The Great Commission of the Church to Evangelize the World

February 25, 2023 Dramatic Video About New Valley or Chasm Near Antayka (Antioch) Created by 7.8 Magnitude Earthquake Around Gaziantepe, Turkey That I Believes Gives Further Confirmation About Destruction Around Antakya as a Prophetic Sign From God

February 2023 Earthquake in Turkey and Syria Also Devastates Hatay or Antakya or Antioch the Early Missionary Sending Base of the Church

The earthquakes that hit southern Turkey and northern Syria in early February 2023 (around February 6 to 8) could be an indication that the true God including God the Son Jesus Christ is almost finished the phase of shaking things on Earth during the end of this present Church Age or Church Age phase of the Kingdom of God and is about to go into full power in the following tribulation or 7 year 70th week of Daniel or time of His wrath on Earth after the rapture or catching up to heaven of all the true Church or all true Christians. All true Christians aren't only of the current generation but of all generations of Christians since Pentecost in Jerusalem at the beginning of the Church Age almost 2,000 years ago back to approximately 32 AD (or CE). Shortly after Pentecost the missionary sending base of the Church shifting to the Gentile city of Antioch in northern Syria or so where the apostle Paul and other early Christian missionaries in the initial apostolic period of the Church set off in their missionary voyages and where the disciples of Jesus were first called Christians according to Acts of the Apostles 11. The city of Antioch did not disappear over the last 2,000 years but still exists and is now very close to Syria near the Mediterranean Sea but just inside Turkey and is now called Hatay or Antakya (Antioch). Sadly, it was very severely hit by the February 2023 earthquake and was heavily damaged with some significant loss of life but in which there was eventually a substantial emergency relief operation as partly covered in the BBC in articles: Turkey earthquake: BBC reports from Antakya, a city reduced to rubble with about a minute video at https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-64561818 and Turkey earthquake: Hope as foreign help arrives in quake-ravaged Antakya on February 8, 2023 at https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-64572465.

As a Bible believing Christian who seeks to keep up with Bible prophecy in the Bible and world news as well as the Great Commission to reach some people unto salvation in Jesus from all nations on Earth, I believe we are now living right at the very end of the Church age before the rapture or catching up to heaven of all true Christians as in 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18, John 14:1-3, 1 Corinthians 15:51-58, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2 before the 7 year tribulation and global dictatorship of the Satanic Antichrist or beast out of the sea and man of sin and his associate the false prophet as in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-12, Matthew 24:15, Daniel 9:27 and Revelation 6, 13, 17, 20 etc. and God's greater plagues on Earth then as in Revelation 6 to 18. However, I believe there will also be a great multitude who become Christians out of people left behind on Earth after the rapture of the Church who will also be from all nations and languages etc. from the witness of the 144,000 Jewish witnesses as in Revelation 7 and 14 for Jesus after the rapture of the Church during the tribulation. After the 7 year tribulation there will be by the glorious Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and His Church and Holy angels with God the Father from heaven to Earth as in Revelation 19-20-3, Zechariah 14, Matthew 26:62-65, Acts 1:7-11 the defeat of the devil and all other demons and the Antichrist or Beast out of the sea, false prophet and the rest of the world system or still more worldly people who hadn't by then trusted in God through Jesus by the end of the tribulation. After Jesus' second coming to earth with the saints of all previous ages there will be the establishment of God's visible Kingdom on Earth based in Jerusalem through restored Israel, the true Church and the saved of the nations for the 1,000 year Millennial or Messianic Kingdom and then God's eternal Kingdom through His Son Jesus Christ and all His holy angels and restored people of all ages in the New Jerusalem, New Earth and New Heavens as in Revelation 20:4-6, Zechariah 14, Psalm 72, most of Isaiah 54-62 and 65 etc. then Revelation 21-22.

I believe God is increasingly spiritually or figurately shaking the world and all of us in it but sometimes this shaking is literal or physical as in these earthquakes in Turkey that also hit Antakya or the original missionary sending city of the Church Antioch. I believe this is a sign that God is near the end of His calling out people of all nations to become part of His Church or His chosen heavenly or spiritual restored people in this Church Age or Age of grace and perhaps allowed the destruction of the early missionary sending centre of the Church Antioch (Antakya) to indicate His true Church will all soon to caught up to heaven to our heavenly dwelling places John 14:1-3 but is still in the last stages in calling people to be part of His Church including perhaps in Antioch or Antakya before He really shakes the world and those left behind in the tribulation after the rapture of the Church to save people left behind in the time of the tribulation or God's severity before Jesus sets up God's visible Kingdom over all the Earth at the end of the tribulation and defeats and removes all the remaining world system or those still aligned to it by the end of the tribulation. I would urge everyone on Earth to trust in Jesus now and continue to follow the true, living and Creator and Saviour God through His Son Jesus Christ and Jesus' death on the cross for our sins and resurrection from the dead on the third day to offer us God's eternal and resurrection life so you can also be taken to heaven at the rapture of the Church and have God's forgiveness during this increasing shaking on Earth and not be left behind on Earth for God's judgment of the world in the tribulation and 2nd coming at the end of the tribulation amidst God's most intense shaking of earth and heaven as follows:

