Has the entire earth already heard the gospel?

[Esther]

Originally Posted by holinesswoman

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

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

[Sister]

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

[Esther]

Originally Posted by Sister

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

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

[Sister]

Originally Posted by Esther

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

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

[RandyWayne]

Originally Posted by Sister

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

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.

[mfblume]

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:

Colossians 1:5-6 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; (6) Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:

Colossians 1:23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

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.

Luke 2:1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.

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

Matthew 24:14 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.

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.

[holinesswoman]

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.

[Jermyn Davidson]

Originally Posted by Sister

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?

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.

[mfblume]

Originally Posted by 1399

I think you are taking these scriptures out of context.

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.

No. I do not believe that every person has on earth has heard the gospel message.

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

Since salvation is completed for each individual person, each individual person needs to have the gospel preached to them.

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

[Jermyn Davidson]

Originally Posted by mfblume

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



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

(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.