The destiny of the nations

1. The destiny of the nations The Nations Called Pieter Bos ISBN 1-85240-307-1

2. The destiny of the nations • Study of Biblical terminology: • Humans and nations have both individual and corporate identity • Terms used interchangeably • tribe / people / nation • Proposal: Three creational networks • Tribe  kinship network • People  cultural network • Nation  governmental network

3. God and the nations • The nations fit into God’s plan, Psalm 67 • God + Abraham + Descendants + Land + Time  Nation, Gen 12: 2-3, 7; 17: 8 • God created the nations, Psalm 86: 9 • Each nation has own inheritance, Deut 32: 8 • Each nation has own location / history, Acts 17: 27 • God covenants with nations, Zech 11: 10 • Nations in new heaven / earth, Rev 21: 3, 24-26 • God wants to covenant with your nation, Psalm 96: 7-10

4. The OT prophets and the nations • 135 specific prophecies about nations • 29 countries • 19 other regions of the world • Covering whole world

5. The nations in the New Testament • NT vision for the nations: • Disciple all nations, Matt 28:19 • Preach to all nations, Luke 24: 47 • Nations under Satan, Luke 4: 5-7 • Prince of this world, John 14: 30 • BUT: after Jesus’ victory: Matt 28: 18 • Church to prophecy to nations, Rev 10: 11

6. The dynamics of history History revolves around the reaching of nations / peoples for God’s purposes Gen 12: 2-3 / Jeremiah 1: 5, 10 Jeremiah 28: 8 /Matthew 28: 18-20

7. Jesus and the nations • Jesus rules the nations, Psalm 2 • Nations conspire against Him • Nations will be His inheritance • Your nation: conspirator or inheritance? • Jesus will judge nations, Matt 25: 31-33 • Your nation: goat or sheep nation? • Jesus is King of kings and Lord of Lords, Revelation 19: 16 • Your nation: rebellious or obedient? • Will your nation covenant with God?

8. Satan’s strategy against your nation • Deception  (un) conscious evil covenants • Sin / idolatry / occultism / child sacrifices / secret societies • Misuse of painful historical elements • Not dealt with: pain / anger / guilt / injustice • Control by unbiblical thinking (mental strongholds) • Education / media / traditions • Pre-occupation with suffering • War / famine / epidemics / poverty / disasters • Distraction by welfare • Riches / apathy / self-centredness / compromise / lukewarmness

9. Help your nation fulfil its destiny • Study the spiritual history of your nation • Its strengths / weaknesses / sin • Its history in God’s perspective • Its corporate identity • Its divine purpose • Intercession on the basis of findings • Go for Repentance, Renewal, Transformation • Encourage leaders to covenant with God on behalf of the nation

10. Transformation • First: Repentance and Renewal • Then: Fundamentally re-think and transform all areas of life in the light of Scripture under the guidance of the Holy Spirit • Example: not healthcare education with Christian sauce over it, but education transformed by up-to-date application of the Word of God to the field of healthcare • Same must be done for education, economics, media, politics, literature, mathematics, philosophy, etc.

11. Transformation – how? • Read Bible through glasses of calling and profession • Get rid of the sacred-secular split • Jesus as Lord over every area of your life • In tribe, people, nation, profession, church • Network for: • Development of national corporate identity • Fulfilment of God-given national purpose • DAWN; SCP; Intercessory movement; Evangelical platforms • Influencing political leaders to covenant with God

12. Question • Will you help bring your nation to its destiny?