Scripture About Antioch (Antakya) as Missionary Sending Centre of the Early Church in Acts 11

Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but the Jews only. And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene (around coastal Libya), which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecian (Greek Jews), preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord. Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which as in Jerusalem; and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch. Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith; and much people was added unto the Lord. Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: And when he had found him, be brought him unto Antioch, And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch. And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar. Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judea (current southern Israel and southern West Bank); Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul. Acts 11:19-30

Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which has been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. Acts 13:1-2

Wherefor my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day. Then pleased it the apostles and elders with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch (Antakya) with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barnabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren: And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles (non-Jewish nations) in Antioch (Antakya) and Syria and Cilicia: Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to which we gave no such commandment (especially for this current Church Age now almost over): It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have sent therefore Judas (Barnabas) and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth. For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well. So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch (Antakya): and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle; Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation. And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them. And after they had tarried there a space, they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles. Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still. Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch (Antakya or Hatay), teaching and preaching the word of the Lord with many others also. Acts of the Apostles 15:19-35

Scripture Reference of God's Increased Shaking of the World and His Desired Response to Himself Through His Son Jesus Christ for People on Earth from Hebrews 12

See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven; Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. And this word, Yet once more, signieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things which cannot be shaken may remain. Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire. Hebrews 12:25-29

The Great Commission is To Make Disciples for Jesus of All Nations Until the End of the World (Age or Eon) from Matthew 28

In this very famous passage about the Great Commission Jesus asserts that all power or authority has been given to Him (from God the Father) in heaven and in earth (and over all beings in heaven and earth including angels, the devil and demons and saved and unsaved human beings). This is a comfort and assurance for Christians or God's saved people both of the Jews and Gentiles or nations in this age or this dispensation within this age, although Jesus will have all authority over heaven and earth through age coming dispensations until God the Father takes primary authority again in the eternal age or dispensation.

Jesus states that in light of this we should go to the nations (ethnos from which we get our term ethnic group) but the word nations is also used for Abraham being called a father of many nations in Romans 4:17 and 18 and that God would bless all the nations through Abraham in Galatians 3:8 that are quotations from Genesis 17:4 on one hand and Genesis 18:18 and 22:18 on the other and in the Old Testament this word in Hebrew is goy or in the plural goyim which means a foreign (non-Jewish) nation or nations although the Jews or Israel would be included as one of the nations in the New Testament in the present Church Dispensation that will end with the rapture of the Church to heaven. Also this word (ethnos) for nation is used in Acts 17:26 where the Apostle Paul states to the Greek philosophers in Athens that God has made of one blood or ancestor (Adam through Noah) all nations to dwell on all the face of the earth and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation. The Apostle Paul before he trusted in Jesus as his personal Lord and Saviour was a leading Pharisee or teacher of the Law of Moses so he would know the Law of Moses very well and should be no surprise that he uses references to it in his New Testament writings. I think this verse in Acts 17 is no exception to this. In fact the nations and the bounds of their habitation I think is a clear reference to Deuteronomy 32:7-9 especially verse 8 that reads When the most High divided to the nations (goy) their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds according to the number of the children of Israel. Since all but Noah and his wife and his three sons and their wives were wiped out by the worldwide flood of Noah the current sons of Adam and those in Moses' time are those through the line of Noah only. In Genesis 10 the whole chapter talks about a table of the nations from which all people on earth now are derived and if you don't count Noah Himself or Nimrod there are exactly 70 nations in that chapter as I have also counted for myself and invite the reader to count himself or herself. More recently I have obtained a copy of The Apostolic Bible Polyglot which includes the Septuagint Greek Old Testament with interlinear English. This makes it plain that in the Greek the regular word for nations and Gentiles in the Old Testament is ethnos including in Genesis 10:5, 20 and 31 and 32 where the nations of Noah's sons Japheth, Ham and Shem are listed. In Acts 2 there are mentioned Jews that were living in many nations who had gathered at Jerusalem to go to the Temple there at Pentecost. The word for nations there in verse 5 of Acts 2 is also the Greek word ethnos. In verses 6, 8 and 11 the scripture in Acts 2 mentions each nation or ethnic group was identified with its own language as was also true in Genesis 10 of the list of nations there. There are also some nations listed in Acts 2 that are the same as those as in Genesis 10. For instance Egypt is Mizraim (the Hebrew word for Egypt), they both mention Elam, Crete is Caphtor(im) and Madai is the Medes and Libya around Cyrene is associated with Lud the descendent of Ham. Some of the other nations mentioned in Acts 2 might be more difficult to associate directly with those of Genesis 10 but the most likely associated ones could be determined with more study. I think it is these nations that are referred to in Matthew 28 and other times in the Old and New Testaments with this quote in Acts 17 for Deuteronomy 32 as well as the quotes in Romans and Galatians from Genesis with the blessings of the nations through Abraham where the same words are used for nations. Also in Exodus 1:5 the children of Israel (Jacob) were also of the number 70 that came up from Egypt when they came to join Joseph there, which of course is the same number of the nations in Genesis 10 as stated in Deuteronomy 32 and referred to in Acts 17 and that I believe can then be extended to other references to nations in the New Testament including Matthew 28. However, I have more recently learned that the text for Deuteronomy 32:8 in the Septuagint, the ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament, is different in an important respect to that in our English Bibles that are mostly based on the Hebrew Masoretic Old Testament text. This difference is that the number of the nations, though still 70, is compared instead of to the number of children of Israel who came out of Egypt but to the number of the sons or angels of God. These sons or angels of God are then thought to be the angels in the heavenly council around God's throne who could be both holy and fallen angels and are 70 in total. They include Satan who would probably be associated with Nimrod and Babylon in modern day Iraq that is one of the 70 nations. These 70 angels or sons of God would each be associated with one of the 70 nations of people on Earth who are descended from Noah and would be over the human rulers of each of these nations. They are called princes or in the Greek archons and their sphere of power or control that is the Earthly nation they rule over are called in the English New Testament principalities or in the Greek arche. The people of the world will continue to be divided into these 70 nations not just through the current Church Age but also in the following 7 year tribulation and the following 1,000 year Millennial or Messianic Kingdom of God's visible reign over all the Earth through His Annointed one, Messiah or Christ Jesus of Nazareth and even somewhat in eternity where nations are still mentioned but in the Millennial and eternal Kingdoms of God it would be only good or holy angels who would be overseeing the nations and be part of His heavenly council of 70 angels. In time there would be I think actually 140 angels but be counted as just 70 with a holy and fallen one over each nation descended from Noah in Genesis 10 or there would be before God's visible Kingdom on Earth started with Jesus' Second coming to earth at the end of the tribulation altogether 70 angels, 35 good and 35 fallen or demons including Satan the devil with each pair of holy and falled angels over the same two Genesis 10 nations likely ones that are adjacent to each other in their location on the surface of the Earth. The same angels in the heavenly council are mentioned in other scriptures such as in Job chapters 1 and 2 where they are called sons of God in the King James Version English Bible anyway. Currently these holy and fallen angels could and probably do have an influence about how receptive any certain of the 70 Noah nation people groups are to the eternal life and saving gospel or good news of God through His Son Jesus Christ and the evil ones might need to be overcome by Christians in spiritual warfare in Jesus' name and pleading the power of His blood shed for people of all nations to redeem or purchase people from the devil's power and the Satanically or demonically controlled world system on Earth that operates mostly without priority to God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit or His word the Holy Bible and is more focused on the things of self than God and of time rather than eternity.

