Hello;
Puritan Covenanter posted this article in another thread:
Of note is the part about there being 70 Nations... here (bolded below):
I, too, am convinced that rather than merely winning as many individuals to Christ as posible, that there is also an emphasis on winning as many people(s) (not the plural) to Christ. This is what is meant by panta ta ethne in the Great Commission.
So, would these 70 Nations be in Paul's mind perhaps as he writes Romans and as he goes out towards the Nations? And is it only 70, or are these 70 merely prototypical, since ethnographers count thousands of people groups and countries like Indonesia alone have over 127 distinct ethno-linguistic people-groups that are still lacking any real solid Gospel foothold.
Does anyone know what the Jewish understanding was concerning the number of nations that existed among the Gentiles?
And, is the Great Commission "fulfilled in miniature" at Acts 2, since many of the peoples named were also the same ethne as the table of nations listed after the account of Babel in Genesis?
Puritan Covenanter posted this article in another thread:
William Kilgore...
Realized Millenialism
2. Satan was "bound" during this time (Matt. 12:22-29; 13:24-30,47-50; Luke 10:17-19; John 12:31-32; Eph. 4:8; Col. 2:15; Heb. 2:14; 1 John 3:8) - implicitly foretold in Gen. 3:15. This is apocalyptically represented in Rev. 12:7-12 and 20:3. This is why Christ is so often presented as, quite literally, enlightenment for the entire world - i.e., all peoples/nations (John 1:9; 3:19; 6:14,33; 8:12; 9:5,39; 12:46; 14:31 - cf. Isa. 25:7 and 1 John 2:8). Before Christ's resurrection, Satan still had reign over the minds & hearts of the nations (Psalm 147:20; Matt. 4:8; Acts 14:16; 17:30; Eph. 2:11-12). Much of this influence was achieved through the widespread reality of idolatry (2 Kings 17:29; 1 Chron. 16:26; Ps. 96:5; Acts 19:27), which allowed the powers of darkness to enjoy great control over men's hearts (Lev. 17:7; Deut. 32:17; Ps. 106:37; 1 Cor. 10:19-20). This is the reason for the otherwise perplexing narratives of Matt. 10:5-6 and 15:22-28. Confusion reigned from Babel (Gen.11:9) to Pentecost (Acts 2:4-7) - but now God requires all to respond to Him. Although Satan does roam about on a long leash - "seeking whom he may devour" (1 Pe. 5:8) - he is restricted ("bound") during this present Gospel Age so that he is unable to "deceive the nations" (John 16:8-11; Acts 14:15-16; 17:30; Rev. 20:3) and the Gospel may progress (Matt. 24:14; 28:18-19; Mark 14:9; 16:15; John 4:35-38; 17:18-23; Rom. 16:25-26). I am convinced that by "nations" is meant "people groups" -- specifically 70 (as set forth in Genesis 10 and symbolized in Ex. 15:27; Num. 33:9; and Luke 10:1,17). The binding of Satan has opened all nations to the Gospel, thereby fulfilling the promise to Abraham (Gen. 12:3; 18:18; 22:18; 26:4; 28:14; Acts 3:25 - see esp. Gal. 3:8). This is the actual meaning of the "world" passages (John 1:29; 3:16-17; 4:42; 6:51; 12:47; 1 Jn. 2:2; 4:14). [3] God deals with "the world" - i.e., all peoples/ nations - through Jesus Christ. The situation of Matt. 4:8 has changed to that of Rev. 11:15. Now the Spirit convicts the world (John 16:18), and the Church is the "light of the world" (Phil'p. 2:15) - Satan is now "bound" so that we live the reality of John 4:4. The end result will be the beautiful scene revealed in Rev. 5:9 and 14:6 - the vast multi-ethnic One Body of Christ.
Of note is the part about there being 70 Nations... here (bolded below):
Although Satan does roam about on a long leash - "seeking whom he may devour" (1 Pe. 5:8) - he is restricted ("bound") during this present Gospel Age so that he is unable to "deceive the nations" (John 16:8-11; Acts 14:15-16; 17:30; Rev. 20:3) and the Gospel may progress (Matt. 24:14; 28:18-19; Mark 14:9; 16:15; John 4:35-38; 17:18-23; Rom. 16:25-26). I am convinced that by "nations" is meant "people groups" -- specifically 70 (as set forth in Genesis 10 and symbolized in Ex. 15:27; Num. 33:9; and Luke 10:1,17). The binding of Satan has opened all nations to the Gospel, thereby fulfilling the promise to Abraham (Gen. 12:3; 18:18; 22:18; 26:4; 28:14; Acts 3:25 - see esp. Gal. 3:8). This is the actual meaning of the "world" passages (John 1:29; 3:16-17; 4:42; 6:51; 12:47; 1 Jn. 2:2; 4:14). [3] God deals with "the world" - i.e., all peoples/ nations - through Jesus Christ.
I, too, am convinced that rather than merely winning as many individuals to Christ as posible, that there is also an emphasis on winning as many people(s) (not the plural) to Christ. This is what is meant by panta ta ethne in the Great Commission.
So, would these 70 Nations be in Paul's mind perhaps as he writes Romans and as he goes out towards the Nations? And is it only 70, or are these 70 merely prototypical, since ethnographers count thousands of people groups and countries like Indonesia alone have over 127 distinct ethno-linguistic people-groups that are still lacking any real solid Gospel foothold.
Does anyone know what the Jewish understanding was concerning the number of nations that existed among the Gentiles?
And, is the Great Commission "fulfilled in miniature" at Acts 2, since many of the peoples named were also the same ethne as the table of nations listed after the account of Babel in Genesis?