God’s Salvation Shall Reach All Nations and Peoples
In this end-time generation, the world has seen the appearance of false christs and false prophets leading people astray. Wars and turmoils increase; famines, plagues, and earthquakes occur in various places. Believers face persecution, the love of many grows cold, the gospel is preached throughout the world, and the world enters the Great Tribulation as signs appear in the heavens. We know that the Son of Man will ultimately return in glory.
1, Israel is the Starting Point of God’s Salvation
Isaiah 49:6
"He says: 'It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.'"
From this scripture, we see that God first chose the nation of Israel. God intended to bring light to all nations through Israel; therefore, Israel is the starting point of God’s salvation, not the destination.
2, One Must Obtain God’s Salvation Through Jesus
John 14:6
"Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'"
Acts 4:12
"And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
These verses clarify that man can only obtain salvation through Jesus. No man-made religion, culture, theology, or philosophy can help a person attain God’s salvation.
3, God Uses the Gentiles to Fulfill His Plan
Isaiah 44:28
"Who says of Cyrus, 'He is my shepherd, and he shall fulfill all my purpose'; saying of Jerusalem, 'She shall be built,' and of the temple, 'Your foundation shall be laid.'"
Isaiah 45:1–3
"Thus says the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped, to subdue nations before him and to loose the belts of kings, to open doors before him that gates may not be closed: 'I will go before you and level the exalted places, I will break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut through the bars of iron, I will give you the treasures of darkness and the hoards in secret places, that you may know that it is I, the Lord, the God of Israel, who call you by your name.'"
Ezra 1:1–4
"In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing: 'Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever is among you of all his people, may his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and rebuild the house of the Lord, the God of Israel—he is the God who is in Jerusalem. And let each survivor, in whatever place he sojourns, be assisted by the men of his place with silver and gold, with goods and with beasts, besides freewill offerings for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.'"
God uses Gentiles to fulfill His plans. Cyrus was the King of the Persian Empire. This prophecy was written approximately 150 years before his birth. God called a Gentile king His "anointed" (Messiah). Historically, Cyrus did indeed allow the Jews to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple.
4, Seek First the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness
Matthew 6:33
"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."
Daniel 2:44
"And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever."
1 John 2:22
"Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son."
Matthew 7:21
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who continually does the will of My Father who is in heaven.”
We ought to seek God’s kingdom and righteousness first and believe that Jesus is the Christ. Anyone who denies Jesus as the Christ is the antichrist. Only those who continually do the will of the Heavenly Father will enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
5, People of Three Hostile Nations Worshipping God Together
Isaiah 19:23–25
"In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and Assyria will come into Egypt, and Egypt into Assyria, and the Egyptians will worship with the Assyrians. In that day Israel will be the third with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth, whom the Lord of hosts has blessed, saying, 'Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel my heritage.'"
God’s salvation will reach the entire Middle East. Historically, Egypt enslaved Israel, and Assyria destroyed the Northern Kingdom of Israel (722 BC). These three powers were in long-term conflict. Yet, God says these hostile nations will one day worship Him together and bless one another. God calls them: "Egypt my people," "Assyria the work of my hands," and "Israel my heritage."
The territory of the ancient Assyrian Empire covers parts of modern-day Iraq, Syria, Northern Turkey, and Iran. Praise the Lord, for He is working in Iran; it is currently one of the fastest-growing regions for Christian faith in the world.
6, Love One Another and Love Your Neighbor as Yourself
Matthew 22:37–39
"And he said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'"
John 15:12
"This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you."
John 3:16
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."
We must love one another and our neighbors as ourselves according to God’s will, just as Jesus loved the world. Jesus showed His love by bearing the cross and giving His life, helping humanity know the truth, turn back to God, obey His will, walk in the light, and obtain eternal life. If Egypt, Assyria, and Israel all honor Jesus as the Christ, they can truly love one another, set aside national hostility, and worship God in unity.
7, Salvation to the Ends of the Earth: All Nations Worship God
Isaiah 49:6
"...I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth."
Isaiah 43:5
"Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you."
Revelation 16:12
"The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, to prepare the way for the kings from the east."
Revelation 7:9
"After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb..."
In the end times, people from every nation and tribe will gather to worship before God. His salvation will reach the ends of the earth, including all Asian nations. God is working in East Asia, which has become one of the fastest-growing regions for faith.
When all nations and peoples worship God with one heart, the ultimate plan of God’s salvation—as recorded in the Bible—will be complete.
