Prophecies of the Gentile Nations

By John F. Walvoord, Th.D.
Chancellor, Dallas Theological Seminary, Dallas, Texas

The prophetic Word gives revelation in three broad areas: the Gentile world, Israel and the Church, 1 Corinthians 10.32. Both the Old and New Testaments contain many prophecies affecting the world as a whole.

The first eleven chapters of Genesis record broad prophecies concerning the Gentile world. Prophecy concerned all mankind as one unit until Noah and his three sons lived. The predictions of Genesis 9.24-27 are the first indication God has differing expectations for various parts of humanity. For instance, Noah’s three sons and their descendants would have different destinies. Japheth’s descendants would become the largest division of the Gentiles. Shem, who would receive God’s special blessing, would father a line who would eventually produce the Savior. Ham, the father of Canaan and his descendants would bear a special curse as God’s enemies.

Old Testament Scripture records six major world empires: Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Media-Persia, Greece and Rome, which gives a prophetic outline of past and future world events as God sees them. Many of these prophecies have already been fulfilled with remarkable accuracy.

Egypt is the first major country with which God chose to involve in relation to God’s chosen people, Israel. Egypt is pictured as God’s enemy from which He delivers Israel, Scripture predicts Egypt will have a more respectable role in the future Millennial Kingdom.

Assyria was the greatest empire of the Middle East in the seventh and eighth centuries before Christ. Its armies captured the ten tribes of Israel in 722 B.C. and dominated the political scene for a century, Like Egypt, some of the prophecies concerning Assyria have not yet been fulfilled and Assyria is assured a place in the prophetic future.

Babylon rose to power in the Middle East by conquering Assyria in 605 B.C. Although Babylon as an empire ceased to exist when the Medes and Persians conquered it in 539 B.C., I believe the religious aspects of the Babylonian nation as well as the city of Babylon itself will appear in the End Times. Babylon’s complete devastation, in my opinion, awaits future fulfillment in connection with Christ’s Second Coming, Revelation 18.1-24.

Media-Persia and Greece followed Babylon as Gentile world powers during the “times of the Gentiles,” Luke 21.24. Yet these nations also passed off the scene as they fulfilled God’s plan for the Gentiles.

The greatest of all is the Roman Empire, whose rule extended almost 1700 years. Scripture teaches a form of this empire will be revived in a ten-nation confederacy through which the antiChrist will rise to power during the future seven-year Tribulation.

Matthew 25 teaches after the second coming of Christ, the nations will be judged. In this chapter, those Gentiles who are believers are called sheep; those who are unbelievers are called goats.

Throughout Gentile history, we see God revealed as sovereign. He has judged each empire in His time. The rebellion of the Gentile kingdoms described in Psalm 2 will conclude at the second coming of Christ. In dealing with the Gentile nations, God has saved and will continue to save some individuals, giving the Gentiles a time of special blessing in the body of Christ, the Church of the present age.