The Gospel Must Be Preached To All The Nations

To what time do the signs of the end refer? Is it the near future? Most accept a futurist position without question. It is possible that we all agree that evangelism of the world characterizes the last days and precedes the ultimate end. What is questioned is when that end occurs.

The key text for consideration of the evangelistic sign is Matthew 24:14. "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come."

Some have labored to the end of seeking to ensure the gospel reaches all nations to hurry along the awaited end of the world.

Did We Overlook The Effectiveness of First Century Evangelists?

What is clear from the Great Commission is that the Apostles were charged to preach the gospel to all the world. It is significant that such had to occur before the end could occur. What if they failed or all died out before completing that mission. Would not such create failure on the part of God to carry out a divine promise?

It is our suggestion that these first century evangelists did not fail nor fall short. In fact, they succeeded well in advance of the expected end. Without modern broadcasting equipment, modern transportation, electronic media or the internet, they reached their world in less than 40 years.

Completion of the Evangelistic Mission

Numerous times it is recorded that the gospel reached the world in the first century. The apostles understood clearly their mission and fulfilled it. The Romans letter documents a minimum of three occurrences for completion of the evangelistic directive to all the world.

First, Paul affirms their faith had been spoken of throughout the whole world. (Romans 1:5) Later he asks about the reception of the word. "But I say, have they not heard? Yes indeed: Their sound has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world." (Romans 10:18). Interestingly, he uses the same language as does Jesus (inhabited earth) to describe the fulfillment of the mission.

Secondly, he affirms that the gospel has gone to all nations. "...t

he prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith." Compare Matthew 28:19.

Thirdly, Marks gospel renders the Great Commission with slightly different wording, saying it must be preached in all the world (cosmos) to all the creation. It too finds literal fulfillment in the letter to the Colossians. Compare Mark 16:15.

The word of the truth of the gospel had come to not only the Colossians, but also to in all the world. Later, he uses the term creation, specifying the detail of the prediction in its fulfillment. "...and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven..." (Colossians 1:23)

The Imminent End in the First Century

All writers of the New Testament predicted an imminent end of the age. They saw the day of the Lord as being at hand. (Romans 13:11, 12; Philippians 4:5; James 5:7,8; 1 Peter 4:7, 17; Revelation 1:1,3; 22:6, 10, 12) Imperative in fulfilling the prediction of an imminent end required completion of the worldwide evangelistic mission. The apostles completed their mission in less than 40 years as the record shows.

In summary, worldwide evangelism was a sign of the end predicted by Jesus. He included it in the Great Commission given to the apostles. They took the message to all the nations, to all the inhabited earth, and to all the creation in obedience as faithful proclaimers of the word, --all within one generation. The end-time therefore arrived on time before some living in the first century passed away, just as Jesus predicted.

Tell Your Friend