The Last Imam
“And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a witness to all the nations, and then the end shall come.” Matthew 24:14 NASB (1963 edition)
Whole world – I would be surprised if you haven’t heard this verse as support for world-wide evangelism. Evangelical Christian groups sometimes seem to suggest that if we can just preach the gospel to everyone in the world, then we will make the end happen. Of course, that would mean that our efforts can bring about the return of the Christ and that becomes all the more reason to evangelize.
The only problem is that is it quite unlikely that this verse has anything to do with spreading the good news around the globe.
The Greek term translated “world” is oikoumene, not cosmos (John 3:16) or ge (“earth” Matthew 13:31). It means “the inhabited world,” as it is used in Acts 11:28 to describe the extent of a famine. In the first century, this word meant the civilization that surrounds the Mediterranean. There was no concept of an inhabited world beyond that boundary. Certainly no one thought that Yeshua meant the entire globe with its millions of people. To read the text as a universal declaration of global evangelism is to lift it completely out of context.
Now that we realize the statement is about the “inhabited” world of the first century, we see that the “end” cannot be about the second coming of the Christ. The end that Yeshua has in mind is the end of the temple brought about by the Romans. By 70 AD the Mediterranean world of the Roman Empire knew the good news. Obviously, not every person knew the story, but the disciples and subsequent followers were active throughout the Empire, so the prophecy was fulfilled. Global evangelism is not in the picture.
This has some interesting implications. One of the tenets of Islam is the ability of its adherents to usher in the last days by preparing the earth for the last Imam. In this cataclysmic event, the last Imam will come in power to destroy all the infidels and establish one great world of Islam. On this basis, Ahmadinejad believes that instigating a nuclear war that eliminates Israel is a necessary step before the arrival of the last Imam. In other words, human efforts can cause Allah’s timetable to be escalated. This insanity sounds vaguely familiar, doesn’t it? How many times have you heard evangelists proclaim that we can bring about the end if we just reach all the people of the earth? Of course, they don’t have a nuclear holocaust in mind, but they have adopted the same methodology. It is another case of hubris. Do we actually believe that we can make God do what we want Him to do?
Look what happens when we stop reading the text in its own time and culture. Maybe it’s time to back up and ask once more, “What would this mean to the audience that first heard it?” Maybe taking the good news to the whole world is just a good thing to do.
Topical Index: evangelism, whole world, oikoumene, inhabited world, Matthew 24:14
Skip, I’ve noticed Rev 14:6,7 a while ago. Can it be read in “relation” to Matt 24:14?
I am extremely in favor of making disciples among all nations, but is convinced that we became arrogant and because we believed we could cause others to partake in our “cause” by trying to make them feel powerful in determining “Jesus’s future”. Reminds me of someone once saying that, “Jesus’ big mistake was that He did not check in with the Sanhedrin first and ask them permission to be the Messiah”.
“Tenets” not “Tenants”. It’s a principle you are referring to not a resident!
Thanks for the article though.
Right, sorry.
“Jesus’ big mistake was that He did not check in with the Sanhedrin first and ask them permission to be the Messiah”
thank you Ilze, – I needed that! that was ‘fer sure’ a ‘lol’ this morning!
Yes (and amen!) No, He does not need my ‘permission’ to be the Messiah, but He does (amazingly) need my permission to be my LORD and Master. “Behold, I stand at the door and knock..”
~Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends~ (Revelation 3.20)
This is an amazement to me (also). (Keeping asking “why?”) Why is the Son of Man standing, knocking at the other side of the door? He is waiting for the permission of “any man” to enter in.
But He owns it all.. (including this man). We (all of us) are His already by right of creation. “It is He who has made us and not we ourselves..” G-d the Creator made everything that is. No argument from me- He owns it all..- or does He?
