The Everlasting Gospel

“6 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, 7 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 14:6-7).

The first angel seen by John flying in the mid - air had the “EVERLASTING GOSPEL”. Whose gospel is
this? Paul says it is “the gospel of God” (Romans 1: 1, 1 Timothy 1: 11). This gospel of God concerns
“3… his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; 4 And
declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection
from the dead: 5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among
all nations, for his name: 6 Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ” (Romans 1: 3-6). This
gospel is concerning Christ Jesus who was born as a human being, thus sharing flesh and blood with
us “14…that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15
And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” (Hebrews 2:
14-15). The power of death is sin and sin was brought into the human family through the devil
tempting Adam and Eve. Said another way, “The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the
law.” (1 Corinthians 15:56). What is sin? John writes, “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also
the law [NT 458]: for sin is the transgression of the law [NT 458 anomia – violation or breaking of
law.” (1 John 3:4). The law of God is holy, good and righteous, but it is its province to point out sin and
condemn the sinner to death thus holding a breaker of the law (a sinner) under its condemnation
(under the law) until the sentence is fulfilled (see Romans 7: 5-14). When humanity were gone astray,
in “bondage under the elements of the world” (“philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men,
after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ”), condemned to die as sinners, Jesus came to
our world in the fullness of time, born of a woman, made under the law (under the condemnation of
the law as sinners – for all have sinned), to redeem us from the condemnation of the law as sinners
for which we all were supposed to die eternally (see Galatians 4: 3-5, Colossians 2: 8, Romans 6: 23).
This redemption offered by Christ Jesus, the law of God, nomatter how holy, good and just it is, could
not do for “it was weak through the flesh” for “18…in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good
thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 19 For the
good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 20 Now if I do that I would not,
it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.” (Romans 8: 3, 7: 18 -21). Man was thus helpless,
in bondage to sin and condemned to die, knowing the good to be done but failing to do it. “Thus Jesus
was “made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour;
that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.” (Hebrews 2: 9) that it could become
possible to live eternally through Him and produce the fruits of righteousness required by God’s law.
He did not just die, Christ resurrected and is alive forevermore hence he has the “keys of hell and of
death” (Revelation 1:18, see 2 Timothy 2: 8). Our “Saviour Jesus Christ,…abolished death,
and…brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” “according to his own purpose and
grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began” “not according to our works” (2
Timothy 1:10, 9). This is the gospel, the glad tidings, that “God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love
wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by
grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in
Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness
toward us through Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves:
it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created
in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”
(Ephesians 2: 10).
Paul explains this gospel clearly: “15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you
that are at Rome also. 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto
salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is the
righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.”
(Romans 1:15-17). It is the power of God unto salvation for those who believe revealing the
righteousness of God. “18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto
us which are saved it is the power of God…23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a
stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness; 24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and
Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:18, 24). Therefore the
gospel preaches the cross (the death and sacrifice of Christ for sins or breaking God’s law) by which
we received forgiveness and justification (declared sinless). It is the power of God to pay the price for
sin and save humanity from its fallen helpless condition and to uplift man to where God is as well as
to empower man to live the life of Christ. The gospel is therefore “the word of truth, the gospel of your
salvation” in which we trust through Christ (Ephesians 1:10, see Colossians 1: 5, 6). It was by God’s
mercy and truth that man was saved in this way. Solomon says “By mercy and truth iniquity is
purged....” (Proverbs 16:6). But what happens when God purges sin by mercy and truth? “Mercy and
truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.” (Psalm 85:10). When God
saved man by mercy and truth in Jesus Christ, righteousness and peace kissed each other. The justice
of God as expressed in His law was satisfied and God could both be just and a justifier of those that
believe in the sacrifice of Christ. It is because of this that the gospel reveals the righteousness of God
and it is also called the gospel of peace (Romans 10: 15, Ephesians 6: 15). Now righteousness and
peace are connected with God’s law for Isaiah says “17 Thus saith the Lord, thy Redeemer, the Holy
One of Israel; I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that
thou shouldest go. 18 O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been
as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea…22 There is no peace, saith the Lord, unto
the wicked.” (Isaiah 48:17-18, 22). This gospel preached to us is the same gospel preached in Old
Testament times but needs to be believed by all that are saved (Hebrews 4: 2). This gospel did not do
away with God’s law, for grace and the law are intricately connected. Concerning this connection, God
says

