Matthew 24:14-15: What did Jesus mean?

[random person]

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.

When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand: ) - Matthew 24:14-15

Did Jesus mean the Gospel must be preached through-out the whole world today? Or did Jesus mean the Gospel must be preached through-out the whole 1st century Roman Empire? Before the end come and the Desolation of Abomination occurred?

The word used for "world" in the original Greek is oikoumené , and it is no incident that oikoumené is the same Greek word used in Luke 2:1:

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed


Lets take a look at Strong's concordance and HELPS word-studies:

Strong's Concordance

oikoumené: the inhabited earth
Original Word: οἰκουμένη, ης, ἡ
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: oikoumené
Phonetic Spelling: (oy-kou-men'-ay)
Short Definition: the inhabited (Roman) world
Definition: (properly: the land that is being inhabited, the land in a state of habitation), the inhabited world, that is, the Roman world, for all outside it was regarded as of no account.

HELPS Word-studies

3625 oikouménē (from 3611 /oikéō, "to inhabit, dwell") – the inhabited earth, i.e. all people living on the inhabited globe.

[3625 (oikoumén&#275 is "the land that is being inhabited, the land in a state of habitation, the inhabited world, that is, the Roman world (orbis terrarum), for all outside it was regarded as of no account" (Souter).

3625 (oikoumén&#275 literally means "the inhabited (land)." It was "originally used by the Greeks to denote the land inhabited by themselves, in contrast with barbarian countries; afterward, when the Greeks became subject to the Romans, 'the entire Roman world;' still later, for 'the whole inhabited world' " (WS, 140,141).]

Strong's Greek: 3625. ????????? (oikoumené) -- the inhabited earth

The final verdict: Jesus is speaking about 1st century Roman world and the End of the Age (the Jewish Age) in A.D. 70!

 

[Danoh]

Sounds like your "gospel" is some notion that, like Hindu in India, or Taoism in China, etc., was conjured up by some old guys in the Middle East, and actually has no "home" in the rest of "the world."

Hmmm, perhaps you're right about that...

 

[parousia70]

Sounds like your "gospel" is some notion that, like Hindu in India, or Taoism in China, etc., was conjured up by some old guys in the Middle East, and actually has no "home" in the rest of "the world."

The Gospel is EVERLASTING.

Seems you are the one that has put an expiration date on the "everlasting gospel".

 

[ebedmelech]

The fact is we have in Paul's own words that the gospel had spread to the whole world at that time!

Colossians 1:3-6
3 We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,
4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints;
5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel
6 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;

Then again in Colossians 1:21-23:
21 And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds,
22 yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach—
23 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.

 

[random person]

The Gospel is EVERLASTING.

Seems you are the one that has put an expiration date on the "everlasting gospel".

Amen with that Rapture of the church and the restoration of the Jewish Age for 7 years according to his eschatology (Danoh).

Unfortunately, for your sake Danoh, the Jewish Age ended permanently in A.D. 70. You just don't realize it yet.

 

[paladius]

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.

When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand: ) - Matthew 24:14-15

Did Jesus mean the Gospel must be preached through-out the whole world today? Or did Jesus mean the Gospel must be preached through-out the whole 1st century Roman Empire? Before the end come and the Desolation of Abomination occurred?

Hello. I'm new here and just jumping in.

Reading about the history of 70 AD, and then reading I Peter in light of that history, something jumped out at me when I read the following passage:

"Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?" I Peter 4:16-17

Peter (I'm writing from a point of view this letter is pre-70AD) sat around with knowledge that Jerusalem was going to be up-ended with plagues and judgment in fulfillment of the latter chapters of Deuteronomy. His heart's concern was that although Christians were suffering, he knew that those persecuting them were going to experience judgment. Therefore he writes judgment must "begin at the house of God", by my interpretation, Jerusalem.

I think preterists and futurists are both almost fully correct, but they are just seeing scripture through a particular lens that they don't see the altogether bigger picture. Peter is showing that the beginning of judgment is at Jerusalem, and by implication it will continue to be carried out until the end, a time yet future for us. If he doesn't mean this, there is no reason to say that judgment must begin. He would just say it will come. Jerusalem, for us, is itself an example of judgment against a whole unbelieving world, an event for all of us to consider if we were to reject Christ.