But I am also His, according to His “it is written”, a “purchased possession..”- redeemed, “bought with a price.” Anyone care to guess what price was paid to purchase my redemption? the cost to attain deliverance for me (and for you?).. Yes, I agree..- what would a man give in exchange for his soul? We are also His by right of Calvary. (lest we forget..)
“Life is a bitch and then you die.” Is this how we live? Is, (according to Peggy Lee and sorry Solomon) “this” all there is? As the sign says, “Kilroy was here”. I made my mark- left my legacy and then went to sleep.. Unless..- there is more.. Is there more? Is there more to life than “this?”
Where do we find this “more?” Where is the (as we would say here in the South)- the “gettin” place? Does a man’s life consist in the abundance of things he possesses? “Stuff and things”- is that (as the kids would say)- what it’s all about? A bigger house to hold all my stuff? – Oh.. – and don’t forget the trophy wife and the well-behaved kids and the dream job, and the “his and hers” Mercedes..- Ah, now that we are rich as sorry Solomon- we can finally be happen with the latest, greatest gadget until version 2.1 hits the stores.. Consumerism, meism, is the answer..- right? Whatever makes “me” happy.. – This is what it is all about. – Or is it?- Just askin’… You tell me.. – Does anyone, anywhere- have some “good news?”- or is “this” all there is. It seems my Christmas tree is losing it’s needles already, and moth and dust are “doth corrupting..” So where is the ‘gospel?’- (Mr. Evangelist..)
I thought Christ was allowing time for the bride (church) to ready herself. When the church starts to reflect Christ’s character, then…..
Ask most churches to send missionaries with gospel presentations and bibles, and we will raise funds and do it. But ask us to route sin out of our lives, ask us to live holy (not just in an imaginary way) — and we will throw Romans 7 up as a repentence-defense.
Gabe,
i didn’t know there was such a thing as a “repentance-defense.” let alone that it would be the Word of God in doing so… jan
Oh, I’m just referring to the common justifications that many Christians use for their continuing bad behavior. “I’m just a sinner saved by grace.” – is true,… but is overused to justify unrepentant behaviors.
Secular jerks are just jerks, but when a Christian acts like a jerk they can just say, “Well, I’m not perfect, just forgiven.” – and at some point the saying just becomes a trite platitude which is used to justify and unrepentant heart. At some point, Christians are supposed to quit acting like jerks. Just like a baby matures and quits pooping itself, and starts struggling with other things — so should a Christian.
The churches moto should be, “Come as you are, but don’t stay as you are.” I don’t go to church stay the same man I was a year ago. I found I was being enabled by the overuse of Romans 7, but somehow I get the feeling that Paul’s spiritual struggles were in a different ballpark than mine. It was my repentence-defense.
Oh Gabe, i was just being facetious & ironic – but i do agree about maturing in Christ – there is no emphasis on sanctification at all or purity/holiness – and yes, i can do it but God/Jesus will forgive me – what is repentance anyway… 🙁
for that matter you hardly ever hear any teaching/preaching on repentance – so if a person/believer of Jesus is not in the Word of God/Bible learning on their own – they only know what the preacher/teacher says from the pulpit & that is the common place of those in the church – not all but the majority i would guess/suppose – but there is always the exception to the commonality – always… ♥ jan and thanks for your heartfelt response… ♥
i really like your motto “Come as you are, but don’t stay as you are.” because that is exactly what Jesus desires of us… 🙂
Whoops, so easy for me to miss facetiousness and irony when it’s typed out. They should really have a font that means “everything typed in this font is sarcastic” – that’s the easiest one to miss.
But yeah, our church has really been on the “everyone is welcome” bandwagon. To the point where the pastor has basically said that he won’t say anything controversial or that might make someone uncomfortable, from the pulpit. The theory is that the pulpit will be “safe” for all, and then they can get the “meat” in small groups.
