Preaching Is a Sign of the End
Jesus said it.
And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. Matthew 24:14
This is a sign of the end. The end will come after the gospel of the kingdom is preached “to all the nations.” It doesn’t get any clearer than that. God has set the gospel message and the act of preaching it pivotal in accessing the kingdom of God. Proximity to the kingdom of God accelerates with preaching the gospel; Jesus tells us to continually seek His kingdom…
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10
God’s will is for earth to become the dominion of His kingdom—just as He commanded Adam and Eve.
Perhaps the reason some Christian denominations are in decline is the fact they have left from preaching the gospel of the kingdom. They’ve moved from the life of the kingdom.
- Empty Churches: The Decline of Cultural Christianity in the West
- Lutheran church feeling pinch of desertions
- Overall Declining Numbers for Southern Baptists Heartbreaking, Says Leader
- Southern Baptists Report Decline
Perhaps those that are experiencing growth are preaching the gospel of the kingdom.
- Pentecostal Fire Still Driving Assemblies of God Growth
- In Public Schools, Bible Clubs Are On Fire
- More Hispanics are filling Protestant pews
- Dreams, visions, and healings spur new disciples among the Roma
- A Radical Muslim finds Jesus and Leads other Muslims to the Lord
- BGEA Now Reaching Over a Million People Through Social Media
- Why the Revival Flame Still Burns Bright in China
- Is Charismatic Revival Exploding Among Catholics?
- How God Is Exploding Among Latinos
- Christianity is growing rapidly in the world’s largest Hindu nation
Jesus has charged the church with preaching the gospel of the kingdom.
And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” Mark 16:15-18
Preaching the kingdom of the gospel is about showing the gospel, living it, and being it. Signs follow the preaching of the gospel of the kingdom. Perhaps the Christian groups that are declining have redefined the message and delivery of that message and so the power of the gospel is unavailable.
The gospel is the power that brings people to salvation in Christ. No wonder Satan works to diminish, destroy, and devalue the gospel of the kingdom.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. Romans 1:16
This power doesn’t end with the church’s catching away ending the church age. It remains in service to bring others to the kingdom, even during the tribulation.
The 144,000 identified in Revelation are probably tribulation evangelists who continue to carry the message of the gospel of the kingdom (Revelation 7).
The two witnesses of Revelation 11 preach and prophesy the gospel with undeniable signs following.
Then an angel proclaims the gospel demonstrating God’s premium on the gospel of the kingdom right through the wrap up of the ages.
Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people— Revelation 14:6
There’s an evil inspiration to minimize if not to dismiss the gospel of the kingdom. Satan knows it’s the power of God. Why wouldn’t the enemy seek to dissuade even Christians from its power?
Church of Scotland Shreds Bible Canonizes Palestinian 'Scripture'
Humanists Create New 'Jefferson Bible;' Deliver Copies to Obama, Congress
Deception: The Religion-Free Bible Project
The fact that people are deceived from the power of the gospel of the kingdom and are turning away is a sign. The opposing tension is that those who are accepting the gospel of the kingdom and its power with signs following is also a sign of the end. At each end of this tension is a polarization tugging for the hearts of humanity. The war of the ages is fought in the hearts of people, but that will end when that last person hears the gospel and has opportunity to respond--one way or the other.
And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. Matthew 24:14
PD
Related:
What is the sign of His coming?
The Two Churches of the End Times
The End from the Beginning: Revelation in Genesis
Five Signs the Church May Now Be Falling Away
The Sign of the Two End Times Churches
Image credit: https://morguefile.com/creative/Melodi2
We reserve the right to delete comments that are snippy, offensive, or off-topic. For more, read Prophecy Dude’s Comments Policy