What was the Gentiles' situation while God was dealing with Israel as a nation?
While God was dealing primarily with the nation of Israel, the Gentiles were outside that revelation and destitute of the Word of God. Israel had Scripture from 1500 B.C. onward, but Gentiles had none of it. They were not part of that national dealing and lacked that Word during that time.
Les explains that all during the time God dealt with the nation primarily Jew only, Israel had the Word of God from 1500 B.C. on, while the Gentiles were out there destitute of any of that. This distinction helps explain why the apostle Paul later becomes the apostle of the Gentiles, and why his church letters are directed primarily to Gentiles in the Body of Christ, emphasizing their heavenly position. The earthly kingdom promised to Israel was rejected, and Israel funneled back into the mass of Gentile humanity, almost lost their identity, but God kept His finger on them. Meanwhile, the Body of Christ has been lifted out and will be raptured out.