The Times of the Gentiles (2023)

Jesus Christ warned about the times of the Gentiles, a terrifying but very short period (Luke 21). He was referring to something the Prophet Daniel wrote about this period—and the book of Daniel is only for this end time (Daniel 12:4, 9).

Daniel discussed world leaders and made some pretty strange statements that we need to think about more deeply. He described the minds of world leaders becoming like ravenous wild beasts! This is what happens when humans give themselves over to evil spirits—they lose their minds and become demon-possessed. Many world leaders have even been Satan-possessed!

The human mind is so pliable. It is easily deceived and damaged. We must guard our minds from Satan, the god of this world who has deceived all mankind (2 Corinthians 4:4; Revelation 12:9). The mind is our most precious possession, yet so many people’s minds are wrecked while still very young. What a terrible, terrible tragedy!

“[T]o the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men” (Daniel 4:17). God is supreme ruler over all nations.

“Let his heart be changed from man’s, and let a beast’s heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him” (verse 16). God punished Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar in a way that no one else has ever been punished. He allowed Nebuchadnezzar to be afflicted with the worst curse you could imagine, making him insane like a wild beast!

Nebuchadnezzar’s punishment has far-reaching implications for the world today. Under the leadership of Herbert W. Armstrong, Dr. Herman Hoeh wrote: “Jesus understood that this prophetic vision … had reference to the times of the Gentiles, as well as to Nebuchadnezzar’s literal punishment” (Sept. ’55 Plain Truth).

Nebuchadnezzar began to think like a wild beast. He didn’t know the way of peace. He wasn’t submissive to God’s law. Many world leaders today are like him, focused on world conquest and not bothered at all by killing millions of people with nuclear weapons!

Daniel interpreted Nebuchadnezzar’s dream about an image, or statue, of a man: “… Thou art this head of gold. And after thee shall arise another kingdom …” (Daniel 2:38-39). The Daniel 2 image depicts four world-ruling kingdoms starting with Nebuchadnezzar’s Babylon.

“The king, then, was a type of the kingdom of Babylon, because he had absolute power. Also by comparing Daniel 7:17, 23 you will see that king and kingdom are used synonymously. Remember that one of the punishments on the king was that his heart should be changed ‘from man’s, and let a wild animal’s heart be given him’” (ibid). Only God can correct a heart that has become like a wild beast.

King Nebuchadnezzar because of his stubborn refusal to submit to the rule of God—the only way that would have brought him peace of mind and satisfaction—was punished seven years by having his mind changed to that of a wild animal—until he learned that God ruled. He was dethroned and lived among the wild beasts.

In like manner, the Chaldean Empire, of which he was a type, was defeated and its dominion was taken from it. But just as Nebuchadnezzar continued to live like a wild beast, so the Babylonish system has continued with leaders having the minds of wild beasts. The Persians, Greeks, Romans—Europeans even to the days of Hitler and Mussolini — have all been cursed with leaders who think and act like wild animals, leaders who glory in war and conquest.

Not one of the beasts, which followed the Chaldean Empire as described in Daniel 7, was given a man’s heart. They all were like ferocious wild animals—conquering, pillaging, destroying one another by intrigue, alliances and war.

Nebuchadnezzar was forced to live among the wild beasts just as the successor nations of the Babylonish system have had to fight and struggle constantly against other Gentile nations who are also cursed with the same mind—the same desires to conquer and rule the world (ibid).

Having the mind of a beast is a satanic curse—but God allows it as a form of correction. If only people understood where this kind of leadership would take them.

It is impossible to negotiate peace through diplomacy with the mind of a beast. British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain tried this with Adolf Hitler. He kept giving in to Hitler in exchange for empty promises of peace. He even agreed to give about a third of Czechoslovakia to Hitler. He returned to Britain from the negotiation waving a little piece of paper that was supposed to represent peace. Soon after, Hitler seized the rest of Czechoslovakia by force. Hitler had the mind of a beast.

God forced Nebuchadnezzar to graze like a cow for seven years, showing the world how God will confront every arrogant leader. The Most High rules in the kingdom of men! He will soon stop man’s rule over man. Human beings don’t know how to rule, and they must be taught the hard way.

Some nations today don’t mind destroying other nations just to possess their land. The Gentile nations are dangerous. Israelites just don’t understand the steel heart of Gentiles taken over by evil spirits.

God will humble world leaders like He did to Nebuchadnezzar. He will bring in all mankind to worship Him (Micah 4:1-3). They will have a chance to repent and overcome their evil characteristics.

Your Bible foretells two mighty Gentile superpowers on the world scene today. One is in Europe; the other is in Asia. They will clash with each other, and Jesus Christ will intervene to prevent them from destroying all human flesh!

“For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled” (Luke 21:22). What a monumental, staggering statement! We are living through the fulfillment of 90 percent of all Bible prophecy, right now in this end time! You can see events unfolding exactly as Christ prophesied.

“And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled” (verse 24). During the times of the Gentiles, nations will be destroyed. Is this worth looking into and proving?

This verse mentions Jerusalem. Anciently, Jerusalem was the capital of the 12 tribes of Israel. Today, God is focused primarily on three end-time nations of prophetic Israel: America, Britain, and the Jewish state. America and Britain are the birthright nations; Judah is the scepter nation. God has blessed them all mightily. (To learn more, study The United States and Britain in Prophecy.)

“And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand” (verses 29-31). Jesus Christ is about to return! His return is near, at the very door (Matthew 24:33). He will save mankind from annihilation.

We should be able to see events escalating toward the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. God sends out a warning message as a witness against mankind. People have an opportunity to heed the warning and repent!

“Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away” (verses 34-35). God’s Word endures! It is absolutely true. This is incredible and wonderful! We ought to fall in love with our Bibles just as Mr. Armstrong and his wife did.

Realize the danger of the times of the Gentiles. See the need to repent.

“Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man” (Luke 21:36). God reveals how to avoid the coming suffering: watch and pray! As you see world events fulfilling Bible prophecy, pray hard for God to grant you the gift of repentance. Everyone should desire the blessing of physical protection. God promises that blessing to those who obey!

We are deep into the times of the Gentiles already. Gentile powers are rising fast. Just remember where all this is leading: “And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory” (Matthew 24:30).

Christ will return, and man will receive the dazzling opportunity to rule the Earth and the universe!