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What Is The True “Gospel”—Really?
Is It Just “The Gospel of the Kingdom”?
Written by Lonnie Martin, September, 2002
Chapter 40, Part 2 Preview: Is the gospel message strictly the announcement that there is going to be an earthly kingdom? Yeshua (Jesus) commissioned His followers to preach the gospel, so it is imperative that we understand exactly what it is! Also, if we must reach the whole world before the “end”, then why did Yeshua say that finished your mission in the towns of the lineage of Israel, before the Human Son appears in public.” (Matthew 10:23). Is this a contradiction? Has the “church” missed it’s mission? Could “the gospel of Christ [include] eternal Life 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.
The “gospel” message is the basis for “fellowship”, and will remain so until the Day of Yeshua the Messiah!
Philipptians 1:5-6 because of your participation in spreading the Good News, from the first day you heard it until now.
6 I am convinced of this, that the One who began the good work within you all will personally go on to perfect it right up until the Day of our Sovereign Yeshua Messiah.—The Gabriel Bible
Strange isn’t it; Paul seemed to think that preaching about the life of Messiah should be associated with the “good news”!
Philipptians 1:17-18 But those who herald the Messiah from motives of rivalry and selfish ambition are attempting to cause me distress while I’m in prison. 18 Yet I have been elated, and continue to be elated [2], because either way, whether by false or true motives, the Messiah is heralded.
[2] The Greek begins this sentence with: “What then?”
The “gospel of Christ” concerns “faith”, “salvation” and believing “in Him”!
Philipptians 1:27-29 You should live your lives as good citizens, in a manner worthy of the Good News of the Messiah, so that whether I come and see you again, or whether I am far away, I can hear about you and know that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind, playing together to win [see root: athleo] by the faith that the Good News brings. 28 Never be afraid of the opposition. Your fearlessness is certain evidence for them of their impending destruction—and eternal life for you. 29 You have had the privilege granted to you on behalf of Yehovah, not only to believe in the Messiah, but also to suffer for His sake.
“Faith in Messiah Yeshua” is what “you heard before in the true message—the Good News”:
Colossians 1:3-5 We continually thank Yehovah, the Father of our Sovereign Yeshua Messiah, and pray for you, 4 ever since we heard of your faith in Yeshua Messiah and of your love for all the 'chosen ones', 5 because of the expectation of good reserved for you in Heaven that you heard before in the true message—the Good News
“The assurance of the Good News” concerns reconciliation to Yeshua thru His death!
Colossians 1:21-23 But now He has reconciled you by His human body and thru His death, so that He could bring you into His presence, 'pure', faultless and above reproach, 23 as long as you continue to firmly hold onto your convictions, and you don’t abandon the assurance of the Good News that has been heard thruout the whole creation under Heaven, that I, Paul, became a 'deacon' of.
“The Good News of our Master Yeshua the Messiah” demands obedience, not just understanding a message.
2 Thessalonians 1:8 He’ll execute vengeance with burning fire [2] on those who don’t pay attention to Yehovah, and refuse to heed the Good News of our Sovereign Yeshua Messiah.
[2] There is a unique (so far as I know) disagreement among translators as to where to put the “burning fire”—either verse 7 or 8. But far more important is the disagreement about WHO IS IN THE FIRE! Many Greek translations have Yeshua and the “angels” in the fire, while the Aramaic versions had the wicked in the fire, as so many prophecies explain, such as Malachi 4:1-3. The context explains that the “vengeance” is for those who won’t “submit.”
Once again, eternal Life and “belief” and “truth” pertain to the “Good News”.
2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 Dear friends of our Sovereign, thanks are always due to Yehovah, from us on your behalf, because Yehovah has chosen eternal life for you from the beginning, by our being purified by the spirit, and by our belief of the truth. 14 These are the ones who Yehovah called thru our Good News, so that you could share in the splendor of our Sovereign Yeshua Messiah.
The “magnificent Good News” concerns the “sound doctrine” of “the Torah”.
1 Timothy 1:8-11 Now we know that the Torah is good when someone lives in accordance with the Torah, 9 and we know that the Torah wasn’t laid down [3] for righteous people, but for the lawless, the rebellious, the wicked, the sinful, the dishonest, the impure and for those who strike their fathers and strike their mothers and for murderers 10 and fornicators and homosexuals and slave traders and liars and perjurers and anything else that is contrary to sound doctrine, 11 according to the magnificent Good News of the blessed Yehovah that I have been entrusted with.