So with that backstory, what do I believe Jesus meant when he said:

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.

When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand: ) - Matthew 24:14-15

The end of Jerusalem/Judah was at hand once the gospel left to go out into all the nations. Therefore, when the disciples saw the abomination (Rome) coming, they were to know to get out of Jerusalem because its end would come. Peter knew all along this was the beginning of judgment eventually to come upon the whole world. We should be so wise as to consider that if God spared not those who stayed in Jerusalem, what possible hope of escape is there from the final judgment?

In Revelation 2:27 we see "the child" as being given a rod of iron to rule the nations. Jerusalem being the first city to be ruled by the rod of iron after Christ ascended. But the nations (plural) are also ruled, not just Jerusalem/Judah. Christ continues his reign from heaven over all nations.

Anyway, I just wanted to share what reading from Peter's letter led me to understand.

~ Paladius

 

[com7fy8]

Jesus says the "end" will come after the gospel is preached to "all the world", and He says the preaching of this gospel of the kingdom will be "a witness to all nations". Well, "all nations" can mean all countries of the whole earth; so I can see He means the "end" which will come after the gospel has been preached to all nations.

To me, an "end" can mean the purpose of something, and the "end" which Jesus means can mean the end-result which God is bringing about, on this earth.

I think the set-up for the end-result will include the judging of evil people during the great tribulation, the resurrection of the righteous, and the millennial kingdom; plus, we have Revelation 20:9-15 >

the devil is thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone;

there is the great white throne judgment;

all the dead are cleared from the earth and sea and judged;

ones not in the book of life join Satan in the lake of fire and brimstone, and death and Hades go into the lake of fire and brimstone.

Once the earth has been cleared of Satan and enemies, then is when the "end" comes, I consider. At that end, the earth will be resurrected so it is the "new earth". This earth is not new.

Romans 8:21 > "because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God."

Our "glorious liberty" will include how our bodies are in resurrectional glory. So, I see Paul means that God will resurrect the whole earth, so it is new in His own glory shared with us (John 17:22-26). And Revelation 21:1-2 tells us that there will be the "new earth", and "New Jerusalem" will come down from heaven to the new earth; and New Jerusalem is "prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." The new earth will be in Heaven's glory, I consider . . . if this present earth is "delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God."

I consider that we the bride of Jesus will be that "bride adorned for her husband". After we have been raptured, the earth will be made new, and then we the bride will come down to the earth in its Heavenly glory.

It would be good to get into what it means, then, to be "adorned" for our Groom Jesus. I notice ones spend a lot of time on historical order of events, but I read so little about how to be ready . . . "adorned".

"rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God." (1 Peter 3:4)

 

[Danoh]

Random, you and yours believe that where you see things from and how, you're right. While me and mine believe we are from where and how we see things.

And I'm certain other groups on this smorgasbord of a site would disagree with all of us on here and vice versa.

So you and yours and me and mine and every other group just go right on ahead believing theirs alone is the only correct view all we want.

For I'm sure it does not even prove the same old same old that some might agree on - that we don't agree.

One group's two steps backward matched by the other's.

So here these disagreements will be, for however long "time" goes on.

I get that. I did before I ever posted. None of us solve a thing.

Unless, the illusion of understanding and whatever soothing it appears to bring is a solution.

No thanks, Random. You and yours continue to believe you see what you do... we'll do the same on our end... same centuries old game, different faces...

That appears to continue to be the only certainty...

But as I've already noted; I doubt we might all agree on even that much...

Best to learn from all... not necessarily agree... just learn whatever we each might perceive might be there to learn from...

I know already... we disagree on this too

 

[Rev20]

Jesus says the "end" will come after the gospel is preached to "all the world", and He says the preaching of this gospel of the kingdom will be "a witness to all nations". Well, "all nations" can mean all countries of the whole earth; so I can see He means the "end" which will come after the gospel has been preached to all nations.

The Gospel was preached in all the world, and to every creature, before Paul wrote the book of the Colossians (Luke 2:1, Col 1:5-6, 1:23.)

