GO YE INTO ALL THE WORLD
GO YE INTO ALL THE WORLD AND PREACH THE GOSPEL TO EVERY CREATURE. – Mark 16:15
GO YE THEREFORE AND TEACH ALL NATIONS… ALL THINGS WHATSOEVER I HAVE COMMANDED YOU. – Matthew 28: 19-20
THE above commandments given by Jesus to His disciples and all those to follow such as Paul and subsequent ministers of the Word down through the ages have been terribly misunderstood and therefore misapplied from the beginning of the second century on to the present day. The churches have sent their missionaries to every nation in the world except to those nations throughout the world that were intended by Jesus’ statements. These preachers, pastors and missionaries, having gone, and are still going, to unintended nations and peoples, have created havoc around the entire world and have brought severe criticism and actions against Christian nations.
It is long past time to apply the example of the Bereans referred to in Acts 11:17, who:
“… were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”
Do the run-of-the-mill Christians follow this practice? No, of course not. It is so convenient to go to church and listen to the preacher do his thing on Sunday morning, and the individual has no idea what has been preached is in accord with the scripture.
The title to this article contains four phrases that must be understood in order to determine just what the comments mean and to whom they were (and are) directed.
These phrases are: “The world”, “Every creature,” “All Nations,” and “All things.” If the reader does not understand what these references mean, then the scriptures cannot be properly understood. A clue. They do not pertain to the general uses to which they have been applied. It has been the erroneous use of these criteria down through the ages that has created almost total disparity and confusion within the present day Christian community.
A search of the Bible should clarify the true meaning of these issues and give the reader a more comprehensive understanding of Jesus’ commands to the disciples and later ministers of the Word.
Each item will be addressed individually in order to discern more clearly the true intent of the scriptures.
THE WORLD
In the Gospel of Luke 2:1, we read:
“…there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.”
Wouldn’t common sense reveal that the entire world was not subject to Caesar’s decree? but only those under his jurisdiction; those who resided within the bounds of the Roman Empire.
At the time of Jesus’ birth and later during the years of His ministry; Judea and Galilee were a part of the Roman Empire, or the “world” of Roman control.
Today we have Disney “world”. It occupies several hundred acres in central Florida. The “world” series of baseball. It is referred to as the world series, but only two teams from the US and/or Canada vie for the “world” series crown. There is the “world” of Golf, the “world” of entertainment; the “world” of travel; this world and that world – about any kind of “world” situation one can imagine.
So! What “world” was Jesus referring to by his statement to the disciples? The scriptures provide the answer to this question. We see in Matthew 10:5-6:
“These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them saying, ‘Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
And again in Matthew 15:24, Jesus answered and said:
“I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
At this juncture it should be obvious that the “world” referred to by Jesus was (and still is) the lands where ever the Israelites had settled during previous migrations which had been taking place for over two thousand years. They, the Israelites were in the process of migrating throughout the European continent at the time of Jesus’ ministry and these migrations continued to Britain, America, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Iceland and elsewhere practically up to the present. The settling of the colonies in America was a continuation of the fulfilment of the prophesy given in 2 Samuel 7:10.We now have information of all the nations settled originally by each of the twelve tribes.
These migrations were greatly enhanced by the captivity of the northern ten tribes by the Assyrians which took place over a twenty four year period 745-721 B.C. – 2 Kings 17:5-6. All the Israelites were moved out of Samaria and were replaced by people of foreign (pagan) nations – 2 Kings 17:24. The Israelites were placed in several separate areas of Assyria. A few years after the captivity of the northern kingdom had been completed, Sennacherib, a later king of Assyria went south and besieged the southern kingdom of Judah. He took all the fenced cities of Judah and carried away all the inhabitants. There is a black stele (a monument) now in the British museum of History which states that Sennacherib carried away 200,150 men women and children and placed them with the other Israelites that had been captured several years before, as indicated in the above account.
One hundred or so years later, from 606-587 BC the Babylonians made several sieges of Judah and Jerusalem and carried away into captivity nearly all of the remaining tribes of Judah, Benjamin and Levi. In fulfilment of Jeremiah’s prophecy in chapter 25 verse 11, a relatively small number of Israelites were released from Babylon and returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple and restore the city. These amounted to approximately 50,000 considering all those that returned.
