What Is The True Gospel Really?

What Is The True “Gospel”–Really?

Chapter 18, Part 2 Preview: Is the gospel message strictly the announcement that God is going to set up His earthly kingdom? Jesus commissioned His followers to preach the “gospel”, so it is imperative that we understand exactly what it is! Also, if the “church” (Actually assembly—off site) must reach the whole world before the “end”, then why did Jesus say that “you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes” (Matthew 10:23). Is this a contradiction? Has “the Church” missed it’s mission? Could “the gospel of Christ [include] SALVATION for everyone who believes”? (Romans 1:16) This chapter primarily debunks some highly exclusivist misconceptions, still being promoted by scores of splinter groups spun off of the Worldwide Church of God.

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Who then is teaching “the whole counsel of God” TO “all the world” now? Actually, none of the Seven Assemblies is exhibiting the signs and gifts that should accompany the message. Yet John said:

John 14:12: “he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.”

We are anxiously awaiting the day when God begins to bestow these miraculous works on true disciples. Until then, we should be trying to learn as much as we can about true doctrine because countless teachings have been seriously misrepresented. Perhaps God is waiting for us to figure out what we lack. Have we really believed “the whole truth and nothing but the truth”?

True Christians are those who keep the Commandments of God and have a basic understanding of the testimony of Jesus the Christ-which has to do with prophecy! The most fundamental prophecy in the Bible concerns the Kingdom of God being set up on earth! That would make an excellent chapter in itself.

Revelation 12:17 And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Revelation 19:10 For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

Matthew 9:35 Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.

The Kingdom of God—on earth—is the ‘reward’ [literally: wage] of the saved!

When the Two Witnesses come, will they preach the “good news” to the whole world? Notice that this is the time when the temple will be measured:

Revelation 11:1 Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, ‘Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there. 2 But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the “gentiles”. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months. 3 And I will give power to my Two Witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.

There is no reason to believe that the Two Witnesses ever appeal to the so called “gentile” nations. It appears that the witnesses will “leave out the ... ‘gentiles’ [other nations]”.

Zechariah 6:12-15 Then speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, saying: behold, the Man whose name is the BRANCH! From His place He shall branch out, and He shall build the temple of the LORD; 13 yes, He shall build the temple of the LORD. He shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule on His throne; so He shall be a priest on His throne, and the counsel of peace shall be between them both. 14 Now the elaborate crown shall be for a memorial in the temple of the LORD for Helem, Tobijah, Jedaiah, and Hen the son of Zephaniah. 15 Even those from afar shall come and build the temple of the LORD. Then you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent Me to you. And this shall come to pass if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God.

Malachi 3:1-2 Behold, I send My messenger, and he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight. Behold, He is coming, says the LORD of hosts. 2 But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire and like launderer’s soap.

Here is something that the Two Witnesses will do—they will restore a literal temple for the MESSENGER of the covenant to return to!

Daniel 9:27 Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; but in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, even until the consummation, which is determined, is poured out on the desolate.

This “middle of the week” scripture is about the Abomination of Desolation ending sacrifices in God’s own temple (not a Jewish temple!). It is not a reference to Jesus’ Wednesday death. Compare this with the following complementary passage:

Daniel 11:31 And forces shall be mustered by him, and THEY shall defile the sanctuary fortress; then THEY shall take away the daily sacrifices, AND place there the abomination of desolation.

We are inclined to believe that the time frame of this is in the first half of the last seven year “week” or in other words, the first three and a half years of a seven year span. The second three and one half year period appears to be when The Time of Jacob’s Trouble occurs.

We do not spiritualize the “temple” scriptures into meaning “Church” (off site). On occasion analogies are drawn between the temple and the church, but these analogies do not nullify the physical fulfillments of end time prophecy!

Matthew 10:23 When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

God’s people will not have even spread the actual “good news” to all of even the cities of Israel before the second coming of Jesus! God is seeking out individuals today, not nations.

Matthew 24:14-16 And this “gospel” of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.15 Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (whoever reads, let him understand), 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.

Notice carefully that the above scripture does NOT imply that the Church will preach the good news to all the nations! This is not “the Great Commission” or even a suggestion to the Church, it is simply a reference to Revelation 14:6, quoted below, serving as a benchmark in time.

The message that Jesus was killed for delivering is being taught IN “all the world” now. It is being taught “here a little, there a little” so to speak. God is exposing specific individuals, whom He is drawing, to His truth! God has His commandment keeping people sprinkled like salt all over the earth so that when He wants to get someone’s attention, Christians will be there to guide these babes in Christ. The good news of God will not be revealed to the world until the prophesied individual mentioned in the scriptures, who is commanded to preach it, preaches it:

Revelation 14:6 Then I saw another ANGEL flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting ‘gospel’ to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people....

Why is it termed “the everlasting gospel”? From this time, and forever afterward, the “good news” will never cease!

Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, all authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.

Making disciples and teaching them has always been “The Great Commission” of the Assembly of the Saints. It has been the purpose of the Assembly since the first century, yet it is done on a small scale. It is done on a “need to know” basis for those few whom God is calling (who themselves are seeking the truth) for leadership positions in the prophesied Kingdom of God.

Some scriptures are from the “New King James Version®, Copyright © 1982, Thomas Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved.” “Bible text from the New King James Version® is not to be reproduced in copies or otherwise by any means except as permitted in writing by Thomas Nelson, Inc., Attn: Bible Rights and Permissions, P.O. Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214-1000.”