Many in the church today understand the Great Commission of Matthew 28:19-20 to mean primarily the spreading of the 'Gospel of Salvation'. While this is true, it is by no means the only work God has commissioned for His church when the Lord Jesus commanded His disciples to 'make disciples of all nations' and 'teaching them to observe ALL THINGS that He has commanded them to do'.
In this blog, I would like to briefly run through FOUR keys areas which I believe are the work God has commissioned the church to do in these last days (the term 'last days' mean post June 1967 when Jerusalem was completely restored to Jewish control after the Six-Day War. It means the end of over two-and-a-half millennia of Gentile rule - 'times of the Gentiles are fulfilled', Luke 21:24 - since Jerusalem was captured by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon in 586 B.C.).
The four key areas of God's Work in these last days can be summarised as follows:
1. Preaching the Gospel of Salvation
2. Proclaiming the Message of the Kingdom Of God
3. Teaching the Word Of God ('Feeding the Lamb/Sheep')
4. Warning Physical & Spiritual Israel of the Great Tribulation
The 'Gospel of Salvation' is about the love of God for mankind that He sent His only begotten Son Jesus Christ to die for our sins. Without His death and resurrection, there is no hope for mankind. But with His death and resurrection, all human beings who have placed their faith and trust in Jesus Christ will be forgiven of their sins with the hope of resurrection to a new spirit body one day at His Second Coming.
Jesus Christ first advent was on a mission sent by God the Father to proclaim the message of the Kingdom of God - first to His brethren the Jews (Matthew 4:17; Mark 1:14-15; Luke 4:43). Subsequently, when they failed to repent of their disobedience and rejected His message, the Good News was given to the church to proclaim it (Matt 21:43; 1Pet 2:9). The Kingdom of God is the government God is going to install during the Millennial reign of Christ on earth upon His return (Rev 20:4-6). Its headquarters will be in Jerusalem. Christ will rule and reign as the King of kings and Lord of lords (Rev 19:16) with the true church as His bride and the saints from all ages ruling and reigning with Him. It will be the time for the marriage supper of the Lamb with the bride clothed in fine linen, representing the righteous works of the saints for all ages (Rev 19:7-9).
The disciple Peter denied Jesus three times. Peter was reinstalled by the Lord and three times told Peter that if he loves Him, then feed His lamb/sheep. Subsequently, when he wrote his first epistle, Peter instructed the church leaders in various lands to feed the flock of God (1 Pet 5:1-2) - meaning to teach the disciples the whole truth from the Word of God. This is absolutely important in these last days as all kinds of half-truths and false teachings have crept into the church (2 Thess 2: 1-12; 2 Tim 3:1-5). Those who are faithful in carrying out this command will eventually receive from the Lord a 'crown of glory that does not fade away' (1 Pet 5:4).
The prophet Ezekiel in the Old Testament book that bears his name, chapter 33:1-9 sounded the warning to the house of Israel (physical Israel) about the coming cataclysm and the judgment of God during the Great Tribulation. This warning is also for the spiritual Israel (the church) when lukewarm believers will face similar ('I will vomit you out of my mouth' - Rev 3:16) punishment (2 Pet 2:9).
The disciple of Jesus Christ is called to be a 'watchman' , especially in these last days, to warn others (physical and spiritual Israel) of the coming cataclysm (initiated by Satan) and the the wrath of God (judgment from God) during the Great Tribulation (last three-and-half years). If we do so and others ignored the warning, we are free from their blood. However, if we know of the impending catastrophe to come and failed to warn our brethren, God will hold us accountable (Ezekeil 33:6). This is something we should not take lightly, for we have been told ahead of time!
Lest the reader misunderstands and concludes that all other works are wood, hay and straw, I like to stress that any work done with a pure motive that glorify the Lord will not go unrewarded. What I am talking about is the big picture for the church in these last days to channel more of their resources to fulfill all facets of the Great Commission, not just one aspect of it.
Monday, December 24, 2007
Sunday, December 16, 2007
The Kingdom of God (5)
I have just returned from a study cum vacation trip to Israel (December 2-14, 2007). My wife and I, together with sixty seven other church members visited places like Tiberias, Cana, Nazareth, Capernaum, Caesarea Philippi, Jericho, Bethlehem, Masada, Megiddo and Jerusalem among others. In total , we spent ten nights in Israel - four in Tiberias, one in Jericho (we floated in the Dead Sea!) and five nights in Jerusalem. It was a memorable trip as we visited the sites and surroundings where Jesus walked and ministered with His miracles and healing powers, including the Sea of Galilee.
Remember that Jesus first came as a Messenger from God proclaiming the message of the Kingdom of God in the region of Galilee (Mark 1:14). This message which Jesus preached is the Millennial Kingdom to be established on earth after His Second Coming. The Kingdom of God is God's government within the Millennial Kingdom. At the synagogue in Nazareth (I was there in this trip) where He had been brought up, Jesus stood up and read Isaiah 61:1-2. He finished off with the verse, 'To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord'. As one day is as one year in bible prophecy (see Numbers 14:34 and Ezekiel 4:6) and with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day (2 Peter 3:8), putting these verses in juxtaposition will reveal that Jesus was probably referring to the coming Millennial Kingdom. Because in the same context, the very same verse in Isaiah 61:2 reads, 'And the day of vengeance of our God', which obviously refers to the last one year of the Great Tribulation where the wrath of God will be poured forth upon planet earth known as the time of Jacob's trouble (Jeremiah 30:7)!
