Gentiles came first, then Jews, and then the Church in the historical order. Today God recognizes all three as being present on the earth. Much of what we have written and most of the articles in this monthly magazine are about the Church or the Jews (Israel). This month we will consider the Gentiles.
In Scripture, the name Gentile is used to denote any and every nation except Israel. Gen. 10:5 gives the first mention of them, "By these were the isles of the Gentiles divided in their lands; every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations." This was two or three hundred years before the call of Abraham from whom Israel was born of Isaac.
With the children of Israel, God worked for fifteen hundred years to test Man under law and the result is announced in Rom. 3:19, "Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.”
Christ announced the Church in Matt. 16:18 saying, "I will build My church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." This work Christ began by the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost and it is still going on. The Church is formed from Jews and Gentiles through believing in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior.
The times of the Gentiles began when God transferred the power of government to Nebuchadnezzar at Babylon (Dan. 2:37, 38.) Three other empires succeeded that of Babylon, and the times of the Gentiles still continue under various phases of government. They will continue until the last head of the last form of the imperial revived Roman Empire is cast alive into a lake of fire. (Rev. 19:20.)
The fullness of the Gentiles is spoken of in connection with the olive tree. It is God's tree of promise and richness of blessing on the earth. According to Jer. 11:16, Israel was that tree. Because of unbelief some of the branches were broken off, and contrary to nature, some Gentiles were "grafted in among them." Rom. 11:17.
Now we come to the warning to the Gentiles and this is the point we want to strongly press: "Boast not against the branches" is the first warning. Unbelief brought about the removal of the central place of blessing to the Jew. Now we seriously ask, have the Gentiles been any better in their record of believing God and His Word?
“Be not high-minded, but fear: for if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest He also spare not thee," is the next warning. This applies very much at this present time. God has had much patience with the Gentiles. This nearly two thousand years of the gospel of the grace of God offered to all, but especially to the Gentiles, fully proves His long-suffering.
Next we read in verse 22 of Rom. 11, "Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou [Gentiles] continue in His goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off." Is that time drawing near? Oh, that men would hear God's solemn warnings. He always warns before He judges.
Today Gentiles outnumber Jews about three hundred fifty to one. This confirms the fact that now is the times of the Gentiles. The goodness of God has indeed been poured out upon the Gentiles. In the millennial day, all twelve tribes of Israel will again be in the central place of blessing under Christ Jesus who will be owned as their Messiah. Around them will be the nations, that is, Gentiles. (Rev. 7:4-10.) Ed.