About Jesus  -  Steve Sweetman

Does All Mean All?
'the last world war'   

I understand that not every time you read the word "all" in the Bible it actually means "all."  Maybe you have never thought about it, but like all words, the word "all" needs to be understood in its Biblical context. 

Revelation 13:8, for example, says that all inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast.  If you stop reading there you will think that everyone in the world will worship the beast.  That's not the case.  The word "all" is modified by the next phrase.  It says that all of those whose names were not written in the book of life will worship the beast.  Contextually speaking, the word "all" in the first part of Revelation 13:8 doesn't mean all. 

1 John 2:27 says that the anointing of the Holy Spirit will teach us "all things."  Does "all things" mean "all things" here?  Will the Holy Spirit teach you how to build a nuclear bomb?  Will the Holy Spirit teach you how to cheat on your income tax form?  Will He teach a Christian university student mathematical principles in the process of learning software development?  I think it's obvious.  In 1 John 2:27 "all things" doesn't mean "all things."  In context, all things refer to things the Holy Spirit teaches that enables us to distinguish between true and false doctrine.    

All of the above being said, if there is no contextual reason not to assume that "all" means "all" I believe we can safely conclude that "all" does mean "all."  Joel 3:2 is an example.  Joel says that God will gather "all nations" of the earth into the Valley of Jehoshaphat.  There, He will put all nations on trial for what they have done to His inheritance and His people Israel.  He then warns all nations to prepare for war.  Some Christians do not believe "all" means "all" in this verse.  They say that some nations, like America, are excluded from all these nations.  I think differently.   

This passage clearly states that all nations "of the earth" will find their way to the Valley of Jehoshaphat.  When the text says "all nations of the earth," I suggest it means all nations of the earth, none excluded.             

I believe Zechariah 12:3 speaks to the same event as seen in Joel 3:2.  Zechariah predicted the day when "all the nations of the earth" (same wording as Joel 3:2) will mount an attack against Jerusalem, which is just south of the Valley of Jehoshaphat mentioned in Joel 3:2.  When I connect Joel with Zechariah I think I can conclude that all nations, none excluded, will find their way to Israel to fight which I believe is the last great war of this age.

My point is simple.  If there ever was a world war, Zechariah and Joel predicted it.  All nations of the earth, including Canada, America, and every other western nation, will mount an attack on Israel, and, as seen in Revelation and Psalm 2, all nations will know they are fighting God and His Anointed One, the Lord Jesus Christ.