The Everlasting Gospel
The gospel is the answer to mankind's most important question:
“What must I do to be saved?” Any gospel that fails to answer this
question cannot be the everlasting gospel, but can only be a commandment of men and a
travesty of the gospel.
Notice how Jesus teaches us the gospel as He gives the answer to that most important
question:
John 3:16 (KJV) — For God so loved the world, that he gave his only
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have everlasting
life. (emphasis supplied)
The items on the list of things that we must do to be saved are a short
list. Jesus states that it consists of “whosoever believeth on him.”
Can we find further verification of this statement that is so startlingly brief
requirement for such an awesome prize?
Notice further confirmation, soon after the feeding of the 5000 with the loaves
and fishes; note the words of Jesus:
John 6:26-29 (KJV) — ... ye seek me, not because ye saw the
miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. Labour not for the
meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the
Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.
Then said they unto him, what shall we do, that we
might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of
God, that ye believe on him who he hath sent. (emphasis supplied).
Certainly we should not need confirmation of Jesus' description of the gospel
above by other New Testament writers, but it is important to see if they are in harmony
with the above. Notice the words of Paul in describing the gospel, as translated by
J. B. Phillips:
Romans 10:9,10 — It is this word that is the burden of our
preaching, and it says in effect, “If you openly admit by your own lips that Jesus is
the Lord, and if you believe in your own heart that God raised him from the dead, you will
be saved.
For it is believing in the heart that makes a man
righteous before God, and it is stating his belief by his own lips that confirms his
salvation.
This is in complete conformity with what Jesus presented.
I received this message recently: “God's gospel calls for right doing
(Righteousness by faith) in actual fact (in verity) including observing
proper care of our bodies.” (emphasis supplied)
However, Paul states that it is by right believing in the heart that makes a
man righteous before God.
Paul left us with a written example of this gospel used in actual
practice. Remember the account of Paul and Silas who were imprisoned in that pagan
Gentile city, Philippi? An earthquake set all the prisoners free of their shackles:
Acts 16:27-33 — At once all the prison doors flew open, and
everybody's chains came loose. The jailer woke up, and drew his sword and was about
to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped.
But Paul shouted, “Don't harm yourself! We are all
here!”
The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell
trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs,
what must I do to be saved?”
They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you
will be saved -- you and your household.”
What Paul was asking him to do was to do the works God required forsalvation --
to believe on the One that He had sent. (John 6:28,29)
No long litany of perfection of character, perfect obedience to the law --
the ten commandments, or any other worthwhile deeds -- but simply “believe
in the Lord Jesus.” It is not what we do but what He did that saves us.
What we do may very well prevent us from receiving salvation, but it can, in no case,
cause us to receive salvation.
Romans 8:3,4 — For what the law was powerless to do in that it was
weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful
man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the
righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us.
The only righteousness by which we can stand before God in the judgment is the
righteousness of Jesus Christ. The historical fact of His sinless life, His death
and resurrection constitutes this “righteousness of God.” This and this
alone is the good news of the gospel which is proclaimed as a free gift to every sinner.
By hearing this gospel we learn that Christ's perfect obedience to the claims
of the law and by his death its claims for our condemnation, as sinners, was fully
satisfied. It was all done in our name and on our behalf just as if we had done it
ourselves. This is the justification that we receive by faith alone when we receive
Christ as our Savior.
This is the gospel, pure and simple. It is an historic event that is
completed and can never be repeated. Nothing can be added to it and still declared
to be the gospel.
In Paul's letter to the Christian church in Corinth he again explains
the gospel to them:
1 Cor. 15:1-4 — Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I
preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this
gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise,
you have believed in vain.
For what I received I passed on to you as of first
importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried,
that he was raised the third day according to the Scriptures.
All of those texts are a sword in the heart of that doctrine that
salvation depends on our good works and not on Christ's. Christ didn't do those
incomparable deeds to show us that we, with or without His help, can do the same things.
He did them, not as our example, but as our substitute. Not to show us how to
do them, but “in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met
in us.”
Do we receive this assurance after completing a life of service to God,
successfully? That is what some say, but not the Scriptures. Note some of
John's closing words in his epistle:
John 20:30,31 — Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the
presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are
written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by
believing you may have life in his name.
We have life in His name when we realize that we are a lost sinner in need of a
Savior; and we accept Christ as our Savior realizing that He is Lord. We confess our
sins and He faithfully forgives us our sins and cleanses us from all
unrighteousness. In our personal testimony we, with our lips, confess Christ as our
Savior.
