Seven Times Prophecy - 5) Jerusalem Will Be Trampled On by the Nations

So, how can we go further and apply the 2,520 years to the “times of the gentiles” that Jesus spoke of? Here are the words at Luke chapter 21: “Furthermore, when you see Jerusalem surrounded by encamped armies, then know that the desolating of her has drawn near. Then let those in Judea begin fleeing to the mountains, and let those in the midst of her withdraw, and let those in the country places not enter into her; because these are days for meting out justice, that all the things written may be fulfilled. Woe to the pregnant women and the ones suckling a baby in those days! For there will be great necessity upon the land and wrath on this people; 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.”

Please take note that these words are different from the words of Matthew and Mark. In Matthew and Mark he does not specifically mention the Roman armies. He refers to the disgusting thing that causes desolation. Only here is he, without a doubt, talking about the Roman armies and what they will do to the literal city of Jerusalem. He states in verse 24 how those Jews in Jerusalem will die by the sword and be led into captivity. Then the statement is made that “Jerusalem will be trampled on by the nations, until the appointed times of the nations are fulfilled.”

Remember that Jesus is talking to his disciples who believe that in the very near future Jesus will restore the nation of Israel and reside as king over it. In Acts 1:6 we read, “When, now, they had assembled, they went asking him: 'Lord, are you restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?'” From this question it is clear that they are expecting Jesus to save Jerusalem and become the king.

So when Jesus is telling them exactly what will happen to the literal city of Jerusalem, he then makes it clear to them that Jerusalem and its rulership, contrary to what they expect, will be trampled on by the nations until the appointed (seven) times of the nations are fulfilled. Only then will it truly be restored and he become king. Although they could not grasp that at the time, we can. Of course it was not to be the literal Jerusalem that was restored but the heavenly one.

We must not forget that Jesus is answering the question “what will be the sign of your presence and conclusion of system of things?” Then in Luke 21 he is telling what the near future holds for the literal city of Jerusalem and its people. Yet Jesus has not forgotten the big question: When is his presence? So after telling of the literal outcome of Jerusalem, he no doubt knows that his disciples are logically thinking, ‘then Jerusalem will be restored and Christ’s presence as king will begin,’ just as they had previously asked in Acts 1:6. So he is letting them know that their thinking is wrong. Jerusalem will not then be immediately restored.

Thus he reminds them that Daniel’s prophecy said that 'Jerusalem will be trampled on by the nations, until the appointed times (or seven times) of the nations are fulfilled.' Only then will his presence and kingship commence. Only then, after the appointed seven times of the nations have been fulfilled, will Jerusalem be restored. While they did not understand at the time, we do understand. So his words were not just for his disciples living, then but also for people living in the last days of this system of things.

Matthew and Mark mentioned the ' disgusting thing ', so that definitely had two fulfillments:

1. The roman army and,
2. the United Nations

However Luke 21:20-23 is specifically and directly speaking about the literal events that would happen in the first century. Those events do not have a specific fulfillment in the last days although the parallel is similar. So after Jesus tells us literally what would happen to Jerusalem and the Jews, he then explains to them that Jerusalem will be trampled until appointed times have ended. The Kingdom will not be restored until then. As they would later come to recognize (after holy spirit was poured out at Pentecost), God’s Kingdom would not be established literally in Jerusalem as they had thought, but it would be a heavenly kingdom that would come after appointed times of the nations had ended.

Let's see all this in chronological order. You should see that the idea is quite simple:

• The line of Davidic kingship is stopped by the gentiles in 607 BCE.
• Later, Daniel receives a prophecy saying the kingship will not be restored for “seven times”.
• Later still, Jesus confirms the kingship will not be restored in his day, but only when Daniel's prophecy is fulfilled.
• The apostle John confirms in Revelation that the seven times of Daniel equal 2520 years.
• The seven times, or 2,520 years, end in 1914 CE. Line of Davidic kingship restored when Jesus is enthroned as King in heaven.

As you can see, it is quite simple how Jehovah has gradually revealed the outworking of his purpose over the centuries.