Has the entire earth already heard the gospel?
 

Well, I thought I would just jump right in there for my first post and see how you folks feel about something that has struck me as odd in the scriptures...

Now, mind you I am 3rd generation Pentecostal and have heard all of my life that the main hindrance of our Lords return was that a prophecy of Jesus had to be fulfilled..... "First, this gospel must be preached to all the nations"

But, some scriptures that I have come across lately gives me pause!

It seems, unless I am reading this wrong that this prophecy or command of Jesus was fulfilled already.... I think I have scriptural backing..... if I am wrong i will stand corrected....

Please follow along in the scriptures and humor me.... please

Jesus is speaking here in the book of Mark, notice his words........

Mar 13:9 "You must watch out for yourselves. You will be handed over to councils and beaten in the synagogues. You will stand before governors and kings because of me, as a witness to them.

Mar 13:10 First the gospel must be preached to all nations.

When would these disciples be handed over to the counsels? When would they be beaten? AFTER the gospel has been preached to all nations......

Jesus said that the Gospel had to be preached to all the nations BEFORE the disciples were handed over and beaten in the synagogues. When did this happen? Acts 2, that's when. Check it out.


Act 2:5 Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven residing in Jerusalem.


NOTICE THE WORDS - EVERY NATION

Act 2:6 When this sound occurred, a crowd gathered and was in confusion, because each one heard them speaking in his own language.

Act 2:7 Completely baffled, they said, "Aren't all these who are speaking Galileans?
Act 2:8 And how is it that each one of us hears them in our own native language?
Act 2:9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and the province of Asia,
Act 2:10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene, and visitors from Rome,
Act 2:11 both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs — we hear them speaking in our own languages about the great deeds God has done!"

Now look what happens in Acts 5

Act 5:38 So in this case I say to you, stay away from these men and leave them alone, because if this plan or this undertaking originates with people, it will come to nothing,
Act 5:39 but if it is from God, you will not be able to stop them, or you may even be found fighting again
st God." He convinced them,
Act 5:40 and they summoned the apostles and had them beaten. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus and released them.


In Acts 2, we see the Gospel being preached to EVERY NATION under the sun, not one is left out..... They hear people preaching the gospel to them at Jerusalem in their native languages

Immediatly after this happens... we see the disciples being beaten in Acts chapter 5..... PROVING that the GOSPEL has already been preached to every nation....

Each nation heard the gospel already......... there is NOTHING hindering the soon rapture of the BRIDE

So, the big question brothers and sisters... am I wrong or am I right about this?

Here is what Paul says - "If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which has been preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister" (Colossians 1:23).

What say you?

Re: Has the entire earth already heard the gospel?
 

Me?

I agree with the scriptures.

Re: Has the entire earth already heard the gospel?
 

I know in 1988 the 88 reasons guy said the same thing that all the nations had already been preached to.

Re: Has the entire earth already heard the gospel?
 

The question has never been "every nation" but rather, every person. No, every person has NOT heard the gospel.

Re: Has the entire earth already heard the gospel?
 

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't believe the Bible says every person has to hear the gospel before He returns does it?

Re: Has the entire earth already heard the gospel?
 

I don't see that in scripture though.

I think you are correct, Esther. The scripture refers to the gospel having to reach "all nations" before the end comes, it doesn't say "every person".

14And 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)

Re: Has the entire earth already heard the gospel?
 

It couldn't be said much better than that.

Re: Has the entire earth already heard the gospel?
 

God... in His infinite wisdom, impeccable planning and unparalleled ability to accomplish what thus sayeth the word of God.... set in motion the necessary elements to fulfill the preaching of the gospel to every nation on the very day that the Holy Ghost was poured out.

Wow... what an awesome God... He certainly doesn't waste any time when it comes to getting out the good news does He?

Re: Has the entire earth already heard the gospel?
 

I think it does. At least that what my preacher says.

Re: Has the entire earth already heard the gospel?
 

Actually it doesnt.
See Matthew 24:14 .

Re: Has the entire earth already heard the gospel?
 

Sis Stella you need to learn to study the Word for yourself. What scripture did he give you for that?

Re: Has the entire earth already heard the gospel?
 

So, is anyone denying that the nations have heard the gospel? If so then how will TBN convince people to give so they can REACH EVERY NATION so the Lord can return? Then they use the scripture shamelessly that "First, this gospel must be preached to every nation" they fail to tell the people it happened 2,000 years ago, at least thats my new understanding

Re: Has the entire earth already heard the gospel?
 

Because even though every nation has been reached not every PERSON has been reached.

Re: Has the entire earth already heard the gospel?
 

and they never shall...... if that is the requirement then our Lord can never return as there will always be a person who has not heard the gospel......

The NATIONS have heard the gospel.. the seed has been planted in every nation and our Lord never said this gospel must be preached to every PERSON.. he simply said Every Nation and that happened 2,000 years ago

Paul tells us that EVERY CREATURE under heaven has heard the gospel

Re: Has the entire earth already heard the gospel?
 

