God of All Nations: The End Without End Is Theocracy

Preface

Foreword

Introduction

Chapter 1 Caesar or Christ
Caution for Politicians and Church Leaders

Chapter 2 The Modern World Powers
The Development of Modern World Powers
The New Israel

Chapter 3 Israel—A Blessing for All Nations or a Bone on the Throat of the World?
Jewish Contributions
Vision
The Suffering of the Jewish People
The Nordic Myth
We Are Engrafted Branches on the Tree of Israel

Chapter 4 The Kingdom of God
Personal and Global Peace
Justice in the Kingdom of God

Chapter 5 Mission Is the Beginning of the End
The Question of Authority
All Nations
Reconciliation
The Holy Spirit

Conclusion

Bibliography

In his book, God of All Nations: The End Without End is Theocracy, it appears that God has positioned the author, Alemayehu Mekonnen, as a modern-day “Watchman” to report to the readers what he sees from the four corners of his observation post: (1) looking at the past to learn from history; (2) looking at the present situations to assess human conditions; (3) looking toward the future based on the past and present, to prophesy about eschatological possibilities; and (4) looking upward for spiritual discernment.

This book does not seek to answer complicated questions. Still, it contains wisdom and astute analysis of the past and present for readers to draw theological and sociological conceptualizations of what has happened, is happening, and things to come. Pastors, theological educators/students, as well as avid readers of history, biblical literature, and mission workers, will find Dr. Mekonnen’s book a must-read.
Leroy Gilbert

Alemayehu Mekonnen is a serious researcher who combines the insights from his Ethiopian heritage with his observations of the American political and religious situation in a very compelling treatise. His most recent book, God of All Nations: The End Without End is Theocracy is in the same vein as his former work on the colonial effects of America and China on the African continent. But in this volume, Alemayehu moves on to present a theological treatise couched in historical and sociological insights regarding the effects of powerful nations on Israel and the church through the ages. In recounting many of the evils imposed on nations of less power by the powerful, he brings to light many relatively unknown facts and events which serve to imprint on the reader the urgency of his call to action: “The primary purpose of writing this book is to awaken many readers to rethink and examine the nature of man and the fabrics of our history, to pursue the kingdom of God, and challenge them to live and lead their life with eschatological fervor and hope.” A well-documented treatise (over 500 direct quotes), this is a powerful curation of the most respected authors regarding the relation between politics, religion and the Kingdom of God. I would highly recommend this book, agreeing heartily with his final conclusion: “The end without end is not democracy, capitalism, or socialism. It will be a theocracy—a perfect system for all humankind.
Dr. Les Hirst
Adjunct Professor
Academic Coordinator, PhD Program
Bakke Graduate University

Professor Mekonnen in his book God of All Nations: The End Without End is Theocracy inspiringly and painstakingly explores some fundamental paradigms that characterize our contemporary society from historical, theological, and missiological perspectives. First, he candidly and tactfully explores the state of affairs—the injustices, the socioeconomic, religious, and political upheavals that have spelled doom to human existence in the society. Second, he points to the failures of Christians in demonstrating and reflecting the values of authentic Christianity through their constructive engagement and wholistic contributions to God’s mission in not only meeting the spiritual and material needs of the people but also addressing the unending ill-treatments such as racism, marginalization, and religious intolerance. His focus on the God of righteousness and justice, offers hope to the world. It is also the basis upon which the Christian community should have a serious introspective and step up as a conduit of God’s transforming mission to the world. This is a very remarkable piece of writing that I highly recommend. It leaves no doubt that God is indeed the God of all nations whose redemptive mission through the Holy Spirit will never be thwarted.
Dr. Lawrence Oseje
Senior Lecturer, Theology & Biblical Studies Department in Kabarak University (Kenya)

Politico-economic systems like democracy, capitalism, and socialism are impermanent and partial attempts to maintain order in a corrupt world. In this insightful and well-researched book, Alemayehu Mekonnen suggests that the path forward rests in looking beyond to the “God of all nations,” a theocratically conceived paradigm for a global church. As an Ethiopian immigrant, Mekonnen writes as having lived in contexts on both ends of the political (and economic) spectrum. His journey from a totalitarian, and one of the least developed nations, to democratic America, one of the most affluent, affords keen perspective into the multiculturalism shaping Christian missions today. Acknowledging the twentieth-century shift of Christianity from Europe to the Majority World, this book exposes the shortsightedness of a unidirectional (“West to the rest”) missiology, proposing the strength of a multidirectional approach for meeting the needs of the contemporary global church.
Paul J. Palma
Adjunct Professor, Regent University School of Divinity, author of Embracing Our Roots: Rediscovering the Value of Faith, Family, and Tradition