We are examining the five critical issues concerning The Great Commission. By examining them, this is how we know not to confuse The Great Commission, which is Israel’s program, with The Dispensation of Gentile Grace, which is the CBOC program, now in effect today. When we use the key, 2nd Timothy 2:15; “rightly dividing the word of truth,” we can clearly see the difference. Let us briefly review what we have learned:
#1. The gospel or the good news contained in The Great Commission is still the gospel of the Kingdom. This is Israel’s gospel, as set forth in Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20, & Acts Chp 1.
#2. The Time Frame in which the Gentiles are dealt with during The Great Commission, is The Day of God’s Wrath.
#3. The Gentiles will be taught submission (compliance, obedience) to Israel’s program. “Teaching them to observe all things” that the Lord Jesus Christ had taught the 12. This included water baptism (the prescription for cleansing). And they are to observe Israel’s calendar, keeping the feast of tabernacles when the Kingdom is established.
#4. The Gentiles will be blessed as a result of a positive response to the gospel of the Kingdom. Or, as a result of a negative response to the gospel of the Kingdom, they will be cursed, according to the Abrahamic covenant.
#5. The final critical issue we are examining today is: The Great Commission Fulfills Prophetic Passages in the Old Testament concerning what will take place in the last stages Israel’s program.
Matt. 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. Now, the Lord provides the details which the prophets had only outlined in a general way. The Great Commission fulfilled prophetic utterances as to what will be going on in Israel’s last days. The Old Testament prophets knew the Gentile nations were going to be dealt with according to the Abrahamic covenant. This was not a mystery. The dispensation of grace was a mystery.
Psalm 2:1-5: All the Psalms pertain to Israel’s Program. This Psalm is talking about The Days of the Messiah (excluding the dispensation of grace). Psalm 2, talks prophetically about Israel’s rejection of their Messiah, and their working together with the Gentiles (King Herod and Pontious (Pilate). The Government ”imagined vain things” and “raged” against God and tried to hinder God’s purpose for the redemption of Israel through the Messiah. They took council together, the heathen and the people against the Lord and His anointed, the LJC.
Acts 4:23-28; Peter & John quote from Psalm 2 because they realize that they were living during this prophetic time period, They describe this ungodly prophesied conduct.
But Psalm 2:4 says: “He that sitteth in heaven shall LAUGH: the Lord shall have them in derision (mockery, contemptable, disrespectful). Vs. 5: then shall the Lord speak unto them in His wrath and displeasure.
On The Day of Pentecost Peter stood before Israel and told them that 110:1 Psalms had been fulfilled. The LJC had been crucified and resurrected from the dead and ascended to the Father. 110:1 (Peter says) “The Lord (the Father) said unto my Lord ( His Son), sit down at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. And the Lord ascended into heaven where He sat down for a period of time before His Day of Wrath began. He sat down in the accordance with the extension of mercy and forbearance given to Israel, recorded in the opening chapters of Acts.
Psalm 2:4 “He that sits in heaven shall laugh.” But why? Because he sees the persistent rejection of his people and the heathen even though God has raised Jesus from the dead. And the Lord laughs at them.
Vs.5 says: “The Lord shall speak to them in His wrath and vex (terrifying their peace) in His sore (enraged) displeasure. This verse marks “The Day of the Lords Wrath.”
Vs. 6: The psalmist wrote: “Yet have I (God) set my king (Jesus) upon my holy hill of Zion. Vs 7. I will declare a decree: the Lord has said unto me, thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.”
The Kingdom Will Be Established! And the Lord is going to rule over Israel and the earths it’s king of king and Lord of Lords.
Notice, there is something in Psalms 2 that talks about God dealing with His nations in His Day. He points out two groups in Psalms 2, verse one and two: “the heathen and the people; & the kings of the earth, and the rulers of Israel” were involved.
An appeal is made to the kings of the earth for them to respond to Israel’s Messiah. While the Lord’s wrath is going on an appeal will be made to the nations before the Kingdom is established. If the nations respond, they will escape the Lord’s wrath. This was prophesied
Then we have the Prophet Jeremiah 31:10-saying: “Hear the word of the Lord, O ye nations, and declare it in the Isles of far off, and say, He (God) that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd does His flock.”
What is the message that The Great Commission calls for the nations to hear? “HE (GOD) THAT SCATTERETH ISRAEL WILL GATHER HIM (ISRAEL), AND KEEP HIM (ISRAEL), AS A SHEPHARD DOTH KEEP HIS FLOCK.”
The nations were cooperating with the Satanic policy of evil (SPOE). But the Lord will gather Israel & they will receive the kingdom. Vs.11 “For the Lord has redeemed Jacob (Israel) and ransomed him from (Satan’s) hand that was stronger than he.”
The ransom has been paid in full, and the Lord has redeemed Israel from Satan’s hand, on the cross, and liberated Israel from being Satan’s “lawful captive.”
The nations will hear this message from the remnant that are scattered. The plan and purpose of God will be accomplished. They will hear the gospel of the Kingdom. God has raised ransomed Jacob. The nations will be given a chance to respond to the gospel of the Kingdom.
The word of God is going to be heard in the midst of the satanic policy of evil (SPOE). The nations will be given the chance to respond to the Great Commission of Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20, and Acts 1, will provide that message. And the time frame for these great commissions is the Day of the Lord’s Wrath.
Just as the “one new man,” the CBOC, is formed to make a spiritual impact into the heavenly places to the glory of God, Israel likewise, was created to make spiritual impact upon the nations to God’s glory & influence nations to respond to the true and living God, and be a participant with Israel in the Kingdom.
1 Peter 2:9 declares who Israel really is: But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
The remnant gets a chance to preach the gospel of the Kingdom to the nations in the day of the Lord’s wrath.
Vs. 12 “Having your conversation (your manner of life) honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evil doers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
The examination of the Greek word translated “Visitation” establishes that it’s use here may have two meanings: 1. Earthly Visitation. 2. Final Visitation or Judgment Day. Both of these meanings can have two purposes: Visitation for blessing or for punishment.
Assignment: Look up “The Day Of Visitation:”
At the Lords second coming He will visit/ bless those nations who respond positively to the gospel of the kingdom. He will say unto them: “come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
But those nations who reject the gospel of the Kingdom, He will visit upon them punishment: He will say to them: ”depart from me you cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal
“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.”( Matt. 24:14).
Colman J. Gilliland 