Baptism is a form of that witness. It is our personal witness that we
have died to the law which had previously bound us as a condemned
sinner. Even as Christ was buried in the grave following his sacrifice for us, we
symbolically in baptism are buried with Him where we die to the claims of the law for our
death sentence. We are raised with Christ to newness of life. We have died to
the claims of the law from which we are now free and have become married to another --
to Christ, who has made all this possible.
Romans 7:2-6 — For example, by law a married woman is bound to her
husband as long as he is alive, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law of
marriage. So then, if she marries another man while her husband is still alive, she
is called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is released from that law and is not
an adulteress, even though she marries another man.
So, my brothers, you also died to the law through the
body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in
order that we might bear fruit to God. For when we were controlled by the sinful
nature, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, so that we bore
fruit for death. But now by dying to what once bound us (the law), we have been
released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old
way of the written code. (emphasis supplied)
At the cross Christ brought an end to this ministry which brought death (the
ministry graven in stone -- the 10 commandments), and introduced the gospel --
the ministry that brought righteousness and life.
2 Cor. 3:7-11 — Now if the ministry that brought death, which was
engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look
steadily on the face of Moses because of its glory, fading though it was, will not the
ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? If the ministry that condemns men is
glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness!... And
if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which
lasts!
This passage should set in stone, so to speak, that obedience to the 10
commandments law has no place in the righteousness that is required of us to achieve our
salvation. This ministry was only to last until Christ should come, at which time it
was replaced by the ministry of the Spirit -- the ministry that lasts.
Romans 10:1-4 — Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for
the Israelites is that they may be saved. For I can testify about them that they are
zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge.
Since they did not know the righteousness that comes
from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness.
Christ is the end of the law so that there may be
righteousness for everyone who believes. (emphasis supplied)
Prior to the cross the Israelites were instructed that their righteousness
would come from their obedience to the 10 commandments. This was to show them their
need of a Savior, because the law pointed out their sins, and the condemnation that it
sentenced them with, but it was unable to remedy this death sentence.
Moses, in his instructions to the Israelites, shortly prior to their entrance
into Canaan gave this instruction:
Deut. 6:25 — And if we are careful to obey all this law before the
Lord our God, as he has commanded us, that will be our righteousness.
That method of receiving their righteousness was a temporary arrangement and
was only to last until Christ would come and replace it at the cross.
Gal. 3:19 (NEB) — Then what of the law? It was added to make
wrongdoing a legal offense. It was a temporary measure pending the arrival of the
'issue' to whom the promise was made.
Vss. 21-25 — If a law had been given which had power to bestow
life, then indeed righteousness would have come from keeping the law. But Scripture
has declared the whole world to be prisoners in subjection to sin, so that faith in Jesus
Christ may be the ground on which the promised blessing is given, and given to those who
have such faith.
Before this faith came, we were close prisoners in
the custody of law, pending the revelation of faith. Thus the law was a kind of
tutor in charge of us until Christ should come, when we should be justified through faith;
and now that faith has come, the tutor's charge is at an end.
Isn't it clear that since the cross a completely different way to receive
righteousness was made known? Also that the old way (obedience to the law) had
entirely ceased to produce that function, inadequate though it was?
Romans 3:21-24 — But now a righteousness from God, apart from law,
has been made known, to which the law and the prophets testify. This righteousness
from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no
difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
The term “righteousness by faith” is so important, but unfortunately
there are many who have a very hazy conception of what it is speaking of. This
passage should clear up most of the fog. We know from this text that it is “a
righteousness from God, apart from law.” Obedience to the ten commandments, as
worthy as that may be, can in no way be required to receive this righteousness.
“This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all
who believe.” Who believe what? That Jesus Christ is Lord. It can't
be from our right doing because that would mean that we were receiving what was due as our
wages.
Romans. 4:4,5 — Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to
him as a gift, but as an obligation. However, to the man who does not work but
trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as
righteousness.
It is hard for us to see how a wicked man could be justified by God and
credited as righteous on the basis that he trusts God. What about all those good
works I have done -- kept the commandments to the best of my ability, preached in
your name and endless good deeds, and you count him righteous in preference to me??
How did Jesus answer this question?
Matthew. 7:21-23 — Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will
enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and
in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles??' Then I will tell them
plainly, 'I never knew you. Away with you, you evil doers!'
Jesus didn't deny that these good deeds which they claimed to have done, were
unfounded. These good deeds Jesus has even stated that His followers would be doing
until His return. However, those are not the works that the Father requires of us to
receive the gift of salvation.
John 6:28,29 — Then they asked him, “what must we do to do the
works God requires?” Jesus answered, “The work of God is this; to believe in the
one he has sent.”
