The Ends of the Earth?

In Matthew 24:14 the Bible says that Jesus will return after the Gospel has been preached “in the whole world,” and “in every nation.” This is an important Theological statement Jesus has made here. The proper understanding of this verse may be in conflict with the contemporary view of missions in the American Church.

The words “in the whole world” have a geographical meaning. This means that one of the criteria for our Lord’s return is that the Gospel is preached everywhere. In every city and village in every country on earth must hear the Good News of Salvation. The American Church seams to have done that pretty well.

The second statement here is “in every nation.” This is the one Southern Baptist hang their hats on. The gospel must be preached to every ethnic group on earth. Put the two clauses together and we might translate this verse to mean that Jesus will return when the Gospel is preached to everybody everywhere.

Today there are missionaries serving in every country on the planet. The church is growing very rapidly in other parts of the word. However, there are still pockets of people who have never heard the Gospel or who have no access to a church. There are isolated groups or minority ethnic groups who have not heard the Gospel. The International Mission boards calls these people “Unreached People Groups.” The SBC spends millions on trying to reach unreached people groups that live on the other four continents. But what about the unreached people groups right here in the USA. Those who live in rural areas like where I am serving. How will they ever hear without a preacher?