[3] It is quite interesting that the Greek actually says, “laying down the law”, an idiom that is still in our vernacular, meaning: “The principles and regulations established in a assembly by some authority and applicable to its people, whether in the form of legislation or of custom and policies recognized and enforced by judicial decision” —dictionary.com.
Understanding the truth about “immortality” is part of the “good news”.
2 Timothy 1:8-10 So don’t be ashamed of the Testimony of our Sovereign or of me His bondsman [1], rather, endure the hardships associated with the Good News thru the power of Yehovah, 9 who has rescued us from perishing and called us with a supernatural invitation not because of what we’ve done, but because of His own dignity that was given to us thru Yeshua Messiah before the time [Gr. chronos] of eternity [or “the worlds”]. 10 And now it’s been plainly revealed by the appearance of our Life Giver, Yeshua Messiah, who has abolished death [2] and brought real life and immortality into plain view thru the Good News.
[2] This pertains to the resurrection: 1 Corinthians 15:21,50-56, 1 John 3:14, Revelation 20:14, 21:4
The “good news” is that we “can also obtain eternal Life thru Yeshua the Messiah”, via resurrection, as well as our own “salvation”.
2 Timothy 2:8-10 Remember that Yeshua Messiah was raised from the dead. He was the prophesied descendant of David, according to my Good News 9 that I suffer for, even being put in chains like a criminal, but the Word of Aloha is not imprisoned. 10 So I endure everything for the sake of the select, so that they can also obtain eternal life thru Yeshua Messiah with eternal splendor.
Paul told Timothy that he was imprisoned for speaking about Yeshua being raised from the dead. He told Philemon that he suffered “imprisonment for the Good News”. Get the connection?
Philemon 1:13 I wanted to keep him with me, and he would have helped me on your behalf during my imprisonment for the Good News,
Ancient Israel heard an incomplete “gospel” about the Kingdom of Aloha, from the prophets, “not being mixed with faith” in Yeshua the Messiah, and it “did not profit them”. We must not make that mistake!
Hebrews 4:2 We have heard the Good News just as they did, but the message they heard didn’t benefit them because the people who heard it didn’t combine it with faith.
1 Peter 1:10-12 the very favor that the prophets inquired about when they were prophesying about the favor [“Grace”: Gr.Goddesses] that was to be given to you. 11 They tried to determine the exact time that the Messiah’s spirit, dwelling in them, was referring to, and when His predicted suffering was to occur and the splendor that followed. 12 And everything that they were searching for was revealed to them, because they were not inquiring for themselves, but they were prophesying those things for us, things that are now revealed to you by those who have announced the Good News by the 'special' spirit sent from Heaven, things the spirit messengers also want to look into.
The “Word of Aloha” (or Elohim / God) is “forever”.
1 Peter 1:23-25 not being regenerated [begotten again] with a destructible heredity, but with an indestructible one, by the living Word of Aloha who lives forever. 24 Mortal humanity is like grass, and all its beauty is like flowers in the fields. The grass dries up and the flowers fade away, 25 but the Word of Aloha remains forever. This is the Good News message that is announced to you.
This is where the living Word of Eloim and the Good News of the Testimony of Yeshua center on the same person.
The “gospel” message is for “Judgment” on Yehovah’s Assembly of kadishea (saints), “Yehovah’s own house” as well as for “those who don’t obey”.
1 Peter 4:17 because it is time for judgment to begin, and it will begin in Yehovah’s household [5], and if it begins with us, what will be the end state of those who don’t obey the Good News of Yehovah?
[5] Probably a reference to Ezekiel 9:4-7.
This last Biblical reference to the ‘gospel’ is part of another separate topic that may be addressed at another time. The above references present nearly every statement concerning the word ‘gospel’ that appear in the Testimony of Yeshua.
Revelation 14:6 Then I saw another messenger [angel] flying thru the sky, who with blood [2] had the everlasting Good News to proclaim to everyone living on earth—every nation, tribe, language and people [3].