A popular idea these days with people who concentrate on determining the progress of fulfilling the Great Commission is to talk in terms of "people groups" even to say that some people of every people group have to be reached with the gospel of Jesus Christ to fulfill the Great Commission. People that focus on people groups however I think make a big mistake when they associate people groups with the word nations in some of the main passages for fulfilling the great commission such as in Matthew 28:19 and Matthew 24:14. The word for people in the Greek and the New Testament is laos and it the word ethnos not laos that is used for the word nations in passages like Matthew 28:19 and 24:14. However the word people or peoples from laos is also used in Revelation 5:9 and 7:9 that are some of the components of the Church and the Gentile multitude led to Christ in the tribulation by the 144,000 Jewish witnesses for Jesus in the tribulation respectively. Therefore, although Jesus only specified that some people of each nations had to be reached with the gospel to finish the Great Commission or the part of it for this present Church Age and this is from the word ethnos likely' meaning the nations mentioned in the table of nations mentioned in Genesis 10, ultimately God the Father and Jesus might still be waiting for the Church to reach some people of each of the smaller divisions of peoples or people groups laos as mentioned in Revelation 5:9 to complete the Church and the Church Age with the rapture of the Church. Then God the Father and Jesus will focus on more fully restoring His chosen earthly people Israel to Himself and more of the non-Jewish nations (ethnos) to Himself in the tribulation or 70th week of Daniel.

Jesus then says he wants his disciples or followers to teach all nations, being I think divided into the 70 nations referred to in Genesis 10 that includes the Jews, and Arabs and other descendants of Abraham under Arphaxad and Peleg. We are to baptize them in the name not names of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. But this doesn't deny the doctrine of the trinity but only emphasize the oneness in being or essence of the three persons of the trinity as opposed emphasis on their three distinct personalities within the one being of the trinity or Godhead that is given in other scriptures such as in the baptism of Jesus in Matthew 3 or in different New Testament scriptures that associate in different places all three persons of the trinity with raising Jesus from the dead or that the trinity is a necessity for Jesus to bear the wrath for our sins from another person of the trinity God the Father as in Isaiah 53:4. Jesus also urged or commissioned his people or disciples to teach those people we are trying or that God is leading us to make his disciples all things whatsoever I commanded you which is all the New Testament and the Old Testament as well as in John 5:39. Finally Jesus gives the assurance that he is with his people or disciples or Christians until the end of the world. This word world is from the Greek word eon and means age. I think the world, eon or age Jesus is talking about is the one that began after the fall of Adam and Eve or perhaps from the creation of them and the world (cosmos). This world (eon or age) will end when the Lord Jesus Christ comes with His Church from Heaven to set up His Kingdom after previously catching us up to heaven at the rapture very soon to spare true or born again or of the Holy Spirit Christians the tribulation or 70th week of Daniel on earth. In the 70th week of Daniel or the tribulation Jesus and God the Father will complete the great commission in the dispensation of wrath when he will witness through the two witnesses of Revelation 11 probably Moses and Elijah and in Revelation 7 and 14 the 144,000 Jewish believers in Jesus who will all be part of God completing the Great Commission through his then resumed working on earth through Israel with the Church's part having been finished by the time of the rapture when we will be brought to our eternal home in heaven although we will still have access to earth in the Messianic Age with our heavenly or ressurrection or spiritual bodies. The scripture reference in Matthew 28 to the Great Commission with Christians (and then in the tribulation Jewish believers) going to all nations under Jesus' authority and protection to make disciples of all nations and them them from Jesus' commandments in the Bible especially the New Testament is as follows:

