Sharing the Everlasting Gospel

Welcome back, dear friends, as we continue our journey through the profound truths revealed in God's sanctuary. We've explored its earthly patterns and its heavenly reality, understanding how it illustrates God's plan of salvation and the work of our High Priest, Jesus Christ. Today, we turn our attention to a crucial aspect of this understanding: sharing these vital truths with a world desperately in need. The sanctuary message, with its revelation of God's love, His justice, and the ongoing judgment, is not just for us to understand; it is an essential part of the urgent end-time gospel message that we are called to proclaim to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people.

The Everlasting Gospel for All the World

The Bible tells us of a special message to be proclaimed just before Jesus' return. It's a message of hope, warning, and call to worship. This is beautifully captured in the book of Revelation:

And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Revelation 14:6

Notice that this is called the "everlasting gospel." It’s the same good news of salvation through Jesus Christ that has been proclaimed throughout history, but now it's given with a special urgency and clarity for the final days. The sanctuary message helps us understand this gospel in its fullest scope, revealing God's character and His complete plan to deal with sin. It shows us not only how God saves us from sin, but also how He ultimately cleanses the universe from its effects.

Proclaiming the Hour of God's Judgment

The very next verse in Revelation 14 adds a critical component to this everlasting gospel:

Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. Revelation 14:7

The proclamation that "the hour of his judgment is come" is an integral part of the everlasting gospel. This judgment is not a surprise to those who understand the sanctuary message. We've seen how the daily and yearly services of the earthly sanctuary pointed forward to a heavenly work of Christ. The Day of Atonement, in particular, represented a time of cleansing and judgment, where sins were dealt with comprehensively. In the heavenly sanctuary, our High Priest, Jesus, is now ministering, and part of that ministry involves this investigative judgment, where the records of humanity are reviewed.

This message calls us to "Fear God," which means to hold Him in reverent awe, to respect His authority, and to live in obedience to His will. It's a call to "give glory to him" by reflecting His character in our lives. And it's a call to "worship him that made heaven, and earth," reminding us of His role as Creator and our rightful allegiance to Him, especially in contrast to any false worship.

The sanctuary message provides the framework for understanding how God is just in His judgments and how He provides complete salvation. It reveals Jesus as both our sacrifice and our advocate, making the judgment a demonstration of God's character, not a terrifying arbitrary decree.

Our Commission to Share

Understanding these truths places a profound responsibility upon us. Jesus Himself gave His followers a clear directive before His ascension:

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Matthew 28:18-20

This is the Great Commission. We are called to "teach all nations" and to instruct them in "all things whatsoever I have commanded you." This includes the deep, rich truths of the everlasting gospel, which are illuminated by the sanctuary message. We are not to withhold any part of God's revealed truth, but to share it faithfully and lovingly.

The power for this task comes from Christ Himself, who promised, "lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." We are not sent out in our own strength, but in the strength of Him who has "all power in heaven and in earth." The urgency of the end-time message, including the judgment hour, means that there is no time to lose. As it is written:

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9

God desires that all hear the good news and have an opportunity to respond. Our sharing of the everlasting gospel, including the sanctuary truths, is part of His plan to reach every soul.

What We Are Called to Share

When we share the everlasting gospel in light of the sanctuary message, we are sharing:

• God's unfathomable love: How He devised a plan to save us, even sending His Son to die for us (John 3:16).
• The perfect sacrifice of Jesus: His atoning death on the cross, represented by the altar of sacrifice (Hebrews 9:22).
• Jesus' ongoing ministry as our High Priest: His work in the heavenly sanctuary, interceding for us and cleansing us from sin (Hebrews 4:14-16; Hebrews 7:25).
• The reality of the judgment: That God is reviewing the lives of all humanity, but this judgment is not arbitrary; it's based on His perfect law and our response to His grace (Daniel 7:9-10; Revelation 22:12).
• The promise of complete cleansing and restoration: That through Christ's work, sin will be eradicated, and God's people will be fully reconciled to Him (Revelation 21:3-4).
• The soon return of Jesus: The culmination of all these events, when He will come to take His faithful children home (John 14:1-3; Revelation 22:7).

These are not merely doctrines; they are life-transforming truths that reveal the character of God and His ultimate victory over sin and evil. They are the core of the everlasting gospel that the world needs to hear today.

Conclusion

The sanctuary message is far more than an interesting theological study; it is a vital lens through which we understand the everlasting gospel and its urgent proclamation in the last days. It clarifies God's plan of salvation, the reality of the judgment, and the glorious hope of Christ's return. As recipients of these precious truths, we are called to be God's messengers, sharing this comprehensive, life-giving gospel with love, clarity, and urgency, knowing that the Lord is with us "alway, even unto the end of the world."

Reflection Questions

1. Read Revelation 14:6-7 again. What aspects of the "everlasting gospel" do you feel are most important for people to understand today, especially in light of the "hour of his judgment"?
2. How does understanding Jesus' ministry in the heavenly sanctuary give you confidence or peace regarding the judgment mentioned in Revelation 14:7?
3. Consider Matthew 28:19-20. What does it mean for you personally to "teach all nations" and to instruct them in "all things whatsoever I have commanded you"? How can you apply this in your daily life?
4. What specific truths from the sanctuary message do you believe are most crucial for sharing with others as part of the everlasting gospel? How can you present these truths in a way that is both clear and compelling?