This brief account of the captivities of both the northern and southern kingdoms help in identifying the “world” that Jesus spoke of to the disciples. Most all of those and/or their offspring of the northern kingdom subsequently migrated to the north and west continuing the settling of the nations of Europe.
Some of the descendants of the Israelites who settled the nations of Europe later migrated back to Asia Minor. These are some of those people to whom the apostles went to preach the gospel message. The early name of the area now known as France was called Gaul. Some of those Gauls migrated back to the mideast and were later called Galatians. There are other examples of these reverse migrations.
It was these settlements of Israelites, both in Europe and Asia-minor that was the “world” to which Jesus sent the disciples to preach the gospel of the kingdom.
EVERY CREATURE
Did Jesus intend for the disciples to go and preach the gospel to “every creature”? Surely this was a figurative statement rather than literal. May we presume that he did not refer to elephants, horses, whales, oysters, dogs, rats, mice, etc. etc. So these “creatures” must have been people. But which people? Since we have established that the “world” was the world of the dispersed Israelites, then the only reasonable conclusion would be that the “creatures” were Israelites.
ALL NATIONS
The word “nation” is used numerous times in the Bible. At times it is used to identify foreign and/or pagan nations and other times it refers to Israel nations, i.e. the various tribes which had migrated here and there. By the time Jesus began His ministry, Israelites had long since settled areas in Europe, and Asia. There is good evidence that there were Israelites in America at that time.
Nation as defined in Strong’s Concordance of the Bible states:
“a collection, i.e. community of persons: nation, people. A foreign nation; hence a gentile; (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts: Gentile, heathen, nation, people.”
The above definitions are of the Hebrew. The following are from the Greek dictionary:
“a race (as of the same habit), i.e. a tribe; (specifically) a foreign (non-jewish) one; pagan: Gentile, heathen, nation, people.”
The above references are such a variety of terms, it will require some in depth study to determine what or who is meant in several instances in which the word is utilized. Just as in the use of the word “world”, we found that it has many meanings and usages. Our challenge is to put the persons or tribes in their proper perspectives with respect to the circumstances under which they are used in the scripture.
In Genesis 12:2 we read God’s words to Abram:
“And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:”
And in Genesis 35:11 we find:
“And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins;”
Speaking to the Israelites after the Exodus from Egypt, we see in Leviticus 20:23:
“And ye shall not walk in the manners of the nation, which I cast out before you: for they committed all these things, and therefore I abhorred them.”
In Deuteronomy 4:7-8:
“For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for?”
“And what nation, is there so great, that hath statutes and judgements so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?”
Numerous references to “nation” specifically prescribe Israel; as well numerous instances refer also to non-Israelite peoples.
A very specific reference to Israel is found in I Peter 2:9:
“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God; which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.”
Now when we evaluate the commands of Jesus to the disciples to “go into all nations” and set this command against the former “to go only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel”; then there should be no doubt as to which “nations” Jesus was intending.
When the Apostle Paul stated in Acts 18:6 and Romans 11:13 that “from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles;” “…as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office,” we now have no alternative but to realize that these Gentiles to which Paul makes reference are none other than the same Israelites to which Jesus commanded the earlier disciples. Therefore, contrary to much maligned preaching, the Corinthians, Galatians, Colossians, Ephesians, etc., etc. were all Israelite nations.
We can confirm this fact by James 1:1, in which he states:
“James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.”
And in Peter 1:1-2:
“Peter an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the father…” emphasis added.
To confirm these “elect”; Isaiah states in 45:4:
“For Jacob my servant’s sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name:…” emphasis added.
We notice that Peter referred to the Israelites by nation, whereas James referred to the same people by the general term “tribes.” But they both were definitely referring to the same people.
Also, we find in Luke 18:7 these words by Jesus:
“And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?” emphasis added.
Another very pointed admonition given by Jesus to the disciples is found in Matthew 10:23:
“But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another; for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the son of man be come.”
Where are these cities referred to by Jesus? It certainly could not have been the cities of Judea and Galilee at that time. Due to the small size of those lands, common reasoning would declare that the disciples could have gone over them in a very short time – a month or two. Obviously then this remark was referring to a much later time. In fact it is fully appropriate in this present time: “GO YE INTO ALL THE WORLD.” There are millions of Israelites now in the year 2003 that have never heard the true gospel message.
Since not one preacher in a thousand has any idea who or where to find present day Israelites, this command of Jesus’ is virtually impossible to perform.
