“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_.” Luke 21:24. NOTE.—Jerusalem stands for the people, the truth, and the true worship of God. It is first mentioned in the Bible as Salem (Gen. 14:18); is spoken of figuratively as a mother bringing forth the children of God (Gal. 4:26, 27); and is a type of the holy city, New Jerusalem, which is to be the metropolis of the new earth. In Rev. 11:2 it is used as a type of God’s people during the long period of 1260 years of papal persecution, who are there referred to as “the holy city,” which the Gentiles “tread underfoot forty and two months.” 6. What will terminate the “times” allotted to the Gentiles? “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and _then shall the end come_.” Matt. 24:14. 7. Why was the gospel to be preached to the Gentiles? “Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, _to take out of them a people for His name_.” Acts 15:14. 8. What false idea of this gathering were some to hold? “And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.” Micah 4:2. 9. For what will the heathen be assembled in Palestine? “Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat.... Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision [margin, concision, or threshing; i.e., war]: for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.” Joel 3:12-14. 10. Under whose influence are the nations to be assembled? “And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are _the spirits of devils_, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.” Rev. 16:13, 14. NOTE.—Infatuated by the doctrine of the world’s conversion and a temporal millennium of peace, prosperity, and good will among men, the deluded nations will aim to make Jerusalem the center of a glorious kingdom, at which place they will doubtless expect Christ will come and take up His reign as their king. This was the favorite idea of the crusaders in the dark ages. But the crusaders were mistaken in their conception, and sorely disappointed. So also will the modern crusaders be mistaken and disappointed; for one object of Christ’s second coming will be to “smite the nations” and to destroy these armies assembled. Rev. 19:15. 11. Unto whom are God’s people to be gathered?