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The Everlasting Gospel
By W.W. Prescott
Proposition One.-- That which is to be preached a t this time is designated by inspiration as " the everlasting gospel." Rev. 1 4 : 6.
Note.-- There is only one gospel (Gal. 1: 8, 9), but in the. progress of the work of God there come times when special phases of this one gospel are to be emphasized to meet the demands of the hour. John laid special emphasis upon the advent of the Messiah and the preparation needed to receive Him. Luk? 1 : 16, 17, 76, 77. The apostles laid special emphasis upon the facts connected with the person and work of the Messiah. Acts 2 : 22-24 ; 32-36 ; 3 : 13-1 5; 4:10; 33 ; 5 : 30, 31: Luther placed special emphasls upon justification by faith.
Proposition Two.-- Those phases of " the everlasting gospel " which demand special emphasis at this time are the closing feature of the mediatorial work of Christ in the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary ("the hour of His judgment is come," Rev. 1 4 :7), the Sabbath (" worship Him that made," verse 7), and the second advent (verses 14-16). In connection with these positive truths the fall of Babylon will be announced and the warning against the worship of the beast and his image will be given.
Note.-- The great need of such a message is clearly evident now when a false mediaturiai system has taken the place of the true; when a false interpretatloll of sclence has set aside a personal Creator and substituted evolution for the grace of God ; and then a social gospel whose purpose it is to wake this world a good place to live in, is being substituted for the message of preparatlon for the coming of the Lord. Romanism and Modernism are joining hands in making void the the gospel and presenting in its place the teachings of apostasy.
Proposition Three.-- A great variety of expressions are used in the New Testament in order to suggest to us the wonderful breadth and fullness of "the everlasting gospel: " " the gospel of God " (1 Thess. 2 : 2, 8, 9 ) ; " the gospel of the glory of the blessed God " (1 Tim. 1 : 11, A. R. V.) ; '' the gospel of Christ " (Gal. 1: 7 ) ; " the gospel of Jesus Christ " (Nark 1: 1) ; " the gospel of the glory of Christ " (2 Cor. 4 : 4, A. R. V.) ; " the gospel of the grace of God " (Acts 20: 24) ; " the gospel of your salvation " (Eph. 1 : 13) ; " 'the gospel of peace " (Eph. 6: 15) ; " the gospel of the kingdom" (Matt. 24.: 14, the only designation which Christ used) ; " the gospel of His Son " (Rom. 1: 9).
Note.-- There may be more designations than are here cited, but these are certainly efficient to impress us with the breadth of the everlasting gospel," and to suggest the wide range of topics included in it.
Proposition Four.--What might perhaps be regarded as the all-inclusive statement concerning the gospel is found in Romans 1: 1-5. The central thought is that the gospel is " the gospel of God . . . concerning His Son."
Note.--- A study of this scripture will make clear the following conclusions : (1) The gospel was promised by the prophets. (2) It is found in tbe Holy Scriptures," which then included only what we now call the Old Testament. (3) It includes the incarnation ("born of the seed of David "). (4) It includes the death and resurrection of Christ (verse 4 ) . (5) It assumes that Jesus of Nazareth was the Son of God, the true Messiah (" Christ "),l,and the rightful Lord. ( 6 ) I t s n e e s t s grace a s t h e source of our salvation, and faith " as t h a t which makes obedience possible: (7) Inasmuch as the prophets through whom the gospel was promised, often referred to "the day of Jehovahl 1 : 15 ; 2 : 1, 11, 31: 3 : 14, etc.), which is a day of judgment, nild to the reward and the reign of right-eousness (Psa. 32 : l : 40 : 10). this " gospel of God . . . concerning His S@n " xi,!st include the judgementt: nod the second advent (5) For the same reason the coming afid work of the Wole S ~ i r i t . -~
are i n r l n i i ~ 8 in
" the gospel of dod . . . concerning His Son." Joel 2 : 28 ; Eze. 36 : 26, 27.
The folIowing extracts from the writings of Mrs. E. Q. White will be found helpful in this connection:
"Christ cruelfled, Christ risen, Christ ascended .into the heavens, Christ coming again, should soften, eladden, and fill the mind of the minlster tgat he will present these truths t y the eople in love and deep earnestness. The mfnister mill then be lost e i q t of, and Jesus r i l l be made manifest."
- C08pez W O T ~ % T ~ , p. 159.
