In the previous articles we looked at the first century followers of Christ Jesus and how they tried to bring the message of Christ Jesus to as many people as they could.
We also looked at the apostle Paul and his pupil Timothy who also was an evangelizer, or missionary. Paul laid special emphasis on evangelizing in giving his parting exhortation to Timothy:
“You, though, keep your senses in all things, suffer evil, do the work of an evangelizer, fully accomplish your ministry.”
Timothy, who engaged with other Christians in preaching the good news, was also carrying on shepherding and teaching work as an overseer in Ephesus. (2Ti 4:5; 1Ti 1:3.)
Evangelizing in the “Time of the End.”
When reading the Messianic Scriptures people shall be able to notice that there have been made many efforts after the death and resurrection of Christ to get people coming to the Truth. But there they also find warnings that there is going to come a time of serious worries were it shall be like in the days of Noah, that people shall have to be warned but would not listen very much.
The most extensive evangelizing yet undertaken must be carried out in the “time of the end,” according to the express statement of Jesus at Matthew 24:14:
‘And this gospel of the kingdom shall be proclaimed in all the world as a witness to all nations. And then the end shall come’
That text gives the impression that the end will come when this good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth.
The certainty is that the gospel must be proclaimed in the entire world, nothing less, as a witness to all nations not one less, and then and only then, will the glorious end come. Then and only then…
- Christ will appear in the clouds
- The dead in Christ will rise
- We (who are still living) will be caught up and together we will meet our Saviour Jesus in the air to be forever with him! {Dr George Forbes, missionary statesman, challenges us to be involved in God’s business – now…: for the Biggest business in the world}
As Jesus did not do his own will nor his own business, we too should come to do the work for our heavenly Father. From the gospel we do know that Jesus required a serious commitment from those who wanted to follow him.
Jesus had several times spoken about times for which we should be prepared. He said that at some point not one stone of the temple would be left on another; at some time in the future, the walls of the temple would be torn down. But not only that. He spoke about the way people were going to behave, children against their parents, labourers against their bosses, partners against each other.
One thing Jesus his disciples wanted to know first was when the destruction of the temple was going to take place. When Jesus was with them they still thought he would overcome the Romans and was going to be the leader bringing peace in Jerusalem and surroundings. They had no idea yet that Jesus was speaking about a kingdom that would come many millennia later, let stand a few years later. Though having heard more stories from their master and having listened to his explanation of the parables he had told, they also came to understand that Jesus also spoke of a time which would come much later, namely a time when all worldly kingdoms would come to an end. For that reason they also had some concerns about those time when there was going to be a “great tribulation” as their master told them. They wanted to be ready for those Latter Days or end times and wanted to know what signs would precede it.
Jesus warned his disciples they had to look out for false teachers and gave the future generations the warning that they had to watch out that no one would deceive them. For many will come in Jesus name, claiming that they are the Messiah or the one who would bring the best solution for the world, which would deceive many. Jesus also said that the world shall be hearing of wars and rumours of wars, but that they had to see to it that they would not be alarmed.
4 And Yahushua answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am the Messiah; and shall deceive many. 6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours 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 places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows. 9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. 10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 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. (Matt 24:4-14, NRKJV)
In the present time we can find nations rising against nations, and kingdom against kingdom, the nations having their economic, political, and medical problems. The world facing global warming, heavy storms and floods, earthquakes in various places, famines and lots of people living in poverty and having lots of difficulties.
But Christians are under command to preach about God’s Kingdom and to be ready at all times, convincing, rebuking, exhorting, with all longsuffering and teaching.
2Tim 4
2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. (2Tim 4:2-5, NRKJV)
Paul received an assignment to preach, and he felt obligated to do this work, but was also convinced others should do the same effort to convince others to declare the good news about Jesus to the nations and of the truth of the coming Kingdom of God. (Ac 9:15-17; Ga 1:15, 16) The Greek word a·nagʹke literally means “necessity,” is also rendered “compelling reason.” (Ro 13:5) A Christian has to submit to human governments when a command does not contradict God’s laws, but he may not forget that God demands every follower of His son to continue the work of His beloved son, to proclaim the Kingdom of God. Paul continues, woe to me if I do not declare the good news! He uses the Greek word rendered “woe” to express the distress or great sadness he would feel if he did not fulfil his obligation. His very life depended on his being loyal. We being loyal to the God of Israel must try to have people to listen to the Good News. Coming in the latter days man may have hardened his heart and not willing to listen to the Words of God; for they are impudent and hardhearted. We should not be afraid of them, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they are a rebellious group of people. When we received into our heart all God’s Words that He speaks to mankind, and hear it with our willing ears and do not stop going to the captives, to the children of our people, and speak to them and tell them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear. W must know that we can be lifted up by God’s Spirit, even if we have to go away in bitterness, in the heat of our spirit we may be sure that the hand of Jehovah shall be strong upon those who make His Name and His purpose known. When we give the wicked no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood God will require at our hand. Yet, if we warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but we shall have delivered our soul. We too should warn those who turn from their righteousness and commit iniquity. Because we did not give him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; but his blood God will require at our hand. Nevertheless if we warn the righteous man that the righteous should not sin, and he does not sin, he shall live life because he took warning; and we shall have delivered our soul.(Compare Eze 33:7-9, 18; Ac 20:26.) (2Ti 4:2; 1Co 9:16; 1Pe 1:12, 25; 4:17)
Paul was free of bloodguilt before God because he had not failed to preach the good news of the Kingdom. He had not withheld the lifesaving information that this message contains. (Ac 18:6; compare Eze 33:6-8) Paul conveyed “all the counsel of God” to the disciples in Ephesus because he did not shrunk back from declaring to the people the whole counsel of God, not shunning to declare the whole will of God and not wanting anyone to lose his life in God’s day of judgment. (Ac 20:27) Other ways in which a Christian can become bloodguilty before God are by committing murder or bloodshed, which can include actively or tacitly supporting the activities of a bloodguilty organization, such as “Babylon the Great” (Re 17:6; 18:2, 4), or other organizations that have shed innocent blood (Re 16:5, 6; compare Isa 26:20, 21). Also, eating or drinking blood in any way would incur bloodguilt. — Ac 15:20.
