What are "the appointed times of the nations"?

[Israeli Bar Avaddhon]

dicembre 28, 2017

And they will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive into all the nations;+ and Jerusalem will be trampled on by the nations* until the appointed times of the nations* are fulfilled – Luke 21:24

 

What are "the appointed times of the nations"?

 

The "appointed times of the nations" are another topic that many Jehovah's Witnesses are struggling to be self-critical because of the connections induced more or less in relation to the "seven times" of Daniel chapter 4.

In the rare cases in which they had a chance to re-examine the application of Nebuchadnezzar's dream, you would probably have an answer like ... "Jesus also spoke of the appointed times of the nations!"

The "inherent logic" would be ... "As Jesus mentioned the appointed times of the nations, the interpretation of the seven times of Daniel chapter four is correct."

Is this a reasonable statement?

Before answering this question let's start immediately with the skim any objections on the translation.

Is it correct to translate "appointed times", as does the New World Translation, or should have been translated simply "time" as the majority of the other translations?

The author of this article is not an expert in Greek or Hebrew but we will see how the Bible, by itself, can effectively answer this question.

We can do a search and see how the book Insight, for example, explains that "kairos greek noun (pl. Kairoi) ... according to a dictionary," means a fixed or defined period of time, a season, sometimes a time necessary or appropriate to the season "(Insight volume 1," set times of the nations ") and all this can also be shared as it is possible that other dictionaries give different meanings with as many logical and convincing explanations.

Who is right?

This is the problem with human wisdom: everything is almost always the opposite of everything and it is not the majority that establishes what is true and what is not.

Obviously conscientious research of experts deserve respect and a "truth" conquered by effort and discipline is certainly more appreciable than a "truth" simply taken or prepared by others.

We Christians, however, have something more than human wisdom.

We have the Word of God and if something "is not clear" it simply depends on the fact that the time has not arrived or we have not studied or pondered enough on this extraordinary Work.

That the more correct translation is "times" or "appointed times" has absolutely no importance because it is obvious that the time is fixed or predetermined.

The nations, as we know them today, are rulers of Satan and demons - see John 12:31; Daniel 10:20

To think that the time given to Satan to act is not fixed, that is, predetermined, would mean that he could act undisturbed for as long as he wanted.

It is absolutely logical that if Satan challenged God's right to govern humanity as well as the fidelity of human beings themselves, God gave him time to prove his accusation.

Otherwise Satan could say, and continue to say indefinitely "Give me more time ...".

In fact, it is what he will try to do, until the last moment, with his last nationalistic beast - Compare Daniel 7:25

The context of Luke 21:24 speaks of the destruction of Jerusalem and says that it will be "trampled by the nations until the times of the nations are accomplished" and even the term "accomplished" means that there was something predetermined.

The same term, "accomplished", is used by the Lord at the time of his death reported in John 19:30.

What was accomplished?

They had fulfilled all the prophecies concerning Himself and His death accomplished, or fully accomplished, his assignment - Matthew 20:28

All this had been foreseen many years before and indeed the reflective and scholarly people of the Jewish scriptures could have recognized who the true Messiah was because of this.

In the same way, the "times of the nations" are fulfilled when they exhaust their time which is evidently determined

If the purists of the ancient greek is more properly translated "times" or "appointed times," we let them argue. We are interested in the biblical message.

Of course the real "issue" that many would like to pull out after this diatribe is to try to understand whether translating "appointed times" we have wanted, somehow, to create a link with Daniel chapter four.

In practice, one wonders if the translation want to tell Jesus what he does not say that is ... "Jerusalem will be trampled on by the nations until the appointed times described in Daniel chapter 4 are fulfilled."

Even in this case we can say that the question is futile because it is always in the Bible that we must look for the answer.

If the Bible had actually explained that the seven times of the tree referred to the time given to nations to act before the coming of the Kingdom of God, then we could also discuss whether in Luke chapter 21 Jesus made a parallel with those scriptures or not, but since Daniel chapter four absolutely not talk about this, the matter dies at birth.

What Jesus said, "times" or "appointed times," he could not, however, refer to Daniel chapter four.

It is possible to find a detailed description of this subject at the following link

http://attenzioneallaprofezia.blogspot.it/2017/05/lacronologia-linterpretazione-la.html (for now, only in italian language)

These were the premises due.

Now let's try to see what the Lord meant and when and how his words are fulfilled.

In the meantime, it is correct to conclude that Jesus' words are not limited to the time of the destruction of Jerusalem because the nations, after the 70th E.V., continued to act arriving in our day.

Therefore, their time has not yet been completed.

Therefore we must understand the two subjects involved in this statement: Jerusalem and the nations.

For the first subject we have a problem.

Who is "Jerusalem"?

And 'the literal city, which not surprisingly there again in the end time, or is it God's people as a whole?

Many would say "it is the people of God" but the answer is not so obvious and for various reasons.

One of these is that when Jerusalem was trodden down until you get to the destruction presumably there were no Christians.

So the destruction of Jerusalem not only fell upon a literal city, but did not involve Christians at all (if we take for granted that they listened to the warnings given by Christ over thirty years before) - Luke 21:20, 21

On the other hand, if it were the literal Jerusalem we should ask ourselves why today, a city that should have nothing more "sacred" would have such importance in the words of Jesus.

Well, the answer may surprise us.

The appointed times of the nations end up at the beginning of Armageddon because that is the time you will be destroyed. Only then will they have exhausted their time.

If we read Revelation, in fact, we notice that there is a temporal difference from when Jesus takes power to when, actually, begins His war - Compare Revelation 11:15 and Revelation 19:19, 20

When Jesus takes power, the nations have not yet run out of time to act and this is clearly seen from everything that happens from chapter 13 onwards.

