Matthew 24-14

Matthew 24-14, states, And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all th world as a witness to all the nations and then the end will come.. In the discourse on the destruction of Jerusalem, i.e. the temple and the Parousia, Jesus said the end of that age would come after the gospel was preached in all the world. Most people are not aware of the fact that the apostles affirmed they preached the gospel to all the world in their generation, without CNN, Youtube, satellite TV, radio, the internet or the modern jet.

Most are not aware of the import of Jesus words and how they were fulfilled in the first century. By tracing each word mentioned in the command to go to all the world, we can see it's fulfillment.

Jesus used two words in Matthew 24:14. He said the gospel had to be preached in all the oikoumene, inhabited earth as a witness to all the ethnesin, nations then the end would come.

Paul wrote to the Romans about 56 to 58 A.D., saying to them that the gospel was preached in all the world. He first tells them that the apostles had received their apostleship for obedience to the faith among all the nations, (ethnesin) (Romans 1:5). Hence their commission to the apostolic office was for all the nations. Then in verse 8, he writes that the faith of the Romans was spoken of throughout the whole world.

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world, --kosmos.

In the tenth chapter of Romans, Paul affirms that Israel, the nation in the first century, had indeed heard the gospel.

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the world of God.

But I say, have they not heard?

Yes indeed: Their sound has gone out to all the earth (oikoumene) and their words to the ends of the world, (kosmos)Romans 10:17, 18)

Here the apostle asks the question of whether or not the gospel was preached in all the world. Was Matthew 24-14 fulfilled in Paul's day? The answer is given through inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Yes indeed. Does language get any clearer than that? There's the question and the answer, a bold affirmative by the inspired apostles.

Later in Romans, the apostle says once again that Matthew 24-14 was fulfilled.

but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for the obedience to the faith. Romans 16:26

Writing to the Colossians, Paul taught the gospel had come to the Colossians as it had in all the world.

Because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel,

which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth, (Colossians 1:5, 6)

Had the gospel come to the Colossians? Were they not a church of the Lord? Did they not live in the first century? Paul said the gospel had come to all the world just as it had to the Colossians, (about A.D. 60). Since those in Colosse heard gospel, then those in the world did also. Later in the same chapter, Paul affirms the gospel was preached to all the creation in his day, in fulfillment of Matthew 24-14.

If indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not move away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature (ktsis)under heaven, of which I, Paul became a minister.(v. 23)

And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world (oikoumene) should be registered.

This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria.

So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city, (Luke 2:1-3)

These words are almost identical to those in Matthew 24:14. How many today are waiting to be taxed by Augustus Caesar? Why not? It's because they understand audience relevance. They know that that worldwide census was only for those in the first century. That was a worldwide census taken in the first century. It was no more and no less the equivalent action of the apostolic mission which likewise went into all the world. Those who claim the gospel must be preached in our generation as a witness to some imaginary endtime have failed to grasp the fulfillment in the first century. Matthew 24-14 was fulfilled. See Matthew 24-14 and other Signs of the Times