Matthew 24:14 - This Good News of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world for a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "Matthew 24:14" mean?
Matthew 24:14, "This Good News of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world for a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come," is a key verse in understanding Jesus's discourse on the signs of the end times in the Olivet Discourse. Here's a breakdown of its meaning:
"This Good News of the Kingdom": This refers to the Gospel. It's the message of salvation, the offer of God's grace and forgiveness through Jesus Christ, and the establishment of God's reign (His kingdom) in the hearts of believers. The "Kingdom" isn't just a place; it's God's rule and authority being recognized and accepted.
"Will be preached in the whole world": This emphasizes the global scope of the Gospel's mission. It's a prediction that the message of Jesus will spread to all parts of the earth.
"For a testimony to all the nations": The purpose of the preaching isn't necessarily to convert everyone. The Gospel serves as a witness or testament to all the "nations" (Greek: ethnos, referring to people groups or ethnic groups) before the end arrives. It's an opportunity for everyone to hear about Jesus and make a choice. The word "testimony" indicates a declaration or proof of something. The preaching serves as a warning and an offer of salvation.
"And then the end will come": This ties the global preaching of the Gospel directly to the coming of the end times. The fulfillment of this worldwide preaching is presented as a sign that the ultimate end, however that is interpreted, is near.
Interpretations and Different Views:
This verse is interpreted in various ways:
Literal Interpretation: Some believe that this verse requires a complete and thorough evangelization of every people group on Earth before the "end" can occur. They see missionary efforts as crucial to fulfilling this prophecy.
Symbolic Interpretation: Others interpret "all the nations" as referring to a significant and widespread dissemination of the Gospel, not necessarily a literal conversion of every single person or a direct hearing by every ethnic group before the end comes.
Different Views of "the end": What "the end" refers to also varies among interpretations:
The Destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD: Some believe "the end" refers to the destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem in 70 AD. They believe the Gospel was sufficiently preached throughout the Roman world by that time.
A Future Tribulation Period: Many interpret "the end" as referring to a future period of tribulation and judgment before Christ's return. They see the worldwide preaching of the Gospel as a sign that this period is approaching.
The Final Judgment: Others see "the end" as the final judgment, when Christ returns to judge the living and the dead.
Important Considerations:
Context: It's crucial to read Matthew 24:14 within the broader context of the Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24-25). Jesus discusses other signs of the end times, such as wars, famines, earthquakes, and persecution of believers.
Urgency of Missions: Regardless of the specific interpretation, this verse reinforces the importance of spreading the Gospel to all people. It serves as a motivation for missionary work and personal evangelism.
In summary, Matthew 24:14 teaches that the Gospel of the Kingdom will be preached globally as a witness to all people groups before the end times arrive. Exactly what "the end" signifies and how completely the Gospel must be preached are points of ongoing discussion, but the importance of sharing the Gospel with the world is clear.
Matthew 24:14 - This Good News of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world for a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.
What does "Matthew 24:14" mean?
Matthew 24:14, "This Good News of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world for a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come," is a key verse in understanding Jesus's discourse on the signs of the end times in the Olivet Discourse. Here's a breakdown of its meaning:
"This Good News of the Kingdom": This refers to the Gospel. It's the message of salvation, the offer of God's grace and forgiveness through Jesus Christ, and the establishment of God's reign (His kingdom) in the hearts of believers. The "Kingdom" isn't just a place; it's God's rule and authority being recognized and accepted.
"Will be preached in the whole world": This emphasizes the global scope of the Gospel's mission. It's a prediction that the message of Jesus will spread to all parts of the earth.
"For a testimony to all the nations": The purpose of the preaching isn't necessarily to convert everyone. The Gospel serves as a witness or testament to all the "nations" (Greek: ethnos, referring to people groups or ethnic groups) before the end arrives. It's an opportunity for everyone to hear about Jesus and make a choice. The word "testimony" indicates a declaration or proof of something. The preaching serves as a warning and an offer of salvation.
"And then the end will come": This ties the global preaching of the Gospel directly to the coming of the end times. The fulfillment of this worldwide preaching is presented as a sign that the ultimate end, however that is interpreted, is near.
Interpretations and Different Views:
This verse is interpreted in various ways:
Literal Interpretation: Some believe that this verse requires a complete and thorough evangelization of every people group on Earth before the "end" can occur. They see missionary efforts as crucial to fulfilling this prophecy.
Symbolic Interpretation: Others interpret "all the nations" as referring to a significant and widespread dissemination of the Gospel, not necessarily a literal conversion of every single person or a direct hearing by every ethnic group before the end comes.
Different Views of "the end": What "the end" refers to also varies among interpretations:
The Destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD: Some believe "the end" refers to the destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem in 70 AD. They believe the Gospel was sufficiently preached throughout the Roman world by that time.
A Future Tribulation Period: Many interpret "the end" as referring to a future period of tribulation and judgment before Christ's return. They see the worldwide preaching of the Gospel as a sign that this period is approaching.
The Final Judgment: Others see "the end" as the final judgment, when Christ returns to judge the living and the dead.
Important Considerations:
Context: It's crucial to read Matthew 24:14 within the broader context of the Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24-25). Jesus discusses other signs of the end times, such as wars, famines, earthquakes, and persecution of believers.
Urgency of Missions: Regardless of the specific interpretation, this verse reinforces the importance of spreading the Gospel to all people. It serves as a motivation for missionary work and personal evangelism.
In summary, Matthew 24:14 teaches that the Gospel of the Kingdom will be preached globally as a witness to all people groups before the end times arrive. Exactly what "the end" signifies and how completely the Gospel must be preached are points of ongoing discussion, but the importance of sharing the Gospel with the world is clear.