ITS DEEPER THAN YOU THINK!

I published a pamphlet on this website about two weeks ago which was called “A Sign of the Times – the Gentiles”. Its purpose was to demonstrate the astonishing spread of the preaching of the gospel over the last three centuries, and especially during the twentieth century, and to relate that fact to Jesus words, “This gospel will be preached in among all nations and then the end will come”. By the end of the twentieth century virtually every nation had heard the gospel preached. What remained for the fulfilment of Jesus’ prophecy was not so much a question of extension as a question of deepening. How deep was spread of the gospel to be within each nation?
Over the last twenty years much focus has been laid on the expression used in the book of Revelation that people would be found among the multitude gathered to Jesus who came from “every people and every tongue” (Rev. 7:9). This has led to a great deal of research into “people groups” within nations, groups which are distinguished very often by their own dialects or languages. The research has been undertaken not simply for interest sake but in order to focus evangelistic work on such groups where apparently the gospel has not been preached. This is seen as “in depth” work for the proper accomplishment of the work that Jesus prophesied would take place.
This has brought an awareness of the fact that much work remains to be done. Many attempts have been made, therefore, to plant churches within these national “sub groups”, and there has been much prayer for these groups. This has been a very important feature of the spread of the gospel in the last two decades.
However, (and this has sparked this blog) I have just heard of one of these sub groups in China where plans were being made plant a church, only to find that it had already been done by the Chinese themselves. It reminded me instantly of how frequently God is ahead of us. Certainly we in the West are by no means the only (or even main) force for the gospel. The words of the title of this column came immediately to mind with regard to the extent of the penetration of the gospel – “It is deeper than you think”. Jesus is massively at work right across the world. Every day is a day nearer to the fulfilment of his prophecy. It really is a time to look up!


Bob

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REVIVAL IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY

Having looked in some detail at the numerous and large outpourings of the Spirit which characterised the 20th Century (and to which reference is made in the new pamphlet “A Sign of the Times – The Gentiles), I am left musing on the enormous possibilities for the spread of the gospel in the 21st Century. I cannot believe it will be a century when we shall see a pause in the outpourings of the Spirit, but very much the opposite.
God’s purposes come “in the fullness of time”. It’s easy to see that Jesus came at a time that was very appropriate in purely human terms. At his birth the Roman Empire spanned much of the known world, communications were extremely good across the Empire, and the stage was set for the spread of the gospel right across the Empire. That duly happened over a number of centuries and the gospel was firmly embedded in the Western world.

Likewise in the 18thC new Western empires were about to dominate the world, and global communications were about develop on an unprecedented scale. As a consequence, over the last three centuries the gospel has become embedded in most nations across the world. Global communication now, however, in the 21stC has reached an unbelievable peak with the technological revolution. If, in the Reformation age, the printing of books had such an impact on the spread of the gospel and on the process of making disciples how much more the web age! The stage is set for an advance that could easily eclipse the 20thC.
Important and relevant as this human scenario of communication may be, the dynamic of revival remains crucial. A church full of spiritual life and vigour, impelled by the Spirit has to make use of the opportunities of communicating. Even when opportunities are not favourable for communication, as was the case in China in the 1950s-70s a Spirit-filled church will insist on communicating with extraordinary fruitful effect.
What can we see of revival in the first decade of the 21stC? One comment might be made: something very powerful is happening in the Muslim world. Communication with the Muslim world is at a level much higher than ever before, and there are many manifestations of the Holy Spirit at work right across those nations. Supernatural witness and witness from believers are combining to produce an extraordinary leavening. Pray God it may be a precursor to an ingathering of Moslems which outnumber even the continuing gathering of the Chinese. We may not have had our 21stC Welsh revival or Azusa St. revival in the West, but we must watch for outpourings on a greater scale from other continents and nations.

Bob

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SIGNS OF THE TIMES

At some point this coming week two new pamphlets will be published on the site. I will put a note to that effect on the home page when it happens. This column is by way of an introduction to those new articles.

They both appear under a new section headed "SIGNS OF THE TIMES". The first one deals with the Gentiles and the second one with the Jews. I've worked on these articles because I feel that the twentieth century has created an historical landmark which no other has since Jesus made his prophetic comments about the future. Two unprecedented historical facts have emerged in the century: first the gospel is now being preached right across the globe, and virtually to all nations; second there has been a return of the Jews from all nations to their own land. These facts are there for all to see.

Jesus made an unequivocal statement about the Gentiles: "This gospel will be preached in all the world and then the end will come" Matt. 24:14 We have no way of knowing exactly what the expression, "the fulness of the Gentiles" means and just how wide or deep the response to the gospel will be before the "end comes". But unquestionably we have reached an unmistakeable milestone in the gobal spread of the gospel. The first pamphlet deals in more detail with this and its implications.

I have a great deal of time exploring the historical facts of the Jewish return to Israel during the twentieth century. In the pamphlet on the Jews as a Sign I have made the point that the real decider of prophetic interpretation concerning the Jews will be the facts of history rather than more theological wrangling. We shall know prophecy is being fulfilled when we see it actually happening in fact. The pamphlet therefore considers a number of evident historical facts about the Jews in the last century with the suggestion that they point powerfully to an end time sign. They seem to find great resonance with Jesus' words, "Jerusalem will be trampled by the Gentiles until the time of the Gentiles (fullness of the Gentiles) has come" Lk 21:24

I would particularly like to hear comment on this latter pamphlet. For me it represents an exploration on a critically important issue, and is not set in concrete. We are all straining to see what God is doing and to some extent "looking through a glass darkly", but in the twenty first century we are undoubtedly going to see some extraordinary things in prophetic fulfilment.

If you can take the time to read it and care to comment, I'd be most grateful.

Bob

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