Matthew 24 is a shovel full of precious ore. As I said last week, it contains informational gold about the last days – the Tribulation. But there are also flecks of silver in here and even some platinum – for our immediate use. At times we are quite sure that the Lord is speaking about the future period of “Jacob’s Trouble.” But in other verses, without the skill of a well-trained, spiritual chemist, we can’t be sure if Jesus is talking to His first disciples, or us today, or giving some sort of warning to the saints of the Tribulation period. Verse 14 appears to me to be one of those verses which crosses the centuries and all the boundaries. It is a handful of ore with more than one precious mineral.
I was raised in churches which were highly evangelical – where the gospel was taken very seriously. I often heard preachers who seemed to suggest that God couldn’t save souls without their personal help. I’ve been in churches where some form of the gospel was preached in almost every service – and the invitation at the close of the message was almost as long and more emotional than the message itself. But some of those pastors would have looked on this verse and dismissed it as not applying to them. They would point out that Christ is speaking about “the gospel of the kingdom” – not “the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.” I remind you that they are both titles for the same gospel – the same good news – about the same King and the same salvation. And it makes no difference whether that gospel is preached today or during the Tribulation.
What is this gospel of the kingdom to which Jesus refers?
As I have said before, I used to think that references to “the kingdom” meant Christ’s Millennial Kingdom. It was the kingdom of the resurrected Christ; the kingdom beginning with the restored throne of David. And I know for a fact that many Christians and evangelists still think that way. Even though the “kingdom of God” includes that thousand year reign of Christ on earth, the Bible very clearly shows that it is much, much more than that. It is a huge subject taking up large portions of the New Testament. The “Kingdom of God” and the “Kingdom of Heaven” are found in 144 different references. The word “ecclesia” – translated “church” or “assembly” – doesn’t have that many Biblical references. The “kingdom of God” is to be found in every book of the New Testament except Jude. The Book of Matthew speaks of the Kingdom more than fifty times and only seven chapters have no mention of it at all. In his epistles to the churches – Paul speaks of the “kingdom of God” more than ten times – and remember that most of those letters were directed to Gentile churches. The point is, we cannot see Christ in the Bible without running head-on into the Kingdom of Christ. I fear that if we misunderstand the Kingdom of Christ, then we will misunderstand Christ. It is a very important Biblical subject which is almost thoroughly ignored by the average Christian.
A few minutes ago we read the words of Christ Jesus from Matthew 9. If verse 35 is related to verses 37-38, then the gospel and the Kingdom cannot be separated very far. My evangelistic teachers often preached from the last verses of Matthew 9, but I never heard them refer to the “gospel of the kingdom” in verse 35. Those same preachers often took their text from Acts 1 telling students about the great commission. Jesus said to His first disciples – and to us – “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.” Never did my teachers read those verses in the context of the first words of that chapter. “The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.” Like many Christians, Jesus’ first disciples thought of the Millennium when they heard the word “Kingdom.” “When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?’ The Lord replied, “Don’t worry about that aspect of my Kingdom. All you need to consider is your preaching of the gospel.” “He said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” And tying together each part of the context – the disciples were to preach “the gospel of the kingdom.”
What do you remember about Christ Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus? What did they discuss? Nicodemus was the humble Pharisee who came to Christ under the cover of darkness one night. “Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.” The Lord Jesus spoke with the man about regeneration – the new birth – salvation from sin. “Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.” In the midst of that conversation – “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” Remember that this is a scripture used to teach the gospel of our salvation, and what is it that Jesus says? “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of god.”
What was Jesus preaching back in Matthew 9 when he “went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom?” I guarantee He was preaching the same gospel that Paul was preaching in Ephesus, Philippi and Rome. In the last chapter of the Book of Acts, Paul was in bonds and unable to freely get out of his house. He couldn’t go into the synagogue to preach or out into the market place. He had no guarantee that he’d ever be able to openly preach the gospel again. So when people came to his house, I think that you can be sure that he did not fail to tell them about the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. Acts 28:23 – “And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.” Acts 28:30-31 – “And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.”
Earlier, in Acts 19:8, where we have a description of Paul’s ministry in Ephesus – Paul “went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.” Are we to believe that Paul didn’t preach the gospel to those lost Jews in Ephesus? In Acts 20, when Paul was on his way to Jerusalem and passing by Ephesus for what he believed was his last visit, he gave a summary of his ministry. “And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.”
Further examples of this abound throughout the New Testament. One of them is in Acts 8 where we learn of Philip’s ministry in Samaria. Verse 12 says, “But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.” Are people supposed to be baptized just because they believe in the second coming of Christ? Are people supposed to be baptized as some sort of sign of their special participation in the coming Kingdom of Christ?
What is the Kingdom of God?