[3] The Good News (Gospel, that includes warnings) won’t be sufficiently revealed to the world until the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:13-14,29). Then anyone belligerently worshiping the lame duck beast or accepting his mark AFTER the Good News is announced to “Everyone living on earth” (v.6) during Judgment AND still refusing to repent (v.7) after Babylon has fallen (vs.8-9; Joel 2:1-12) is in big trouble. Messenger:1; church:0.
Having seen the many Biblical references to the “gospel” or Good News, I want to quote some more of HWA’s comments on the topic to underscore the dissimilarities. In The Incredible Human Potential, H.W. Armstrong came as close to getting the definition of “Good News” right as he ever did, yet he still neglected the connection between the “Messenger” Himself playing the indispensable role of “mediator of the New Covenant”. Yeshua was no ordinary messenger:
Acts 4:12 https://tidings.org/articles/the-parable-of-the-fig-tree-matthew-24/
“What Was Christ’s gospel?” From Chapter 2 of The Incredible Human Potential:
“God the Father had promised to send a messenger into the world from heaven, bearing a message from Him for all mankind. This promise is recorded in Malachi 3:1 ‘Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me [and that messenger, as explained in Mark 1:2. was John the Immerser] and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in.’ The “Lord” here, of course, refers to Yeshua the Messiah.
“That is the message God wanted proclaimed AS A WITNESS to all nations! But since the first century the world has known NOTHING of the Kingdom of God because that message was not proclaimed to the world after the first century. That message, when explained and fully understood, covers a very wide range of revealed knowledge. It reveals—I repeat—what science has been utterly UNABLE to discover, what religion has never revealed, what this world’s education has never known nor taught.”
When HWA said that the “gospel” was to serve “AS A WITNESS”, he actually believed that the truth was to be explained only so that Yehovah could say “I told you so” just before He smashed them on the Day of Yehovah (the “Lord”). This is a very pessimistic perspective. The fact is that the Bible shows that when the world actually does hear the “Good News”, many will believe it and be spared! This is carefully explained in The Time After Jacob’s Trouble.
Another quote:
When the blind lead the blind, they all fall into the ditch.”(Boldness ours)
Notice carefully this admission: “a ‘gospel’ of SALVATION...might be a part of the true gospel.” HWA appeared to have a momentary doubt that his ‘salvation-less ‘gospel’, yet without stopping to take a breath, he was back to his “just a messenger” message.
More quotes:
“... and at the awesome transcendent potential of each human life. It is concerned with the CAUSES of present conditions that affect every human and with the WAY that will solve all problems. But it is concerned with far, far more. It is concerned with God’s tremendous, overwhelming, over-all purpose as Creator of the entire universe. It’s concerned with the entire vast universe, filled with its uncountable galaxies, nebulae, suns, stars, planets, and with God’s purpose for them. It’s concerned with all the angels—with the fact that one third of all God’s created angels turned to SIN from which there can be no redemption, and God’s great purpose and plan to prevent such a catastrophe happening to the other two thirds.
“Most of these things are never remotely considered in religious teachings in this world. God’s message is concerned with overall truth.
What has been covered so far should be considered as merely the introduction to the entire story of Christ’s gospel message.”
This explanation of the “gospel” covers an extremely broad number of things but of course excludes SALVATION itself!
More Quotations from Mystery of the Ages
“MYSTERY OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD”
“Why do the churches disagree on what actually is ‘the gospel of Jesus Christ’? During the first twenty or thirty years after the founding of the Church in A.D.31 a violent controversy arose over the very question of what is ‘the gospel of Jesus Christ.’ There ensued a hundred years in which all history of the New Testament Church was destroyed. It has been called ‘the lost century of Church history.’ When the curtain lifted, about the middle of the second century, there appeared an entirely different type of church calling itself Christian, but in the main preaching its own gospel ABOUT Christ, not the ‘gospel’ OF Christ. The gospel OF Christ was the gospel Christ proclaimed. Jesus was a Messenger sent from God with a message, and that message was THE KINGDOM OF GOD. Christ’s message was Christ’s ‘gospel’—the ‘gospel’ OF Christ. It had not been proclaimed to the world until the first week in 1953, when for the first time in about 1,900 years—a century of time cycles—it went out on the world’s most powerful radio station. Radio Luxembourg in Europe. [293-294]”
Actually, I doubt that there is a lot of disagreement over what “the gospel” means among all other Christian professing churches. It is true that at least the vast majority of Protestant churches exclude the message about the Kingdom of Aloha (as Yeshua would have termed His title in Aramaic). Certainly no other church would be of the same opinion that the “gospel” means exclusively “the good news of the coming Kingdom of God.”
