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The optimistic view that the Gospel had already been preached throughout the world can also be found among the early Church fathers. During the time of Christ and the early Church the whole world meant largely the Roman Empire, and 'all nations' meant simply those nations under the rule of Rome. In part, how one interprets Jesus' prophecy depends on how one views the extent of the world. (57:1) With the spread of missionaries throughout the world during the early nineteenth century, some saw the 'world' in a broader sense and began to argue that the fulfilment of Jesus' prophecy was in sight. W.A. Spicer writes: In 1804 the British and Foreign Bible Society was organized. Students of the prophetic word felt at the time that these agencies were coming in fulfilment of prophecy. (Our Day in the Light of Prophecy 308) To support this view, Spicer quotes several Christian writers, among whom is G.S. Faber: The stupendous endeavours of one gigantic community to convey the Scriptures in every language to every part of the globe may well deserve to be considered as an eminent sign even of these eventful times. Unless I be much mistaken, such endeavours are preparatory to the final grand diffusion of Christianity, which is the theme of so many inspired prophets, and which cannot be very far distant in the present day. (Dissertation on the Prophecies, vol. II, 406, written in 1844) However, it is hard to tell how widespread this view was. As previously mentioned, in nineteenth-century missionary literature, the Matthew 24:14 prophecy does not appear to have been a dominant concern; but the existence of this view seems undeniable. Grattan Guinness (1835-1910), who founded the East London Institute for training missionaries, wrote:
(57:2)
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