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The Gospel

Everlasting Gospel

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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— saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.”

Revelation 14: 6-7 NKJV

A Difference Between Gospel and Everlasting Gospel.

How does the “everlasting gospel” differ from the “gospel“? In no other place in scripture does the phrase “everlasting gospel” appear. But, the simple word “gospel” is brought up 100 times in the New Testament. Of the “Gospel” writers, John is the only one who does not use the word. (Matthew 5 times, Mark 8, and Luke 4, John 0. ) The only time John uses the word is here in Revelation, but he insinuates a gospel that does not end. What does that mean? Please keep in mind that just because the word “gospel” is not used, it does not mean that it is not present in the Bible, even in the Old Testament. Its theme is throughout!

I have cautiously come to the conclusion. that the everlasting gospel is the Good News that will last forever, even in heaven.  What is the Good News that will supersede anything else? It is the theme of redemption and the love of the Godhead—a mystery of sacrifice, love, compassion, mercy, and forgiveness. These mysteries cannot be understood except in the actions of God the Father, Jesus, and the Spirit.

Another author says it this way:

“The theme of redemption is one that the angels desire to look into; it will be the science and the song of the redeemed throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity.  Is it not worthy of careful thought and study now? The infinite mercy and love of Jesus, the sacrifice made on our behalf, call for the most serious and solemn reflection.” (empasis supplied)

Steps to Christ, EG White

What is the Gospel?

The gospel has always been described as the Good News. This Good News comes through the story of Jesus. It is usually divided up into events and actions of the Godhead. The following are the primary parts of the story of redemption.

1.) The incarnation of Jesus (Immanuel-God with us). Even though Jesus is the second member of the Godhead, He became one of us! (Hebrews 2: 14-18) . What a great mystery of love!

2.) He lived a sinless life. (2 Corinthians 5: 21)

3.) He died for our sins, paying the full penalty. We don’t have to work for our own salvation. Any good work or victories over sin are produced by the work of Jesus in our new heart. ( 1 Corinthians 5: 3, Philippians 2: 13, Hebrews 7:25)

4.) He rose again to show that we, too, can be resurrected from the dead. if there was no resurrection, we would still be in our sins and lost. (1 Corinthians 15:4, 1 Corinthians 15: 6-7)

5.) He sent the Holy Spirit to guide, direct, and comfort. (John 14:6)

6.) He became an Intercessor for us. The High Priest we can come to directly for help and forgiveness. (Hebrews 4: 16, 1 Timothy 2:5)

7.) He is coming again to take us where He is now. (John 14: 1-3)

8.) He will create a new heaven and a new earth where righteousness will reign, where sin and death will never raise their ugly heads again. (2 Peter 3: 13, Nahum 1:9)

All of these events are based on the love of God and beautifully summarized by John, who does not use the word gospel except in Revelation. Nevertheless, it encapsulates the eternal gospel that we will ponder throughout eternity…perhaps teach angels or unfallen worlds.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

John 3:16

Prophecies, Hope, and Faith are Fulfilled. Love Remains

The eternal gospel will be our study of the science of redemption. All the prophecies will have been fulfilled; There will be no need for tongues, faith, or hope. Love is the only one of the gifts left standing.

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

1 Cor. 13: 8

Although John is skimpy on the word gospel, his message is the theme of love, which is the basis for the gospel.

Of all the apostles, John talks about love more than any other; it appears 39 times in his gospel writing, compared to Matthew (11 times) , Mark (5), and Luke (12). This is more than all the other gospel writers combined! Only Paul exceeds this number (70 times), but Paul was a more prolific writer with 14 books compared to John’s 5 books of the Bible.

It is John alone who records the 11th commandment of Christ regarding loving one another as Jesus loved.

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

John 13:34

Everlasting Gospel Provides a Choice for the Warnings

Before the messages of warning of the three angels are proclaimed, it is the “everlasting” gospel that proceeds the tough announcement of judgment, the fall of Babylon, and a terrible beast that will force people to choose between it or God.

It is this everlasting gospel that will likely cause “Babylon” to fall and counteract the threats of the beast. The dire warnings would be weakened without the preaching of “everlasting gospel” first.