The "end" was the "end of the age" (Matt.24:3 NKJV,) which was the end of the "Age of the Law," in a manner of speaking. It was also the end of Jerusalem and the elements (traditions) of Jewish Law.

 

[parousia70]

Well, "all nations" can mean all countries of the whole earth;

Is that what you say it means here?:

Acts 2:5
5 And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven.

 

[Interplanner]

As I recall, Luke used 'oikonomia' about the Roman world. I don't think the concept of a spherical orb was widely accepted yet. From the Isaianic passage about the island and distant shores, the prophet was expressing that people who hadn't had the daily background and history of the Law would be receptive to the Gospel. He didn't mean Fijians, but the same rule applies: the point was that the Gospel would be heard and recieved where there was no background dependent on the Law to "help" those people believe.

 

[com7fy8]

Is that what you say it means here?:

Acts 2:5
5 And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven.

I think I understand your point.

About preaching the gospel to all nations, I would say Jesus meant all countries ever to be on this earth. But ones hearing this "might" not know what Jesus knows He meant.

On the other hand, where it says Jews came from every nation, I can see this is from the standpoint of what humans reading that would know.

And I understand that ones claim that Jesus Himself went to "America" and preached there, so that the gospel has already been preached everywhere. But I find that He used His apostles to spread His message. And the religious things coming from ones who claim He preached in America do not seem to match with all we have in the Bible.

The Bible gives me much more than I have gotten elsewhere . . . from any other writing.

But, however, the Bible does say we Christians are the message of Christ, written in hearts, not only with paper and ink. There is the ink of the Holy Spirit, sharing how God's love "in our hearts" gives us His message, deeper than any words can tell. 2 Corinthians 3:1-6 with Romans 5:5 show me this, and I experience how God's love does me more good than words can tell, and has me doing even better than what I might be thinking or planning "or trying" After I have been stupid and stinky and nasty, I can be resurrected into being better than I ever have been in my ego and caring mostly only about how things go for me.

So, when Jesus said to preach to all people, He means He loves any and all people, and He wants us to hear the gospel, but then discover how our Father actually lives in us, in His love, and how this effects our character and behavior, and how we relate with people . . . being personal in love, not only theoretical and with ideas. So, this is included in what He meant "being resurrected into a totally different way of love."

 

[KrAZeD]

The fact is we have in Paul's own words that the gospel had spread to the whole world at that time!

Colossians 1:3-6
3 We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,
4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints;
5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel
6 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;

Then again in Colossians 1:21-23:
21 And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds,
22 yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach—
23 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.

would you not agree Paul made those statements using his "own" words? While I don't disagree his statement is true based on his limited knowledge of how vast the earth was- his world did not consist of all the continents at that current era. Yet with Jesus knowing their were more than just the Middle East and a portion of Asia, one would think it possible Our Lord meant something else than what Paul perceived.

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

As I recall, Luke used 'oikonomia' about the Roman world. I don't think the concept of a spherical orb was widely accepted yet. From the Isaianic passage about the island and distant shores, the prophet was expressing that people who hadn't had the daily background and history of the Law would be receptive to the Gospel. He didn't mean Fijians, but the same rule applies: the point was that the Gospel would be heard and recieved where there was no background dependent on the Law to "help" those people believe.

Very interesting and thanks.

Here is a little more info on that word [keeping in mine there are also variations of it which I show at the bottom of this post]

Strong's Concordance with Hebrew and Greek Lexicon

Strong's Number G3625 matches the Greek οἰκουμένη (oikoumenē),
which occurs 15 times in 15 verses in the Greek concordance of the KJV
[The KJV translates Strongs G3625 in the following manner: world (14x), earth (1x).]

oikoumenhV <3625>
Luke 4:5, Romans 10:18, Reve 3:10, Reve 16:14.
oikoumenh <3625>
Matt 24:14, Luke 21:26, Acts 19:27
oikoumenhn <3625>
8 times Luke 2:1, Acts 11:28, 17:6, 31, 24:5, Hebrew 1:6, 2:5, Reve 12:9.