This makes us understand that it is wrong to associate the term of the "appointed time of nations" in the presence of Christ.

As we saw in a previous article, since Jesus took power until the beginning of Armageddon, three and a half years have to pass (see the article titled "1290 and 1335 days") - see Revelation 11: 2; 13: 1-5

This is also in harmony with the words of Daniel who speaks of this "king" who will try to change the times and the law but they "will be given to them for a time, and times and half a time" - Daniele 7:25

In practice it will only have forty-two months, really a short time to act - see also Revelation 12:12

If the appointed times of the nations ending at Armageddon and not the presence of Christ, then we must take the book Revelation and see what the actors involved and what happens in the vicinity of Armageddon.

We know that it is God's people who are trampled savagely until the last moment of the Satanic system.

This is accomplished through the last dominant empire, described as one of the heads slaughtered to death that lives, which blasphemes God, His Name, His abode and those who dwell in heaven and makes war against the saints and overcomes them - Revelation 13 : 3-7

At the end of these forty-two months granted to the beast, time ends and begins Armageddon - Revelation 19:19, 20

Did Jesus refer to this event when he said that Jerusalem would be trampled on by the nations "until the appointed times of the nations were fulfilled"?

No, and we understand why if we also identify the other possible subject involved in the matter.

We have said that speaking of Jerusalem we could refer to the literal city.

What other subject and what event, in Revelation, preludes the beginning of Armageddon?

If we only read what is written in chronological order, the answer should be taken for granted: the destruction of Babylon the Great.

In various previous articles we have re-discussed the identity of Babylon the Great by coming to the nation of Israel (which includes Jerusalem, of course).

If you have not already done so, you can find a detailed description in the following link

http://bewareofprophecy.blogspot.it/2017/12/who-is-really-babylon-great.html

 

If Babylon the Great is therefore Israel, in what sense has been trampled by the nations since 70 E.V. until now?

As we saw in the article dedicated to Babylon, Israel is reborn not by God's will but because of the political intrasps of the nations.

Although its "rebirth" has been accepted by the religions of the world as the return of true Israel, it is a mystification.

The founders of this new Israel have not given honor to God (many of them are not even believers), they no longer appreciate the God of the Bible but have replaced it with their traditions (compare Matthew 15: 6).

They sought refuge and protection in the nations of this world.

Only the geographical territory of ancient Israel has remained, but the people who make up this nation actually form a modern Babylon.

Furthermore, the "founding" nations and the United Nations as a whole continue to trample this nation with their military settlements * (see footnote).

We can therefore say that the literal city of Jerusalem, as well as all of Israel, is currently being trampled by the nations of the world.

Until it will be trampled?

Until its destruction, of course - Revelation 17:16

It is true that this destructive action is carried out by the United Nations itself (ie part of the occupiers) but let us remember that this event, after the period of crying and mourning of the hypocrites rulers of the world, will mark the beginning of Armageddon.

From that moment onwards no one will be able to step on Jerusalem.

At this point it is clear that we must stop for a moment.

If Israel is Babylon the Great, it is clear that it should have no positive meaning in its description (in the end Babylon has always been the greatest enemy of God's people) yet Jesus, in the basic writing of this article, mentions this event as if was the liberation of Jerusalem.

It is as if he were saying ... "Jerusalem will be trampled on by the nations until a certain point ... but then, finally, it will no longer be trampled on!".

It becomes easy to understand this expression if we understand that the nation chosen by God for His people still has its importance.

A nation, understood as geographic territory, has no merit or guilt.

So it is not the geographical territory that is condemned but the people that populate this territory.

The nation of Israel has been rejected as a people, because of their condition of heart, but the country where "milk and honey" flows is still the country chosen by Jehovah God for His people - Exodus 3: 8

The mountain of the Adornment is still the mountain of the Adornment, even in the time of the end, because chosen by God - Compare Daniel 11:45

The people who occupy that territory are no longer God's people (and therefore since they have denied it they have become abusive occupants) but the territory chosen by God has nevertheless been chosen by God.

We should think that from the moment when the territory chosen by God was then usurped by another people, God will destroy that people and also the territory in a definitive way?

The destruction of Babylon is final in the sense that there will never be more people with such characteristics to occupy the field of saints - Compare Revelation 19: 3 with Ezekiel 38:17, 18

Obviously this will not mean at all that this place will never be inhabited again - Compare Ezekiel 38:12

Jerusalem, then, as well as all of Israel will once again be inhabited by the true people of God, that is, the people who have appreciated this privilege by producing its fruits, a people that will be gathered from the four extremities of the earth - Isaiah 11:11, 12

So it is no coincidence that the persecution of the people of God, the real one, ends precisely in conjunction with the destruction of Babylon the Great.

When nations have exhausted their time, which includes both the trampling of Jerusalem that persecution, that Armageddon will destroy this beast, and all compact peoples in the fight against the Lamb.

At that moment Jerusalem will have been freed and the people of God, after the necessary period spent in the "inner rooms", will be able to go to that country which is still part of the promise and where in a short time it will start to flow milk and honey - Isaiah 26: 20

Connecting properly to the scriptures, we realize how wonderful is these prophecy and how was diminished in an attempt to demonstrate an unprovable date?

God will lead us to the Promised Land, still promised, when there is no longer any trace of Babylon the Great, nor of all those who over time have trampled upon this nation with impunity - Exodus 3: 8; Malachi 3: 6; Isaiah 55:10, 11

Only those who understand the prophecy properly can hope to be among those who will be prepared to reach it - Isaiah 11: 11, 12; 1 Corinthians 14: 8-11