Here are what I consider to be some of characteristics of the Kingdom – the “kingdom of Heaven” and the “kingdom of God” are synonymous. It is the message of virtually everyone of the New Testament writers and preachers. The Kingdom is unbound by time so that it includes the past, the present and the future. It is both spiritual, physical and mysterious. And it is, at this time, a mixture of good and bad. In other words, there are both citizens and mere servants in this Kingdom. How does one become a true citizen of Christ’s Kingdom? By properly responding to the invitation contained in “the gospel of the Kingdom.” The true citizens become citizens by way of salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ. This kingdom is to be preached throughout the whole world, not just Israel. And those who are not willing citizens, regenerated citizens, shall eventually be cast out.
Why did the Lord Jesus instruct the Apostles about that Kingdom during His last few days upon the earth? Because this kingdom is at the core of the purpose of God. I’m not talking only about the day when Jesus Christ returns to earth, overthrows Satan’s minions, and sits down on David’s throne in the New Jerusalem. I’m not only talking about the re-gathering or the re-establishment of Israel. Although both of these things will one day be a part of this kingdom. The disciples asked the Saviour about these things here in Matthew 24, and the Lord gave them an abbreviated answer. Then in Acts 1:6 they asked if these aspects of the Kingdom were going to take place immediately. And the Lord answered by saying, “It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.” In other words, “Don’t concern yourselves about this aspect of the Kingdom, there are other more important and pertinent parts of the promise than these at this point.”
Without a doubt, in Matthew 24, Christ Jesus is talking about the things which lead up to the Millennium. When the events of this chapter are finished, those who are alive and remain – those who have “endured unto the end” – will be saved and will be permitted to participate in Christ’s promised earthly kingdom. I believe that most of the incoming citizens will be Israelites, but it appears that there will be redeemed Gentiles as well. Both of these ethnic peoples will have been regenerated by God’s grace – they will all be saints of God. But, unlike those of us who are saved today – have been saved prior to the Tribulation – Unlike those of us who will have been glorified, translated and taken to Heaven, escaping the Tribulation, the saints who come out of the Tribulation will be still residing in the flesh – as we are right now. Among other things those people will be married and given in marriage, having families and serving the Lord. And that will be how unsaved people will be found in the Millennium – they will be born during that time.
But by what means will God prepare the Tribulation saints for the glorious Millennium?
How will those people have become new citizens of God’s kingdom? I believe that is what our scripture from Matthew 24:14 is telling us. “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations, and then shall the end be.” The gospel of this verse will be no different from the gospel which we preach today. Remember that this will take place when “except those days should be shortened there should no flesh be saved.” The people of the Tribulation will not be thrilled with stories about a time when the lamb shall lay down in peace with the lion, and the child shall play above the nest of the asp. Yes, Satan will be bound and then locked away for a thousand years and finally cast into the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, but that will not be while this gospel in verse 14 is being preached. These and a hundred other things about the Kingdom are important and wonderful – but infinitely more important is someone’s personal relationship to the King of all kings, the Lord Jesus Christ. And that is what this gospel of the Kingdom is all about.
Last week we considered what Daniel had to say about this up-coming period of world-wide crisis. One of the things which Daniel said was that “many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.” We are definitely seeing the fulfilment of those words. The people of Siberia, Serbia, Slovakia; the Sudan and on the backside of Saudi Arabia, have cell phones. And just like some of you, they have access to the world-wide web, and even to our church web-site. That may continue during the Tribulation. During the Tribulation someone may be able to read or hear this very message this morning. Then there will be the powerful witness of God’s two special ambassadors and the 144,000. “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations, and then shall the end be.”
By what means, during the Tribulation, will people be redeemed and prepared for the Millennium? The same way the people are saved today – by the grace of God, through the ministry of the gospel. The good news is as much the gospel of the Kingdom as it is the gospel of salvation. We are ALL law-breakers by nature and the proof is abundantly clear in our personal history. In other words, we are all sinners and under the condemnation of the law of the King. There is a warrant for our arrest, and there is posse out looking for us. It will find us on the day of our death – which could very well be this morning. But if we will repent of our rebellion and submit ourselves to the King of kings, He has promised to apply the pardon which He Himself has arranged.
It was about this aspect of the Kingdom which Jesus was preaching to the crowds in Galilee. This is to what Christ refers here in Matthew 24. It is this aspect of the kingdom for which the apostles would later be empowered and commissioned. It is to this aspect of the kingdom that the apostles and their children are supposed to be “witnesses in all Judea and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” And it’s this aspect of the Kingdom that I want to lay before you this morning.
If you are not living in direct submission and faith to Christ the King … If you have not, and do not kiss the Son because you love Him and want to Honour Him… If you have not bowed before the cross where He provided the pardon for transgressions against His Kingdom… Then these things are proof of your continued rebellion and your lost condition. You need a new heart; you need to be born again. As the Holy Spirit of power convicts your soul, bow before the Saviour / King. Kneel before the cross of Christ and pledge Him your heart, your soul and your life. Repent and put your trust in the King.