Advance of the Gospel (2) - Eternal Gospel

After the sealing of Israel (Rev 7:1-8), John saw great multitudes being saved by the gospel.

After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice:

Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb (Rev 7:9-10).

Those who see Revelation as a book of doom and gloom often miss these verses. The number of people saved by the gospel will be a multitude so large that no one can count them. When the Times of the Gentiles are complete, and the Jews join the team, the fulfilment of this promise will be possible.

A vision of the 144,000, representing the Fullness of Israel (Rev 14:1-4), is followed by the eternal gospel going to the nations.

Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language and people (Rev 14:6).

When Israel has received the gospel, the church that includes Israel will proclaim the gospel of Jesus to every tribe, language and nation on earth.

►Advance of the Gospel (1) - Epochal Event

The collapse of human government and the fullness of Israel are the epochal events that mark the end of the Time of Distress. These events release the Holy Spirit to carry the gospel to the world. The epochal event that marks the beginning of the next season is the Advance of the Gospel. Several changes will make a rapid advance of the gospel possible.

• With all constraints gone, the Holy Spirit will be free to do his stuff in a new way.

• The suffering of the Time of Distress will have purified the church. It will be radical and ready to preach the gospel.

• Christians will have been forced to build strong relationships with each other in order to survive through the Time of Distress. People will be able to see the new commandment being lived out in their neighbourhoods (John 13:34). They will be drawn to Christians loving each other as Jesus loves them.

• The nations of the world will have trusted human government for peace and prosperity. When peace and prosperity are stripped away, and governments go down the gurgler, people will be desperate for a better saver. Jesus will stand out from the pack.

• Many people will have experienced Christian love and generosity during the tough Time of Distress. They will have tested this love and proved it is real.

• The gospel will be preached in the power of the Spirit. He will accompany the gospel with signs and wonders that confirm the gospel by openly proving the love and power of God (Mark 16:16-17).

• Christian communities will have developed a model of justice that works. Local judges administering God’s law will deal effectively with crime and injustice, while allowing most people to get on with their lives.

• Jewish Christians will preach the gospel of Jesus and the Kingdom of God with zeal and fervour throughout the world.