Many churches today speak of the great commission as their purpose statement.
Mark 16:15 KJV
[15] And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
This is a great goal to have, but Peter and the 11 were not going to be able to fulfill that commission during their time until Jesus Christ comes back after the seven year tribulation period. The bad news is, you cannot fulfill that commission either.
Matthew 10:22-23 KJV
[22] And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. [23] But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come. …
Notice that Christ tells them that they will not have gone over all of the cities of Israel before He comes back; therefore, they could not preach their gospel to the whole world until after Christ comes back to set up His earthly kingdom.
That means you need to go preach the gospel of the kingdom in the cities of Israel and you cannot preach it to the world until Christ comes back, which means you have to go through the tribulation period. Notice, Christ also tells them that they who endureth to the end shall be saved. What is the end He is speaking about? The end of the tribulation period of course.
What if you do not want to go live in Israel? How about some good news?
You have a new gospel to preach. One you can preach to the whole world before Christ comes back. One you learn about not having to going through the tribulation period.
Did you know that Christ gave a new gospel and a new commission?
New Gospel: 1 Corinthians 15:1-4
New Commission: 2 Corinthians 5:16-21
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 KJV
[1] Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; [2] By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. [3] For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; [4] And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
2 Corinthians 5:16-21 KJV
[16] Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. [17] Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. [18] And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; [19] To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. [20] Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. [21] For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Grace and Peace
Greg Resor
