Abraham, Moses and Samuel
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Next, we ask: Was the gospel of the kingdom preached in the centuries following the Flood by those who would have succeeded Noah? If so, what biblical evidence exists?
Notice what God told the patriarch Abraham: “In you shall all families of the earth be blessed” (Gen. 12:3). This same promise is referenced in Galatians 3:8, but phrased a little differently there: “In you shall all nations be blessed,” stating also there that the “gospel” was “preached before…unto Abraham.”
This is fascinating knowledge! Not only did Abraham hear of the kingdom of God (from Christ, Melchizedek), but it is also preached in Genesis through Moses’ writings!
Moses was neither a “preacher of righteousness” nor an apostle. This first leader of ancient Israel was also a prophet and a judge. Have you previously thought of Moses as expounding the gospel? The Bible says that he did—to ancient Israel in the wilderness. Genesis records it, as does Numbers 24:17-19, also recorded by Moses. Acts 3:22 also shows that Moses foretold that God would later raise up Jesus Christ to be the greatest Prophet of all time (Deut. 18:15), and that He would preach to the entire world (Acts 3:23) at His Return.
(It is important to carefully study our straightforward and insightful book Is “That Prophet” Alive Today? – The Rise of False Prophets [its Section I addresses this prophet] to better understand all that is at stake within this extraordinary prophecy from Deuteronomy. That volume also addresses the other ideas of what the PCG leader who takes to himself this title believes is the Work today. Because of other material it contains, it is a book much more important than meets the eye.)
Taken together, Hebrews 3:9 and 4:2 reveal that Moses preached the gospel to Israel in the wilderness. Notice: “For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them [Israel]” (Hebrews 4:2). Acts 3 ALL demonstrates that this practice continued through Samuel!
Note that Acts 3:24 mentioned Samuel: “And all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after.” So then even Samuel preached Christ’s Coming to bring the “restitution of all things.” Of course, this man was not an apostle, but rather also a prophet.
These are straightforward passages that cannot be glossed over. Carefully reflect on each of them. But the picture grows much larger.
David
No one doubts that David was a king—and many would know he was a prophet. This prophet/king also spoke about the kingdom of God, with seemingly few aware of this. In Psalm 67:4, David wrote, “…for You [the Lord] shall judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth,” and he also recorded, “For the kingdomis the Lord’s: and He is the governor among the nations” (Psa. 22:28).
Both of these passages are most plain, and can only refer to a time in the future when the kingdom of God is reigning over all nations. No other timeframe fits.
Isaiah
Isaiah the prophet wrote, “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His Name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, 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 His KINGDOM, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice…even forever” (Isaiah 9:6-7).
This well-known passage, read at every WCG Feast of Tabernacles site for decades, needs no explanation! It obviously references God’s coming kingdom under Christ.
Jeremiah
The prophet Jeremiah wrote this: “Behold, the days come, says the LORD, that I will raise unto David a Righteous Branch, 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” (Jeremiah 23:5-6, 7-8).
The meaning of this prophecy is equally obvious!
Ezekiel
Ezekiel recorded this: “For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land” (Ezekiel 36:24). The next ten verses describe a national rebuilding and prosperity only possible after the Return of Christ and the establishment of God’s kingdom!
Though not as direct as the other so-called “major” prophets, Ezekiel clearly reflected the central point of the gospel. Take time to read the rest of the context.
Daniel
The prophet Daniel recorded much more: “And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up akingdom, 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” (Daniel 2:44).
Further, in Daniel 7 ALL, Daniel 7:18 adds, “But the saints of the Most High shall take the kingdom, and possess thekingdom forever, even forever and ever,” with Daniel 7:22 adding more: “Until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the Most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the KINGDOM.”
Daniel 7:277 of the same chapter further confirms with a third equally clear statement that Daniel preached God’s kingdom, stating, “And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him.”
How plain!
Hosea and Joel
The next several sections will look at a number of those often referred to as the “Minor Prophets.” These are offered to demonstrate God’s thorough emphasis given to the powerful “kingdom of God” theme throughout the Bible.
Here is what Hosea wrote: “Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king; and shall fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days” (Hosea 3:5). Also see chapter 2, Hosea 2:16 and 19. This and the next several longer passages also plainly reference the kingdom of God.
Joel, another of the so-called “minor” prophets, recorded this long prophecy about Christ’s coming millennial rule: “Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things. Be not afraid, you beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree bears her fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield their strength. Be glad then, you children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for He has given you the former rain moderately, and He will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month. And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the vats shall overflow with wine and oil. And I will restore to you the years that the locust has eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, My great army which I sent among you. And you shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of theLORD your God, that has dealt wondrously with you: and My people shall never be ashamed. And you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and My people shall never be ashamed” (Joel 2:21-27).
It is obvious this prophecy can only be fulfilled when the kingdom of God is established.
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