It is time for Christians to acquire a loftier vision of God’s purposes than the unbelieving nations of the earth.  For too long we have held the same type of worldview as the Jews, the Muslims, and the other false religions, a worldview that cannot see beyond an eye for an eye and vengeance at any cost.  How else would you describe our almost universal opinion that God will throw all unbelievers into a hell of eternal torment?  Is God too small and weak that he cannot save the work of his hands?  Christian eschatology usually teaches that God will rapture his elect from the evils of this world and then annihilate whatever is left.  But, that is not what Scripture teaches.  Revelation shows us that the beast government which now rules the earth will be obliterated.  Then, combined with the book of Daniel and the final chapters of Revelation we see that individual nations continue in existence under the authority of God’s Kingdom.

But, these are not the only prophetic books that teach this theme.  Consider the words of the prophet Isaiah:

And it shall be for a sign and for a witness unto the LORD of hosts in the land of Egypt: for they shall cry unto the LORD because of the oppressors, and he shall send them a savior, and a mighty one, and he shall deliver them. And the LORD shall be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know the LORD in that day, and shall make sacrifice and offering; yea, they shall vow a vow unto the LORD, and perform it. And the LORD shall strike Egypt: he shall strike and heal it: and they shall return even to the LORD, and he shall be entreated by them, and shall heal them. In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians. In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land: Whom the LORD of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel my inheritance. (Isaiah 19:20-25 KJ2000)

Here we clearly see that a time will come when Egypt itself, a primary type of unbelieving nation, will cry out to the LORD because of their oppressors.  When they do, God promises them a savior, a mighty one.  Then he will deliver them and make himself known to Egypt.  Even more than that, he will cause the Assyrians to serve him alongside the Egyptians.  And, to top all of this off, he will restore the unbelieving Jews to faith in him and cause these three, who are now bitter enemies, to worship him together!  This prophecy speaks of the restoration of all things when the glory of God will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea.

So, let us not be anxious to see God’s enemies burn anguishly in Hell.  Let us pray that God will grant them faith and repentance so that they, too, may come into his Kingdom!