Bride of Christ, is achieved. At that moment, the rapture of the church will occur and the partial hardening on Israel will be rescinded by God and His focus will return to bringing in the remnant elect of Israel during the tribulation period.
Here are some verses referring to the elect of Israel being grafted back into the cultivated tree:
“I ask, then, has God rejected his people? Absolutely not! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Or don't you know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah -- how he pleads with God against Israel? 3 Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars. I am the only one left, and they are trying to take my life! 4 But what was God's answer to him? I have left seven thousand for myself who have not bowed down to Baal. 5 In the same way, then, there is also at the present time a remnant chosen by grace.” Romans 11:1-5
“On that day the remnant of Israel and the survivors of the house of Jacob will no longer depend on the one who struck them, but they will faithfully depend on the Lord, the Holy One of Israel. 21 The remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the Mighty God. 22 Israel, even if your people were as numerous as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will return. Destruction has been decreed; justice overflows. 23 For throughout the land the Lord God of Armies is carrying out a destruction that was decreed.” Isaiah 10:20-23
"Then I will pour out a spirit of grace and prayer on the house of David and the residents of Jerusalem, and they will look at me whom they pierced. They will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child and weep bitterly for him as one weeps for a firstborn." Zechariah 12:10
"Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her. How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! 38 "See, your house is left to you desolate. 39 "For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord'! " Matt 23"37-39
"So this is what the Lord GOD says: Now I will restore the fortunes of Jacob and have compassion on the whole house of Israel, and I will be jealous for my holy name. 26 "They will feel remorse for their disgrace and all the unfaithfulness they committed against me, when they live securely in their land with no one to frighten them. 27 "When I bring them back from the peoples and gather them from the countries of their enemies, I will demonstrate my holiness through them in the sight of many nations. 28 "They will know that I am the LORD their God when I regather them to their own land after having exiled them among the nations. I will leave none of them behind. 29 "I will no longer hide my face from them, for I will pour out my Spirit on the house of Israel." This is the declaration of the Lord GOD." Ezekiel 39:25-29
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