Paul may have had in mind the words of Jeremiah and Amos. (Jer 20:9; Am 3:8) However, his motive for preaching is love, not mere duty. — 2Co 5:14, 20; Php 1:16.
14 For the love of the Messiah constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. 16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known the Messiah after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. 17 Therefore if any man be in the Messiah, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18 And all things are of יהוה, who hath reconciled us to himself by Yahushua the Messiah, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 To wit, that יהוה was in the Messiah, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then we are ambassadors for the Messiah, as though Elohim did beseech you by us: we pray you in the Messiah’s stead, be ye reconciled to יהוה. 21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of יהוה in him. (2Cor 5:14-21, NRKJV)
The angel flying in midheaven with the everlasting good news makes the proclamation:
“Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of the judgment by him has arrived, and so worship the One who made the heaven and the earth and sea and fountains of waters.” (Re 14:6, 7)
This is the good news that the Christian evangelizer, or missionary, is to carry. Just as the Bible describes some persons such as Philip the evangelizer as missionaries, or evangelizers, in a special sense, some Christians today may do missionary work in a special sense, even going to other countries to preach. (Ac 21:8) Nevertheless, all Christians are commissioned and obligated to be evangelizers wherever they are, in that they preach the good news to all sorts of men. — Ro 10:9, 10.
8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Master Yahushua, and shalt believe in thine heart that יהוה hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Rom 10:8-10, NRKJV)
Fore publicly declare the Greek word ho·mo·lo·geʹo is rendered “confess” in some Bibles. Many lexicons define this word “to declare (acknowledge) publicly.” In Romans 10:10, the same verb is translated “makes public declaration.” Paul explains that it is not enough for Christians to have faith in their heart; they must make a public declaration of that faith in order to gain salvation. (Ps 40:9, 10; 96:2, 3, 10; 150:6; Ro 15:9)
8 Now I say that Yahushua the Messiah was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of יהוה, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers: 9 And that the Gentiles might glorify יהוה for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name. (Rom 15:8-9, NRKJV)
They do not make such a public declaration just once, as at the time of their baptism, but they continue to do so when meeting together with fellow believers and when proclaiming the good news about salvation to unbelievers, and that is what we should do too.—Heb 10:23-25; 13:15.
23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) 24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. (Heb 10:23-25, NRKJV)
15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to יהוה continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. (Heb 13:15, NRKJV)
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Preceding
From those preaching the Gospel and Baptism in Jesus name
The Most Appropriate teacher and Scoffers in our contemporary age
Making proclamation as a herald
Already in the time of Jesus excluding real followers of Christ
When a day of darkness and of gloominess shall come
Making proclamation as a herald
Preaching Christ not done to isolate him in the minds of their listeners
From house to house #1: Not ceasing to Preach daily in the temple and in every house
From house to house #2: Continuing to bring the good news right to the world
In all circumstances preaching Christ
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Additional reading
- Creator and Blogger God 9 A Blog of a Book 3 Blog about Prophecy
- Matthew 9:35-38 – Looking at Jesus our shepherd
- Matthew 13:47-50 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Parable of the Dragnet
- Additional readings to Matthew 22:41-46
- You know neither the day nor the hour
- The Return of Israel
- Prophecies over coming days
- Jesus Christ will return to earth
- Looking forward for what is to come
- Memorizing wonderfully 35 When the son returns it shall be As it came to pass in the days of Noah
- Sign of the Times and the Last Days #2 Wars, natural disasters, famine and false Messiahs
- Sign of the Times and the Last Days #3 Coming events revealed in the prophetic writings
- Date Setting
- No time like the present
- Signs of the Last Days
- Looking at things, distinctions resolutions and expressions
- Stormy wind
- The Rapture Wars
- Honest-hearted people are losing faith in humanity and humanity losing faith in God
- Devotees and spotters
- Back from gone #2 Aim of godly people
- Back from gone #4 Your inner feelings and actions
- To be prepared and very well oiled
- Decrease in church attendance not only a recent feature #3 The German Scare
- The Advent of the saviour to Roman oppression
- Jehovah’s Witnesses Circuit Assembly and a Pillar to freedom
- Wagner the NAR and new wineskins
- Being enlightened concerning the significance of the times in which we are now living
- Time to be strengthened, thankful and to be prepared
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Related
- Three things that must happen before Jesus returns – Matthew 23:37-39; Matthew 24:14; 2 Thessalonians 2:3
- First Century of Christianity
- Missionary action paradigm for all endeavours of the church
- June’s Faith: Chapter 14. Last Chapter! Enjoy!
- To Wait on the Lord
- M is for Miracles
- Totus Tuus
- Trading continents
- For when you can’t see the fruits of your labour
- To the Preparing Missionary
- To the Full-time Missionary
- That weird missionary
- From Modern-Day Jonah to God’s Missionary (Part 1)
- From Modern-Day Jonah to God’s Missionary (Part 2)
- The Big Smooch
Unmasking anti Jehovah sites and people 
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