What is the "everlasting gospel"? Read Rev. 14:1-13

Jesus promised that the gospel would be preached to the entire world in the last days of the last days!  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 (Mt. 24:14).  We believe Revelation refers to this event.

Rev. 14 begins with a vision of the 144,000 with Jesus, a group God protects and who preach the gospel during the 7-year time of Jacob’s trouble.  There are also two prophetic witnesses whose call to repentance is heard worldwide (Rev. 11:1-13).  But it is the angel in Rev. 14:6-7 that we believe fulfills Jesus’ promise.  He preaches the everlasting gospel to every nation, tribe, tongue and people saying fear God and give glory to Him.  And the context of Rev. 14 is near, perhaps days from, the return of Christ.  But what is the everlasting gospel?

We believe that from Gen. 3:15 when the gospel was first preached, the message has always been to glorify God by receiving / believing in God’s Son.  In the Old Testament it was a hope in the coming Savior; after the cross and resurrection it is faith in the finished work of the Savior who came.  Consider:

·        In Gen. 3:15 God promised Adam and Eve the seed of the woman who would be the Savior.  That is hope in the coming of Christ, the last Adam.

·        In Gen. 4 the story of Cain and Abel made it clear that God was glorified in blood sacrifice.  That sacrifice was hope in the coming Lamb of God.  This building of altars for sacrifice characterized those who believed from then on.

·        In Gen. 15 Abraham believed God’s promise of a son from his own body.  His faith that was counted for righteousness was a belief that God would keep His promise, which He did when He sent His Son.

·        In Israel, the tabernacle / temple, the priesthood, the sacrificial system and the feasts all were expressions of hope in the coming Christ.  This hope in Christ was the only way God would be glorified.

·        John preached the baptism of repentance.  The point was that the Messiah was coming and the only way the people could glorify God was to prepare themselves for the One who would baptize them with the Holy Spirit and fire.

·        Jesus preached the gospel of the kingdom (Mt. 4:23) which will again be preached in the time of the end (Mt. 24:14).  This is the message that says the King is here; receive Him.  That was and will be the only way to glorify God.

The gospel has always been about glorifying God.  That is mankind’s fundamental issue, that although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful … (Rom. 1:21-23).  Thus the gospel (good news) is that anyone can glorify God, but he must come to God on God’s terms, and that is through His Son (John 14:6).  I believe this is a needed reminder in the preaching the gospel today.  The good news is not about how I can be happy or blessed or whatever.  It is about how I can glorify my Creator, the Lord of heaven and earth.