Which nation has yet to have the Gospel preached within?

[utah_rose]

I was reading some verses and took notice of this one…

Mt 24:14
And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached throughout the world as a witness to all nations, and then the end will come.

Does anyone know which nations have never had the Gospel preached in them?

Seems like most of them have by now.

I am reading a Catholic book on the end times and this could refer to the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem. Jesus sent all of the Apostles to preach to the nations, but at that time there were many undiscovered. Then when these countries at this time were preached to, the end ( referring to the destruction of the temple) would occur. So, He is speaking about not the end of time but the temple. The book " What Jesus really said about The End of The World " by apologist David Currie… He’s also written about the so called rapture, titled “Rapture, the end times Error that leaves the Bible Behind”.

 

[triumphguy]

I am reading a Catholic book on the end times and this could refer to the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem. Jesus sent all of the Apostles to preach to the nations, but at that time there were many undiscovered. Then when these countries at this time were preached to, the end ( referring to the destruction of the temple) would occur. So, He is speaking about not the end of time but the temple. The book " What Jesus really said about The End of The World " by apologist David Currie… He’s also written about the so called rapture, titled “Rapture, the end times Error that leaves the Bible Behind”.

As with many things Catholic it’s a case of both/and rather than either/or.

The teaching IS about the destruction of the Temple, and about our own end times.

And we are ALWAYS in the end time.

 

[TimothyH]

Notice that the verse did not require every person to hear the gospel, only every nation.

Many people in North Korea have heard the Gospel, in fact, one man was recently detained for leaving bibles there in a hotel room, if just one person heard this man preaching the gospel when he was there, it would fulfill that prophecy.

Remote tribes in the Amazon were preached to looong ago.

The OP cited Matthew 24:14 and it doesn’t say that every nation will hear the Gospel.

Matthew 24:14 says “throughout the world as a witness to all nations.”

-Tim-

 

[TimothyH]

Actually, I think it’s being conflated with Mark’s version, which does say: “And the gospel must first be preached unto all the nations.” But then again, the phrase is ambiguous and quite problematic in Mark. In context:

“But be on your guard. For they will deliver you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them. And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations. And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit."

Note how the phrase kinda breaks the continuity of thought there. (Matthew has a tidier version.) But in Mark’s version the phrase seems to be connected more clearly with the preaching and eventual persecution of the apostles: it seems that Jesus in this version is referring to them as the ones who are supposed to preach the gospel to “all the nations.” (In Matthew’s gospel at least, Jesus does command them to do so: “make disciples of all nations.”) The way Mark’s version reads, the gospel “must” be preached to “all the nations” first before the apostles are persecuted and “the end” (of Jerusalem, as the context makes clear) comes.

In which case, you can “all the nations” as probably being sort of symbolic: St. Paul already refers to the gospel as being “now disclosed, and … made known to all the nations” (Romans 16:26) and “bearing fruit and growing in the whole world” (Colossians 1:6; cf. Colossians 1:26; Romans 1:5; 8:10; 15:19, 23).

Obviously Paul doesn’t mean that the gospel in his time had already reached literally every corner of the globe, but he could say it was already “made known to all the gentiles” - because he and the others had already propagated it in their world: the Roman Empire and its neighbors. Maybe it’s the same thing here. Jesus was just speaking the language of the people of His time: “all the nations” doesn’t literally have to mean “every country that will exist 2000 or so years from now.”

Thank you Patrick.

It is important that we treat the Scriptures with reverence and respect. First among this is quoting it correctly and not claiming it says something which it does not.

The OP cited Matthew 24:14 but it does not say that the Gospel will be preached in all nations but will be a witness to all nations.

I can’t count the number of threads where people argue about the meaning something which isn’t even in the text!

-Tim-

 

[TimothyH]

As with many things Catholic it’s a case of both/and rather than either/or.

The teaching IS about the destruction of the Temple, and about our own end times.

And we are ALWAYS in the end time.

I disagree that it is about the end times. It can be shown that everything touched upon by Jesus had fulfillment in the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD.

-Tim-

 

[Lion_IRC]

There’s a whole nation of kids in every formerly Christian country rising up who have no relationship with Christ.

Agreed.

But it’s the adults I’m thinking of and they can hardly plead ignorance.

This is a very western mindset.

Women are not allowed to read in some Muslim countries. There are lots of poor people on earth and 18% of earth’s population doesn’t have access to electricity.

-Tim-

Im pretty sure muslim countries are aware of the existence of Jesus and the bible.

As for electricity, yes that would be an impediment but in those relatively small societies, oral transmission of information is exceptionally good. Remember that the Gospel was spread for thousands of years before the invention of electricity.

 

[triumphguy]

I disagree that it is about the end times. It can be shown that everything touched upon by Jesus had fulfillment in the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD.

-Tim-

I agree that "everything touched upon by Jesus had fulfillment in the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. "

For instance Matthew’s Gospel needs to be read in the light of the destruction of the Second temple. It was written within the sound of the Roman boot crunching the rubble where Jerusalem stood.

However, Matthew’s Gospel cannot ONLY be read in the context of the destruction of the Second Temple, and I’m sure you would not disagree.

