Chapter Twenty-Five – Awesome Announcement!
Jesus Was Foretold to Bring the Gospel
Back to 1The Bible’s Greatest Prophecies Unlocked!
One of the most dramatic prophecies in the Bible relates to a unique commission—a responsibility to issue a special announcement—given to God’s Church at the end of the age. The good news of this prophecy is overlooked within the bad news of so many other future events. It involves the central, final Work of the true people of God.
Read again Christ’s last reference to the gospel of the kingdom of God during the Olivet Prophecy: “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come” (Matt. 24:14). This obviously describes a major effort, global in nature. Anything reaching all nations cannot be small.
It is crucial to comprehend the importance of this prophecy. Its fulfillment must occur before the “end” can come. Jesus brought only one gospel message—with all others false! What does this fulfillment involve?
You are about to learn more incredible knowledge!
Hidden—and Revealed!
Now note again Jesus’ very first reference to the gospel, recorded in Mark 1:15, where He commanded, “Repent you, and believe the gospel.” But exactly what is it that we—you!—must come to believe?
Modern Christendom does not know the vital—all-important—answer to this most basic question, and many others related to the true gospel of the Bible! This is because knowledge of what the gospel is has remained hidden from the world for centuries!
At Jesus’ First Coming, He came as a first-century newscaster, bringing advance good news of staggering events to occur beyond the horizon, and the bad news occurring throughout today’s world. This climactic news involves you—and every human being!
Six books on religion are published every day in America. And there are over 2,000 forms of Christianity in the U.S., with a new one appearing about every three days! Yet there has never been more confusion and disagreement about the answers to humanity’s problems.
Why is there so much knowledge available to mankind, yet so much ignorance of the truth of the answers to life’s big questions? All of this has everything to do with the gospel!
We saw that “Satan…deceives the whole world” (Rev. 12:9). This deception would certainly apply to a matter so crucial as the meaning and correct understanding of the only gospel message Jesus brought!
Before examining the Matthew 24:14 prophecy, we must learn what the true gospel is, and the importance God places on this message!
Many False Gospels
The world has believed a false gospel for 2,000 years. It has generally supposed that Jesus Christ isthe gospel rather than the Messenger of it. This is false. The Message—the center piece—of the gospel is not Christ. By focusing on Him—His Person—the Messenger—religious deceivers have been able to successfully suppress and cover up His Message!
Some proclaim a “gospel of salvation,” others a “gospel of grace.” Still others believe a “gospel of miracles” or a “social gospel.” Yet others think of the “gospel of foods” or of “healing” or of “faith.” And there are some who merely think of “gospel music” when they hear this word. These manmade ideas all ignore the truth of the Bible!
Notice more of Mark’s account: “Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God” (Mk 1:14). This is the gospel that Jesus preached. It was in this context that He said, “Repent you, and believe the gospel.” Which gospel? “…of the kingdom of God.”
Mk 1:1 in Mark refers to this message, when it states, “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ.” The gospel of Jesus Christ was about the kingdom of God—not something else! One must believe that gospel—not a humanly devised counterfeit or substitute. So says Christ!
Notice more proof that Jesus’ gospel message was not about Himself and His sacrifice. He declared, “For I have not spoken of Myself; but the Father which sent Me, He gave Me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that His commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto Me, so I speak” (John 12:49-50).
Plainly, Jesus functioned as a messenger of—a representative of—a spokesman for— the coming kingdom of God. He stated, “The word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s which sent Me” (John 14:24). Jesus brought the Father’s message. This must be clear!
Strong Warning Not to Pervert It
We saw that this subject is so important that God inspired the apostle Paul to pronounce a double curse on anyone who preached “another gospel,” or “any other gospel.” The fuller quote was seen earlier.
This is a very blunt statement! Repeated here for emphasis, it is seen to be a strong warning to all who will heed!
A little later, Paul stressed his hope that the “truth of the gospel might continue with you” (Gal. 2:5). So there is one true gospel—with all others false! I didn’t say that! God did, through Jesus and Paul.
Although some assert Paul taught a different or additional gospel, this is ridiculous. In fact, God used Paul to pronounce a curse on anyone—man or angel—who violates this command (Gal 1:8-9).
Paul also explained that the apostles were entrusted by God to preserve the true gospel. Notice I Thessalonians 2:4: “We [apostles] were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which tries our hearts.”
This is a responsibility not to be taken lightly. True ministers must always teach what God commands—not what pleases men. So any claim that Paul taught a different or second gospel is impossible. Had he done this, he would literally have been pronouncing a curse on himself!
Jesus Was Foretold to Bring the Gospel