doesn't  scripture say the gospel must be preached to all the world before the  end?

Yes it does! In Matthew 24:14 Jesus says, "This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come." We believe Jesus knew exactly what He was talking about and that what He prophesied came to pass. As we will see, those claiming a future fulfillment deny Christ's teachings as well as Paul's.

You're probably thinking, "But the gospel hasn't been preached 'to every creature.'" Hold onto your hat and be prepared to let scripture speak for itself.

First, let's just be logical. How could there ever be a time when every person on the face of the earth had heard the gospel? To even approach such a scenario would mean that no children could be born for years and that during that period everyone heard the gospel. That's a real stretch. Could it happen? I suppose, but we're about to see it isn't necessary.

As we begin realize that though the word for world (oikoumene) can mean the whole inhabited earth, it rarely does in scripture. Strong's concordance gives this definition, "Feminine participle present passive of G3611 (as noun, by implication of G1093); land, that is, the (terrene part of the) globe; specifically the Roman empire:—earth, world."

Look at Luke 2:1 where the same word is used. A decree went out that "all the world should be taxed." Are we to believe that Rome collected taxes from around the globe? In Acts 17:6, the Jews accuse Paul and Silas of "turning the world upside down". Had they gone to every spot on the globe? No, they had upset the Old Covenant world. Realize that the Jews confirm that the gospel had gone into all the world, otherwise the world would not be turned upside down!

There are other places we could go to see how the word is used. But it becomes obvious that the Roman world is intended as we read Paul's letters.

In Romans 10:17-18 he writes, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world." That one passage should be persuasive but read the first chapter of Colossians. He thanks God, "...because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel, which has come to you, just as in all the world also it is constantly bearing fruit and increasing, even as it has been doing in you also since the day you heard of it and understood the grace of God in truth...."(vs. 5-6)

He reiterates the idea in verse 23 as he encourages the Colossians to steadfastness: "...if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister."

Those who claim Christ's prophesy has not been fulfilled have a lot of explaining to do. He said it would happen in that generation and then the end would come. Paul says it happened in that generation. For more information see, "Into All the World."

If "the end" didn't come, Christ didn't know what He was talking about. No one who professes faith in Christ would make such an affirmation, but the futurist view demands it.

Are you starting to see how a fulfilled view honors God by affirming that what Christ promised is true?

© Copyright 2003 ~ Jim Wade