"As the worker studies the life of Christ. and the character of His mission is dwelt u on, each fresh search will reveal sometfing more deeply interesting than has yet been unfolded. The subject is inexhaustible. The study of the incarnation of Christ, His atoning sacrifice an.d mediatorial work, wlll employ the mlnd of the dillgent student. as long as time shall last; and looking to heaven y i t h its unnumbered years, he will ex$?aim, Great is the mystery of godliness! '
We talk about the first angel's message and the second angel's message, and we think we have some understanding of the third angel's message. But a s long as we are content with a limited knowledge, we s.hnll be disgualided to obtain clearer views of truth. He who holds forth the word of life must take time to study the Bible and to search his own heart. Neglecting this,
he will not know how tor minister to needy souls. The diligent, humble student, seeking by earnest prayer and study of the truth as it is in Jesus, will' most assuredly be rewarded."- Id., p. 251.
' The incarnation of Christ His divinity,
Eis atonement, His wonderful life in heaven as our advocate, the oEce of the Holy Spirit, -all these vital themes of Christianity are revealed from Genesis to Revelation. -Each is a gol:~n link in the perfect chain of truth."-- Counsels to Teachers," p. 4.U.
Proposition Five.-- In " the everlasting gospel" the righteousness of God is revealed, and this constitutes it " the power of God unto salvation," Rom. I: 16, 15'.
Note.- A righteousness which has in it " the power of God unto salvation," must be much more than an abstract theory of perfection. This thought will be developed later.
Proposition Six.-- The gospel of the cross reveals the same power as the gospel of the righteousness of God. 31 Gor. 1: IS.
Note.The gospel is " the gospel of peace," but this peace is established " through the blood of Iris cross." Col. 1 : 20. But the cross is more than an Inanimate instrument of death ; it means a
person crucified, which constitutes the very heart of the gospel. Therefore the apostle Paul, T V ~ O declared that Christ sent him " not to baptize, but to preach the gospel '' (1 Cor. 1:17), defined his gospel in the same connection in these words: We preach Christ crucified, . . . Christ the power of God." 1 Cor. 1 : 23,
That the express lo^?^^' CItrist erueifled '' is broad enough t o include tbe whole gospel is clearly implied In the following extract:
" There is a great work to be done. The world will not be converted by the gift of tongues, or by the working of miracles, but by preaching Christ crucified."--" Testjmo.il.&s to &in.laters and Oo8peZ W o ~ k n - ~ ' ~ page 424.
Proposition Seven- Although the apostle Paul slammed up his gospel as being "Christ crucified," he yet included in this expression all the phases of a eomglete gospel. Acts 13:16-39.
Note.- In this preaching of the gospel at Antioch the apostle Paul appealed to the history of the children of Israel, so well known to his hearers; to the prophecies concerning the seed, or Son, of David; to the preaching of John the Baptist and his testimony concerning the Messiah ; to the facts concerning the crucifixion and the resurrection as the fulfillment of prophecy; and to the supreme blessings of the gospel of Christ, forgiveness of sins and a full justification. He used the facts as the foundation of his gospel, but did not forget CQ build upon this foundation the great and essential features of the good news, forgiveness and Justification. The breadth of his gospel of Christ crucified" is further shown by the outline of his preaching given in his talk with the elders of the church at Ephesus. Acts 20 :,'20-27. Observe the various expressions : Nothing that was profitable ; " repentance ; " faith ; " the gospel of the FrEce of God; " '' preaching the kingdom ; ' all the counsel of God.
Surely no one will say that the apostle Paul took :,narrow view of the gospel when he said, We preach Christ crucified."
Proposition Eight-- The essence of the gospel which Christ preached was Himself : " Come unto Me " (Matt. 11: 2 5 ) ; "Learn of Me" (Matt. 11:29); " Believe in Me " (JohS 14:l) ; " Follow Me "(John 1 : 43; Matt. 8:22; 9: 9; John 21: 22); "Abide in Me " (John 15 : 4).
Proposition Nine.- According to the test which Christ announced, the eternal destiny of every person is determined by his attitude toward Christ. Matt. 10:32, 33. Cf. Acts 16:30, 131;. Mark 16: 15, 16.
Proposition Ten.- The central person in the Scriptures is the second person of the Godhead, the Son of God, the Son of man, the God-man, Jesus Christ :
I. Jehovah of the Old Testament (in the Authorized Version it is "Lord," spelled with s capital " I, " and " ord 'in small capitals) is manifested in the New Testament as Jesus of Nazareth.
