The Great Commission has never been fully carried out. The Lord Jesus directed us to go to every nation and make disciples, teaching them to keep Christ's commandments. Instead we have gone to every nation and built churches, telling the converts they are saved by grace and are not obligated to keep Christ's commandments.

We have baptized people into the churches instead of into the Kingdom of God. In many instances we have created a special religious kingdom, an ecclesiastical culture, instead of disciples and witnesses.

Enough power will be given to the Lord's witnesses of the last days to bring destruction on the nation that refuses to do the Lord's will. This will be the first time in the history of the world that the fullness of authority given to the Lord Jesus by the Father is transferred to the saints so they can, by striking the earth with plagues as often as they will, compel the nations to allow the Divine testimony to be borne.

We have understood from the Old Testament that Christ will compel obedience when He comes. We may not have realized, however, that a foretaste of Kingdom power will be experienced by the nations prior to the King's return.

It has become fashionable among some nations of our day to say that the government must not attempt to control the moral behavior of its citizens. The truth is, the main business of government is to prevent sin by making it illegal. Any government that permits sin to go unpunished will soon be removed by the Lord. The purpose of government is to require that every citizen live in a godly manner.

For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. (Romans 13:3,4)

"A revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil." "That doeth evil"!

God's rulers are a terror to evil works—evil works as defined by the Scriptures.

When Jesus returns, the laws of God will go forth from Jerusalem to all the world. Every human being will be forced to obey God. The nations that resist the Lord will be crushed with the rod of iron. The two witnesses will testify of the coming Kingdom, and will illustrate the nature of the Kingdom by insisting on righteous behavior.

No doubt the heads of the nations and the religious leaders will resist the witnesses viciously. But the common people will hear with gladness, repenting and being baptized according to God's commandment.

This massive, earth-wide revival will occur before the Lord's return in glory. We think most of the people on earth will become Christians, at least in name.

To be continued.