Patriotic Prophets (3) Nations

God promised Abraham that he would make him a great nation (Gen 12:2). He did not promise him that he would become a great nation-state. There is a big difference.

The Hebrew word for nation is "goy". It refers to a great horde of people.It is the word also used to describe the gentiles.

God was promising Abraham that his descendants would be come and enormous people. He was not saying that they would be a great nation state with a powerful government.

When the New Testament speaks about nations, the Greek word is “ethne”. It does not refer to a nation-state, but a tribal or ethnic grouping. We should remember this when we are prophesying or reading the prophecies of Revelation.