The Times of the Gentiles
Concise Bible Dictionary:
God had taken up the Jews and made a nation of them. He declared, “Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation” (Gen. 18:18). “You only have I known of all the families of the earth.” They were to be a witness for God on the earth, and it is added, “therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities” (Amos 3:2). After long patience of God with Israel the house of David was set aside and carried into captivity, the power of government for God was transferred to the Gentile, and the times of the Gentiles commenced in the person of Nebuchadnezzar. To him it was said, “Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory.” The beasts of the field and the fowls of heaven were also given into his hand (Dan. 2:37-38). God held him responsible; and because he dishonored God, and took the glory of the kingdom to himself, he was punished. Three other empires succeeded that of Babylon, and the times of the Gentiles still continue, under various phases of government. They will run on until God in His own time restores supremacy in the earth to His ancient people. “Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled” (Luke 21:24).
From Anstey’s Doctrinal Definitions:
This expression refers to the period of time (presently running its course) when the seat of God’s government in the earth—which was once with the house of David in Israel (1 Chron. 29:23)—has been transferred to the Gentiles on account of Israel’s failure. It began when Nebuchadnezzar defeated Pharaoh-necho in 606 B.C. whereupon the Babylonians became the undisputed rulers of the habitable world (2 Kings 24:1-4; Jer. 46:2; Dan. 2:37; 5:18-19). The supremacy of the Gentiles has continued through the reigns of the Medes and Persians, the Grecian Empire, and the Roman Empire (Dan. 2:31-45; 7:1-27). The Lord said that Jerusalem would be “trodden down of the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled” (Luke 21:24). This does not mean that Jerusalem would be literally leveled to rubble until “the times of the Gentiles” closes, but that it would be subjugated beneath the foot of the Gentiles until that time.
What brings “the times of the Gentiles” to a close is Christ’s coming as the Son of Man to judge the world—His Appearing (Luke 21:25-28; Dan. 2:35, 44). At that time, the Lord will judge the Gentile nations and will deliver Israel from that yoke. When the nation of Israel is restored, “the throne of the LORD” will be transferred back to the house of David in Jerusalem (Jer. 3:17) and Israel will rule over the Gentile nations according to God’s original purpose for them (Deut. 28:13; Psa. 47:2-3; Jer. 51:19-20; Micah 5:7-9).