TheShiningLight

Mat 24:14: And This Gospel Shall be Preached

 
The Holy Bible is very hard on it's heroes. The writers of scripture tell the whole truth about people.  They do not spare to tell the bad together with the good.  They give the unvarnished truth, this is why Jesus Christ said that "Thy Word IS TRUTH" John 17:17.   By revealing the bad along with the good, the scriptures reveal the ultimate truth; that there is "none good but God"  Mat 19:17, for ALL have fallen short of the Glory of God Rom 3:23.  Like those men of God who wrote the scriptures, I will not shrink back from telling the truth.  This does not mean that I am anti-Catholic, or anti-American, or anti-Israel, or anti-Armstrong or anti- anyone.  IT DOES MEAN THAT I AM PRO-GOD, PRO-TRUTH AND ANTI-SIN!                                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Our Lord Jesus Christ COMMANDED us to preach the Gospel to the whole world, teaching ALL NATIONS to observe all things (TO KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS)  Mat 28:19-20.  In another place Mat 24:14  Jesus  said that the Gospel of the  coming Kingdom of God would be preached to all the world. What Christ commanded us to teach was; the Commandments of GOD!  We are to teach all nations to observe ALL THINGS WHATSOEVER I HAVE COMMANDED YOU.  NOTICE also, in verse 16 that this COMMAND was given to all the disciples, not just Peter. Do you doubt that? Then refresh yourself regarding the deacons Philip Acts 8 and Stephen Acts 6-7-8
                                                                                                                                               
What is the gospel? It is the Good News of the coming Kingdom of God and how we can enter that Kingdom, through Belief in God, REPENTANCE (turning AWAY from sin; which is commandment breaking 1 Joh 3:4), Baptism and the Atoning Sacrifice of Jesus Christ. 
                                                                                                                                                 
All Christ's disciples have an obligation to obey this command within the limits of their abilities and situation, as God gives them opportunity.  Some preach, some provide financial support. some serve the brethren; and everyone has the ability to pray, to study, to think and to learn; and in so doing develop wisdom in the things of God. We all preach the Word of God by our example, by living the Word of God!
                                                                                                                                               
While every disciple of Christ is obligated to fulfill this command, who is to say that this or that individual will complete the job?  In Mat 24:14, we are told: and this Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness to all nations; and then shall THE END come.  Brethren the words "THE END" are a direct reference to the question posed in verse 3; What shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the world?  NOTICE: The question was NOT; what is the sign of the beginning of the tribulation.  The question was; what shall be the sign of Thy coming?
                                                                                                                                             
Brethren, I tell you true; it is the two prophets who will complete this job, during the tribulation.  Even then an Angel of God shall preach the everlasting Gospel unto all them that dwell on the earth Rev 14:6. Later in verse 8 and verse 9, God sends yet two more Angels to warn of the destruction of Babylon and the Beast.  These Angels are sent AFTER the resurrection verse 1-5 and during the period of the seven last plagues. 

God will NOT leave the earth's people without many warnings.  Yet, those who expect this job of warning to be completed before the tribulation are in for a very big disappointment.  If some say; the hour of trial cannot come, for we have not finished preaching the Gospel, they will be making a very grave error.  Indeed we should work as if everything depends on us, but we should also BELIEVE the Word of God.  The warnings and the preaching of the Gospel shall NOT be completed until the return of Jesus Christ with His saints!
                                                                                                                                                 
At the beginning of April, I asked our visitors to refresh their memories concerning the 1970's overseas travels of Herbert W Armstrong in preparation for Passover.  This may seem a very strange request, I hope that this article will make the reasons clear.
                                                                                                                                         
Herbert W Armstrong made many foreign trips. Shortly after the death of his wife Loma in 1967, these trips began to rapidly increase in frequency.  In the 1970's he began to travel for much of each year. Church publications were full of information about the latest trip and a promotional video titled "Herbert W Armstrong, Ambassador for World Peace" was produced.  It was often said that "God gave him special favour with the world's leaders to preach the gospel to them".  Herbert even went so far as to call many of these leaders his friends and to claim that many members of Japan's Diet regarded him as a father figure (in fact, it was simply a matter of local custom and respect to call an older man father, there was nothing unusual or special about this; it was commonly done for all elderly gentlemen), while he regarded them as his sons.  He often spoke of the many medals, commendations and the praise that he received.  At one point, a kind of "Hall of Fame" was set up at Ambassador College displaying these many tributes.
                                                                                                                                             
