The "times of the gentiles" is a short period of years, about 3.5
years ("time, times, and a half time"), in which gentile
armies tread under foot their enemies in warfare. Compare the language
similarities in examples found throughout scripture:
"When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize
that her desolation is near...They will fall by the edge of the
sword...Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until
the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled." (Luke 21:20,24)
"The court which is outside the temple...is given unto
the Gentiles, and the holy city they shall tread under foot forty
and two months." (Revelation 11:2)
"It shall be for a time, times, and an half [time]...he
shall have accomplished to shatter the power of the holy people"
(Daniel 12:7)
"'How long is this vision concerning...the transgression
that makes desolate, and the giving over of the sanctuary and
host to be trodden under foot?' And he answered him, 'For two
thousand three hundred evenings and mornings'" (Daniel 8:13-14)
"Two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, so
that she could fly [out of Judea and Jerusalem - Lk 21:21] into
the wilderness to her place, where she was nourished for a time
and times and half a time" (Rev 12:14)
"Your holy people possessed Your sanctuary for a little
while, Our adversaries have trodden it down." (Isaiah 63:18)
"They surrounded Benjamin...and trod them down opposite
Gibeah toward the east. Thus 18,000 men of Benjamin fell; all
these were valiant warriors...So all of Benjamin who fell that
day were 25,000 men who draw the sword...The men of Israel then
turned back against the sons of Benjamin and struck them with
the edge of the sword" (Judges 20:43-48)
"With the hoofs of his horses he will trample all your streets.
He will slay your people with the sword" (Ezekiel 26:11)
It is clear from scripture that the times of the gentiles mentioned
at Luke 21:24 is the period AD 66-70, the Roman Jewish War, in which
Jerusalem was trodden down and made desolate by the gentile Roman
armies. There the treading under foot with armies and swords was
a mere 3.5-year period, corresponding to Rev 11:2 and Rev 17:16-18,
as well as to the Old Testament type found at Daniel 8:13. It was
that final three and a half years (AD 66-70) when the wrath and
vengeance were poured out upon the Jews--until the Gentiles had
fulfilled everything the prophets had predicted about the destruction.
