And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. (Rev 14:6-7 KJV)
What is the everlasting gospel?
In this exciting verse we see an angel with the everlasting gospel that is preached to every nation, kindred, tongue and people. But what is this everlasting gospel that he is preaching? He gives us a small clue by saying to fear God and give God glory for God’s judgment has come and to be sure to worship the one that made heaven, earth, the sea and the fountains of waters. But we need more information about the everlasting gospel.
Looking at the words “everlasting” and “gospel” in the Greek we find:
Everlasting
166 αἰώνιος aionios {ahee-o’-nee-os}
Meaning: 1) without beginning and end, that which always has been and always will be 2) without beginning 3) without end, never to cease, everlasting
Origin: from 165; TDNT – 1:208,31; adj
Usage: AV – eternal 42, everlasting 25, the world began + 5550 2, since the world began + 5550 1, for ever 1; 71
Gospel
2098 εὐαγγέλιον euaggelion {yoo-ang-ghel’-ee-on}
Meaning: 1) a reward for good tidings 2) good tidings 2a) the glad tidings of the kingdom of God soon to be set up, and subsequently also of Jesus the Messiah, the founder of this kingdom. After the death of Christ, the term comprises also the preaching of (concerning) Jesus Christ as having suffered death on the cross to procure eternal salvation for the men in the kingdom of God, but as restored to life and exalted to the right hand of God in heaven, thence to return in majesty to consummate the kingdom of God 2b) the glad tidings of salvation through Christ 2c) the proclamation of the grace of God manifest and pledged in Christ 2d) the gospel 2e) as the messianic rank of Jesus was proved by his words, his deeds, and his death, the narrative of the sayings, deeds, and death of Jesus Christ came to be called the gospel or glad tidings
Origin: from the same as 2097; TDNT – 2:721,267; n n
Usage: AV – gospel 46, gospel of Christ 11, gospel of God 7, gospel of the Kingdom 3, misc 10; 77
Based upon the definitions from viewing the words in Greek we could write out the everlasting gospel like this:
The reward for good tidings and with glad tidings of the kingdom of God along with Jesus (Yeshua in Hebrew) the Messiah (Christ in Greek) that has no beginning and no end, which has always been and will always be, and never ceasing.
Now that is a mouthful. But what we can see is the gospel did not begin with Jesus nor end in Revelation. This everlasting gospel has been and will always be, with no beginning and no end. But what also stands out if the usage for the word gospel. There is the gospel of Christ (Messiah) and the gospel of the Kingdom.
The gospel of Christ
The gospel of Christ or Messiah is what we have been commissioned to share with the four corners of the earth. But the question is, what exactly are we to be sharing? There seems to be two very different gospels that get shared. One seems to focus upon Jesus and his death, burial and resurrection and the other on what Jesus preached and taught based upon his works and everyday life.
The gospel about Jesus vs The gospel of Jesus
We can look at the features of both the gospel about Jesus and the gospel that Jesus actually preached.
The gospel about Jesus/Yeshua:
- Focuses on his life, his death, burial and resurrection
- Focuses on his works
- Focuses of his interactions with others
- Focuses on believing IN himself
- Shows us how to live based upon the example of what he did
The gospel of Jesus/Yeshua:
- Focuses on repentance
- Focuses on his father
- Focuses on the kingdom
- Focuses on believing the Messiah (himself)
- Demonstrates of God’s power
Looking at this we see there is two completely different messages being related here.
The gospel of the kingdom
Looking into scripture we can find the gospel of the kingdom is in four different verses in scripture:
And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. (Mat 4:23 KJV)
And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. (Mat 9:35 KJV)
And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. (Mat 24:14 KJV)
Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. (Mar 1:14-15 KJV)
We see from the usages in these verses that we are to be carrying the gospel of the kingdom to all the earth, just like the angel in Revelation. We also notice in Mat 9:35 that along with the preaching of repentance (the gospel of the kingdom) there is to be the power of works displayed by this that preach this gospel. The message delivered by Jesus was not about himself, but about His father and the need to repent and believe the good tidings of the kingdom. But what is our belief all about?
Belief
There are two different versions of belief, one just believing in God or Jesus as they actually exist. There other is quite different and that is actually believing God and Jesus. That simple word, “in”, make a huge difference. This difference is pointed out by James:
James 2:19 You believe that God is one. You do well. Even the demons believe that and tremble. (Jam 2:19 NAB)
James plainly tells us that believing IN God or Jesus is good and that even the demons believe IN God and tremble.
Question is, do you believe what God and Jesus said? That is the difference. That is where you are putting your faith and trust in exercising your belief.
This is what God said in Deuteronomy 28:
Deuteronomy 28:1 And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: (Deu 28:1 KJV)
Deuteronomy 28:15 But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee: (Deu 28:15 KJV)
Do you Believe what God (YHVH) actually said? If you observe and do all his commandments then you will receive all the blessings promised but if you do not observe and do all his commandments then you will receive all the curses?
This is what Jesus said in John 14:
John 14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. (Joh 14:12 KJV)
Do you believe Jesus? Jesus healed the sick, cleansed the lepers, raised the dead and performed other miracles and said you will do these things and greater works.
Believing IN Jesus vs believing Jesus
It is very easy to believe in Jesus and god because there is so much physical evidence. But we see that the everlasting gospel needs to be preached and that gospel is not about Jesus, but is the gospel that he came and delivered. It is time that we believe what God (YHVH) and Jesus (Yeshua) said and did and receive the blessings promised ad to walk in the power and authority given to us by believing what was said. So, do you believe God and Jesus?