Scripture Reference in Matthew 28 of the Great Commission for the Church until the Rapture to Make Disciples for Jesus all Nations and Teach Them Jesus' Commandments Under Jesus' Authority

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations (ethnos), baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost (Holy Spirit): teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Gospel of Matthew 28:18-20

Scripture Reference in Genesis 10 of the Table of the Nations (Gentiles) Descended from Noah and That in the Greek Septuagint Are Translated from the Greek Word Ethnos

Now these are the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth: and unto them were sons born after the flood. The sons of Japheth; Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras. ... By these were the isles (coastlands) of the Gentiles divided in their lands; every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations (ethnos).

And the sons of Ham; Cush, and Mizraim, and Phut, and Canaan. ... These are the sons of Ham, after their families, after their tongues, in their countries, and in their nations (ethnos).

Unto Shem also, the father of all the children of Eber, the brother of Japheth the elder, even to him were children born. The children of Shem; Elam, and Asshur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram (Syria). ... These are the sons of Shem, after their families, after their tongues, in their lands, after their nations (ethnos). These are the families of the sons of Noah, after their generations, in their nations (ethnos): and by these were the nations(ethnos) divided in the earth after the flood. Genesis 10:1-2,5,6,20,21-22,31-32.

Scripture Reference from Acts 17 in the Sermon by the Apostle Paul on Mars' Hill in Athens Where He Mentioned That the Nations (Ethnos or Ethne) That God Divided Humanity Into Were the 70 Nations from Noah Through His Quotation from God Setting the Bounds of the Nations in Deuteronomy 32:8

God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things, And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and teh bounds of their habitation; That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. Acts 17:24-28

Scripture Reference from Deuteronomy 32 That is Quoted by the Apostle Paul in Acts 17 That Mentions the Number of the Nations (Goy or Goyim in Hebrew) as 70 In English Bible from Masoretic Hebrew Text Compared to Number of the Children of Israel

Scripture Reference from Exodus 1 Mentioning the Number of Israelites Coming Into Egypt in the time of Old Testament Joseph as Being 70 Corresponding With the Number of Nations Descended from Noah in Deuteronomy 32 and Genesis 10

Now these are the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt; every man and his household came with Jacob. Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin, Dan, and Naphtali, Gad, and Asher. And all the souls that came out of the loins of Jacob were seventy (70) souls; for Joseph was in Egypt already. Exodus 1:1-5

Scripture Reference from Deuteronomy 32 With Mention of God Dividing Humanity into the 70 Nations from Noah Quoted by the Apostle Paul in Acts 17 with Deuteronomy 32 Portion Based on the Septuagint Ancient Greek Translation of the Old Testament Comparing 70 Number of Nations on Earth to 70 Number of Angels or Sons of God Around God's Throne in His Heavenly Council Presiding Over the 70 Nations on Earth

Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations: ask thy father, and he will shew thee; thy elders, and they will tell thee (you). When the most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people (nations of the world) according to the number of the sons or angels of God. For the LORD's portion (of the nations) is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance. Deuteronomy 32:7-9

Scripture References from Job 1 and 2 of Heavenly Council Including Satan Probably of 70 Sons or Angels of God that Are Over the Nations in Reference to Satan Requesting of God that He be Allowed to Test Job then one of the Leading Men of God on Earth

Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? Job 1:6-8

Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD. And the LORD said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth (despises and carefully avoids) evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movest me against him, to destroy him without cause. Job 2:1-3

Scripture Reference from Colossians 1 Mentioning All the Principalities (or Spiritual or Angelic Areas of Authority Including of the 70 Angels or Sons of God in the Heavenly Council of God Over the 70 Genesis 10 Noah Nations of Earth) That Have Been Put More Directly Under the Authority of God's Son the Lord Jesus Christ After the Fulfillment of His Virgin Birth, Sinless Life on Earth, Death on the Cross for our Sins, Resurrection from the Dead and Ascension and Return to Heaven at God the Father's Right Hand

(To Christians or those that become Christians in verse 10) That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in the knowledge of God; ... Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet (fit) to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness (of sin and the fleshly or Adamic old nature, the devil and demons or fallen angels and of the world system), and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn (having the rights of inheritance of the firstborn) of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities (Greek arche), or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. Colossians 1:10, 12-17

Scripture Reference from Daniel 10 Mentioning Princes of Some of the 70 Noah Nations With Emphasis on Princes Who are Likely Some of the 70 in This Cause Likely Evil Angels or Sons of God of the Heavenly Council as Mentioned in Deuteronomy 32, Job 1 etc.