I just always like being challenged from the pulpit. I don’t want my church or my wife to enable or turn a blind eye to my fallen nature. I told the pastor that I am too much of an unreformed barbarian NOT to be challenged by my church. I need the discipline; I need my church to help reset my moral compass. I can study on my own, but I need back-up! I need someone or something (the church) who is willing to slap me in the face when I’m being self-deceptive and disguising my vice as virtue.
Gabe,
well i’m not so sure you are going to get in the church you are in or any other church for that matter… i totally understand what you mean & for men it really is important to have accountability – seems so more than for women these days…
do you not have a/any really good friend(s) who is/are willing to slap you in the face when you’re being self-deceptive and disguising your vice as virtue? most all of my friends have left the church(es) & now we depend on each other – because there is so much deception being taught in the churches now days – it is very hard to find one that is in truth…
i do understand your dilemma though…
jan
Ah, the problem with finding some who will hold me accountable – is that for everyone else, I’m the most pure and virtuous person they know. 😉
But on a serious note. “No”, I don’t have someone who will slap me in the face, or simply encourage me to stay on the path. And this is mostly because “The Path”, or the way is not the same for me as for most of those in my church.
If I wanted help to stop drinking, quit gambling, or quit pornography — I could find help in all those areas. These are some of the traditional vices. But if I need guidance and teaching in something like…:
1. How to control my ‘lashon hara’ (the evil tongue)
2. Following Leviticus 19:17 – rebuking your neighbor frankly
3. To live out Matthew 12:36 – about not speaking idle/careless words
… then I don’t have much accountability. I say, “much” because this place has been an answer to prayer in many ways – in helping me find the right path.
GABE,
WILL ANSWER IN CAPS…
Ah, the problem with finding some who will hold me accountable – is that for everyone else, I’m the most pure and virtuous person they know. [THAT WOULD BE NICE IF IT WERE TRUE & IT COULD BE – NOT AN IMPOSSIBLE FEAT FOR ANY OF US]
But on a serious note. “No”, I don’t have someone who will slap me in the face, or simply encourage me to stay on the path. And this is mostly because “The Path”, or the way is not the same for me as for most of those in my church. [OH REALLY???]
If I wanted help to stop drinking, quit gambling, or quit pornography — I could find help in all those areas. These are some of the traditional vices. But if I need guidance and teaching in something like…: [SEEMS TO ME THE TRADITIONAL VICES ARE THE HARDEST TO BREAK & NOT MANY CHURCHES ARE VERY EFFECTIVE AT DOING SO]
1. How to control my ‘lashon hara’ (the evil tongue)
2. Following Leviticus 19:17 – rebuking your neighbor frankly
3. To live out Matthew 12:36 – about not speaking idle/careless words
[PERSONALLY THE ABOVE 3 YOU LIST SEEM WAY MORE TAME & EASY TO CHANGE THAN THE TRADITIONAL VICES YOU LISTED & PROBABLY DON’T REQUIRE THE ACCOUNTABILITY OF ANOTHER PERSON BUT THE HOLY SPIRIT – HE IS MORE THAN ABLE; BUT THE OTHER TRADITIONAL VICES YOU TYPED OF MOST CERTAINLY NEED ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNERS OR AT LEAST THAT IS WHAT I HAVE HEARD MANY OF THE EXPERTS IN THOSE FIELDS SAY/EXPRESS – DON’T KNOW HAVEN’T DEALT WITH ANY OF THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT MY VICES & IDLE CARELESS WORDS MAY BE PERCEIVED AS SUCH BY EACH DIFFERING PARTY – KINDA LIKE BEAUTY IS IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER. TAKE FOR INSTANCE A PERSON MAY SAY SOMETHING IS STUPID OR UGLY & SOMEONE ELSE MAY SAY THOSE ARE IDLE WORDS WHEN JESUS CALLED OUT THE PHARISEE FOR BEING A BROOD OF VIPERS – WHERE THOSE IDLE WORDS SPOKEN BY JESUS – BET THE PHARISEES SURE PERCEIVED THEM TO BE SO BUT THEY WEREN’T OR WERE THEY IF YOU GO BY CERTAIN STANDARDS – HE DIDN’T HAVE TO SAY THAT BUT HE DID?!?!?! WHY – TO GET THEIR ATTENTION & THE ATTENTION OF OTHERS AROUND HIM & IT WAS THE TRUTH (IMAGINE THAT)… ]
… then I don’t have much accountability. I say, “much” because this place has been an answer to prayer in many ways – in helping me find the right path. [GOOD THAT THIS PLACE HELPS YOU FIND THE PATH]
jan
Is Isaiah 66 to be read in the context of an end time prophesy? ( verse 15,16 ) If so which end time? Temple or God’s second coming?
