(1). Today, in lesson # 5, we begin examining the Second of 5 Critical Issues involving the “Great Commission.” What is the “Time Frame” in which The Great Commission is to take place? (Matt. 28; Mark 16; Luke 24; John 20; & Acts 1).
The “Time Frame” is in the “Day of the Lord’s Wrath,” in the last 7 years on Daniel’s time schedule. Which is yet to come, recorded in Hebrews – Revelation (Prophecy). After “the dispensation of grace” is concluded. This is the “Time Frame!!!” And we must remember, the dispensation of grace was still a “mystery” to Peter, James, & John. The Gentiles would be dealt with, (preached the gospel of the kingdom), just before the LORD returns at the END of the 7 Years of Tribulation.
Note: There is no way anyone could possibly be fulfilling the Great Commission today! “The gospel of the kingdom” has been interrupted! The Time Frame for going to the Gentiles according to the Great Commission is being held back by God, during this dispensation of grace. Cf. 2 Cor. 4:1-4; 2 Tim. 2:15 (The ministry of dishonesty, handling the word of God deceitfully, wrongly dividing, wresting, unlearned, unstable. ”But if our gospel be HID, it is hid to them that are LOST). In whom the god (Satan) of this world has blinded the minds of them which believe not.” Satan has churches too, denominations, preachers, deceitful workers; corrupt doctrine, another Jesus, gospel & spirit! (2 Cor. 11:4; 11:13-15; Gal. 1:6-9) .
That’s why Paul told us in 2 Cor. 6:17: “Wherefore come out from among THEM, and be ye SEPERATE, saith the Lord, and touch not the UNCLEAN THING (religious system): and I will receive you.” “LET GOD BE TRUE & EVERYMAN A LIAR” (Rom. 3:4).
The “Time Frame” for going to the Gentiles, is in the “Day of the Lord’s Wrath,” which is yet to come (future/prophecy). The day when God will no longer be baptizing the N.O.I. with “water, unto repentance,” nor with the “Holy Ghost, to be witnesses, but with “FIRE” (judgment) purging out the rebellious element “with unquenchable fire.” (Matt. 3 :11).
And during that exact same time, judgment begins to fall upon the rest of the world. God begins to offer to the Gentile nations an opportunity to submit themselves to God’s program with Israel, thus avoiding impending wrath, and participate in the established kingdom.
But this is not the program for the CBOC, in this dispensation of Gentile grace. Thank God for “right division.” 1 Thess. 5:9 “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.” If ever there was a PTL moment, this is it folks. Thank God, we know He is holding back His wrath today! God is dealing with us Gentiles today, in spite of Israel!
To God be the glory! God is dealing with us today in His long-suffering, offering amnesty today in the dispensation of grace, to Jew and Gentile alike. Offering amnesty (absolute pardon, unconditional forgiveness), and then an opportunity to become part of the one new man, CBOC, that God is forming in this dispensation of grace for His purpose, to occupy the heavenly places, Right Now, BEFORE He begins that Day of Wrath!
(2). Matthew Chapter 24: Jesus is talking to his disciples about the extension of mercy and forbearance, and the last seven years on Daniels time schedule. The 5th Installment. But again, we know that nothing in Matthew (prophecy) is talking about the dispensation grace!
In Matt. 24;14: Jesus is telling his disciples that AFTER the cross, the gospel of the Kingdom will STILL be preached. But the “time frame” in which the gospel of the Kingdom would be preached among all nations is the issue here. The gospel of the Kingdom is NOT going to be preached again until the Day of the Lord’s Wrath. It is in abeyance, put on hold, by God!
(3). The disciples had 3 questions (24:3). Q. # 1: “When shall the destruction of the temple be? At the midpoint of the Lord’s Wrath. ANS: Vss. 15-28: Jesus expected the disciples to understand by reading Daniel 11 & 12 chps. (whoso readeth, let him understand). “Flee into the mountains.” Why? Verse 21; “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world, nor ever shall be.” Q. # 2: “What shall be the sign of thy coming? ANS: Vss. 29-30: “Immediately after the great tribulation…then shall appear a sign of the Son of man in heaven…and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.”