What does God's Word say about this?  Every year at Passover it is customary to read the words of Jesus Christ as recorded by John.  In John 15:18-20 Jesus said:  "If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love it's own: but because ye are NOT of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefor the world HATETH YOU. Remember the word that I said unto you. The servant is not greater than his Lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you."  If the leaders of the world hate the things of Christ, how can those that are Christ's be considered by these people to be their friends?
                                                                                                                                               
We are asked by James: "Know ye not that the friendship of this world is enmity with God?"
 
Jas 4:4.  How is it brethren that so many have been misled into seeking the friendship of this world and not the friendship of God?  I tell you that the only way to be friends with this world is to forsake the things of God and to compromise with the Word of Almighty God!  And if God's Word be compromised, it is no longer God's Word but our OWN WORDS. 
                                                                                                                                                 
In the years from the 1930's to about 1970. Herbert exercised authority in the church. Yet he tried to exercise that authority "under God".  Finally his lawyer Stan Radar, a student of Roman Catholic History and  Masonic teachings; introduced Herbert into the heresy of the Primacy of Peter and the Masonic Doctrine of Pyramidal Government; with the most intelligent ruling over and using the broad masses for their own purposes. 

Herbert, believing deeply that he was to fulfill the mission of completing the preaching of the Gospel to this world; was induced to COMPROMISE with the doctrines of Jesus Christ. He was misled into approaching his hosts softly, with gifts and sappy talk about the give way; which they could interpret any way they liked. He knew full well that if he was to teach the Gospel straight out, they would have NO TIME for him. So instead of trusting in God to get things done; HE SOUGHT THEIR FRIENDSHIP AND APPROVAL AS A SIGN THAT HE WAS COMPLETING HIS MISSION!  He was turned aside through flatteries and clever arguments. For an explanation of the Primacy of Peter, Pyramids and the development of events in the WCG, please listen to the Church Government Series on the AUDIO page.  
                                                                                                                                                
We are commanded to "Cry Aloud, Spare Not, lift up thy voice like a Trumpet, and show my people their transgression" Is 58:1.  It is written "Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words, in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of Man be ashamed, when He cometh in the glory of His Father with the holy angels." Mark 8:38. I dare say that Jesus Christ was ashamed of this pathetic watering down of His Word in a disgraceful attempt to win the friendship of this world.
                                                                                                                                             
Yes; we are to witness before kings and rulers, but NOT as their friends. Rather we shall be brought before them for judgement Mark 13:9-10.  Remember that Jesus Christ is coming to overthrow them and we are in training to replace them.  How would you expect them to react if you were to tell them the truth?  Nevertheless; we are not to fear, but to speak the TRUTH with BOLDNESS, through faith and the indwelling of Jesus Christ.  Do you think that the Apostles and Prophets were killed for giving gifts and speaking smooth things to the worlds elite?  Let us look at them and not be afraid; rather let us be filled with boldness, so that we may be accounted like them in the resurrection.
                                                                                                                                                   
I believe that Herbert Armstrong had many things RIGHT.  That does NOT mean that he was perfect, that he was without any faults, errors or sin; or that he knew and understood all things. To put this man, or any man; up on such a high pedistol IS: the SIN OF IDOLATRY!  We have an opportunity to LEARN from his mistakes as well as from those things that he had right. To simply refuse to acknowledge those mistakes condemns us to repeat those errors. To refuse to acknowledge error, repent and turn from that error IS SIN and IS NOT pleasing to GOD.  It is long past time: that some of us remember who died for our sins; and who will judge us; and by who's Word we shall be judged.  ALL people will be judged by EVERY WORD of  ALMIGHTY GOD and not any man.