Isaiah 66:18 …The time is coming when I will gather together all nations and languages. They will come and SEE MY GLORY –
19 I will send some of their survivors to the nations of Tarshish,Pul,Lud Tuval,Greece and more distant coasts, where they have neither heard of my name nor seen my glory
If this talks about the end time, won’t we first see His Glory, and the survivors be send out to the nations?
Question.
Jacob and Esau were born to Isaac when he was 60 years old (Genesis 25:26). Ishmael was 14 yrs older than Isaac.
Therefore in the year Ishmael died Esau and Jacob would both have been 63 years old. So the oldest Esau could have been when he went to visit Ishmael to marry his daughter Mahalath was 63 years old.The oldest Jacob could have been when he left for Padanaram (Haran) was also 63 years old
In the second year of the famine, Joseph was 39 years old when he told his brothers to bring Jacob and his family to Egypt.
Genesis 47:9- Jacob left Canaan and came to Egypt when he was 130 years old
Jacob was 91 years old (130 – 39) when Joseph was born.
Genesis 31:41- So Jacob was 91 years old when he told Laban he wanted to leave Haran.(then he served another 6 yrs for stock)
97-63=34 yrs. of service to Laban. This does not agree with the 20 years we have been taught. Why?
“So the oldest Esau could have been when he went to visit Ishmael to marry his daughter Mahalath was 63 years old.”
Hi Antoinette,
I’m 63 years old and certainly can’t imagine marrying someone’s daughter
Between my dog Max and my daughter there is not much time or energy left to work 🙂
Shalom dear Skip. Nobody can MAKE YHWH do anything. Our Father in Heaven is beyond human comprehension. We can however pray and ask for His will to be done. The question in my heart is then should we do nothing or should we pray that the times be shortened for all who are longing for the coming of the Bridegroom King. I personally believe enough is enough. The chaos must end. The sooner the better. Scripture teaches that our Father’s will is that all will be saved. I have studied many teachings over the past few years. I long for the power of our King to truely manifest here on earth as it is in Heaven right now. His real power – this is what I am longing for. I have noticed many people preaching and doing weared and wonderful things. The world is still a mess. Many people are still confused, ill, hungry, fighting, divided and far off. Let us think about Matt7:22 again and ask ourselves do we really know Y’shua and does He know us. Can we tell the difference?
“Abba Father please help us all with all the questions. Only your Truth through Moshiach can set us free. Help us to draw closer to You through Moshiach. Our souls are thirsty for You. I believe it is much better if Y’shua returns sooner than later Abba Father. It would be awesome if it could be in our lifetime. We acknowledge that the final decision is only Yours. Have mercy on us I pray for Your Yisrael and all the lost sheep of Yisrael that are wondering around. We bless Your Holy Name. Amen and Amen!”
That is a good point Skip,
I have never understood it to be something we do to make Him come, but as something that would be accomplished before He came, to give all nations opportunity. It is folly to think we can twist God’s arm to make Him do something… (except maybe make Him angry!)
There is a case to be made that we can delay judgment by repentance (Nineveh) or blessing by disobedience (40 years in the desert). God is alive and interactive with both men and nations.
I don’t really understand the “hastening His coming” in 2 Pet., but I guess you have dealt with that before.
Peace to you.