“And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (ESV. Matt. 24:14).
The reinstitution of the state of Israel has earmarked modern Christianity. Certainly so. No Jewish state, no eschatological speculation (Matt. 24:15). Should Jesus tarryanother one-hundred years, dispensationalist theologians may well name a new dispensation; the illumination of eschatology. Needless to say, Western bookstores are lined with literature spanning Amillennialism, Postmillennialism, Premillenialism; from pre-tribulation to post-tribulation; and of course, blood moon and conspiracy theories, alike. Personally, this author holds a post-tribulation/historical premillennialism eschatological conviction. From this stance, authorial intent seeks to motivate readership with relevance toward finishing the Great Commission as the most applicable response concerning Jesus’ second advent.
George Eldon Ladd wrote an excellent little book called, “The Blessed Hope: A Biblical Study of the Second Advent and the Rapture.” Anyone who takes seriously the Word of God should read it. The following is a compelling excerpt with Ladd’s focus on Matthew 24:14:
“The one great mission of the Church is to evangelize the world. This is not a theory, this is a fact. Jesus gave the Church its marching orders to go and make disciples of all nations; and in carrying out the task, He promised to be with them even unto the end of the age (Matt. 28:19, 20). Matthew 24:14 conveys the same thought. The good news about the kingdom of God must be carried into the whole world for a witness to all nations. This is the divinely appointed task of the Church. The Church is not to save the world; it is not to Christianize the world; it is not to transform the world so that it becomes the kingdom of God. This will be accomplished only by the glorious second coming of Christ. Until Christ comes, this age remains an evil age (Gal. 1:4) under the influence of Satan (II Cor. 4:4). The Churches task must ever be carried out in frank recognition of the character of the age. Nevertheless, it has a task which is divinely given and in which the Church must be victorious: world-wide evangelization and the gathering of the saved into the body of Christ. Only when this commission has been completed will Christ return. Those who “love His appearing” are those who should have the greatest concern for the evangelization of the world. Christ is tarrying until the Church has completed its task. When Matthew 24:14 has been fulfilled, then Christ will come. There is no more notable “sign of the times” than the fact that the greatest impetus in world-wide evangelization since apostolic times has taken place in the preceding century. The world is nearly evangelized; any generation which is really dedicated to the task can complete the mission. The Lord can come in our own generation, in our life-time-if we stir ourselves and finish our task. Let us not be dissipating our energies in differences over the Rapture and the Tribulation. Rather let every believer who cherishes the Blessed Hope give himself in unstinted measure to the prosecution of world-evangelization; for then Christ will come” (Ladd. 147, 148).
American Christianity is ripe with end-times speculation. Conferences, books, movies, television; secular and Christian alike recognize fascinations, fears, and concerns which pulsate current cultural trends. Yet, while money burns, Christians stand still without proper application of the relevance to which an imminent return of Christ appropriates obedience toward Christ’ commands in this life. While many nuanced responsibilities apply, if the return of Christ serves applicable responsible importance toward our generation, finishing the Great Commission is top priority (Matt. 24:14; 28:18-28). Furthermore, with catastrophic ramifications upon the souls of humankind, Matthew 24:14 and Revelation 21:8 should motivate and redefine Christian perspective toward living a blessed life in Christ.
Ladd’s, “The Blessed Hope...,” was published in 1956. Imagine how much more relevant and capable this generation is toward completing the evangelization of the world. Furthermore, all Christians have been called to hasten the day of the Lord (2 Pet. 3:12). Hastening the day of the Lord motivates in several ways, however, if the evangelization of the whole world does not fit into one’s hastening method, the method is broken. The one great prophetic application to all generations is the task of completing the Great Commission; our generation stands at the gates of its completion. This means, above any other prophetic sign of His coming, any other prophetic mandate to which He is speaking; the preeminent, prophetic concern of Christ’ heart; “And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” Satan will rage, kingdoms will clash, the cost…priceless! The whole creation is not waiting and longing for the sons of God to have perfectly outlined eschatological theology; no! The creation is longing for the revelation of the sons of God due the nature to which God’s children will embrace love for His commandments; they will hasten the day of the Lord, and they will finish the great commission, thus ushering in the consummation of this age and the restoration of all created things. All who love His coming; love your lives not unto death, pick up your cross, follow the Lamb into unknown Islamic terrain; let us finish the great commission together, then the Lord will come.
Works Cited
ESV. English Standard Version, The Holy Bible. Wheaton, Ill: Crossway, 2001. Print
Ladd, George Eldon. The Blessed Hope: A Biblical Study of the Second Advent and the Rapture. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1956. Print.