The Discipleship of the Nations was never about taking the Gospel to the entire global world.

[FearTheLord]

(TL/DR at the bottom.)

We often believe that the gospel has to be taken to the entire global world before Jesus returns, but that's not actually what the Bible says or means.

Matt 24:14 tells us that the gospel had to be taken to all of the nations of the oikoumene (G3625), which at the time was basically the land under Roman control. It included the Middle East, Asia Minor, parts of Persia, parts of Europe, and parts of Africa - essentially, the Table of Nations from Genesis 10.

[Mat 24:14 NASB95] 14 "This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world[G3625] as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.​

The discipleship of the nations was accomplished by 70 AD according to Paul. It was not for the entire global world as we think today, but for the nations where Israel had previously been scattered by Assyria and Babylon. This was according to Hosea and Paul.

[Rom 9:25-26 NASB95] 25 As He says also in Hosea, "I WILL CALL THOSE WHO WERE NOT MY PEOPLE, 'MY PEOPLE,' AND HER WHO WAS NOT BELOVED, 'BELOVED.'" 26 "AND IT SHALL BE THAT IN THE PLACE WHERE IT WAS SAID TO THEM, 'YOU ARE NOT MY PEOPLE,' THERE THEY SHALL BE CALLED SONS OF THE LIVING GOD."​

Furthermore, Paul explained that this Great Commission had already been accomplished within his own lifetime.

[Act 28:28 NASB95] 28 "Therefore let it be known to you that **this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will also listen."

[Col 1:5-6 NASB95] 5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel 6 which has come to you, just as in all the world also it is constantly bearing fruit and increasing, even as [it has been doing] in you also since the day you heard [of it] and understood the grace of God in truth;

[Col 1:23 NASB95] 23 if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister.

[Rom 10:18 NASB95] 18 But I say, surely they have never heard, have they? Indeed they have; "THEIR VOICE HAS GONE OUT INTO ALL THE EARTH, AND THEIR WORDS TO THE ENDS OF THE WORLD."

[Rom 16:26 NASB95] 26 but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, **has been made known to all the nations, [leading] to obedience of faith;

[2Ti 4:17 NASB95] 17 But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that through me the proclamation might be fully accomplished, and that all the Gentiles might hear; and I was rescued out of the lion's mouth.​

The Bible almost always speaks in local/regional terms. As you can see above, Paul said that the gospel had already been preached to "all the earth" (land), "the ends of the world", and to "all creation under heaven." See Romans 10:18 and Col 1:23 above.

Below are a few more examples where oikoumene (G3625) cannot mean the entire globe. There are more examples of this in the Old Testament (both Masoretic Text and Septuagint).

[Luk 2:1 NASB95] 1 Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited[G3625] earth[G3625].

[Act 11:28 NASB95] 28 One of them named Agabus stood up and [began] to indicate by the Spirit that there would certainly be a great famine all over the world[G3625]. And this took place in the [reign] of Claudius.

[Act 17:6 NASB95] 6 When they did not find them, they [began] dragging Jason and some brethren before the city authorities, shouting, "These men who have upset the world[G3625] have come here also;​

TL/DR: We've just been reading and teaching the Bible wrong for the last 1,954 years. This is why there are so many denominations and false gospels. We're not actually properly evangelizing or discipling the nations as the apostles understood it, because Jesus already returned to take the faithful members of the Church into heaven, in 70 AD.

Jesus will return again in the future to regather Israel under the covenant at Moab (Deut 30), and to initiate the 1,000-year reign.

 

[Jay Ross]

The question that is not being answered is, do we as disciples of Christ have to take the Gospel to the ends of the spatial world as we know it, or is there also a time element in this command that we are required to make disciples of all people until such time that Christ returns on the clouds with All of the Heavenly Hosts.

It is my understanding that both are applicable with respect to making disciples of all of the people of the earth. `

 

[FearTheLord]

The question that is not being answered is, do we as disciples of Christ have to take the Gospel to the ends of the spatial world as we know it, or is there also a time element in this command that we are required to make disciples of all people until such time that Christ returns on the clouds with All of the Heavenly Hosts.

There was a time element, and it expired in 70 AD. It was fulfilled; mission accomplished! We can still have salvation by obeying Jesus' commandments, but the original gospel has not been preached properly since 70 AD. Every tradition since the church fathers have adulterated the gospel in one way or another.

It is my understanding that both are applicable with respect to making disciples of all of the people of the earth. `

Making disciples is more than preaching the gospel. It's about walking together in righteousness, with one mind, in the truth handed down by the apostles. That original Apostolic Doctrine was lost quickly after 70 AD.

