The Gospel to Every Nation

14And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. (Matthew 24:14)

Thoughts:  This is an important prophecy of Jesus that everyone can see is fulfilled or very close to being fulfilled.  It is amazing that almost 2,000 years ago with only a few dozen followers Jesus predicts His message will go to the ends of the earth.  He asks His disciples to preach the Gospel to every nation (Mt. 28:18-20) after the resurrection.
    Jesus has just predicted the destruction of the Temple (24:1-4) and with it the destruction of Jerusalem. When the Temple was destroyed and the disciples had to get out of Jerusalem and Judea- and with it they took the Gospel with them.
     The "testimony to all nations" has a dual meaning.  First, it means that there will be believers in every nation (or some some tribe/people group) so that they will hear the good news.  Second, it is a testimony to all nations that the Gospel is indeed spread to every area. 
      In 1989 the last nation without any Christian adherents (Nepal) had several converts.  Christianity became the first and still only religion to have adherents in every country in the world.  So in one sense this prophecy has been fulfilled. In another sense, some missiologists say, the word "Nation" refers to tribe or language group.
    This missions accomplishment is one of the most amazing feats in the history of the world.  It has taken great sacrifice.  Many have given up the comforts of their culture, their families, their homes to spread the hope and love of Christ.
    In 1995 Christian protestant denominations got together and found there were 15,000+ people groups that had little or no witness in them.  There was a tremendous coordinated effort.  Today there are only about 5,000 people groups with little or no witness in them.
    Another un-publicized part of this huge accomplishment is the huge sacrifice to translate the Bible into each vernacular language.  This has become somewhat easier in recent years with computer software.  But many very smart people have left their families, their homes, the comforts of running water and sewer and medical help to live with a people and learn their culture and language.  Then being able to put the language into writing and then translating the Bible into that language.  This is a huge service to that culture- putting their own language down to be preserved and understood better.
    Some other effects of missionary enterprise has been the stopping of cannibalism.  Darwin even wrote the London Times about this as a benefit-that if you ever get stranded on a South Pacific Island you should pray the missionaries went ahead of you to convert the cannibals.  Another benefit is the stopping of widow burning (sati)- where the widow would throw herself on her husband's funeral pyre.  There are many benefits to the spreading of the Gospel to every nation- most are unseen.  

Prayer: Lord thank you for the hope and purpose you give. Thank you for those who have sacrificed their lives and comfort for the spreading of your love and hope.  May your good news continue to spread in the world.