3625. oikoumene oy-kou-men'-ay feminine participle present passive of 3611 (as noun, by implication, of 1093); land, i.e. the (terrene part of the) globe; specially, the Roman empire:--earth, world.

3624. oikos of uncertain affinity; a dwelling (more or less extensive, literal or figurative); by implication, a family (more or less related, literally or figuratively):--home, house(-hold), temple.
3306. meno a primary verb; to stay (in a given place, state, relation or expectancy):--abide, continue, dwell, endure, be present, remain, stand, tarry (for), X thine own.

3609. oikeios from 3624; domestic, i.e. (as noun), a relative, adherent:--(those) of the (his own) house(-hold).
3624. oikos of uncertain affinity; a dwelling (more or less extensive, literal or figurative); by implication, a family (more or less related, literally or figuratively):--home, house(-hold), temple.
3623. oikonomos from 3624 and the base of 3551; a house-distributor (i.e. manager), or overseer, i.e. an employee in that capacity; by extension, a fiscal agent (treasurer); figuratively, a preacher (of the Gospel):--chamberlain, governor, steward.
3626. oikouros from 3624 and ouros (a guard; be "ware"); a stayer at home, i.e. domestically inclined (a "good housekeeper"):--keeper at home.
3619. oikodome feminine (abstract) of a compound of 3624 and the base of 1430; architecture, i.e. (concretely) a structure; figuratively, confirmation:--building, edify(-ication, -ing).


.

 

[Danoh]

As I recall, Luke used 'oikonomia' about the Roman world. I don't think the concept of a spherical orb was widely accepted yet. From the Isaianic passage about the island and distant shores, the prophet was expressing that people who hadn't had the daily background and history of the Law would be receptive to the Gospel. He didn't mean Fijians, but the same rule applies: the point was that the Gospel would be heard and recieved where there was no background dependent on the Law to "help" those people believe.

Not that Paul who quoted Isaiah so much, would have known the very passage Columbus wrote in his journal he quoted when Rome's henchmen began to plan his burning for heresy, but for the Spanish Crown's greed and lust for more power...

Isaiah 40:

22. It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers;that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:

No thanks, Inter, you stick to the speculation your school is known for when one of your "books about" hasn't covered an issue.

I'll stick to The Book...

 

[Straightshot]

Response to the OP

The Lord is projecting the setting of a returned remnant of Israel to the land at the time of the end still pending .... the passage is not about 70 AD .... and neither is it about the church of today

The time of Jacob's trouble [Jeremiah 30; Ezekiel 38; 39; Daniel 11:41; 12:1-7; Zechariah 12; 14; Luke 21:20-36; Revelation 7:1-8; 11:2-13; 14:1-7]

 

[yesyoushould]

It mean's that love is for all creation. ALL!

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

Not that Paul who quoted Isaiah so much, would have known the very passage Columbus wrote in his journal he quoted when Rome's henchmen began to plan his burning for heresy, but for the Spanish Crown's greed and lust for more power...

Isaiah 40:

22. It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers;that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:

No thanks, Inter, you stick to the speculation your school is known for when one of your "books about" hasn't covered an issue.

I'll stick to The Book...

Me too.

Especially this one:

Kindgdom Bible Studies Lambs Book of Life Part 1

According to the Emphatic Diaglott the correct rendering of the latter part of this passage is: "The Book of the Life of the Lamb." Now, what is meant by this term – THE BOOK OF THE LIFE OF THE LAMB?
The wise man said, "...of the making of many books there is no end..." (Eccl. 12:12).

The book stores are filled to overflowing today with all types of books dealing with every aspect of earthly life. Even in the church world there are books setting forth every kind of viewpoint relating to God, the Bible, doctrine, Christian experience, and church order.
However the subject material of most of these books largely contains a message of religious tradition and spiritual death.................

Daniel 12:1
“At that time Michael shall stand up, The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people;
And there shall be a time of trouble, Such as never was since there was a nation, Even to that time.
And at that time your people shall be delivered,
Every one who is found written in the Book.

Revelation 20:12
And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God,fn and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of the Life.
And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.




.

 

[Dave Watchman]

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.

