Christians are commissioned to convert the “nations” — whole cultures and whole people groups — as well as individuals.
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matthew 28:18-20)
The Gospel to all nations was true even in the time of the Old Testament. God’s concern was that covenantal heads of nations would repent. That the kings of the earth would serve the King of kings.
There is good evidence that some of the pagan rulers of nations who conquered Judah/Judea later repented and submitted to Christ as King.
Nebuchadnezzar would be the main example of that in Daniel 4. It’s interesting too that the ancient historical records show that this time was a so-called “quiet period” in Babylonian history. Cyrus the Great is called God’s “Messiah” and “Servant” in Scripture. Artaxerxes the Great gave a decree and letters to rebuild the city of Jerusalem. And he calls the Temple, the “House of God.” If you believe the historical account of Josephus, Alexander the Great made a sacrifice to Jehovah in the Jewish temple. He died a short time later after being struck by a sickness. If you believe the historical account of 1 Maccabees, even Antiochus Epiphanes, who desecrated the temple at least twice, repented after being struck by God with a sickness.
Also according to Josephus, Julius Caesar was rescued by a force from the Jews and Idumeans at the Battle of the Nile. In gratitude for saving his life, Caesar stopped at Jerusalem to pay tribute to the Jews, and gave money in the form of a permanent tax break to refurbish the Temple and rebuild the walls that Pompey had torn down. This was later accomplished under Herod the Great whom Julius Caesar had appointed as one of the governors of the region. Providentially, Augustus Caesar issued a decree that all the nations of the Roman world should be counted in a census for his silver jubilee celebration. This led to the fulfillment of a prophecy that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem. Nero heard Paul preach, but was not converted, but many members of his household were, including one of his former mistresses named Acte, who gave support to the church at Rome after Nero’s death. Domitian’s niece Flavia Domitilla was exiled to the island of Ponta for converting to Christ and later supported the church at Rome.
The overarching message of Daniel is that Jesus the Messiah is even now ruling over the nations. He is the King of kings. Daniel tells us that Messiah’s kingdom will advance in the whole world from “generation to generation” (Daniel 4:4,34). Christ’s dominion is “given to the people of the saints of the most High” (Daniel 7:22). Our purpose then is to see “all people, nations, and languages … serve and obey him” (Daniel 7:14,27).
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