This section of Revelation describes a preparation for the return of Christ. Jesus confirms this activity of preaching the gospel to the whole world before the end comes, as recorded by Matthew :

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.

Matthew 24: 14 NKJV

The Three Warnings

In the Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, Jesus fills in the blanks between the preaching of the everlasting gospel and warnings to the people of earth. Without first preaching the sacrificial love found in the eternal gospel, the three warnings have no context, power, or choices for those who hear. It will sound to them as just noise…a clanging cymbal.

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.

1 Corinthians 13:1

The scene in Revelation 14 is the description of an angel (the first of three) who has the everlasting gospel to preach to everyone on planet Earth. It is visible because it is in the air! Not one person is exempt from the hearing of this everlasting gospel. The power of this message gets attention as insinuated by the sound of a “loud voice.” If you have ever been in a relatively quiet place with the sound of people talking in the background and you hear someone get loud. It gets your attention. With all the activity of earth’s everyday activities, a voice will rise above the clatter. It is the preaching of the “everlasting gospel.” In conjunction with that loud voice comes the messages of the other angels, but the core of their messages is a gospel that will never end.

This angel has the first of three warnings for the people of Earth before the end comes. Note: I am briefly showing the warnings for context to end this article. The study of these messages is deep and requires more time and space to investigate, which I will attempt next time.

Warning #1

 “…saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.”

Revelation 14: 7

The first angel that has and proclaims the eternal gospel gives the first warning. Because of God’s great love, he wants all to come to repentance so that no one will perish. He warns that it is time to turn away from earthly idols and life’s priorities to worship the Creator.

Warning #2

A second angel follows who warns:

Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.” Revelation 14: 8

As people hear the eternal gospel of love, it brings down this symbolic Babylon with its truth about Jesus. Fornication is the mixing of two things that do not belong together…. unmarried sexual relations, which symbolizes the mixing of the truth of Jesus and the error of the false teachings from a city…a dwelling place of power. The truth exposes the lies of Babylon (which means confusion), and it brings down this city of error).

Warning #3

Then, a third and final angel warns with a loud voice like the first angel:

Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. 

Revelation 14: 9-10

Of the three messages, this one is the most descriptive and severe. It has to do with worshipping a beast (symbolic for a religious/political power) and showing loyalty to this power by allowing a symbolic mark that displays loyalty to this antichrist power. That is the choice: loyalty to the God who loves and created you or the beast power that wants to manipulate and use you!

These messages are delivered individually but logically connected in their order. Hopefully, we will discover more next time, but for now, let us focus on the eternal gospel. The story of redemption that we will discuss in heaven after prophecies, these warnings, tongues, faith, and hope have been fulfilled.

If the eternal gospel is understood and accepted now, it becomes the insurance against the three warning messages. Blessings as you consider these things.

Inspiration

The Story Jesus Wanted To Tell, But Couldn’t

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“Arise, shine, for your light has come,
    and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.
See, darkness covers the earth
    and thick darkness is over the peoples,
but the Lord rises upon you
    and his glory appears over you.
 Nations will come to your light,
    and kings to the brightness of your dawn.”

Isaiah 60: 1-3

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The following account is based on Luke 15 and as told by Pastor Melvin K. Eisele.  The message of the story is recalled and painted as I heard it.

You are familiar with the story of Luke, but there is a twist.  If you catch it, what is the message for us as individuals and as a church?  You write the ending.

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A wealthy man had two sons and a daughter. The father gave the son a colorful coat which the son wore almost all the time.  He was so proud of its looks and the cost of the coat.  One day the younger son came to his father and asked him if he could have his inheritance now instead of waiting until later.

The father went to the bank with his son and calculated in his head how much the inheritance would be.  Then he withdrew the money from the bank and gave it to is son.  The father walked slowly and sorrowfully back to his farm as tears flowed down his face.  His beloved son Johnny was leaving home and the father knew that the world had many dangers waiting for him.  But, this was what Johnny wanted.

The day was wasting away. The father returned to his duties and the older son and daughter to theirs.  Before long Johnny came riding up on a bright shiny black stallion that pranced in high steps to show off his beauty.  The son was dressed like a king.  His posture was erect and proud.

