Until the whole world hears
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Jesus said something to his disciples that seemed an impossibility until it happened.
It was Tuesday afternoon and Jesus had just left the temple gates. He was walking past the stone walls that were used to construct the temple when he told his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down” (Matthew 24:2).
Some of the stones Jesus was speaking of weighed as much as a 747 jet. The disciples were confused because, to them, what he was suggesting seemed physically impossible. It also seemed spiritually impossible. Why would God allow his dwelling place on earth to be destroyed?
Yet, in AD 70, Jesus’ prediction came to pass.
Jesus took his disciples to the Mount of Olives, where he told them something that seemed an impossibility, until now.
Jesus told them dark days of tribulation would occur in the future. Then he said, “This gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14).
Jesus said that after the gospel was proclaimed to the world, to all nations, at some point the end would come—and Jesus always keeps his word.
Why is 2030 being discussed as a significant year?
CNET published an article in 2019 that is worth considering. I read several other articles that agree with their thinking as well. The year 2030 is the worldwide goal of several nations and companies.
Melinda Gates runs the Gates Foundation. She and Alibaba CEO Jack Ma are optimistic that they can help bring about the international cooperation needed to accomplish the goal. The article said, “The hope is that global collaboration will help connect every adult to a ‘digital network’ by 2030.”
I’ve never been one to speculate about the end times. Scripture makes it very clear that no one knows the day or the hour when Jesus will return (Matthew 24:36). But, Jesus said that when the gospel had been proclaimed to the world, the end would come.
Everyone who has access to the internet has access to the gospel message. Could it be possible that Jesus’ promise to his disciples on the Mount of Olives will be accomplished because of the internet?
Until The Whole World Hears
Books that speculate on the “last days” or “end times” have been around for a long time. That subject was keenly important to Christian preachers and authors in the years that followed World War II. That was a time when many were convinced Christ’s return was imminent.
Yet, we are still here. The gospel has not yet been presented and proclaimed to “all nations.”
Our ministry is an internet ministry. We have felt for some time that our digital ministry has the potential to reach far more people for the Lord than we could have accomplished from a pulpit, platform, classroom, or series of books. The internet is the most potent mission field we have ever seen.
It has been our privilege to provide many Christian leaders of many nations with tools to share biblical truth with their people. We would never speculate or proclaim that we know Christ is returning soon. We can say that, for the first time in human history, we can see that it could be possible, maybe even in our lifetimes.
I have written and taught Bible studies for almost forty years. This year’s Bible study is titled Until the Whole World Hears. It is a series of studies that can be described as “last words” from several biblical authors. There are twenty lessons from Scripture because I think the only words that should create our theology about the end times should be those we find in God’s word.
The lessons are mostly instruction about how God wants us to live, as faithful witnesses throughout our lives. They are the words of Jesus, Micah, James, Paul, and John that God made sure to preserve for us as Scripture, his perfect truth. They are lessons that you and I need to consider if we want to serve the Lord and his purpose in this world.
I have created written and video lessons that anyone can receive. Simply go to FoundationsBibleStudies.org to sign up for the study, choose Until the Whole World Hears and click the “sign up for free” button on the checkout page (this is where you will create your login if this is your first study). If you have signed up for other studies, you will be redirected to sign in to your account and then hit the sign up button. Once a video releases, you can access it whenever you want, and it will stay in your library indefinitely.
Will the world be presented the gospel in our lifetime?
It is an interesting thought. More importantly, it is a thought that should prompt God’s people to live the kind of lives that our biblical authors encouraged. That is why I wrote this year’s study, and I hope you will want to study along with us.
What if Melinda Gates and others will be able to connect the population of our world in the next decade? What if all of us, who present God’s word to people via the internet, are able to help accomplish Matthew 24:14?
Interestingly, the articles, blogs, Bible studies, and more can live long past us on the internet. And God’s truth is unchanging.
The Bible studies I write today will still be valid truth one hundred years from now, if the Lord tarries.
I don’t know what God has planned for the world. Jesus didn’t know when he would return, and I know I have no idea. Nor am I claiming that he must come back as soon as the entire world has access to the internet.
But, I do know this: Jesus never makes a promise that isn’t fulfilled. He can’t speak something that isn’t truth.
And Jesus said, “This gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14).
Sign up, study, think, and pray
I would love to work through these important “last words” with all of you this year. I hope you will consider being a part of this study.
I believe God wants the Remnant, those who are set apart for Christ, to be strengthened in his word. I know God wants us to put feet to our faith and share the gospel message with our culture. It isn’t hard to recognize people’s great need of the Lord when we consider our culture and our world.
The study is free to anyone who would like it. It costs quite a bit to produce, so if you can make a donation of any size to help reimburse our costs, we would be grateful.
Our goal is to encourage and inspire a digital awakening and help God’s people live the gospel truth in their daily lives. We were called to change the world. God wouldn’t have called us without equipping us for that call.
Is Matthew 24:14 possible in our lifetime?
I think so.
Please, God, help us to live like we think so.
Amen?