“Only he who does the will of my Father,”
only they will enter the kingdom of heaven. And to do His will is to do the work that He
requires — to believe in the one that He has sent.
1 John 5:13 — I write these things to you who believe in the name
of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. (emphasis
supplied)
No question about it, this is the assurance that we have eternal life
now. This doesn't mean that we won't die before this becomes eternally fixed in that
state where death can never intervene. But whether alive or asleep, we have the
assurance that our eternal salvation is secured.
1 Thess. 5:9,10 (NEB) — For God has not destined us to the terrors
of the judgment, but to the full attainment of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.
He died for us so that we, awake or asleep, might live in company with him.
This is the part that we receive by faith now. We will see it in
everlasting reality when Jesus comes and welcomes the redeemed into His eternal Kingdom,
as a member of the family of God.
“God has not destined us to the terrors of the judgment.” This
is because, if we are in Christ, we do not come up in the judgment because we incur no
condemnation.
Romans 8:1,2 — Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those
who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me
free from the law of sin and death.
The law of sin and death is the ten commandment law. You sin and you
receive the death sentence. Sin is the transgression of the law and the wages of sin
is death. But we usually fail to see the rest of the statement.
Romans 6:25 — For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is
eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (This is because there is now no condemnation
for those who are in Christ Jesus).
Notice how Jesus had previously presented this neglected truth:
John 3:17,18 — For God did not send his Son into the world to judge
the world; but that the world should be saved through him.
He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged
already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
The born again Christian -- the one that is in Christ, does not come
up in the judgment. Notice further confirmation of this by Jesus:
John 5:24 — Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears my word, and
believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has
passed out of death into life.
There is no need for us to fear the judgment if we have committed our lives to
Christ. This is proof positive that the born again Christian does not come up in the
judgment. Christ has been found worthy following the resurrection and we will be judged by
His righteous acts-- not ours.
There is a wonderful summation of this by Paul in his book to the Ephesians:
Ephesians 2:3-10 (NEB) — In our natural condition we, like the
rest, lay under the dreadful judgment of God. But God, rich in mercy, for the great
love he bore us, brought us to life with Christ even when we were dead in our sins; ...
For it is by grace you are saved, through trusting
him; it is not your own doing. It is God's gift, not a reward for work done. There
is nothing for anyone to boast of. For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to
devote ourselves to the good deeds for which God has designed us. (emphasis
supplied)
Here we have, spelled out, where our good deeds will flow from. When we
receive God's matchless gift of salvation -- even given with us “dead in our
sins,” Christ enters our hearts through His personal representative -- the
Holy Spirit. This new creature that God creates in Christ Jesus is then programmed
to doing the good deeds for which God has designed us. Our big mistake is to do these good
deeds as our attempt to enhance, to whatever degree, our salvation. These are the
ones to whom Jesus says; “I never knew you.” It is because they were
working diligently to comply with a never ending list of good “requirements”
deeds, but failed to focus their attention on the work that God requires for eternal life --
to believe on the One that He has sent.
Is it important for us to have a proper knowledge about what the gospel really
consists of? Won't we do just fine if we are basically good people, respecting our
nation and our neighbors, etc? I believe that what we have presented here will
dispel that contention, but if there still remains a doubt, notice how Paul contributes to
the discussion of this question:
Gal. 1:6-10 — I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the
one (Paul) who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel --
which is really no gospel at all.
Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion
and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.
But even if we, or an angel from heaven should preach
a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! As
we have already said, so now I say again: If any body is preaching to you a gospel other
than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned.
Vss. 11,12 — I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I
preached isnot something that man made up. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I
taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.
This doesn't sound like an unimportant teaching, does it? If the reader
of this booklet finds himself with a totally different understanding of the gospel,
remember that this is the everlasting gospel that Jesus, John, Paul, etc. are describing
and no changes or additions allowed. It would behoove you to open your Bible and
look up these texts for yourself to confirm or refute the validity for this teaching as
presented. In doing this you will find enormous additional material corroborating
this from the New Testament.
If this is new to you, I wish God's blessing to accompany you as you search
these passages with an open mind to see if these things be so. How sad it would be
if our first realization of this truth will be the words spoken by Jesus to us that
“I never knew you.”
Addendum
The Three Angel's Messages
I would like to present, from the Bible, the time in earth's history when prophecy
declares the gospel to reach its full culmination. It is a time that is future, but
I believe it must be very near.
Of all the events that happen on this earth during this 1335 day period that
precedes Christ's Second Coming, none are more important than the messages and their
timing of the three angels as described in Rev. 14:6-12. To see the overall picture
I would suggest you read my booklets The 144,000, and The Three Angel's
Messages. This is too much to cover as a side issue in this booklet, but I
would like to present how the gospel fits into this scenario.
