Several years ago I was told by a preacher who believes that the Body of Christ is going through the tribulation period that the major difference between his view and mine is one of timing. He said, "You just think we are going up a little sooner than I do." Actually, the major difference is one of DOCTRINE. Here are just a few examples of the major doctrinal differences between the present dispensation of the mystery (Col. 1:25-26) and the future tribulation period.
1. The Gospel that is to be Preached
Those who have completed the elementary level in their Bible study understand that there is more than one gospel message in the Bible. This fact is clearly seen by simply "comparing spiritual things with spiritual" (1 Cor. 2:13). There is only one gospel to be preached in this age and that is the one that Christ revealed through the apostle Paul (Gal. 1:6-12). Paul is the first one in the Bible to glory in the cross and preach it as GOOD NEWS (Gal. 6:14; 1 Cor. 1:17-18). Christ BEGAN to speak to the His 12 apostles about His death, burial, and resurrection at the END of His earthly ministry and they did not believe it because the purpose of it was hid from them (Matt. 16:21-23; Lk. 18:31-34). For over three years they preached the gospel without even believing in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ! Paul defined the gospel he received as how that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day (1 Cor. 15:1-4). The death, burial, and resurrection of Christ was prophesied in the OT ("according to the scriptures", Ps. 22; Isa. 53) but it was not understood or preached as good news until Paul. The 12 preached the "gospel of the kingdom" which was the good news that the prophesied kingdom promised to Israel was at hand. After His resurrection, Christ opened the understanding of His disciples concerning how His sufferings had to precede His kingdom glory (Lk. 24:13-53). Their question after being taught by Christ over a forty day period was, "Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?" (Acts 1:6). When Peter preached to the "men of Israel" (Acts 2:22) on the day of Pentecost, he charged them with murdering their Messiah (bad news, not good news), proclaimed that He was risen from the dead, and preached the gospel of the kingdom.
(Mark 1:4) John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
(Acts 2:37-38) Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? {38} Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Peter was filled with the Holy Ghost and was faithful to boldly preach what Christ commissioned the apostles to preach after His resurrection!
(Mark 16:15-18) And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. {16} He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. {17} And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; {18} They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
The gospel of the kingdom required water baptism and was accompanied by the signs of the kingdom. All the signs of Mk. 16:17-18 will be manifested in the tribulation period. The apostle Paul was sent "not to baptize" (1 Cor. 1:17) and therefore could not have been sent under the same commission as the 12 apostles. He worked the "signs of an apostle" (2 Cor. 12:12) in the transition period but he taught that those signs would cease (1 Cor. 13:8-13) and they did after Acts 28. I know that Christ was referring to the gospel of the kingdom in Mk. 16:15 because just a few weeks prior He had said to the apostles:
(Matthew 24:14) And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
Why didn't the 12 go to all the world? They were commissioned to BEGIN in Jerusalem (Lk. 24:47; Acts 1:8) which will be the capitol city of the kingdom of heaven (Jer. 3:17). Because the nation of Israel did not repent of killing their Messiah there was no need for the 12 to go to the rest of the world. According to prophecy, the Gentiles are blessed through the rise and instrumentality of Israel. Israel fell in Acts 7 and at that point Christ was prepared to bring them through the tribulation and come again to establish His kingdom (that is why He was standing, Acts 7:55-56). Instead of pouring out wrath He poured out grace by saving the leader of the rebellion against Him (Saul who became the apostle Paul) and revealing through him the mysteries of the present age. This was not an afterthought or "Plan B"! It was according to God's eternal purpose that He purposed in Christ before the world began but kept secret until He revealed it through Paul (Eph. 3:1-12). In this age the Gentiles are blessed through the fall of Israel (Rom. 11:12) and all believers are baptized by one Spirit into one body (1 Cor. 12:13) wherein there is neither Jew nor Gentile (Gal. 3:27-28). God used Paul's ministry to get the gospel of Christ to all the world. In fact, over fourteen years after his salvation he went up by revelation to the apostles who were still in Jerusalem and communicated to them the gospel that he preached among the Gentiles (Gal. 2:1-10). They recognized Paul's distinct ministry and came to an agreement:
(Galatians 2:9) And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.
