In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He [Jesus Christ -Yeshua] was in the beginning with God.

THE GENTILE NATIONS

Prophecies from God’s messengers in the Holy Bible are relevant to both Israel and the Gentile nations. Anyone who is not Jewish is a gentile. Gentile nations have always been an integral part of God’s plan for Israel. God has used the Gentile nations to bless Israel in times of her righteousness and to judge her in times of her disobedience and apostasy. In times of righteousness, Israel was blessed above all nations. Because Israel is God’s chosen people, Satan has always attempted to use the Gentile nations to destroy her. God will not allow this to happen because He has made an everlasting covenant with Israel.

The prophets prophesied both intermediate and end time events concerning the Gentile nations (see Major Prophets and Minor Prophets). Daniel prophesied the coming of four Gentile kingdoms [empires]: The Babylonian, Media-Persian, Grecian and Roman Empires. These empires rose to world supremacy and dominated Israel, and they are the basis for the world’s civil and political systems of today. Daniel also prophesied the reemergence of the [revised] Roman Empire, which is currently in the form of the European Union [seventh kingdom]. The influence these kingdoms have had in the world will soon be destroyed when Jesus Christ, the Messiah, returns to set up His eternal kingdom on earth.

The end time events will close the times of the Gentiles, which began in 586 BC when the Babylonians defeated the kingdom of Judah. Daniel prophesied 70 weeks (490 years) that God has appointed Israel to end her rebellion against God (Daniel 9:24-27). During this period, the Gentile nations will have treaded upon the Jewish people. Christ was crucified at the end of the 69th week. We are living in the age of grace, the period between the 69th and 70th week. The 70th week represents the seven-year tribulation period, which will begin after the rapture of the church when the age of grace comes to a close. At the end of the tribulation, the Gentile nations of the world will converge at the battle of Armageddon to wage a final war against Christ and for dominance over the land of Israel. This will bring Israel to repentance for her disobedience to God. Jesus Christ, the Messiah, will then return and judge the Gentile nations for their attempt to destroy Israel, thus ending forever the Gentiles’ domination over Israel.