the “ fulness” of the time came (the Greek word indi cates sum toted, fulness, or completion ), •— but suppose He had not come! What if that which was thus determ ined, planned, announced, and waited for had not ar rived? But it did! Again, we are told of another period of time in Rom ans 11:25: “ For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.” This time of “fulness” began with the Pentecost experience and the Acts period and will continue until the Lord returns for His saints. This is the program of gathering from all nations a people to be His bride. This period has started; it is well under way; but it has not ended. That it will not continue indefinitely is contained in the word until. We read also of another period in Luke 21:24: “ 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.” The “ times of the Gentiles” began with Nebuchadnezzar and will continue until the Lord comes in glory and power to execute judgment. This likewise has begun, has run its long course up to the present time, and its close is guaranteed by the little word until. Yet another term in Ephesians 1:10 demands our attention: “That in the dispensation of the fulness of time he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him.” Here is a broader scope. It is full of the divine purpose for all time, but especially of the future millennial reign and the judgments that accom
pany it. This verse (and the beginning of the previous one) has been paraphrased by one as follows: “Having made known unto us the hidden secret of His will . . . that in the administration of the completion of the future appointed periods, fixed in God’s purposes, He might bring together under one Headship all things in the Christ, both which are in the heavens and on earth; even in Him, in whom we also are included, and have a share in this administration” (Thomas Fitzgerald, Four Cycles in God’s Purposes (London, 1926, p. 66). These four cycles of times-with-purpose make for a beautiful symmetry. One of entirely past, two are in process, and one is entirely future. It can be argued that the commencement of the second two, prove the expira tion of the same two and the commentment and expira tion of the first, and the commencement and consumma tion of the fourth. Any failure here would be very awkward! These are kairoi, to use the new word in its plural — seasons of opportunity, responsibility, and deci sive action. Is time running out? It would be better to say that “ the times” are running out. It is not for us to know the exact moment of their expiration, but we have suffi cient evidence to know the certainty it. In the passage in 2 Peter already cited, the apostle goes on to exhort his readers. “Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation . . . beware lest ye also being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness. But grow in grace and in knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (w . 14-18).
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