Every Nation Under Heaven?

Tony and I were talking today about some interesting Bible verses.

Here's one that nabbed my attention a while ago:

Acts 2: 5 "Now there were Jews living in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation under heaven."

What do you make of the statement, "devout men from every nation under heaven?"

Gives me the impression there were Jews in every nation and on this day, they were in Jerusalem.

Um...

Then Tony read this to me this morinng:

Colossians 1: 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."

Paul is saying the Gospel WAS proclaimed in a creation. The New King James says "to every creature."

Fascinating, uh? We don't proclaim to have answers to this, but it draws us deeper to ask God, what is it you are wanting from us 2000 years since Acts and Colossians were written?

If the Gospel was preached, then why didn't Jesus return?

Maybe it's about something even greater, something deeper, maybe about establishing God's Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.

I don't know. Do we continue to preach the Gospel? Absolutely! But is also about raising the dead, seeing blind eyes open, the deaf hearing, the lame walking, and demons fleeing?

Yeah, I think so. Am I walking in those things? Sadly, no, though I pray for healing and freedom.

Paul writes in Ephesians 1 that God has a plan. He has kind intentions with a view to administration. Here, read this:

verse 9 "... according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him."

verse 10 "...with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth."

There is a fullness of time coming. He's in complete control. Not like a control freak, but like one who knows what He's doing. "Got it under control."

I can't wait to see what He has planned for us. Though, the End of the Age may not be a fun ride . . . the Glory to be revealed will blow us away.

Look, we're not leaving earth, (sorry Left Behind books) He's coming! To establish His Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.

Be ready. Watchful and waiting. Be in prayer. We don't want to be offended when God draws in the prodigals or judgement comes. Some judgements are good, now. Like healing is the judgement against sickness. Right? V. cool.

Righteousness is the judgement against lawlessness and sin.

Be advised, He will judge the earth. Scriputre is clear. Rain will fall on the just and the unjust alike.

But we know Him. We are safe with Him. We will reign with Him. Don't grow weary.