When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand: ) - Matthew 24:14-15

Did Jesus mean the Gospel must be preached through-out the whole world today? Or did Jesus mean the Gospel must be preached through-out the whole 1st century Roman Empire? Before the end come and the Desolation of Abomination occurred?

The word used for "world" in the original Greek is oikoumené , and it is no incident that oikoumené is the same Greek word used in Luke 2:1:

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed


Lets take a look at Strong's concordance and HELPS word-studies:

Strong's Concordance

oikoumené: the inhabited earth
Original Word: &#959;&#7984;&#954;&#959;&#965;&#956;&#941;&#957;&#951;, &#951;&#962;, &#7969;
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: oikoumené
Phonetic Spelling: (oy-kou-men'-ay)
Short Definition: the inhabited (Roman) world
Definition: (properly: the land that is being inhabited, the land in a state of habitation), the inhabited world, that is, the Roman world, for all outside it was regarded as of no account.

HELPS Word-studies

3625 oikoumén&#275; (from 3611 /oiké&#333;, "to inhabit, dwell") – the inhabited earth, i.e. all people living on the inhabited globe.

[3625 (oikoumén&#275 is "the land that is being inhabited, the land in a state of habitation, the inhabited world, that is, the Roman world (orbis terrarum), for all outside it was regarded as of no account" (Souter).

3625 (oikoumén&#275 literally means "the inhabited (land)." It was "originally used by the Greeks to denote the land inhabited by themselves, in contrast with barbarian countries; afterward, when the Greeks became subject to the Romans, 'the entire Roman world;' still later, for 'the whole inhabited world' " (WS, 140,141).]

Strong's Greek: 3625. ????????? (oikoumené) -- the inhabited earth

The final verdict: Jesus is speaking about 1st century Roman world and the End of the Age (the Jewish Age) in A.D. 70!

Sorry random, I voted other. The "end" that Jesus is talking about is not the end of the world but it will be for some. It's the end of the 1,260 days of Revelation 11 at the seventh (not the last) trumpet. This is the end of the plan of salvation, everyone that is going to be saved will be saved. It will be the Two Witnesses and the 144,000 that preach this gospel of the kingdom in all the world for a witness unto all nations. Then when they shall have finished their testimony, the Temple will be measured. Be part of the inner court or be square.



"and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem,
and in all Judaea, and in Samaria,
and unto the uttermost part of the earth"



"You will be my witnesses—in Jerusalem,
in all of Judea, in Samaria,
and in every part of the world”


I wonder when Jesus said this, do you think that He knew the Disciples would go on to write books in The Bible that would be distributed into every part of the whole wide world?

I betcha He did.



He's Got the
Whole World
in His Hands



He's got the whole world in His hands,
He's got the whole world in His hands,
He's got the whole world in His hands,
He's got the whole world in His hands.

He's got my brothers and my sisters in His hands,
He's got my brothers and my sisters in His hands,
He's got my brothers and my sisters in His hands,
He's got the whole world in His hands.

He's got the sun and the rain in His hands,
He's got the moon and the stars in His hands,
He's got the wind and the clouds in His hands,
He's got the whole world in His hands.

He's got the rivers and the mountains in His hands,
He's got the oceans and the seas in His hands,
He's got you and he's got me in His hands,
He's got the whole world in His hands.

He's got everybody here in His hands,
He's got everybody there in His hands,
He's got everybody everywhere in His hands,
He's got the whole world in His hands.

He's got the sun and the moon in his hands.
He's got the sun and the moon in his hands.
He's got the sun and the moon in his hands.
He's got the whole world in His hands.



It was the first, and remains, the only gospel song to hit #1 on a U.S. pop singles chart.
He's Got the Whole World in His Hands - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[ebedmelech]

would you not agree Paul made those statements using his "own" words? While I don't disagree his statement is true based on his limited knowledge of how vast the earth was- his world did not consist of all the continents at that current era. Yet with Jesus knowing their were more than just the Middle East and a portion of Asia, one would think it possible Our Lord meant something else than what Paul perceived.

No I don't. Paul is inspired by the Holy Spirit. I believe he wrote what God intended. Peter said "men MOVED by the Holy Spirit spoke from God"...therefore I hold to what Paul said " all creation under heaven".