Paul said that his gospel went into all the world in his lifetime and yet the end still has not come! Comparing Matt. 24:14 with Col. 1:6 proves that Paul did not preach the gospel of the kingdom.
(Colossians 1:5-6) For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; {6} Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:
All those who believe the gospel of the grace of God (Acts 20:24) are baptized by the Spirit into the Body of Christ (Eph. 3:6). The Body of Christ is God's heavenly people (Eph. 2:6) and He has given us an heavenly hope (Phil. 3:20-21). We are not looking for the antichrist from the earth but for the Lord Jesus Christ to catch us up to be glorified with Him in heaven (Col. 3:1-4). It is a serious error to exchange our heavenly hope for Israel's earthly hope (Col. 1:21-23)! Those who believe in a mid-trib, pre-wrath, or post-trib rapture have been moved away from the hope of Paul's gospel and will suffer loss at the judgment seat of Christ.
After this present age ends with the rapture, God will resume His dealings with Israel (His earthly people) and the seventieth week of Daniel's prophecy (Dan. 9:24-27) will be fulfilled. In the first 3 1/2 years of that week the gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all that world just like Christ said. This will be accomplished through the ministry of the 144,000 (Rev. 7). Once again, the kingdom of heaven will be at hand. I believe that the 144,000 will be raptured in the middle of the tribulation just before Satan is cast out of heaven (Isa. 66:5-8; Rev. 12:1-6; 14:1-5). In the last 3 1/2 years of the tribulation an angel will preach the everlasting gospel to the whole world (Rev. 14:6-7). God does not use angels to preach the gospel in this age (Gal. 1:8) or to give messages to the Body of Christ (Col. 2:18). This gospel is called “everlasting” because its basic truth has been declared from the beginning: man should fear God and worship Him because He is the Creator. The world will be deceived into worshipping the beast (Rev. 13) and so this angel will preach that the hour of judgment has come and men must worship the true and living God who made all things in order to escape His judgment.
My question to those who believe the Body of Christ is going through the first half of the tribulation period is: when are you going to start preaching the gospel of the kingdom with signs following?
Paul said that his gospel went into all the world in his lifetime and yet the end still has not come! Comparing Matt. 24:14 with Col. 1:6 proves that Paul did not preach the gospel of the kingdom.
(Colossians 1:5-6) For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; {6} Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:
All those who believe the gospel of the grace of God (Acts 20:24) are baptized by the Spirit into the Body of Christ (Eph. 3:6). The Body of Christ is God's heavenly people (Eph. 2:6) and He has given us an heavenly hope (Phil. 3:20-21). We are not looking for the antichrist from the earth but for the Lord Jesus Christ to catch us up to be glorified with Him in heaven (Col. 3:1-4). It is a serious error to exchange our heavenly hope for Israel's earthly hope (Col. 1:21-23)! Those who believe in a mid-trib, pre-wrath, or post-trib rapture have been moved away from the hope of Paul's gospel and will suffer loss at the judgment seat of Christ.
After this present age ends with the rapture, God will resume His dealings with Israel (His earthly people) and the seventieth week of Daniel's prophecy (Dan. 9:24-27) will be fulfilled. In the first 3 1/2 years of that week the gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all that world just like Christ said. This will be accomplished through the ministry of the 144,000 (Rev. 7). Once again, the kingdom of heaven will be at hand. I believe that the 144,000 will be raptured in the middle of the tribulation just before Satan is cast out of heaven (Isa. 66:5-8; Rev. 12:1-6; 14:1-5). In the last 3 1/2 years of the tribulation an angel will preach the everlasting gospel to the whole world (Rev. 14:6-7). God does not use angels to preach the gospel in this age (Gal. 1:8) or to give messages to the Body of Christ (Col. 2:18). This gospel is called “everlasting” because its basic truth has been declared from the beginning: man should fear God and worship Him because He is the Creator. The world will be deceived into worshipping the beast (Rev. 13) and so this angel will preach that the hour of judgment has come and men must worship the true and living God who made all things in order to escape His judgment.
My question to those who believe the Body of Christ is going through the first half of the tribulation period is: when are you going to start preaching the gospel of the kingdom with signs following?
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