I actually accept that premise. I just find it interesting that it is totally incompatible with the philosophies behind the like of Mr "Light" (a legendary Obama supporter). To them, anyone not reached personally is damned eternally -for no fault of their own. To them, IF Ted Kennedy (and Obama) spouted Acts 2:38 (and no other versus) they would be Christ incarnate.

Re: Has the entire earth already heard the gospel?
 

Let the bible answer us, itself:

It is easy to overlook and miss what the bible says elsewhere about the same concept, and therefore miss what Matt 24:14 actually means. Not many compare scripture with scripture.

Careful study will reveal what the concept was when Matthew 24 said the gospel must got to all the world.

We read these statements about the GOSPEL and ALL THE WORLLD:


Was the gospel preached to literally every creature under heaven and to all the world in Paul's day? No. But does that make Paul a liar? No. It simply reveals that when the bible talks about every creature and all the world actually means THE THEN-KNOWN WORLD.


The same idea is found here, showing that ALL THE WORLD did not literally mean the entire earth, but the ROMAN EMPIRE, or the THEN-KNOWN WORLD.

Did Caesar tax the North American Indians? No. But THE BIBLE says he taxed ALL THE WORLD.

I believe this is the proper understanding of Matt 245:14

So the answer is YES, in the first century, according to the MANNER OF SPEAKING USED IN THE BIBLE.

The gospel has not been preached to literally every person in our world today, though. But by seeing how the bible says things, and the manner which it uses to relate truths, Matt 24: 14 is not talking about what most think as though literally all the world.

Re: Has the entire earth already heard the gospel?
 

Re: Has the entire earth already heard the gospel?

My dear friends, regarding the question posed.

Several years ago I was in a revival meeting. The evangelist, Brother S. Fast preached so long and so hard. For the whole to have heard we needed only to open the windows in the sanctuary.

To this day I can't hear out of my left ear.

Re: Has the entire earth already heard the gospel?
 

I think you are taking these scriptures out of context.

No. I do not believe that every person has on earth has heard the gospel message. Since salvation is completed for each individual person, each individual person needs to have the gospel preached to them.

Re: Has the entire earth already heard the gospel?
 

Perhaps you took Matt 24:14 out of context as well, if you think it refers to every person alive today.

If one verse says the whole world heard the gospel, as sister noted, and then another one that refers to the whole world would hear the gospel, both may be referring to the same context in each.

I agree, but I believe you are taking Matt 24:14 out of context if you think it is saying this.

So you believe Jesus cannot come at any moment, because the gospel has not been preached to every person alive yet?

Re: Has the entire earth already heard the gospel?
 

(1) Maybe I am.

(2) Jesus can come for you or me at any moment.

The great "Catching Away" of the Saints that we hope for through scripture will NOT happen until every person alive has had the opportunity to hear and respond to the Gospel.

God is a God of justice. He will not take away the hope of salvation from anyone who has never even had that hope in the first place.

Re: Has the entire earth already heard the gospel?
 

So you do not not believe in the imminency of His return? That's fine. Just wanting clarification.

I believe He can come at any moment, and that Matt 24:14 was fulfilled in the first century since it is actually talking about the THEN-KNOWN world.

I have those who agree with me, whom I did not know agreed when I first saw this, myself:

Re: Has the entire earth already heard the gospel?
 

Let me be clear when I say that I believe God can come for you or me at any moment, I am speaking of physical death. When that happens for a believer, God has come back for that soul.


As for the "Rapture", I do not believe it is imminent. I believe it is close. I believe I could see it in my lifetime.

But I do not believe that every person on earth right now has heard the Gospel.

Neither do I believe there has been a time yet when everyone on earth has heard the Gospel.

But the time will come when everyone on earth will hear or have heard the Gospel. Then it would be a matter of moments for the Great Catching Away!

Re: Has the entire earth already heard the gospel?
 

Yes, I thought that was what you meant.

But what if everyone on earth hearing the gospel has nothing to do with when the rapture occurs?

Can you prove that is what Matt 24:14 is talking about, though?

Just inspiring some thought. :)

Re: Has the entire earth already heard the gospel?
 

The very next verse talks about the "abomination that causes desolation standing in the holy place."

To my knowledge, nothing has happened that would equate to that-- not yet.

Furthermore, things are bad now, but they could clearly be much worse, as far as wars, nations rising, famines and earthquakes.

I believe that Christians on a wide scale will be persecuted, before the return of Christ. You can see where this thought could lead this thread and I am not really interested in going in that direction.


Things are bad, but they will get worse before "that great and notable day."

Re: Has the entire earth already heard the gospel?
 

The same note is found in Luke 21 which explains mor eabout this event:

If we know history, it did already happen.

This occurred in the first century, and the abomination that makes desolate occurred when Zealots entered into the temple killed the high priest and set up a profane person as high priest in the most holy place. Rome surrounded Jerusalem. The Romans brought idols on their standards into the city which was the HOLY CITY Jerusalem.