More quotes:
“Jesus Christ came preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God. Yet few preach about the kingdom of God today, for they have lost all knowledge of what it is! But does any, except God’s true Church, proclaim the true ‘gospel’ of the kingdom of God today?
“A prominent evangelist said to a worldwide radio audience that the gospel of the kingdom of God is not for us today. Some denominations proclaim a “gospel of grace” [Acts 20:24], some what they call a “gospel of salvation” [Rom.1:16]; most a gospel about Christ; some a social gospel; some the “Science of Mind” or “Religious Science.”
“The truth is not merely surprising—it is shocking—staggering! It is a Great Mystery! Yet it is truly GOOD NEWS—the most glorious GOOD NEWS ever to enter human consciousness!”
“Why, then, do so many DARE to preach so many other gospels? The good news of THE KINGDOM OF GOD is something you must understand, and BELIEVE, in order to be saved! Jesus Christ said so! You had better be finding out what it is!”
Herbert Armstrong had no qualms about teaching that he was the only person to come along in 1900 years and explain to the “world” what the “gospel” actually was. And if the “good news” were only the single truth about “the coming Kingdom of God” then how would he have explained away the fact that the Jehovah’s Witnesses have pounded on virtually every door in the world repeatedly with that same understanding?
While I CERTAINLY DO NOT ENDORSE the Jehovah’s Witnesses (or any other sect), there is plenty of evidence to prove that they do understand what the “Kingdom of God” is. They have been making this information available since before HWA was born. Here is a prime example of this truth as “witnessed” to by the following information from their web site. To say that this portion of Jesus’ message had not been available for 1900 years, until HWA revealed it over the radio, is simply not the plain truth.
“Live Forever on a Paradise Earth” (from watchtower.org)
“What will life be like when God removes wickedness and suffering from the earth and ushers in his new world under the loving control of his heavenly Kingdom? God promises to ‘open his hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.’- Psalm 145:16.
“What are your legitimate desires? Are they not for a happy life, worthwhile work, material abundance, beautiful surroundings, peace among all peoples, and freedom from injustice, sickness, suffering, and death? And what about a joyful spiritual outlook? All those things will be realized soon under the rulership of God’s Kingdom. Note what Bible prophecies say of the wonderful blessings to come in that new world.
“Mankind at Perfect Peace
“[God] is making wars to cease to the extremity of the earth. The bow he breaks apart and does cut the spear in pieces; the [war] wagons he burns in the fire.”—Psalm 46:9.
“They will have to beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning shears. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, neither will they learn war anymore.”—Isaiah 2:4.
“The meek ones themselves will possess the earth, and they will indeed find their exquisite delight in the abundance of peace.”—Psalm 37:11.
“The whole earth has come to rest, has become free of disturbance. People have become cheerful with joyful cries.”—Isaiah 14:7.
“Man and Animals at Peace
“The wolf will actually reside for a while with the male lamb, and with the kid the leopard itself will lie down, and the calf and the maned young lion and the well-fed animal all together; and a mere little boy will be leader over them. And the cow and the bear themselves will feed; together their young ones will lie down. And even the lion will eat straw just like the bull. And the sucking child will certainly play upon the hole of the cobra; and upon the light aperture of a poisonous snake will a weaned child actually put his own hand. They will not do any harm or cause any ruin.”—Isaiah 11:6-9.
“For them I shall certainly conclude a covenant in that day in connection with the wild beast of the field and with the flying creature of the heavens and the creeping thing of the ground…I will make them lie down in security.”—Hosea 2:18.
Perfect Health, Everlasting Life
“At that time the eyes of the blind ones will be opened, and the very ears of the deaf ones will be unstopped. At that time the lame one will climb up just as a stag does, and the tongue of the speechless one will cry out in gladness.”—Isaiah 34:5-6.
“[He] will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore.”—Revelation 21:4.
“No resident will say: ’I am sick.’”—Isaiah 33:24.
