Times of the Gentiles. -- One fact must be kept steadily before the mind when

considering the meaning or the extent of `the times of the Gentiles' and that

is, not whether Babylon or Rome covered the same territory, or whether there

are four kingdoms or six in the Image of Daniel 2, but to remember that the

one unalterable identification is that Gentile dominion is co -extensive and

co -terminative with `the treading down' of Jerusalem by the Gentiles (Luke

21:24).  This one feature makes it imperative that Rome shall be given its

place.  Under the decree of Caesar Augustus, Christ was born in Bethlehem;

under Pontius Pilate, He was crucified.  When the Lord asked for a penny,

that penny bore the image and superscription of Caesar.  When Christ and His

apostles came into touch with soldiers, they came into touch with Romans.

Any of these features taken separately would prove that Jerusalem was still

being trodden of the Gentiles.  Taken together they constitute such a proof

as to make denial an act of unbelief.  Daniel 2 makes it certain that Gentile

dominion continues unbroken until the Coming of the Lord, when the whole

image, not some portion of it, will be broken to pieces (Dan. 2:35,45).