Consider some scholars:

Many here already know my beliefs on this, and I am not wanting to go into that direction completely either, but it does relate to this thread. But earthquakes and wears were wildly in occurrence after the cross until Jerusalem was destroyed. I have history to prove it.

Re: Has the entire earth already heard the gospel?
 

Isn't there a phenomenon with scripture where some prophecies can have more than one meaning or more than one fulfilling?


I haven't given a whole lot of serious thought to this subject-- I just believe that Christ is not returning until the whole world hears the Gospel and that hasn't happened yet.

The history you refer to, does it include history of the (then) unknown regions of the world (like North America, Iceland and the Canary Islands)?



Then there is the question with huge implications:

Which Gospel?

Oneness, "Easy-Believism"-- if PAW reaches Madagascar with the Gospel, but their Missionaries don't preach standards, then, for some, those folks are still lost in sin because they are not holy.


Do you realize just how many folk live in China?
Do you really think God is going to come back without giving them all a chance for salvation?

If you think God will come back without letting them hear the Gospel, then you have to believe that the "Acts 2:38" model of "The Gospel" can not be the only way for someone to have saving faith in Christ.

Unless you're willing to make the leap that God is just going to destroy all those folks, without a chance, without a hope-- doomed to an eternity of torture by the Hands of a Savior that refused to reach out and save them.

Doesn't sound like the Savior I know loves me....

Re: Has the entire earth already heard the gospel?
 

hey bro, I gotta get going-- I'll check back later for a response.

Re: Has the entire earth already heard the gospel?
 

That is only the case when it comes to prophecies stated in the old testament that have an old testament fulfillment and a greater fulfillment in the new. Never do we find two new testament time fulfillments of one prophecy though.

The reason you think that way is due to what you believe Matt 24:14 is saying, when other scriptures show that the phrase "ALL THE WORLD" does not mean what most think.

The then-known world did not include many places like North America . It referred to the Romans Empire. Rome was called a world empire because it ruled the THEN-KNOWN world. No one knew about North America in that empire.

I cannot say. The bible does not tell us. It does not matter what I think God will do. I could be missing some information He has not shared with anyone that would change the whole picture! Believe it or not, I think God withholds some things from us., and we'd be crazy to assume we correctly know what He should do.

Incorrect. We just believe whether they heard the gospel or not, if they are lost they are lost. Some say creation can tell everyone the Gospel.

Anyway, who knows? The bible does not say. We can try to ASSUME what God will do, but we do not know.

That is a common reaction. But is it a correct basis?

I believe it does not matter what WE THINK the Creator is and is not. He is going to do what He is going to do whether it fits our scheme of things in our limited minds or not. :D We just have to learn from His word what He will do. And we cannot stand alone on assumptions and what we WANT to believe. And I include Matt 24:14 in that as well.

I am certain that if we cannot understand something that God may or may not do, nor why He may or may not do it, our minds are limited and our reasoning cannot fathom a lot of what is reality anyway. Who are we, the clay, to talk to the Potter, God, and tell Him what we think He should do? :)

Re: Has the entire earth already heard the gospel?
 

What was meant by "every nation" is also easier to understand when you understand that the "end" was that he was speaking of.

The "end" was the end God was going to put to the old system of sacrifice based temple worship.

What was being said is that the news that the Messiah had come would need to be noised abroad among all the nations where Jews were before God was going to bring an end to that sacrifice/temple worship era.

Re: Has the entire earth already heard the gospel?
 

So was Paul laying when he said that every creature under heaven had heard the gospel? According to your thesis.. he meant only the KNOWN WORLD and yet in the scriptures after he makes this statement we find people who had NOT YET heard "if there be any Holy Ghost"

Re: Has the entire earth already heard the gospel?
 

Exactly!

I said the same thing:

Re: Has the entire earth already heard the gospel?
 

That is so funny.

Re: Has the entire earth already heard the gospel?
 

I believe in the first century,the gospel did go out to the then known world,but I there believe are people in remote areas who have never heard the truth.

Re: Has the entire earth already heard the gospel?
 

Exactly.

Re: Has the entire earth already heard the gospel?
 

Oh dear Brother Steve Epley, thank you for finding me funny. I have always admired you as a true holiness man.

So much like my man Horace. Horace could preach the hair off of a monkey.

On a revival night Horace could forevermore skin the hogs.

One night he was a preachin so hard his false teeth ( just his uppers) flew right out his mouth. Horace grabbed them in mid air and slapped back in his mouth and I don't think anyone even noticed.

Re: Has the entire earth already heard the gospel?
 

Holiness woman, you should write a book on all your experiences with Horace

Re: Has the entire earth already heard the gospel?
 

I saw that happen at a fellowship meeting once.
The preacher paused and said, "Next time we'll bring the PolyGrip."

Re: Has the entire earth already heard the gospel?
 

hahahahaha!