Jesus was always pointing beyond, and so were the Evangelists.

 

[TimothyH]

I agree that "everything touched upon by Jesus had fulfillment in the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. "

For instance Matthew’s Gospel needs to be read in the light of the destruction of the Second temple. It was written within the sound of the Roman boot crunching the rubble where Jerusalem stood.

However, Matthew’s Gospel cannot ONLY be read in the context of the destruction of the Second Temple, and I’m sure you would not disagree.

Jesus was always pointing beyond, and so were the Evangelists.

Fair enough and point taken. I do not disagree.

Can we say that the literal sense of the Scripture is the destruction of Jerusalem in 70AD?

What I disagree with is the idea that that these are prophesies pointed at modern times by some who have little or no knowledge of the actual historical events which took place. Its the same mindset which leads people to think that the mark of the beast are cell phones or that 666 is Michael Gorbachev.

We have to always keep in mind the context - who was speaking, to whom they were speaking and the language and culture of that specific time and place. The desolating sacrilege, eagle, fleeing to the mountains, wars and rumors of wars, are all references to specific historical events which took place at that specific time and place.

By the way, it is good to see you posting. I hope you are well and enjoying those British bikes in the cool summer night air.

-Tim-

 

[triumphguy]

I agree that a danger in reading these sayings as prophetic is when it leads to a literalist, fundamentalist and deterministic version of the Gospel.

The already and not-yet of the eschaton is always with is (in our own lives), always before us (in the coming Kingdom), and always behind us (in the actual events of the destruction of the Temple).

 

[ProVobis]

As for electricity, yes that would be an impediment but in those relatively small societies, oral transmission of information is exceptionally good. Remember that the Gospel was spread for thousands of years before the invention of electricity.

True, and before battery chargers and iPhones as well.

I think some of the stats are misleading as pc sales have been plummeting (and I suppose internet access as well) even though many still don’t have a computer. Some of these people just don’t want the modern conveniences, even when donated.

 

[mikekle]

I disagree that it is about the end times. It can be shown that everything touched upon by Jesus had fulfillment in the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD.

-Tim-

So, who was the antichrist then?

If none of these things apply to modern times, its an awful large coincidence how closely modern events mirror past events when it comes to signs/warnings, etc.

 

[triumphguy]

So, who was the antichrist then?

If none of these things apply to modern times, its an awful large coincidence how closely modern events mirror past events when it comes to signs/warnings, etc.

That’s 'cos sin remains sin, there’s nothing new under the sun, people are people, stoopid is as stoopid does, and history repeats itself.

 

[KendraDZ1902]

…or the global mass media. TV. Radio. Newspapers.

I would say it’s getting near to impossible that any literate adult on earth doesn’t know why calendars refer to an event 2015 years ago.

If they had access to TV, Radio, Newspapers, etc. it’s not like they are preaching the Gospel.

 

[triumphguy]

If they had access to TV, Radio, Newspapers, etc. it’s not like they are preaching the Gospel.

That’s right, all they would hear is the media telling the world how bigoted, misogynistic, rich, anti-science, and full of sexual predators the Catholic Church is.

 

[KendraDZ1902]

That’s right, all they would hear is the media telling the world how bigoted, misogynistic, rich, anti-science, and full of sexual predators the Catholic Church is.

Can’t forget about reality TV stars who they have no clue about, since they don’t have TV. Lol.

 

[Lion_IRC]

If they had access to TV, Radio, Newspapers, etc. it’s not like they are preaching the Gospel.

You think maybe too MUCH information might be having the opposite effect - drowning out the possibility of knowing about the Gospel?
Hmmm. Interesting idea. (Thorns in the parable of the sower?)

I was thinking mainly about extremely isolated, remote communities where perhaps someone might be able to honestly claim they had never heard of God and the bible.

 

[triumphguy]

You think maybe too MUCH information might be having the opposite effect - drowning out the possibility of knowing about the Gospel?
Hmmm. Interesting idea. (Thorns in the parable of the sower?)

I was thinking mainly about extremely isolated, remote communities where perhaps someone might be able to honestly claim they had never heard of God and the bible.

I don’t think EWTN is broadcast around the world \

However, anti-christian media is.

 

[ProVobis]

I don’t think EWTN is broadcast around the world \

It’s on the internet, but some countries do block out a lot of the internet, not just EWTN, and some people just don’t want to be bothered.

ewtn.com/tv/live/ewtnlive.asp

 

[triumphguy]

It’s on the internet, but some countries do block out a lot of the internet, not just EWTN, and some people just don’t want to be bothered.

ewtn.com/tv/live/ewtnlive.asp

Well you have to know that you want to look for EWTN.

If I was a non believer in China, for instance, how would I know that I even should be looking up EWTN?

 

[ProVobis]

Well you have to know that you want to look for EWTN.

If I was a non believer in China, for instance, how would I know that I even should be looking up EWTN?

I know. I often spell it etwn and some search engines don’t offer a correction. But you’re right. A person who doesn’t know anything about Gospel in his own language wouldn’t be inclined to look it up unless a good friend perhaps suggests it.