In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a thing was revealed unto Daniel, whose name was called Belshazzar; and the thing was true, but the time appointed was long: and he understood the thing, and had understanding of the vision. In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks. ... And, behold, an hand touched me (probably of the angel Gabriel who is a messenger angel mentioned elsewhere in Daniel 8:16 and 9:21), which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands. And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling. Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day thou thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. But the prince (Greek word archon or ruler in Septuagint Greek Old Testament) of the kingdom of Persia (probably the Genesis 10 Noah nation of Elam which was the main part of Persia including its capital city Susa or Shushan) withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes (leading ruler or leading archon in Greek in the Septuagint ancient Greek Old Testament in this case Michael, as one of the 70 sons of God in the heavenly council of God over the nations, was probably over the Genesis 10 Noah nation of Peleg the descendent of Shem from whom Abraham and the Israelites including Daniel were physically descended), came to help me; and I remained there with the (earthly) kings of Persia. Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days. ... Then said he (probably the holy angel Gabriel speaking then), Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee? and now will I return to fight with the (fallen angel or son of God) the prince of Persia: and when I am gone forth, lo, the prince of Grecia (fallen angel or son of God and member of the 70 numbered heavenly council probably of Javan in Genesis 10 Table of Nations corresponding to Greece) shall come. But I wil shew thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince (national guardian angel over Israel included in Peleg and part of the 70 numbered heavenly council of the sons of God in Deuteronomy 32). Daniel 10:1-2, 10-14, 20-21.

Scripture Reference from Ezekiel 38 of Gog With Emphasis on the Earthly Ruler (in Greek Archon in the Septuagint ancient Greek Old Testament Translation from the Hebrew Old Testament (Septuagint the word itself means 70 with the Jewish idea these translators were supposed to represent all the 70 Genesis 10 Noah nations of Earth) (Under 1 of the Corresponding in This Case Fallen Angels or Sons of God in the Heavenly Council as in Deuteronomy 32) With This Prince (Gog) Likely the Earthly One Over the Genesis 10 Noah Nation Magog Although He Was Also Over Meschech and Tubal With the Possibility That Both Some of the Earthly and Heavenly Leaders of the 70 Nations Could be Over Some of the Other 70 Earthly or Heavenly Leaders of the Nations all This Relating to the Last Days Invasion of Israel by Many Nations Led by Gog Leader of Magog (Russia) With Gog Possibly Current Russian President Vladimir Putin or a later Russian President

And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man (the prophet Ezekiel), set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him, And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal: And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shield, all of them handling swords: Persia (modern Iran), Ethiopia (Genesis 10 nation Cush)(including Sudan, Ethiopia and Somalia), and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet: Gomer (much of northern Europe), and all his bands; the house of Togarmah (Turkey) of the north quarters (north of Israel), and all his bands: and many people with thee. Be thou prepared, and prepare for thyself, thou, and all thy company that are assembled unto thee, and be thou a guard unto them. After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them. Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee. ... Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say unto Gog, Thus saith the Lord GOD; In that day when my people of Israel dwelleth safely, shalt thou not know it? And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army: And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen (or nations (goy in Hebrew and ethnos in Greek) may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes. Thus saith the Lord GOD; Art thou he of whom I have spoken in old time by my servants the prophets of Israel, which prophesied in those days many years that I would bring thee against them? And it shall come to pass at the same time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, that my fury shall come up in my face. For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel; So that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heavene, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep upon the earth, and all the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall shake at my presence, all the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places fal, and every wall shall fall to the ground. And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains, saith the Lord GOD: every man's sword shall be against his brother. And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations ( of the 70 from Noah goy(im) in Hebrew or ethnos in Greek nations from Noah and their human or angelic rulers), and they shall know that I am the LORD (Jehovah or Yahweh - the Divine Trinity Father, Son Jesus Christ and Holy Spirit but in relation to Israel I believe having the emphasis on God the Father). Ezekiel 38:1-9, 14-23

The Japheth Son of Noah Family Tree 14 of the 70 Nations (Goyim or Ethnos) Including for the Great Commission

The Shem Son of Noah Family Tree 26 of the 70 Nations (Goyim or Ethnos) Including for the Great Commission

The Ham Son of Noah Family Tree 30 or the 70 Nations (Goyim or Ethnos) Including for the Great Commission

Least Reached Noah Nations and Some Evangelical Christian Ministries Reaching Them

