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THE
GOSPEL IS THE ANSWER TO THE BAD NEWS
While
the prophecies of the Bible do speak of a future time of trouble
and distress, they emphasise all the more that THERE IS HOPE. In
fact the meaning of the word “gospel” is “good news”.
The gospel is the answer to the bad news. We have witnessed the
bad news for many days now. So what is the GOOD NEWS? Acts 8v12
says that when the apostles taught “the things concerning the kingdom
of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized.” From verse
25 we learn that this is what THE GOSPEL is all about. This is the
good news. So the gospel is not only about Jesus Christ, but also the
things concerning the KINGDOM OF GOD ON EARTH. There are literally
hundreds of references in Scripture to Christ’s second coming to
establish God’s Kingdom. We cannot quote them all here, but a few
will suffice.
Jesus
spoke of his return, describing it as a king coming to receive his kingdom
(Luke 19v11-27); a bridegroom coming to claim his bride (Matthew
25v1-10); a trader coming to reckon with his officials (Matthew
25v14-13). He promised to raise from the dead all faithful people,
who, in all ages, had looked for his coming (John 11v25). He specifically
mentioned that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob would share a table with him in
his kingdom (Matthew 8v11) and that all his true disciples in that
day shall be like angels possessing visible tangible bodies, immortal,
incapable of dying any more (Luke 20v36). To them he will give
positions of authority, to guide men into ways of peace and true happiness
(Jeremiah 3v15).
When
Jesus ascended to heaven after his resurrection, the angels said to Jesus’s
disciples, “Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven?
this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come
in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” (Acts 1v11)
Clear, unmistakable language!
So
yes, there is a crisis yet to come. But it will only be temporary.
Jesus Christ is coming to give the faithful eternal life in his Kingdom
(1 Cor 15v49-58). However, this prospect is only for those who
have believed the gospel and been baptised into him (Mark 16v16).
Salvation is not for every human being who has ever lived. We still have
time to respond.
We
want to emphasise here that the Bible speaks of this future Kingdom in
clear, unambiguous language. Just read for yourself Isaiah 35 and
Psalm 72 to read of the glories of God’s future Kingdom.
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