Compare Ex. 3: 14,15, with John 8: 58; Ps. 23 : 1 with John 10 : 11; Joel 2: 32 with Rom. 10: 9, 13; Isa. 40:3 with Matt. 3: 3, Note the significance of "Jehovah Immanuel" in the following extract: " The heavenly gates are again to he lifted up, and with ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands of holy ones, our saviour will come forth as King of kings and Lord of lords. Jehovah Immanuel ' shall be king over all the earth.' "-" Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing," p. 160. The word " Jeho-vah" occurs in the Old Testament about 7,000 times; the word " Jesus " occurs i n the New ~ e s t a m e n t 973 times; the word "Christ," 536 times; the word " Lord," 730 times. This indicates that the Bible is the book of
a Person. 2. Christ is the central person in the Pentateuch. John 5 : 46 ; 1 : 45.
3. All the prophets bore testimony concerning Him. Acts 10: 13; Luke 24 : 27.
4. The whole Old Testament testified of Him. John 5: 39; Luke 24:44.
5. The New Testament deals wholly with Him:
a. In the Gospels we find the manifestation of Christ.
6 . In the Acts we find the preach-ing of Christ,
c. In the Epistles we find the interpretation of Christ.
d . In' the Revelation we find the prophecy of Christ.
" The Old Testament sheds light -don the New, and the New upon the Old. Each is a revelation of the glor y of God in Christ. Christ as manifested to the patriarchs, as symbolized In the
sacrificial service, as portrayed in the Paw, and as revealed by the prophets, is the riches of the Old Testament.
Christ in His life, His death, and His resurrection; Christ as Me is manifested by the Holy Spirit, is the treasure of the New."--" @o.ranssls to Teachers," pp. 468, 463.
The book of Revelation is the eon- summation of the whole revelation of truth given to us in the Scriptures. It is thoroughly rooted in the 'old Testament, there being no less than twenty-nine out of the thirty-nine books of the Old Testament represented in it by direct quotation or allusion, while the ten which are not represented are the shorter books. It is the only book of the Bible i n which occurs the expression, " the everlasting gospel." Here we find the conclusion of the gospel which was first preached in the garden of Eden (Gen. 3:15), which was preached to Abraham (Gal. 3: 8), which was promised afore " through His prophets " (Rom. 1: 2 ), which was preached by John the Baptist, and Jesus of Nazareth, and Peter, and John, and Paul, and Luther, and
Whitefield, and Wesley, and William Miller, all of which experiences in preaching the goslpel were so many preparatory steps leading up to the final proclamation of " the everlasting gospel," the special purpose of this message being " to make ready for the Lord a people prepared for Him."
Luke 1: 17, A. R. V.
The true center of this gospel in all ages has been the person of Christ. " Christ is the center of all true doctrine."--" Counsels to Teachers," p. 453. While there was personal salvation, for
every believer in Old Testament times, of which Abraham is a conspicuous example (Gal. 3: 6), yet there was a forward look in the history of God's people as a whole, and especially in the
types and prophecies, which held out the expectation of s Coming One through when the fwPlness of God's gracious and eternal purpose would be realized. The personal presence of
the Son of God in the Besh marked a new era in the development of thegospel (Matt. 13: I:), and Pentecost was another climax of blessing when the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Godhead, entered upon His mission in making effective for us what was wrought out by Christ while He was here. This was the early rain. We are living now in the time. of the latter rain, when our faith should take hold of the promises of God for the greatest spiritual power which has been manifested in the history of the gospel.
But this power can be realized only through the preaching of "the everlasting gospel," the good news of Christ crucified, Christ risen, Christ interceding, and Christ coming-again.
It is therefore our duty as preachers of " the everlasting gospel I' to give such study to the Scriptures, with the light thrown upon them by the spirit of prophecy, that we shall be able to proclaim a distinctive message to the world both by voice and pen, making prominent " the sure word of prophecy as the foundation of the faith of Seventh-day Adventists " (" Gospel Workers," p. 148). and a t the same time to follow the example of the apostle Paul who wrote to the church in Corinth, " I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him
crucified." 1 Cor. 2: 2.
It is the hope of the writer that this first study,.. in which an effort is made to open up the meaning of the eveerlasting gospel," will contribute something toward the solution of this problem. It is only a beginning, but it may lay a foundation for further studies. Earnest students of the Word will be able to fill in the outline here provided with additional passages of Scripture and more quotations from the spirit of proghecy, and such study wilE amply repay those who may undertake it.
College View, Nebr.