One very important point must be fully understood, and that is: This reference to Israelites has absolutely no bearing on the Jews presently occupying the land in Palestine and living in cities ‘throughout the world’. An extremely small number of Israelites are Jews but this is due to their practice of the Jewish religion – Judaism. The great majority of modem Jewry are of Edomite-Canaanite and Khazarian origin and have no bearing on biblical Israelites, regardless of what the Jews claim.
Now what about all the nations other than the Israelite peoples? The Bible makes provision for them. We find this statement in the book of Micah, 4:1-3:
“But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it.
And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore”.
As the famous question from the youngster in the back seat of the car: “Are we there yet?” No, we’re not there yet, but we are getting closer.
Many people state that we are now living in the “last” days, but none of the signs yet point to those days. We are certainly approaching that time, but according to Micah’s remarks (above) Jacob-Israel must first be established in the top of the mountains. Mountains here refer to governments and hills as lesser governments. There is little indication at this time of any mass movement among the Israelite Christians toward establishing a righteous society to fulfil this prophecy. When that day comes, things will turn suddenly according to Isaiah in 30:13-14. I suggest the reader explore all of chapter 30.
We have not exhausted all the information regarding “Nations”, but this should be sufficient to understand the intent of Jesus’ command to “GO YE THEREFORE AND TEACH ALL NATIONS.”
ALL THINGS
John, 1:1-3:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made.”
Since all things were of Jesus, this must include the spiritual influence to all writers of the scriptures; both the Old testament and the New Testament. He was the basis for the Word throughout the Bible.
All his teachings throughout the New Testament were based on His dictates throughout the Old Testament. Therefore, when He gave his final commands to the disciples regarding “All Things”, He could have been referring only to the Commandments, statutes, judgements and the prophets.
Remember that in the parable of Lazarus and the rich man, we see in Luke 16:31:
“And he said unto him, if they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.”
So, it appears that “All Things” He referred to were simply an elaboration of the Old Testament.
SUMMARY
Revelation 22:18-19:
“For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, if any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:”
“And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.”
These verses from Revelation are almost direct quotations from Deuteronomy 4:2, in which it states:
“Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.”
So, how does the Christian community stack up against these commands of Jesus Christ? We can find the answer to that question in Hosea 4:6:
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee…”
Reader, do you feel rejected? If not, you must know something very few Christians know. A cursory comparison of what the scripture directs to be preached and practised reveals that for well over a thousand years, the churches, priests, pastors and preachers have gone contrary to the Bible. They have practised almost everything Jesus said not to do, and conversely they have practised very little of the commands He gave the disciples and by extension to us of the present.
In John 14:15, Jesus stated:
“If ye love me, keep my commandments. “
And He said: “Go only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
The preachers preach to everyone, and the missionaries go to every place and people in the world except to the Israelite people. Their ignorance of who present day Israelites are is inexcusable. Instead they slobber over the imposter Jews who claim to be of Israel, but the truth refutes that claim.
Almost every preacher in this country is of the false assumption that the Jews are Israel; also they preach the lie that the “law” is done away, both of which are in error. If, according to the preachers, the law is done away, then there should be no sin in the world. In I John 3:4; we read: “… for sin is the transgression of the law.”
This notion of lawlessness leads us to disregard the food laws. Could this possibly be the reason that millions of Christians are sick and dying of all sorts of diseases that are projected in the forbidden foods. Everyone loves pork, one of the most dangerous things one can consume!
Yes, the law is done away. Now it is perfectly all right to lie, steal, disregard the commandment sabbath, as well as the seven annual sabbath festivals the scripture commands. Of course we may also mention adultery (race mixing) is acceptable, as well as homosexuals, not only in the congregations but in the pulpits.
Are not all these practices by the clergy and run-of- the-mill Christians, in effect, … adding to or taking away from the WORD? The sad thing about these conditions is that most all are totally ignorant of what the Bible reveals. As a result of this lack of understanding the scriptures; these people go about doing their own thing. And we can observe what those practices have brought about; almost total confusion and disruption.
READER! Do you believe that America deserves to be blessed by God? If you do; please give me one good reason for your belief.
“WOE UNTO YOU SCRIBES AND PHARISEES, HYPOCRITES! FOR YE SHUT UP HEAVEN AGAINST MEN…”
WARNING! Do not add to or take away from the law.
RANDY SCOTT, U.S.A.