“Let his flesh become fresher than in youth; let him return to the days of his youthful vigor.”—Job 33:25.
“The gift God gives is everlasting life by Christ Jesus our Lord.”—Romans 6:23.
“Everyone exercising faith in him [will]...have everlasting life.”—John 3:16.
“The Dead Restored to Life
“There is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous.”—Acts 24:15.
“The hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs [God’s memory] will hear his voice and come out.”—John 5:28, 29.
“The sea gave up those dead in it, and death and Hades [the grave] gave up those dead in them.”—Revelation 20:13.
“Earth, a Paradise of Plenty
“Pouring rains of blessing there will prove to be. And the tree of the field must give its fruitage, and the land itself will give its yield, and they will actually prove to be on their soil in security.”—Ezekiel 34:26, 27.
“The earth itself will certainly give its produce; God, our God, will bless us.”—Psalm 67:6.
“The wilderness and the waterless region will exult, and the desert plain will be joyful and blossom as the saffron.”— Isaiah 34:1.
“The mountains and the hills themselves will become cheerful before you with a joyful outcry, and the very trees of the field will all clap their hands. Instead of the thicket of thorns the juniper tree will come up. Instead of the stinging nettle the myrtle tree will come up.”—Isaiah 55:12, 13.
“You will be with me in Paradise.”—Luke 23:43.
I will stop quoting their information at this point. While the Bible passages do sound a bit unusual coming from their unique version of the Bible, the ideas are nevertheless unmistakably the same things that we ‘old timers’ heard HWA proclaim for decades. They claim that they have already preached the “gospel” of the Kingdom to the whole world, and indeed they appear to have spread that portion of truth, but they have not heralded “the whole counsel of Elohim” to anyone. In particular, they don’t understand the minimum requirement for obtaining salvation hat is made plain in my Statement of Beliefs. You cannot have a loaf of bread if you forget the flour or the water. All of the ingredients must be present or the “bread” will be a flop.
CONCLUSION: THE NEXT BIG THING
Who then is heralding “the whole counsel of Elohim” TO “all the world” now? Actually, very few signs and gifts are accompanying the message. Yet John said:
John 14:12 I tell you with absolute certainty that anyone who believes in Me will also do the works that I do. And they’ll do greater works than these, because I’m going to My Father.
Believers are anxiously awaiting the day when Yehovah begins to bestow these miraculous works on true disciples in an undeniable way. Until then, we should try to learn as much as we can about true doctrine. Numerous teachings have been seriously misunderstood. Perhaps Yehovah is waiting for us to figure out what we lack. Have we really believed “the whole truth and nothing but the truth”
The true disciples are those who obey the Commandments and have a basic understanding of the Testimony of Yeshua the Messiah—that is everything that He said!
Revelation 12:17 The Dragon was furiously angry with the woman, and he went off to make war with the rest of her offspring [recent converts?], those who obey the Commandments of Yehovah [the so-called “OT”] AND have THE TESTIMONY OF YESHUA [the so-called “NT”. So few of these would be Jews!]
Revelation 19:10 I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said, “Don’t do that! I’m a fellow servant, I’m your brother who also holds to THE TESTIMONY OF YESHUA [His ‘written statements’]. Worship Yehovah, because THE TESTIMONY OF YESHUA is spirit inspired prophecy [1] [or ‘the spirit of prophecy’].
The most fundamental prophecy in the Bible concerns the Kingdom of Aloha being set up on earth! The “gospel” tells us how we can be in it!
Matthew 9:35 Yeshua traveled thru all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaimed the Good News of the Kingdom, and healed all diseases and debilities.
The Kingdom of Aloha—on earth—is the reward of the saved!
When the Two Witnesses come, will they preach the “Good News” to the whole world? Carefully notice who is “measured” just before their arrival, and who is “left out”:
Revelation 11:1-3 Then I, John, was given a measuring reed like a staff, and a messenger standing by and said, “Get up and measure the Temple [1] of Yehovah and the altar and those who worship there [2]. 2 But leave out the courtyard outside of the Temple, don’t measure it, because it has been given to the heathens, and they’ll trample the 'cherished' city underfoot for forty-two months. 3 I will give power to My Two Witnesses [1]. They’ll prophesy for 1,260 days [4], wearing sackcloth.