I like to think of God, in relationship to these messages, as the publisher of heaven's
newspaper that He sends to this earth, with essential information for all its inhabitants.
These three messages are “special editions” that He sends to earth and
there is a special need for them at the time at which they are sent. Notice the
first message:
Rev. 14:6,7— Then I saw another angel flying in mid-air, and he had
the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth -- to every nation,
tribe, language and people. He said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give him
glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens,
the earth, the sea and the springs of water.”
This gospel that we have been studying is that first “special
edition” that God sends to every inhabitant of the earth. He is calling them to
worship the Creator God -- Jesus Christ, the only name in heaven or earth by
which we might be saved.
At this same time, the Anti-Christ (Lamb-like beast) is declaring himself to be
God above every god. With threats and enticements he is commanding every inhabitant
on earth to reject the true God and worship the first beast and the image that he set up
to the first beast. If enticements are unsuccessful, they are then threatened with a
death sentence.
This special edition also states that “the hour of his judgment has
come.” This is speaking of the judgment that takes place at Christ's Second
Coming. Its at the Battle of Armageddon when Christ brings this evil One World
Order's armies to Jerusalem. They believe that they are going there to eradicate the
Israelites from the earth, but God is bringing them for judgment and execution.
Joel 3:12 — Let the nations be roused, let them advance into the
valley of Jehoshaphat, for there I will sit to judge all the nations on every side.”
During the first 1260 days of this 1335 day period, described as the day of the
Lord, the Anti-Christ rules the world with his One World Order wicked conglomerates.
He is symbolized as the Lamb-like beast and is the general who directs the
activities of that dreadful beast that comes up out of the sea, with seven blasphemous
heads and ten horns. The ten horns represent the ten kingdoms represented in this
wicked combine bearing the dragon's logo. Notice the activities of this beast as
noted in Revelation:
Rev. 13:5-8 — The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and
blasphemies and to exercise his authority for 42 months (1260 days). He opened his
mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live
in heaven. He was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them.
And he was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation.
(That's every person on earth.)
All the inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast --
all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was
slain from the creation of the world.
The 144,000 are especially selected by God and sealed for the purpose of
revealing the Creator God -- Christ -- to every nation, kindred, tongue
and people. They do this by preaching the everlasting gospel so that every
inhabitant of this planet is given the reason to worship Christ instead of the
Anti-Christ. All will worship one or the other.
This is to inform this earth's inhabitants that Christ is worthy of our worship
and why. If they maintain their belief that Christ is Lord and remain committed to
Him, they will be saved.
At the end of these 1260 days that the Anti-Christ has received authority from
God to rule this earth, his reign comes to an end. This is signaled by the seventh
trumpet which announces Christ's rule to begin. It is preceded by a severe
earthquake. Notice this account when the 144,000 have completed their 1260 days of
witnessing. It is during this same period of the Anti-Christ's rule when he has made
war on them and killed them, but after three and a half days they are called up into
heaven -- after being raised to life.
Rev. 11:13— At that very hour there was a severe earthquake and a
tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake,
and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.
It is at this time that God's second “Special Edition” announces to
the world this destruction that has devastated Babylon -- the Anti-Christ's
capitol city.
Rev. 14:8 — A second angel followed and said, “Fallen, fallen
is Babylon the Great which made all nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries.
Here, at the end of the Anti-Christ's rule, during which he had deceived most
of the world into believing that he was God, and was successful in all that he did; and
now we have a great earthquake which is located on Babylon, that great city that rules
over the nations of the earth. This is his capitol city where 7,000 people are
killed and a tenth of the city collapses and falls down.
The second angel's message is an announcement to all the earth that this
invincible god is not even able to protect his own capitol. This means we must have been
worshipping the wrong master. This must be, because the survivors in his capitol
city “were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.” They now
realize that they have been deceived.
This seventh angel's trumpet call that announces the end of the
Anti-Christ's rule and Christ's rule that follows is described in Rev..11 to immediately follow this earthquake.
It is important to keep those angel groups together in their own special group,
as they have separate functions to perform.
This seventh angel who sounds his trumpet at this time is the seventh of that
group of angels described in Rev. Chapter 8 with each his trumpet. The first six
trumpets were announcing the catastrophic events as a result of the Anti-Christ's evil
activities. The seventh trumpet blast announces Christ's rule beginning and His
wrath which follows -- the seven last plagues.