In the above table it can be seen that the least reached Noah nations as far as reaching all nations, including in the part by the Church in this current age, are Phut, the son of Ham the son of Noah in Libya and Sheleph the son of Joktan descended from Shem the son of Noah. Sheleph is located in Yemen and some of adjacent southern Saudi Arabia and western Oman in southern Arabia. The Christian satellite organization SAT-7 is reaching out with the gospel in Arabic to the people of Libya and other parts of North Africa. The Christian satellite organization SAT-7 is reaching out in Arabic and other languages in Saudi Arabia and Oman although it can't be received very well in Yemen now apparently. The Christian radio networks HCJC and IBRA have Arabic and other language Christian broadcasts that can be received well in Saudi Arabia and Oman and the Christian radio networks HCJB, IBRA and Trans World Radio (TWR) are received well in Arabic in Yemen. These Christian satellite or radio broadcasts are one way to reach some people of these unreached Noah nations in Libya, Yemen or other parts of Arabia and perhaps more directly complete the Great Commission of the Church and then bring about the rapture or catching up to heaven of the then complete Church from all 70 Noah nations to our heavenly homes in heaven by God's grace through His Son and our personal Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Similiar Terms in Revelation 5:9 of the Completed Church in Heaven and in Revelation 7 of the Great Multitude of People of the Nations (Gentiles) Saved in the Tribulation by the Witness of the 144,000 Jewish Witnesses for Jesus Then Similiar to Those Used in Genesis 10 and 11 for Nations, Tribes and Languages

I have a copy of the Bible in English and Greek with the Greek New Testament and the Greek Old Testament Septuagint in an edition called The Apostolic Bible Polyglot published by Apostolic Press. This bilingual Bible allows me or other people who have access to a copy to compare Bible verses in the Old and New Testament with the same Greek words (and that may or may not have the same English words). One area of comparison I recently looked into was to compare the words for nation (ethnos), tribe (phule), kindred (phule) or language or tongue (glossa) and people (laos). These Greek words for tribes, nations and languages are among other places used in both Revelation 5:9 and Revelation 7:9 and references in Genesis 10 and 11 for the descendents of the three sons of Noah Japheth, Ham and Shem. It is from Noah and his sons and their wivesm all people now on earth are descended and that covers all people who need to hear and respond to the gospel of Jesus Christ in this Church Age and in the following 7 year tribulation. The word laos is also used in terms of some of the nations or tribes mentioned in Genesis 10 or 11 such as the division of the Canaanites called the Hittites or sons of Heth in Genesis 23:7-13 or the people of the Philistines in Genesis 26:11 and Egypt or Mizraim in Isaiah 19:25 and Israel many times such as in Exodus 3:10, 5:1, 1 Chronicles 17:7 etc. Therefore I believe this provides further evidence that the nations and languages and tribes mentioned that need to have some people become Christians from both for the Church as mentioned in Revelation 5:9. I believe it is also from this basis for these terms for nations, tongues or language and tribe or kindred that is the basis for the people saved from those people who are left behind on earth in the 7 year tribulation or 70th week of Daniel after the rapture or taking up to heaven of the true Church. It is from Noah and his wife and their three sons and their wifes that survived the worldwide flood and judgment of God of people on earth for their serious sin in Noah's time that these basis for the terms language, nation and tribe that should be used by Christians or others today in reference to the Great Commission. These terms for nations, languages or tongues etc. of Genesis 10 and 11 should also be used by Christians and others to determine the progress to completion of the Great Commission that our Lord Jesus Christ gave to the Church to reach at least some people to saving knowledge of God through heart faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. This saving faith should be to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as one's personal Lord and Saviour who died for all our sins on the cross and rose from the dead to give us new life and restored relationship with our Creator including Father God. The scripture references from Revelation 5 and 7 that have references to nations, tongues or languages and tribes or kindred the same as in Genesis 10 and 11 and that can be used to support that the multitude saved from the people on earth that form the true Church or that form the multitude of people from all nations saved from people on Earth during the tribulation can have these terms based on the descendents of Noah and his sons mentioned in Genesis 10 and 11 is as follows:

Scripture Reference from Revelation 5 and 7 of Multitude of the Nations, Languages and Tribes of Earth Saved During the Current Church Age or In the Tribulation Respectively Can Be Based on Corresponding Terms With Same Greek (and English) Words in Genesis 10 and 11 of Noah and His Descendents

And when he had taken the book, the four beasts (living creatures) and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials (bowls) full of odours, which are the prayers os saints. And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. Revelation 5:8-10

And after this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. Revelation 7:9-12

The Lord Jesus Christ Commands His Disciples To Witness of Him Among All Nations Including Emphasizing Forgiveness and Repentance from Gospel of Luke 24

In this passage the Lord Jesus Christ starts by stating what he wants his people to witness about him, namely that it was necessary for Christ or Messiah to suffer including his death on the cross for our sins and to rise from the dead on the third day. The Bible makes clear Jesus rose from the dead in order to offer people who believe in Him God's new life as well as the assurance of eventual resurrection to life for us also. Christ Jesus' suffering or death for our sins and resurrection from the dead are the key parts of the gospel or message of salvation and life through Jesus that Jesus commissions each of his people to share with those who haven't yet trusted in Jesus and realized these blessings. Jesus further instructs that repentance or a change of attitude and mind from a mind and life centred on self and sin and this world to a mind and life that is humble and willing to yield to God and Jesus and His word - the Holy Bible and live for his world to come and depend on Jesus for salvation and strength for Christian service and on the Holy Spirit for Christian service. Jesus also urges his people to witness of Him that those still unsaved can have remission or forgiveness of sins through his name if they repent also in his name or trusting in His work of death for our sins and resurrection to give us new life. Jesus urges his people to witness or preach these things in all nations starting at Jerusalem which was actually the pattern the Church followed as recorded in the book of Acts of the Apostles. This instruction of Jesus could also be taken that he still wants the Jewish people to be a focus or reaching the world with his gospel message of forgiveness of sins through turning to him and trusting in his finished work of death or suffering on the cross for our sins and resurrection from the dead. Jesus said to the disciples that they were witnesses of all the things Jesus related to them after he rose from the dead as mentioned earlier in this chapter although all true or born again or born of the Holy Spirit have a witness in our heart of these things once we are born of and indwelt and counselled by the Holy Spirit. Finally Jesus tells His disciples he would then shortly send God's Holy Spirit from heaven to give them heavenly power although that was long ago and the Holy Spirit and His power are available immediatly now to anyone when they trust in Jesus and His death and resurrection and turn from selfishness and sin to God through Jesus. The scripture reference from Gospel of Luke 24 of the gospel message of Jesus' death and ressurection and remission of sins and repentance that is to be shared to the people of all nations starting at Jerusalem by all his people by the power of the Holy Spirit is as follows:

