What part of the Word, "glosses" Don't You Understand?

I find myself reacting today to a headline that appeared recently in a newsletter that I receive. The headline reads "How Close Are We?"  The meaning being; how close is the Lord's return. The idea brought forth in the article implies that the Lord could just as easily show up in the next five minutes as in any other time in history. If you have read some of my previous posts, including "So What Do I Think?" (October 24, 2013), you know where I stand on this issue.   

In one of our Bible studies recently this issue also came up. One of the other participants said it; that awful,  misguided, misplaced and Biblically indefensible statement of belief, and I cringed. I hope I didn't do it visibly. I figuratively bit my lip, and kept back  any response in the name of politeness. She said something to the effect that she would be delighted if the Lord came back "today".

So would I, my friend. The problem is;  that just isn't going to happen. No one looks more forward to Christ's return than I do. Anyone who has heard my sermon on this subject knows where I am going on this (see, "My Sermon on the Web" 28 August, 2013). The Lord Jesus is not coming for at least a few years. How do I know? "The Bible tells me so."

It is true that ". . . concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even . . . the Son, but the Father only." (Matthew 24: 36 ESV) but a closer look at that entire passage of scripture, commonly known as Jesus' Olivet Discourse gives us an entirely different perspective. In fact, verse 14 reads:

                "And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come."

We don't know when He is coming, but we do know when He is not coming.

Many who believe in the "any minute" return have found various ways to dance around this scriptural obstacle. Obviously we are in need of further clarification.

Fortunately, God Himself gives us His clarification regarding who and what constituted "all nations".

In Revelation 5:9 we read:

"      . . . Worthy are you to take the scroll and open its seals for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation." (ESV; underlining added)

The Greek word, glosses, translated above as  "language" seems not to be able to mean anything but precisely that: a language. We can explain away the other terms if we like, but this one is quite specific, and I believe that God means what He said.

In my experience, I have heard some folks try to explain away the term "language" as well. Some have said that God didn't mean that every language group would be reached and that this is merely a literary device. Really? Is that all we think of the accuracy of God's Word? Not me brother!

Others have tried to say that this refers to only those languages known within the world of the Roman Empire at that time. Again, really? There is no question that many other language groups existed at the time including in other regions such as the Americas, and Asia. These areas were well populated at the time that this was scripture passage was originally uttered. Are we willing to say that God, who obviously knew that these people existed, didn't care enough about them to include them when He made this statement?

Others have tried to say that this refers only to those nations that have been recognized throughout history, or are currently recognized by the United Nations. Does God have an obligation to recognize only those nations whose existence is recognized by man?

The newest excuse I have heard goes something like: "well, it's been 2000 years, certainly we've reached them all by now!" But the truth is, we haven't!

I am going to use as my authority at this point the Wycliffe organization, whose mission is to reach every language group on earth. There are in fact others who are about this same mission as well, but Wycliffe is the most prominent group involved at this time.

According to Wycliffe, there are currently over 1900 languages that  do not have the Bible or a portion thereof in their native language (down from over 2000 just a few years ago). Information on their website gave the following statistics:

In Africa, there are more than 800 unreached languages. 700 are in Nigeria and French speaking areas.

In the Americas there are about 150.

In Asia, there are 520 in Indonesia alone.

In Europe there has been an influx of displaced persons from many other areas of the world, adding to both the number on that continent, and to the increased opportunity to reach them.

The Pacific rim is home to 1300 unreached languages. New Guinea alone has about 460.

(www.wycliffe.org)

At this point, let me add a bit of a disclaimer. Many people included in the above numbers obviously speak more than one language, including, probably, some of the languages that have already been reached.

The Bible does not say that all languages need to have a Bible translation, only that at least one person in that language group will be redeemed.

Having said that and allowing all the above to be true, there are probably no fewer that several hundred language groups that still need to be reached. Wycliffe has set the goal of reaching all the unreached languages by 2050, and believes that they are on track to reach this goal.

I am not necessarily trying to drum up support for the efforts of Wycliffe, though I think that this would be a worthy thing to do. I am simply trying to point out that before the Lord returns, we need to get serious about fulfilling this "every tribe and language and people and nation" mission for which He has put us here. Most missionary organizations, if you are to believe their literature, are not trying to reach every tribe and language and people and nation, but are simply holding in place and expanding in the areas they have already reached.

Jesus reminded us: "I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also" (John 10:16. ESV)

If we wish to hasten His return we need to be diligent in our mission to reach every tribe and language and people and nation. While it is true that He may not return until some indefinite time after all tribes languages people and nations are reached,  we can be sure that He will not return until after this mission is complete.

Thanks for sharing this moment with me today.