Rev. 11:15,16 — The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there
were loud voices in heaven which said: The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of
our Lord and of his Christ, and he will rule for ever and ever.
And the twenty-four elders who were seated on their thrones
before God, fell on their faces and worshipped God, saying: “We give thanks to you
Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and
have begun to reign.”
This has to occur after the Anti-Christ's rule because it states that it
comes immediately following. It also announces the seven last plagues which continue
until Christ's return. The seventh plague is associated with Christ's Second Coming.
Rev. 11:18 — The nations were angry and your wrath has come.
Following the ending of the rule of the Anti-Christ on day 1260, his
authority to rule the earth has ended, but God allows him to set up a
test to force the world into worshipping the image to the beast. This
happens on day 1290, one month after his rule ends. This is allowed by God to test the
sincerity of those who claim belief in Christ.
Dan. 12:11,12 — From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished
(when the censer is cast down and Anti-Christ's rule begins) and the
abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1290 days.
Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end
of the 1335 days.
These are blessed because they have lived through the 3-l/2 years (42 months)
of the Anti-Christ's reign and followed by the outpouring of the seven last plagues,
culminating in Christ's return.
The third angel's message, this is God's third “Special Edition.”
It is a warning from God to every inhabitant of the earth, the importance of
maintaining their belief and trust in Christ. The threat of the death decree to
those who refuse to worship the image to the beast is probably producing a fallout among
the lukewarm believers in Christ.
Rev. 14:9,10 — A third angel followed and said in a loud voice,
“If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives his mark on the forehead or
on the hand, he too will drink of the wine of God's fury, which has been poured full
strength into the cup of his wrath. He will be tormented with burning sulfur in the
presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb....
This calls for patient endurance on the part of the
saints who obey God's commandments and remain faithful to Jesus.
Who are the saints who obey God's commandments? These are the servants
who have chosen Christ as their Savior and have remained faithful to Him. For the
previous 3-l/2 years they have watched the Anti-Christ and his armies make desolate much
of the earth. At least l/3 of the earth's inhabitants perish during the catastrophes
as announced by the first six trumpets. These trumpet blasts are heaven's
announcements of events on earth that are brought on by the wrath of Satan. This is
the 42 months that the first beast of Revelation 13 rules the earth.
This must be a time to test the patience of any saint, but, to top it off, they
are now threatened by an impending death sentence if they don't reject God and worship the
counterfeit, a counterfeit who is successful in everything he does:
Daniel 11:36 — He will exalt and magnify himself above every god
and will say unheard of things against the God of gods. He will be successful until
the time of wrath is completed.
No wonder they are anxious to see this evil entity come to heel. It
states that “he will be successful until the time of wrath is completed.”
The Anti-Christ's wrath is completed at day 1260, at the sounding of the seventh
trumpet. This seventh trumpet announcing the end of Anti-Christ's reign would
represent the end of Satan's wrath, but the beginning of Christ's wrath which begins with
His reign. The 24 elders announce at the sounding of the seventh trumpet:
Rev. 11:18— The nations were angry and your wrath has come.
We know that Christ's wrath is represented by the seven last plagues and the
seventh plague is associated with His Coming.
Rev. 15:1— I saw in heaven another great and marvelous sign:
Seven angels with the seven last plagues -- last because with them God's wrath is
completed.
Remember, this is speaking of preaching the everlasting gospel. It is
God's last wake-up call for all to do the works that God requires for their
salvation. We have seen this before, but it can fit no place
better than here.
John 6:28,29 — Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the
works God requires?
Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to
believe on the one he has sent.”
This is the only commandment that He proclaims in the everlasting gospel.
“And remain faithful to Jesus.” They have been asked to choose who
they are going to serve. In spite of the inducements and threats of the Anti-Christ
they remain faithful in their pledge to worship the Creator God instead of the
counterfeit.
Here is the place where their belief in the gospel is put to the test. Remember
Paul's description of the gospel:
Rom. 10:9,10 — That is the word of faith that we are proclaiming:
That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord' and believe in your heart that God
raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
When called to pledge allegiance to the Anti-Christ and consent to worship the
beast and his image they will testify with their mouth, “Jesus is Lord.”
Vs. 10 — For it is with your heart that you believe and are
justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
I believe this is the only way we will be saved at that time and any other
time, by confessing that Jesus is Lord. God will take care of the consequences of
the Anti-Christ.
In the call of the angel of Chapter 18, “Come out of her, my people, so
that you will not share in her sins, so you will not receive any of her
plagues.” This is calling, also, those who have been saddled, unknowingly, with
a false gospel. This call is to come out of that false religious system. That false
religious system that has promoted this perverted gospel.