Matthew 24 - Part 21

We have arrived at verse 14 of Matthew 24, which states: And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.  This verse encapsulates both the scope as well as the duration of the Great Commission that was fulfilled on May 21, 2011.

The Gospel [euaggelion:G2098] Of The Kingdom [basileia:G932]

The two terms, gospel and kingdom appear together in four other passages, one of which is Matthew 4:23, And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel [euaggelion:G2098] of the kingdom [basileia:G932], and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. Luke 4:17-21 is a parallel passage (that quotes Isaiah 61:1-2) and summarizes Christ's earthly ministry:  And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, {18} The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach [kerusso:G2784] the gospel [euaggelion:G2098] to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach [kerusso:G2784] deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, {19} To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.  {20} And he closed the book, and he gave [it] again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. {21} And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.

Shall Be Preached [kerusso:G2784]

The next word shall be preached is the same term rendered to preach that surfaced in Luke 4:18-19. Here are some other verses in which it is employed in relationship to the Gospel during the day of salvation:
2 Timothy 4:2 commands: Preach [kerusso:G2784] the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
However in Revelation 5:2 this word is translated proclaiming in this account that records the opening of the Book (The Bible) that was unsealed at the beginning of the Great Tribulation: And I saw a strong angel proclaiming [kerusso:G2784] with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?

All [holos:G3650] The World [oikoumene:G3625]

The two expressions, all and the world are found together in five other references, as these next citations maintain. It is important to keep in mind that when you see the expression all you have to recognize that it could be speaking of the entire world or limited to a select group of individuals, depending on the context:
Acts 11:28 records:  And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all [holos:G3650] the world [oikoumene:G3625]: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.
Revelation 3:10 adds: Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all [holos:G3650] the world [oikoumene:G3625], to try them that dwell upon the earth.
Revelation 12:9 makes this declaration regarding Satan's fall at the time of the Cross:  And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole [holos:G3650] world [oikoumene:G3625]: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

For [eis:G1519] A Witness [martyrion:G3142]

The next phrase for a witness, is made up of two Greek words, and refers to the Gospel of the Kingdom being preached in all the world. The following reflect some of the ways that God utilizes these two terms together. Verse 18 of Matthew 10:18-20 is a Scripture that refers to information that God has revealed since the opening of the seals of the Bible (in Revelation 5) that had been previously inaccessible because it was not God's timetable to disclose it until the time of the end (as mentioned in Daniel 12:4 and 9). These words are rendered for and a testimony:
And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for [eis:G1519] a testimony [martyrion:G3142] against them and the Gentiles. {19} But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. {20} For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.
Mark 6:11 likewise affirms: And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for [eis:G1519] a testimony [martyrion:G3142] against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.
James 5:3 expresses this as a witness: Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a [eis:G1519] witness [martyrion:G3142] against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.

Prayer And Praise

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