Abraham, Moses, Samuel, and David

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Is there evidence that the gospel was preached during the period following the Flood? In Genesis 12:3, God said to Abraham, “In you shall all families of the earth be blessed.” This is also referenced in Galatians 3:8, but phrased a little differently: “… in you [Abraham] shall all nations be blessed.” This same verse states that the gospel was “preached before unto Abraham.”

This is fascinating! Not only did Abraham have the gospel preached to him (almost certainly by Melchizedek—Christ), but it was also preached in Genesis, through Moses’ writings, about Abraham! Now consider. How could all nations be blessed unless Christ one day establishes His government on Earth?

While Moses was not a “preacher of righteousness” or an apostle, he was a prophet and a judge, and the first man God raised up to lead Israel. Perhaps you have never thought of Moses as one who preached the gospel. Yet, the Bible reveals that he did, to ancient Israel, when they were in the wilderness. We saw that Genesis 12:3 refers to the gospel, as does Numbers 24:17-19, and both were recorded by Moses.

Acts 3:22 plainly states Moses foretold that God would raise up Jesus Christ as a great Prophet (Deut. 18:15) to preach to the whole world (Acts 3:23) at His Return! Most are only familiar with Moses leading Israel out of Egypt, and are completely ignorant of how God used him in this way.

Hebrews 3:9 and 4:2 also demonstrate that Moses preached the gospel to ancient Israel. “For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them [ancient Israel]” (Heb. 4:2). These verses, with Acts 3:1-26, show that this included the period all the way up to—and through—Samuel!

Acts 3:24 references Samuel as also having preached the gospel. Notice: “Yes, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken [meaning everyone], have likewise foretold of these days [the Coming of Christ and God’s kingdom].” These are clear and powerful statements. They cannot be glossed over. Make yourself take a moment to reflect on what you have read. This verse declares, “ALL God’s prophets … as many as have spoken … foretold of these days.”

Finally, while virtually everyone knows David was a king, almost no one understands that he preached the kingdom of God. In Psalm 67:4, he wrote, “… for You [the Lord] shall judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth.” This statement is a plain reference to God’s coming government.

Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel

The prophet Isaiah made even more plain statements about God’s kingdom, about how it would appear and bring peace to all nations on Earth. He also made clear that God’s kingdom involves GOVERNMENT. Notice: “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and theGOVERNMENT shall be upon His shoulder: and His Name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His GOVERNMENT and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon HisKINGDOM, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever” (Isa. 9:6-7).

This prophecy is so obvious that it needs no further explanation!

The prophet Jeremiah foretold, “Behold, the days come, says the LORD, that I will raise unto David a Righteous Branch [Christ], and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In His days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is His Name whereby He shall be called, the Lord our Righteousness” (Jer. 23:5-6; also read Jer 23:7-8).

As with Isaiah, these verses need no further explanation. Jeremiah gives a plain description of events that could only be described as the period after God’s kingdom has come to Earth. So, he preached the gospel to the House of Judah.

The book of Ezekiel describes a time when God will gather His people from coming captivity. This is the period immediately after the Great Tribulation (Matt. 24:21-22)—the prophesied time of calamity on the modern descendants of ancient Israel. Now notice: “For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land” (Ezek. 36:24).

The next ten verses describe a period of rebuilding and prosperity that can only happen after Christ’s Return. Take time to read them.

Daniel wrote this: “And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a KINGDOM, which shall never be destroyed and the KINGDOM shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever” (Dan. 2:44).

Did this prophet preach the kingdom of God? The Bible answers yes—and we will see later that Daniel preached the gospel in many other places as well!

All the Minor Prophets

It can be shown that, in one way or another, all those often identified as the “minor prophets” preached the gospel of the kingdom of God. (Jonah is a possible exception.) Remember, the phrase “the gospel of the kingdom of God” is not the only way of describing the gospel! Genesis 12:3 and Galatians 3:8 have already shown this.

Review the following verses. In each case, you will find that they refer, directly or indirectly, to the kingdom of God: Hosea 2:16, 19; 3:5; Joel 2:21-27; Amos 9:11-15; Obad. 21; Mic. 4:1-3;Hab. 2:14; Zeph. 3:14-20; Zech. 14:1-3, 8-9; Mal. 3:1-3.

After reading these scriptures, it is obvious that Peter was right, and that “God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.… the restitution [restoration] of all things” (Acts 3:21), which can only occur with the coming of God’s government to Earth. It is crucial to make one final point. Acts 3:21 states, “God has spoken by the mouth of …” The gospel of the kingdom is a message from God.

It should be clear that it is GOD who speaks through whatever kind of servant He is using—prophet, patriarch, judge, deacon, preacher of righteousness, king, pastor, evangelist, or apostle! If a man was truly His servant, God always spoke this same message through him—“since the world began”!

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