Q. # 3: “What shall be the sign of the END of the world? ANS: Vs. 14: The sign of the end of the world will be when “the gospel of the kingdom” begins (resumes) to be preached (in all the world) for a witness UNTO ALL (Gentile) NATIONS; and then SHALL THE END COME.”
*But before the END of the world takes place, Jesus says certain things in prophecy must come to pass first: Vss. 4-14: Jesus says: “Take heed that no man deceive you.” (5)“For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. (6) “and ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. (7) For nation shall rise against nation, and Kingdom against Kingdom; And there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers (many) places. (8) All these are the beginning of sorrows ….”
Matt. 24: Again, this is prophecy, not mystery folks! This is NOT our MAIL! Jesus is not talking to the BOC! Jesus is referring to Israel’s prophetic program, regarding Israel’s “last days.” The 5th installment, where “the man of sin” (Anti-Christ) (Daniel 11:5-20) puts together the 10-nation confederation. “Wars and rumors of wars, nations rising up against other nation,” is not anything new folks! Wars and nations rising up against nations, have been going on since Genesis 11. Tower of Babel (when God confused men’s language & scattered them abroad).
Jesus is talking about the prophetic program regarding Israel’s last days. Nations surrounding Israel, the 10-nation confederacy headed up by “the man of sin” (Anti-Christ).
This is a fitting end to my summary! Men standing in pulpits today, on tv, & social media who don’t “rightly divide the truth,” are lying! They teach that “wars and rumors of wars, nations rising up against nations, famines, epidemics, & earthquakes are signs of the end of the world.
Nothing could be further from the truth! God is NOT mad today! God is ushering in Grace & peace. What we see today, is Romans Chp. 8 in action: “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us for we know that the whole creation groaneth & travaileth in pain together until now .But we, the children of God, are waiting for the adoption, to wit (that is to say) the redemption of our body. For we are saved by hope but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why does he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not then do we with patience wait for it.
This is the suffering of this present time because of the bondage of corruption (Sin). That’s why the whole creation is groaning, and we along with it until this present time! But we already know, we members of the church the body of Christ are waiting for the adoption to wit (that is to say) the redemption of our body. Paul wrote 1 Cor. 15 chp:
Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God; neither does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold I show you a mystery, we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. In the moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trunk it shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall all be changed
**Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for as much as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. Amen.
These things in Matthew 24 are pointing to the prophetic Day of the Lord, the last days. You & I won’t be here! All these are the beginning of sorrows for Israel. That’s why Jesus said to Israel, “but he that shall endure until the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations, and then shell the end come.
In Mark 16:17-18: the Lord speaks of signs that will help believers make it through the day of wrath. Casting out devils, and laying on hands on the sick and they shall recover are two hallmark (official) signs of the Kingdom to Israel, making known the Kingdom was at hand. These two hallmark signs function to validate the gospel of the Kingdom, and also testify the reality of Jesus Christ being the Son of God, raised from the dead. FINALLY, there are 3 more SIGNS: (#1) speaking in new tongues: fulfilling Zachariah Chp. 8, so they could preach the gospel in the language of all the other nations that were scattered in the last days. (#2) Taking up serpents & (#3) drinking any deadly thing & it shall not hurt them. WHY? Because in the Day of the Lord’s wrath, God is going to send poisonous serpents of the dust to Israel to bite them. And the waters will be poison. This is the Baptism of Fire/ Wrath. God’s protection will be needed. These signs are for the Day of the Lord’s wrath! Not for the Disp. of Grace & Peace. *Cf. Deut. 32:22-24; Jeremiah 8:17; Rev. 6:7-8; 8:10-11; 7:9-14.
Colman J. Gilliland 