A study of God's Holy Days seems to reveal that the Almighty has two separate times to harvest mankind into His Kingdom. The first is the Feast of Pentecost, the 'spring' harvest of Christians in this church age - who will be the 'First Fruits' of the Kingdom. James 1:18 reveals that they are 'a kind of firstfruits of His creatures'. These are believers who will be 'born again' into spirit-body come the resurrection (1 Cor 15:50-54) to be rulers, priests and teachers in the Kingdom of God. They will rule and judge the world (even above the angels -1 Cor 6:2-3) in the world to come!
The 'fall' harvest will come much later when God will judge all mankind at the Great White Throne based on their works and what had been revealed to them (Revelation 20:11-15). However, in this present church age, God is judging His church first - those who are called (1 Peter 4:17) - who will later judge the world in the age to come.
The Apostle Paul in Romans 8:29-30 describes the five stages in the life of a Christian whom God works in him from beginning to the end of his salvation. He 'foreknew' us, because He knew us even before we knew Him. At some point in our Christian walk, God also 'predestined' us -meaning that He 'called' us and reveals Himself to us. When we respond to His call, we become converted, and that is being 'justified' with our sins forgiven and made righteous before God. Believers who are overcomers will be 'glorified' at the first resurrection upon Christ's return. Only those who are faithful and are overcomers (Rev 3:21) in their trials and tribulations in this life will be 'chosen' (Matthew 22:14) to rule and reign with Christ in the Kingdom of God. They have the image of Christlikeness to be a member of God's family as sons of God (not daughters because there is no sex in the resurrected body - Matthew 22:30) with Christ being the 'Firstborn' among many brethren (Romans 8:29).
Hence, it is clear that God planned all these even before the foundation of the world (see Ephesians chapter 1). For the last 6,000 years since the creation of Adam and Eve, God has been calling and choosing people from all nations to be part of His Family and to become rulers, priests and teachers of His coming corporeal Kingdom on planet earth. As Christians, that is your destiny. But will you believe His (Christ) message and be counted in as Christ is standing at the 'door of your heart and knocking' ? (Rev 3:20).
Remember that Jesus first came as a Messenger from God proclaiming the message of the Kingdom of God in the region of Galilee (Mark 1:14). This message which Jesus preached is the Millennial Kingdom to be established on earth after His Second Coming. The Kingdom of God is God's government within the Millennial Kingdom. At the synagogue in Nazareth (I was there in this trip) where He had been brought up, Jesus stood up and read Isaiah 61:1-2. He finished off with the verse, 'To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord'. As one day is as one year in bible prophecy (see Numbers 14:34 and Ezekiel 4:6) and with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day (2 Peter 3:8), putting these verses in juxtaposition will reveal that Jesus was probably referring to the coming Millennial Kingdom. Because in the same context, the very same verse in Isaiah 61:2 reads, 'And the day of vengeance of our God', which obviously refers to the last one year of the Great Tribulation where the wrath of God will be poured forth upon planet earth known as the time of Jacob's trouble (Jeremiah 30:7)!
A study of God's Holy Days seems to reveal that the Almighty has two separate times to harvest mankind into His Kingdom. The first is the Feast of Pentecost, the 'spring' harvest of Christians in this church age - who will be the 'First Fruits' of the Kingdom. James 1:18 reveals that they are 'a kind of firstfruits of His creatures'. These are believers who will be 'born again' into spirit-body come the resurrection (1 Cor 15:50-54) to be rulers, priests and teachers in the Kingdom of God. They will rule and judge the world (even above the angels -1 Cor 6:2-3) in the world to come!
The 'fall' harvest will come much later when God will judge all mankind at the Great White Throne based on their works and what had been revealed to them (Revelation 20:11-15). However, in this present church age, God is judging His church first - those who are called (1 Peter 4:17) - who will later judge the world in the age to come.
The Apostle Paul in Romans 8:29-30 describes the five stages in the life of a Christian whom God works in him from beginning to the end of his salvation. He 'foreknew' us, because He knew us even before we knew Him. At some point in our Christian walk, God also 'predestined' us -meaning that He 'called' us and reveals Himself to us. When we respond to His call, we become converted, and that is being 'justified' with our sins forgiven and made righteous before God. Believers who are overcomers will be 'glorified' at the first resurrection upon Christ's return. Only those who are faithful and are overcomers (Rev 3:21) in their trials and tribulations in this life will be 'chosen' (Matthew 22:14) to rule and reign with Christ in the Kingdom of God. They have the image of Christlikeness to be a member of God's family as sons of God (not daughters because there is no sex in the resurrected body - Matthew 22:30) with Christ being the 'Firstborn' among many brethren (Romans 8:29).
Hence, it is clear that God planned all these even before the foundation of the world (see Ephesians chapter 1). For the last 6,000 years since the creation of Adam and Eve, God has been calling and choosing people from all nations to be part of His Family and to become rulers, priests and teachers of His coming corporeal Kingdom on planet earth. As Christians, that is your destiny. But will you believe His (Christ) message and be counted in as Christ is standing at the 'door of your heart and knocking' ? (Rev 3:20).
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