Scripture Reference from Gospel of Luke 24 of the Lord Jesus Christ Instructing His People to Witness by His Holy Spirit of Him and His Suffering and Ressurection and Forgivenss through Repentance

And (Jesus) said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved (was thought necessary for) Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry (wait) ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued (given and filled) with power from on high. Gospel of Luke 24:46-49

The Great Commission from the Lord Jesus Christ Ascending to Heaven and Some of His Angels According to Luke Around 30 or 32 AD from Acts 1

At the end of the 40 day post-resurrection ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ just before he ascended and returned to heaven his disciples asked him whether he would at that time restore again the kingdom to Israel. This is an important question and this question and Jesus' answer have caused much confusion in the Church and outside of it. The first thing to note is that unlike what some replacement theology Christians or others that believe that God or Jesus have no future for the Jewish people and God's promises and covenants to them Jesus did not criticize or rebuke the disciples for asking this question as he should have if this was an invalid question. Jesus simply said it wasn't for them to know the times and seasons that the Father has put in his own power or it wasn't for them to know the details of the time of Jesus' return with the kingdom of God. However it should also be kept in mind that this was before Pentecost and before the disciples received the Holy Spirit although just barely so. Soon after this as one of the first books of the New Testament God said through the apostle Paul in the book of 1 Thessalonians in perhaps AD 50 to 55 that the disciples or the Christians had no need that he write of the times and seasons and that they were not in darkness that that day come upon them as a thief or unexpectedly. This was in 1 Thessalonians 5 and here God through the apostle Paul was referring to the rapture or catching up of the Church or born again or true Christians to heaven. True Christians according to the Bible are those who have trusted in our heart that Jesus died for our sins and rose again from the dead to give us new life and has given us his Holy Spirit in our new birth. This rapture of the Church will precede by about 7 years the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ to the earth to the Mount of Olives to restore the Kingdom to Israel with these seven years being the time of the great tribulation of 70th week of Daniel in which the events of the Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24 to 25 and Revelation 6 to 18 will occur on earth and the true Christians all of them will then be in heaven but God will call out believers in Jesus and Himself separately from Jews and Gentiles like he did under the Law of MOses or Old Covenant (Testament) although it then wasn't known that Jesus would be the Messiah and as He also will in the Millennial or Messianic Kingdom following Jesus return to earth from heaven with his church to the Mount of Olives. Anyway for this age or the Church Age Jesus gives further details of the Great Commission to His Church. This is twofold one that the Christians or the true Church is to witness of Jesus and His death on the cross and resurrection from the dead as God's way of forgiveness and eternal life and bringing us into a relationship with God etc. from Jerusalem, then to Judaea, then to Samaria and then to the uttermost or most remote regions of the earth. This is also the order of the record of the Church's efforts in the Great Commission in the book of the Acts of the Apostles which was the apostles starting at Jerusalem and then to Judaea and Samaria and then to the uttermost parts of the earth with the latter starting with the conversion of Cornelius and his household in Acts 10 and 11. The other detail Jesus reveals about the Great Commission of the Church is that it wouldn't be done just by our own power but by God's power through His Holy Spirit who would indwell, empower and guide all true or born again or born of the Holy Spirit Christians. After Jesus gave these instructions of the Great Commission Luke reveals he was caught up by clouds to heaven. Jesus will come again in clouds when he returns to earth to set up His Kingdom with Israel although this shouldn't be confused of the rapture when he will come just to meet true Christians in the air and then take us to heaven that will precede the tribulation and that will have a meeting place with Jesus in the clouds or in the air not that Jesus will come all the way to earth in clouds as in the second coming. When the disciples were still looking up to heaven at the place where they had just seem him go up into heaven at his ascension two angels appeared probably in the sky to them that gave them the assurance that Jesus whom they had just see be taken up from the Mount of Olives on earth and be caught up to heaven with clouds would so come again in like manner. This is also prophesied in the prophet Zechariah chapter 14 and refers to Jesus' glorious appearing or second coming at the end of the tribulation to rescue his chosen earthly people Israel who will then be in siege by the unbelievers among the Gentiles or nations and to set up the thousand year kingdom for Israel. Jesus will then come from heaven with his church as prophesied in Revelation 19 which will already have been raptured or caught up to heaven just prior to the beginning of the seven year tribulation when God will allow the Antichrist or Beast out of the Sea to rule the world in an utmost demonic way for seven years and God will try the Jewish people to bring back a remnant to Himself and His Son and Messiah Jesus of Nazareth and judge the world and bring to Himself other people from all nations through the witness of the 144,000 Messianic Jewish witnesses. In the meantime after the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost which happened almost 2000 years ago and the rapture of the Church and end of the Church Age or Age of the Holy Spirit or of God's Grace on Earth a Primary Task of the Church is to Share the Gospel of Jesus Christ that he died on the cross for the sins of all people of the world and rose again from the dead to give us new life and that we have to with all our heart personally receive him as Lord and Saviour to have eternal life and a relationship and future blessed destiny with God and Jesus. The scripture reference of Jesus' return to heaven, giving the Great Commission to the Church and assurance of His coming again with the Church to set up His Kingdom where He will rule the world through Jerusalem and the Jewish people in Acts 1 is as follows:

