The Gospel Shall Be Preached to All People
By H. R. Johnson
“And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come,” said Christ. When the apostle John was shown in vision the finishing up of the mystery of God in the earth, he saw the message go “to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people.” God has ever had in mind the proclamation of his eternal truth to all people. When the humble men of Galilee were filled with the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, they spoke in at least eighteen different tongues, “as the Spirit gave them utterance.” This wonderful demonstration by the Spirit filled those present on that memorable occasion with astonishment. They said one to another, “What meaneth this?” When Peter heard some mocking this working of God’s Spirit, he rose up to show that the Spirit-filled linguists were not drunken, as was supposed. “This is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel,” he exclaimed. Of course, the Spirit of promise would do many other wonderful things, but causing men to speak with other tongues was the all-important question with the people just then. The prophet Joel declares: “And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: and on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy.” Acts 2:17-21. “But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.” 1 Cor. 14:3. Joel’s prophecy spans the whole new dispensation. It takes in the time known as “the time of the latter rain.” In this time there will be another powerful manifestation of God’s Spirit. The gospel of the kingdom shall then be preached in all the world; for God by his Spirit will cause it to go to “every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people.” God will never forget the promise which he has made, that the gospel shall go to every tongue. To Abraham he said, “In thee shall all nations be blessed.” We have two striking incidents on record which prove that God is ever mindful of this promise. The first is recorded in Acts 2. On the day of Pentecost the disciples preached the word to representatives “of every nation under heaven.” The Holy Spirit assisted them in doing this work. The second incident was seen in the great advent movement prior to 1844. History gives us every reason to believe that the message of the first angel went to all peoples of the world. By his Spirit, God declared through the apostle John that it should be so. See Rev. 14:6. There is one very interesting fact in connection with the preaching of the gospel of Christ by the first angel, which shows God’s care in getting the truth before all nations. Satan had been scheming to keep the gospel of salvation out of Sweden, as out of other nations. The law of the state forbade all preaching that was considered dangerous to the state church, or that would cause division in it. “The preaching of the first message in Sweden excited much opposition.” Through arrests and imprisonments the work was largely hindered in its progress. Then God moved upon several children to give the message. “Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come,” was spoken with a power, dignity, and boldness that clearly demonstrated that God was in the movement. God will also carry the last warning message to all the world; and we may be his co-workers. The third angel’s message began to be preached in the United States, where nearly every nation under heaven is represented. This was, no doubt, God’s planning. Those of these representatives who receive the truth, will, in turn, communicate it to others, especially to their own nationality, and to the countries they represent. This is as it should be. They are debtors to do this; and woe be to them if they do not communicate the intrusted gospel message. All believers in Christ are placed in a solemn, responsible position. Being led by the Spirit of God, which takes all nations into account, that it may minister grace unto all, we shall consider our calling, and plan to discharge our duty faithfully. The Spirit will move upon each one to perform that work which he is best qualified to do, and in which he can best glorify his Maker. No one has a right to choose that field or that work which may best please his fancy. Paul was called to work for a people and in places of God’s choosing. Paul submitted. Peter had a similar experience. At this time, when the message is going to all nations, what is the duty10of every foreign-speaking missionary worker? Does this question need a reply?—It would seem not. But it is nevertheless a fact that many of the foreign-born people find it quite difficult to speak their native tongue. Some do not speak nor read it at all. Then there are also some who were born in foreign countries, and once spoke their native language fluently, but who now find it difficult to speak their mother tongue. This barrier seems to hinder many from taking hold of the work as they ought. An excuse on that score will not be accepted by God, I believe. When God called Moses to deliver Israel, he pleaded this point as an excuse for not going. He said, “O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.” “He had been so long away from the Egyptians that he had not so clear knowledge and ready use of their language as when he was among them.”—“Patriarchs and Prophets,” page 254. The Lord assured Moses of divine aid: “Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.” When God calls to the work, every excuse falls to the ground; for who dares to say that God cannot work in and through whomsoever he calls? Balaam tried to curse Israel; but he could not, for God put a word of blessing for his people into Balaam’s mouth. The disciples spoke in different tongues on the day of Pentecost, as the Spirit gave them utterance. The untrained child-preachers in the advent movement spoke with power and wisdom. Does not the promise in Joel’s prophecy still hold good? The time of the latter rain is upon us. Will the Spirit not aid in proclaiming the last warning message in every tongue? God can do wonders through consecrated souls. The Spirit can call to our remembrance expressions in language that may have been forgotten, as well as remind us of the word of truth. It must be the duty of every conference and every church, especially of officers, to encourage every foreign-born missionary worker to labor for his own people as far as it is consistent. None of these foreign-speaking workers ought to be burdened with work that would hinder them from devoting as much of their time as possible to labor for their own people. Can it be in keeping with the Spirit of God to do otherwise? If we are led by the Spirit of God, shall we not work in God’s lines? Think on these things. “But,” says some one, “is there a demand for foreign workers in this country? Do not the majority of the foreigners speak the English language?”—Yes, a majority, perhaps, can speak the English language quite well. Many will say that they can speak it well, when the facts are they speak it very poorly. Many foreigners can speak and understand the daily, common conversation quite well; but when it comes to an understanding of the preaching of the word, they do not get the sense of it as they would if it were spoken in their own tongue. This I know to be true. Being a Scandinavian myself, I speak from observation and experience. But what about the hundreds of thousands who do not speak the English tongue at all? Who will bring the last message of mercy to them? May God help us to study the story of Pentecost day, and more fully to believe the sermon of Peter, based on Joel’s prophecy. When the Spirit of God shall be poured out as on the day of Pentecost, there will be tongues loosed to speak, as the pen of a ready writer, the wonderful things of salvation. Then the gospel will be preached to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people.