Journal

Countries of the World! Every nation, every country! The following list includes every sovereign nation, island group, and territory where the twelve foot cross has been carried by Arthur Blessitt since 1969. On foot around the world, on all seven continents.  The list totals 313!

What is a nation? Wars have been and are fought over this very subject. Is the United Kingdom (U.K) one nation? Are England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland countries which make up the U.K. separate nations? What about  U.S. territories like Puerto Rico, Western Samoa, Guam, etc., are they nations? Hawaii is a U.S. state, but is  thousands of miles from the mainland, and was historically a nation in its own right.

The U.S. government recognizes 252 nations and territories. Web site at: http://www.state.gov/www/regions/independent_states.html. Guinness Book of Records recognizes 252 nations and territories, (but not the same ones.) The United Nations recognizes 193 nations and 4 territories. http://www.un.org/Overview/missions.htm#perm. Traveler Century Club lists 313 counties, territories, and island groups, including 9 in the Antarctica zones. Their list is used in the Guinness Book of Records. The Dxcc (short wave radio) list 331 countries. http://www.425dxn.org/dxcc/dxccmain.html. I quote the Traveler Century Club publication: "Although some are not actually countries in their own right, they have been included because they are removed from parent countries, either geographically, politically or ethnologically." I have counted nations, territories and island groups from all the lists plus the smallest nation, "The Sovereign Knights of Malta".

Nations such as East Germany that were recognized when I carried the cross there, but later were incorporated into another country are counted. There are several of these.

"This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then shall the end come." Matthew 24:14 "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." Mark 16:15 "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:8

To have actually carried the cross in all the countries is so profound and awesome that it is almost too much to comprehend. Jesus did it! All glory to God. Whatever nation you go to from now on, the cross has been there before you!