[1] Here John is actually told to measure the end time third Temple just prior to the Two Witnesses commission (v.3). The terms “measure”, “measured” and “measuring” combined are found dozens of times in reference to the temple in Ezekiel 40-42. This would explain the previous verse (10:11): “John, you must prophesy AGAIN before many nations and peoples and princes and kings.” Is he one of the two witnesses or one of their companions? Same goes for Elijah (Malachi 4:5-6). Does God Travel in Time? [2] In the architectural planning, the outer court is excluded/ruled out! That space on the Temple Mount “has been given to the heathens”. And while the Temple is to be literally measured, the people are spiritually measured! [3] After a long search, I found a link that comes close to my views, other than for Moses, Elijah and John time traveling and the final eight years.
There is no reason to believe that the Two Witnesses ever appeal to the so-called “gentile” nations. The rebuilding of the third temple will “leave out the court”, where the “gentiles” gathered at least the unconverted ones.
Zechariah 6:12-15...Tell him that this is what Commander Yehovah says: Here is the Man called the Branch. He’ll branch out of His place, and He’ll rebuild Yehovah’s 'Temple'! 13 Yes, He’ll rebuild Yehovah’s 'Temple'. He’ll receive royal honor. He’ll sit and rule from His throne and He’ll also serve as a priest from his throne, and there will be perfectly sound council between the two of them.’
14 “The crowns will be given to Helem, Tobijah, Jedaiah and Hen the son of Zephaniah, as a memorial in Yehovah’s 'Temple'.”
15 Those who are far off will come and help rebuild the 'Temple' of Yehovah, and you’ll know that Commander Yehovah has sent Me to you. This will happen if you diligently obey the voice of Yehovah your Elohim.
Malachi 3:1-2 Watch out! I’m sending My messenger [Elijah Ch 4:5], and He’ll prepare the way before Me, and the Sovereign who you’re looking for will suddenly come to His 'Temple', the Messenger of the [New] Covenant who you desire. He’s coming, says Commander Yehovah.
2 But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can 'survive' when He appears? 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, but not without problems!
Daniel 9:27 Then he [the desolator] will force a strong 'contract' on many for one septad time period. Then in the middle of the period of seven [shemitah cycle] he [the desolator] will stop the zebakim [sacrifices] and the offerings: [Daniel 12:11] And the winged one of abomination will cause desolation, until the predetermined destruction is poured out on the desolator.” [During the Jubilee year: Isaiah 34:1-8]
This “middle of the week” Scripture is about the Abomination of Desolation ending sacrifices in Yehovah’s own temple (not a Jewish temple!). It is not a reference to Yeshua’s Wednesday death. Compare this with the following complementary passage:
Daniel 11:31 Armed forces will rise up and defile the 'Temple' refuge and put a stop to the daily burnt zebakim [sacrifices], and they’ll set up an appalling detestable idol [KJV, abomination of desolation].
I 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.
Don’t spiritualize the “temple” verses into meaning “church”. Frequently analogies are drawn between the temple and the church, but these analogies do not nullify the physical fulfillments of end time prophecy!
Yehovah is seeking out individuals today, not entire nations, as He soon will.Who will evangelize “all the world”
Presently our small efforts will not have even spread the actual “good news” to all of even the cities of Israel before the Yeshua returns! If we can’t do it now, then how would we reach the world as we are fleeing our own cities?
Matthew 10:23 When they persecute you in one town, escape to another. I am certain that you won’t have finished your mission in the towns of the lineage of Israel, before the Human Son appears in public.
With this limitation firmly in mind carefully consider that the following passage must NOT even suggest that the Yehovah’s Assembly will preach the Good News to “all the nations”! This is not the “Great Commission” or even a suggested goal for the disciples because Yeshua plainly stated that we would not even teach all of Israel.
Matthew 24:14-16 THIS Good News of the Kingdom will be announced thruout the world as a witness to every nation and then the end will come. 15 When you see the sign of the detestable desolation mentioned by the prophet Daniel, standing in the Cherished Place—may the reader discern!— [2] [3] 16 then those of you who are in Judea should escape to the mountain/s!
[2] This is reminiscent of Matthew 28:16. [3] See my All Sources Disclaimer.