“1 Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the Lord: look unto the rock
whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged. 2 Look unto Abraham your
father, and unto Sarah that bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him. 3
For the Lord shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her
wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord; joy and gladness shall be found
therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody. 4 Hearken unto me, my people; and give ear unto
me, O my nation: for a law shall proceed from me, and I will make my judgment to rest for a light
of the people. 5 My righteousness is near; my salvation is gone forth, and mine arms shall judge the
people; the isles shall wait upon me, and on mine arm shall they trust. 6 Lift up your eyes to the
heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the
earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my
salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished. 7 Hearken unto me, ye
that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men,
neither be ye afraid of their revilings. 8 For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the
worm shall eat them like wool: but my righteousness shall be for ever, and my salvation from
generation to generation.” (Isaiah 51: 1-8).

“6 He hath shewed his people the power of his works, that he may give them the heritage of the
heathen. 7 The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure. 8 They
stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness. 9 He sent redemption unto his
people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.” (Psalm 111:6-9).

Both the gospel (salvation) and his laws are forever. The gospel never abolished God’s law but
established it as unchangeable and immutable. The gospel, if true as is the everlasting gospel, ought
to lead to ultimate and unquestioning obedience to God’s law as Christ was obedient. Christ came to
be an example in doing God’s will (Hebrews 10: 7, Matthew 5: 17). E G White rightfully says “The
gospel of Christ is the law exemplified in character.” {SM Book 2 p 108}. Why? “He was the
embodiment of the law of God, which is the transcript of His character.” {5BC 1131}. “Christ was
misjudged by the Jews, because he did not dwell constantly on the law as written in the tables of stone.
He invited men to learn of him, for he was a living representation of the law of God.” {RH, January 7,
1890 par. 3}.

It is this gospel that is preached in Revelation 14: 6-7. What is its extent? What does it involve? In
short, what were the contents of this everlasting gospel being preached by the first angel? The
contents are revealed as

 Fear God and give glory to Him. Why?

 For the hour of His judgment is come.
 Worship the Creator (worship Him that created).
We conclude this section by noting an important truth. The good news is that by grace we are saved
through faith in Christ Jesus our Saviour, hence it is “the gospel of the grace of God” (see Acts 20: 24).
To experience this salvation, we ought to repent (turn from our evil way) and believe the gospel (Mark
1: 15). This is the “gospel of the kingdom” (Matthew 24: 14), which the Old Testament prophets spoke
and wrote about. It is God’s gospel concerning His Son, “16 For God so loved the world, that he gave
his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might
be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned
already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the
condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because
their deeds were evil.” (John 3:16-19). Said another way, because of faith in Christ “sin shall not have
dominion over you [sin shall not reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof]:
for ye are not under the law [condemned by God’s law as sinners supposed to die], but under grace
[God’s unmerited favour that made us free from sin and death, through Christ, to obey God and live
eternally].” (Romans 6:14, 12, 17, 18, 22 emphasis mine). Hence it is also called the gospel of Jesus
Christ, the Son of God (Mark 1: 1). This gospel is to be preached to all people among all the nations or
throughout the whole world (Mark 13:10, 14:9, 16: 15, Matthew 24: 14) that “the light of the glorious
gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto” all. “For God, who commanded the light
to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of
God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2 Corinthians 4: 4, 6 emphasis mine). This gospel encompasses all
that believe, there is neither Jew nor gentile, circumcision nor uncircumcision. Paul explains it fully
that “8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before
the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. 9 So then they which be of faith
are blessed with faithful Abraham.” (Galatians 3:8-9). The preachers are God’s disciples who have
accepted Christ as their personal Saviour and master (Matthew 28: 16 – 20). These are God’s
messengers going with urgency to all the world with the everlasting gospel in these last days.