But when the fullness of time was come, God sent forth his son, made of a woman, made under the law to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of the sons, Galatians 4: 4 & 5. Fullness of time, we are given to understand, is the time God had planned to send his son, as God does everything according to his plans. If it was not told so it wouldn't have crossed many of our minds. But why was it so interpreted? Well, if it were not so interpreted and if fullness of time were to mean, what it would actually mean, the fulfillment of time, or the end of time, then the fear is, it would follow that Christ returned during that very time, before that generation could pass. Now the word 'this' in the phrase 'this generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled'( Mathew 24:34), needed also to be interpreted to mean any other generation, a generation at the least, twenty one hundred years later. Or else how do we explain our time and what is in store for us. Failing to explain the dilemma created by us, we find it better to interpret the Bible to suit what is convenient to us. But we must also pay heed to St. John's warning: If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book. And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. Revelation 22: 18 & 19.
Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, the time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel, Mark 1: 15. What did the people addressed to understand when they heard that 'time is fulfilled'? For it was told them. Shouldn't they understand that it was their time, when Christ was with them, that the time was fulfilled? Now let us refer back to Galatians 4:4. 'When the fullness of time was come, God sent forth his son'.
That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him, Ephesians 1:10. From the time Christ was born (Galatians 4:4), to the time 'he might gather together in one all things in Christ', the harvest time, is the fullness of time. (And 'the harvest is the end of the world', Mathew 13:39). All of this time, from the time Christ was born to the time of harvest is the time, the people, Christ was preaching the gospel to, understood as the time that is fulfilled; the time when they lived, the time of their ('this' of Mathew 24;34) generation.
Christ was born in the fullness of time. Galatians 4:4
All things were gathered together in Christ, the harvest time, was the fullness of time, Ephesians 1:10.
In between is the time when Christ sacrificed himself, Hebrews 9:26.
Both the times, the harvest time and the time Christ sacrificed himself, are in the end of time, Mathew 13:39 & Hebrews 9:26, (But now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself). .