 

[ScottA]

(TL/DR at the bottom.)

We often believe that the gospel has to be taken to the entire global world before Jesus returns, but that's not actually what the Bible says or means.

Matt 24:14 tells us that the gospel had to be taken to all of the nations of the oikoumene (G3625), which at the time was basically the land under Roman control. It included the Middle East, Asia Minor, parts of Persia, parts of Europe, and parts of Africa - essentially, the Table of Nations from Genesis 10.

[Mat 24:14 NASB95] 14 "This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world[G3625] as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.​

The discipleship of the nations was accomplished by 70 AD according to Paul. It was not for the entire global world as we think today, but for the nations where Israel had previously been scattered by Assyria and Babylon. This was according to Hosea and Paul.

[Rom 9:25-26 NASB95] 25 As He says also in Hosea, "I WILL CALL THOSE WHO WERE NOT MY PEOPLE, 'MY PEOPLE,' AND HER WHO WAS NOT BELOVED, 'BELOVED.'" 26 "AND IT SHALL BE THAT IN THE PLACE WHERE IT WAS SAID TO THEM, 'YOU ARE NOT MY PEOPLE,' THERE THEY SHALL BE CALLED SONS OF THE LIVING GOD."​

Furthermore, Paul explained that this Great Commission had already been accomplished within his own lifetime.

[Act 28:28 NASB95] 28 "Therefore let it be known to you that **this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will also listen."

[Col 1:5-6 NASB95] 5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel 6 which has come to you, just as in all the world also it is constantly bearing fruit and increasing, even as [it has been doing] in you also since the day you heard [of it] and understood the grace of God in truth;

[Col 1:23 NASB95] 23 if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister.

[Rom 10:18 NASB95] 18 But I say, surely they have never heard, have they? Indeed they have; "THEIR VOICE HAS GONE OUT INTO ALL THE EARTH, AND THEIR WORDS TO THE ENDS OF THE WORLD."

[Rom 16:26 NASB95] 26 but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, **has been made known to all the nations, [leading] to obedience of faith;

[2Ti 4:17 NASB95] 17 But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that through me the proclamation might be fully accomplished, and that all the Gentiles might hear; and I was rescued out of the lion's mouth.​

The Bible almost always speaks in local/regional terms. As you can see above, Paul said that the gospel had already been preached to "all the earth" (land), "the ends of the world", and to "all creation under heaven." See Romans 10:18 and Col 1:23 above.

Below are a few more examples where oikoumene (G3625) cannot mean the entire globe. There are more examples of this in the Old Testament (both Masoretic Text and Septuagint).

[Luk 2:1 NASB95] 1 Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited[G3625] earth[G3625].

[Act 11:28 NASB95] 28 One of them named Agabus stood up and [began] to indicate by the Spirit that there would certainly be a great famine all over the world[G3625]. And this took place in the [reign] of Claudius.

[Act 17:6 NASB95] 6 When they did not find them, they [began] dragging Jason and some brethren before the city authorities, shouting, "These men who have upset the world[G3625] have come here also;​

TL/DR: We've just been reading and teaching the Bible wrong for the last 1,954 years. This is why there are so many denominations and false gospels. We're not actually properly evangelizing or discipling the nations as the apostles understood it, because Jesus already returned to take the faithful members of the Church into heaven, in 70 AD.

Jesus will return again in the future to regather Israel under the covenant at Moab (Deut 30), and to initiate the 1,000-year reign.

The truth of Christ's return is even more astounding than you have stated.

Jesus said He would come "soon" and "quickly" and stating all that "must shortly take place"--and then He explained just how it would occur, saying, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me" (Revelation 3:20).

In the simplest of terms: Jesus first came in the flesh, died, rose from the dead, and then went to the Father--just as He said. Which means no one has ever heard Him knocking and opened to Him via the glory of God whom is spirit, by the Holy Spirit--or He began to return beginning at Pentecost. Which Paul elaborated giving correction regarding Christ's return, saying, "but each one (individual person) in his own order" (1 Corinthians 15:23).

Unfortunately, as Peter stated, "false teacher" entered into the church bringing "destructive doctrines", resulting in the believing of a "lie" foretold by Paul, causing "strong delusion" and "great apostacy." Which was not to be "finished" until "the mystery of God as He declared to His prophets" would be revealed just before "time no longer." This is that time.

The "lie" foretold by Paul, was that it all would instead be a "future" mass event. And it was believed--and it is still the most common doctrine that has been taught now for 2,000 years.