Johnny had come back to quickly say his farewells before he headed out to the waiting world and its opportunities.  The older brother and sister helped him pack his few remaining things; all the while trying to tell Johnny that he was making a mistake.  They told him that the father was hurt and troubled over his wish to leave the safety and comfort of his home.

The son pompously  departed the property down the long road leading out into the world. The father, the older son, and the sister waved goodbye.  A remaining tear fell down the father’s face.

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Weeks went by.  Very early each morning the older son heard the opening and closing of the door to the house, but thought little of it.

Each day, the older son would see his father stop his work in the field and look down the long road as if expecting someone.  The opening and closing of the door in the early morning also continued.  Curiosity finally grew strong enough to push him out of bed.  The son walked downstairs and looked through the front window and on to the porch.  There kneeling on the porch in the dark of the young day and looking down the road was his father.  His words were soft, but his sobbing was strong.

Often when caravans would come near the property, the father would rush out to them.  He would eagerly ask if they had seen Johnny.

 “Yes, we have seen him in Babylon.  He is the life of the party! People like him and he is very popular and well-known.”

Occasionally, the father would get reports of the younger son and his eyes would grow bright knowing he is alive and well.

Then one day, another caravan came by and the father, the older son, and the daughter rushed out to ask about Johnny.

“Have you seen my son Johnny?”

“Uh, I am not sure.  He was in the city for a while, but as we passed the outskirts of town near a pig farmer, we saw someone who looked like Johnny feeding the pigs.”

The father and his small family were troubled.  The next day the older son and the daughter went searching for Johnny.  It took them several weeks to find Johnny on the outskirts of Babylon feeding the pigs.  They both encouraged Johnny to come back home, but he was too ashamed to return with them.

“Johnny,  father wants you to come back.  He is greatly troubled. Please reconsider.”

“I have many friends here and cannot return with you. My life is good. Please leave me alone.”

So with heavy hearts the brother and sister began the long ride home to their father and went about their work on the family farm.

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The father began to build houses on the property.  As the builders finished one, he would start them on another.  Much time passed and the father stopped every day to look down the road.  Each dark morning the older brother heard the opening and closing of the door downstairs.  Pretty soon the caravans had no report on Johnny.

The family was worried about Johnny.  The brother and sister thought he would never come home. Their appeal to him had failed. So the long days continued, but the father routinely continued to look.

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One day as they were working under the hot sun, the son and daughter saw their father running towards a small dot off in the distance.  They, too, began to run towards the dot anticipating it to be Johnny.  They youngsters passed their father and reached Johnny first.  He was tattered and the colors of his coat had faded.  He was skinny and dirty.  With his head down cast, he put his head on the shoulders of his brother and sister.  They were overjoyed despite the smell and the feeling of Johnny’s skinny body under the worn-out coat.

As the father came running up to Johnny, he almost fell with excitement.  His face was wet with tears of joy!

“Oh my Johnny.  My dear son!  How I have missed you!”

The strong tanned arms of the father wrapped his arms around the frail Johnny.  He pulled the  dirty smelly head of his younger son to his breast and wept aloud with his son.

The brother and father stepped back to see the scene and wept with them.  Then they rushed back to farm to instruct the workers to prepare a great feast with food and song.

Johnny had returned home!

Johnny said to his father,

“Dad, I missed you.  I have spent all the money you gave me.  I am hungry and ashamed. I have done things that has dishonored you.  I will understand if you want me to continue on.”

The father put his arm around him as they walked the long road back to the farm and the many houses he had built.

“Johnny, you are my son.  All I have is yours.”

“Dad, you are all I have or want. The world was fun for a while, but I now know that your love for me is better than anything money can buy.

After Johnny showered, the father, the older brother, and sister came to his room.  The father laid out a new and even more expensive set of clothing on the bed.  The father gently helped his weak son dress.  Johnny felt the warmth of the robe and the great feeling of being clean. But, most of all, his the sight of his father overcame the hunger from not eating a good meal in months.

That night, the family rejoiced and laughed as they ate the best food around the fire.  Johnny, had come home!  He was dead, but now he is alive!

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Let us take this message to the world.  The love and acceptance of the Father and his family.  The world is dark.  We are to let the glory of the father be upon us.  When the world sees this light, kings will come to us.