Scripture Reference from Acts 1 of the Promise of the Lord Jesus Christ That He Would Come Again, His Ascension to Heaven and His Instruction to the Church to Evangelize the World Through the Church Age

When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. Acts 1:6-11

Unsaved People to Be Saved Through Hearing the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to the Ends of the Earth from Romans 10

God says through the apostle Paul that God has prepared his gospel in the mouths and hearts of people even before they believe or hear of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. This gospel unto salavtion in Jesus is to confess him (as personal Lord and Saviour) with our mouths and to believe that God has raised him from the dead (to give us new life and after he already paid for our sins on the cross) and that we should believe in Jesus not just with our heads but with our hearts as well. When we belive or trust in the Lord Jesus Christ we will not be ashamed before God or Jesus now or when we physically stand before him as we will have admitted we are sinners and trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ and His death and resurrection for God's forgiveness of all our sins and for sufficient righteousness in His sight. God says through Paul that this is the way of God's salvation on the same basis for Jew and Gentile (non-Jew) in this age and that God is able to save people that are willing to trust in Jesus of both backgrounds that call upon HIm (pray to God in Jesus' name to admit we are sinners and ask Jesus to be the saviour from all our sins and enter into a relationship with God.) Then Paul under divine inspiration goes through a series of points in his argument of getting the gospel message out for salvation of unsaved people including that people can't call on God if they haven't believed in Him (God the Father through His Son Jesus Christ) and that they can't believe in Him if they haven't heard and that they can't hear without a preacher of the gospel and that the preachers can't preach unless they are sent. Then Paul applies a scripture from the Old TEstament about preachers of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ bringing good news with if people understand it it certainly is as it only way to be right with God and have a relationship with Him starting in this life and lasting forever and to have a blessed eternity. God then says through Paul that not all people that have heard the gospel have responded positively. Although he most likely has some of the Jewish people of that day he shared the gospel with and weren't receptive in mind this saying would also apply to Gentiles (or non-Jews) that also weren't receptive to the gospel. Paul then says faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God which can be hearing a Christian preach the gospel but faith can also come by our own reading or studying God's word as happened personally for me. Paul then ties this preaching of the gospel with the Great Commission in saying that the gospel had been preached in much of the known world which for him and the early church was the Roman Empire but we now realize that there is still some work to do to reach the whole world or all the people of the Earth with the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ but that is still a main task of the church on Earth and when the Church reaches some people of each tribe, and language and nation God will send Jesus to take the Church to heaven at the rapture although I believe some more people of each tribe and nation and tongue will be reached after that in the tribulation including by the 144,000 Jewish witnesses for Jesus of Revelation 7 that are not present Christian missionaries as other things like the plagues mentioned in the surrounding chapters of Revelation or the revelation of the Antichrist haven't happened and not many Christian missionaries are Jewish or of the tribes of Israel. The scripture passage in Romans 10 of the content of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation, the way of preaching and salvation and the worldwide extent of the preaching of the gospel or good news of salvation through Jesus Christ is as follows:

Scripture Reference from Romans 10 of the Content, Means of Conveying and Worldwide Extent of the Preaching of the Good News of Jesus Christ Unto Salvation

But what saith it? The word is nigh (near) thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias (Isaiah) saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world. Romans 10:8-18

Persecution of the Church Under Saul of Tarsus (Later the Apostle Paul) Leads to Many Christians Fulfilling the Great Commission from Acts 8

The Apostle Paul who was Saul of Tarsus before he trusted in Jesus persecuted severely the church bringing many Christians to prison, women as well as men, probably with an intention to later put them to death. This scattered the church and the Christians went to many places preaching the word of God. Although God would prefer that Christians fulfil the Great Commission and preach the gospel throughout the world voluntarily or do more to support Christian who are doing that He can arrange persecution to fulfill His will of the Great Commission to preach the gospel to the ends of the Earth if necessary. The scripture reference from Acts 8 of Christians in the early Church being persecuted and compeled to preach the gospel is as follows:

Scripture Reference from Acts 8 of Early Persecution of Christians Compelling Them to Go Out and Preach the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ

AS for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison. Therefore, they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word. Acts 8:3-4

For more information, comments, questions or advice contact Doug at Contact Spirit and Truth Ministries