So what is that great benchmark in time for “all the nations”. We’ll look at two explanations, but first what should we do?
Our impact will be small scale—not reaching the billions.
The actual message that Yeshua was killed for delivering is being taught IN “all the world” now, but it is being taught “here a little, there a little” so to speak, but not as the fulfillment of an end-time sign. Yehovah is exposing specific individuals who He is drawing to His truth! Yehovah has His commandment keeping people sprinkled like salt all over the earth, so that when He wants to get someone’s attention, someone will be there to guide these babes.
But the true good news will go out to the entire population “who live on the earth” by an entirely different means! Yehovah’s “good news” won’t be revealed to the world until a heavenly Messenger is commanded to announce it! Your financial contributions won’t have a thing to do with that.
Why is it termed “the everlasting Good News”? Because from this time, and forever afterward, the “Good News” will never cease!
Making disciples and teaching them is “THE GREAT COMMISSION” for all of the kadishea, not just paid ministers. It has been the purpose of His Assembly since the first century, yet it is done on a small scale. In essence this full good news message is spread on a “need to know” basis for those few who Yehovah is calling (who themselves are seeking the truth) for leadership positions in the prophesied Kingdom of Aloha.
Matthew 28:18-20 Yeshua came near during the conversation and said, “All authority has been given to Me in Heaven and on earth. 19 So go and make disciples in every nation IN MY NAME [2]. 20 Teach them to obey everything that I’ve commanded you, knowing that I’ll be with you always, right up until the very end of the age. Aw-main'.
[2] Constantine decreed that the trinitarian words, “baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit” be substituted for “in My name.” This affected later Aramaic, Greek, Latin and Hebrew texts, as well as a huge number of early witnesses also omitting “immersing them”. [3] See my All Sources Disclaimer.But there is a second way that the whole world may hear a gospel. Suppose that Matthew 24 does not pertain to the angel taking the Good News to the world. What if the angel spreads the good news after the bad news is finished? The angel’s message just may be referring to an entirely different message. It is not inconceivable that it is a counterfeit “gospel” that will thoroughly penetrate the world. Advocates of the Shem Tov version of Matthew—a Hebrew version quickly point out that this version indicates that Anti-Christ is spreading “another gospel” in this context.
Matthew 24:14-15 (Shem Tov version) And this gospel, that is, evungili, [apparently evangelism] will be preached in all the world for a witness concerning [about] me to all the nations and then the end will come. 15 This is the Anti-Christ and this is the abomination which desolates which was spoken of by Daniel [as] standing in the holy place. Let the one who reads understand.
Even in the same chapter, with a bit of a running start does indicate a time of great persecution. Fleeing our cities would not really facilitate a great evangelistic campaign.
Matthew 24:8-15 Yet all of these 'events' are only the beginning of sorrows. 9 They’ll hand you over to be tortured and killed, and you’ll be hated by all nations because of My name. [What no rapture?] 10 Then many will fall away and they’ll hate each other and betray each other. 11 Many false prophets will appear and they’ll delude many. 12 Because of the plethora [Gr. plethuno] of Torah breakers, the love of many will decline. 13 But anyone who perseveres to the end will receive eternal Life.
14 THIS Good News of the Kingdom will be announced thruout the world as a witness to every nation and then the end will come. 15 When you see the sign of the detestable desolation mentioned by the prophet Daniel, standing in the Cherished Place—may the reader discern!— [2] [3]
[2] This is reminiscent of Matthew 28:16.
A false Good News is not a conclusion that I can readily dismiss. A “gospel” message that is thriving as the 'chosen ones' are being trampled could very well be the message that causes the 'chosen ones' to be persecuted!
Is the notion of a “false gospel” Biblical?
2 Corinthians 11:4 Because if someone comes to you proclaiming another Yeshua—one we hadn’t proclaimed, or should you receive a different spirit than the one you received, or a different Good News than the one you accepted, you could easily be persuaded!
Galatians 1:6 I’m shocked by how quickly you’ve turned from the Messiah who invited you by His dignity to another “good news” [or message],
Are you passively funding a “God’s spell” effort to reach the whole world right now (trying to prove Yeshua wrong) or are you actively teaching the “Good News” whenever and wherever the opportunity arises, to the best of your ability?
Chapter 41 is What is a Nazarene?
