There is something strange about writing
an article knowing fully well it will not be
belie-ved. This is one such article. The
report of the Lord says the gospel will
not be believed. Moreov-er, it insists
most people will refuse to believe the
prophecy that the gospel will not be
believed.
Isaiah’s prophecy
"And he said,"Yes,go.But tell my people this:'You will hear my words,but you will not understand.You will see what I do,but you will not perceive its meaning.'Harden the hearts of these people.Close their ears,and shut their eyes.That way,they will not see with their eyes,hear with their ears,understand with their hearts,and turn to me for healing.” -Isaiah 6:9-10.
Isaiah could not believe this kind of
assignment. What is the point of preaching to people when you know they will
not listen? So he asked how long this
would last. But the answer brought no
reprieve..”And he replied,"Until their cities are destroyed,with no one left in them.Until their houses are deserted and the whole country is an utter wasteland." -Isaiah 6:11.
Since this dire prophecy has never been
revoked, it means most people will not
receive the gospel of the kingdom of
God.
Noah’s gospel
As with every eternal word of God,
Isaiah’s prophecy was in operation even
before he received it. For 120 years,
Noah preached a gospel of salvation. He
said God would destroy the whole earth
by a flood but would save those who
sought refuge in the ark.
However, the people did not believe
Noah. Even those he employed in building
the ark did not seek refuge in it with him.
As a result, all mankind perished in the
flood except for eight members of Noah’s
immediate family.Jesus draws a close analogy between the
rejection of Noah’s gospel and the
rejection of his own gospel. He says: "When the Son of Man returns,the world will be like the people were in Noah's day.In those days before the flood,the people enjoyed banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat and the flood came to destroy them all.” -Luke 17:26-27.
Lot’s Gospel
Lot also preached a gospel of salvation.
He told the people of Sodom God would
destroy the city because of its
wickedness, but would save those who
ran to the hills for refuge. However, the
people did not believe Lot either. As a
result, they were destroyed by fire and
brimstone.
Only Lot and his two daughters were
saved. Even though Lot’s wife escaped
with them, her heart remained in Sodom.
Against the Lord’s injunction, she looked
back wistfully at the smouldering city and
was turned into a pillar of salt.(Genesis 19:1-26)
Jesus draws a close analogy between the
rejection of Lot’s gospel and the
rejection of his own gospel. He says: "And the world will be as it was in the days of Lot.People went about their daily business-eating and drinking,buying and selling,farming and building-until the morning Lot left Sodom.Then the fire and burning sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all.Yes it will be 'business as usual' right up to the hour when the Son of Man returns.” -Luke 17:28-30.
Moses’ gospel
Of all people God could choose to pastor
the church in the wilderness, he chose
Moses; a man with stammering lips. God
chose him because he was determined
that the people should not understand
Moses’ gospel of salvation.
As a result, although a mixed-multitude
of 600,000 people left Egypt with Moses
(not counting women and children); only
two of them entered into the Promised land. Even Moses himself did not make it.
Jesus draws a close analogy between the
failure of Moses’ gospel and the failure of
his gospel. He said to the Jews: “But if you had believed Moses,you would have believed me because he wrote about me.And since you don't believe what he wrote,how will you believe what I say?” -John 5:46-47.
Jesus’ gospel
So determined was Jesus to fulfil Isaiah’s
prophecy that he only spoke to the
people in parables. When his disciples
wondered why, he told them bluntly he
did not want the people to understand
him. Jesus said: “That is why I tell these stories,because people see what I do,but they don't really see.They hear what I say,but they don't really hear,and they don't understand.This fulfils the prophesy of Isaiah,which says: 'You will hear my words,but you will not understand; you will see what I do,but you will not perceive its meaning.'” -Mat
thew
13:13-14.
Inevitably, the Jews rejected Jesus. John
says: “But despite all the miraculous signs he had done,most of the people did not believe in him.This is exactly what Isaiah the prophet had predicted: "Lord,who has believed our message? To whom will the Lord reveal his saving power?"” -John 12:37-38.
What about today? Will we receive the
gospel? We cannot and will not because
the prophecy of Isaiah is still in force.
Jesus used the mouth of Abraham to
prophesy that his gospel will continue to
be rejected even after he is gone. In one
of his stories, a rich man in hell pleaded
with Abraham that a report from the
dead should be sent to his living five
brothers so they would believe the
gospel.
But standing by the word of Isaiah,
Abraham maintained it would be
pointless. He said to him: “If they won't listen to Moses and the prophets,they won't listen even if someone rises from the dead.” -Luke 16:31.
Of course, Jesus himself is the one who
rose from the dead. Thereby, Jesus
predicts that most people will not accept
his gospel even though he will validate it
by rising from the dead.
The broad and the narrow way
How then do we explain the billions of
people said to be Christians today? The
answer is straight-forward. Most so-
called Christians are not disciples of
Christ. Most Christians reject the gospel
of the kingdom of God. We believe the
gospel about Jesus rising from the dead.
But we do not believe the gospel
preached by Jesus; the man who rose
from the dead. The two are not the same
for the simple reason that Jesus
preached the gospel before his death.
Jesus says: “You can enter God's Kingdom only through the narrow gate.The highway to hell is broad,and its gate is wide for the many who choose the easy way.But the gateway to life is small,and the road is narrow,and only a few ever find it.” -Matt
hew
7:13-14. Therefore, when you see a
large church, know the attraction cannot
possibly be the gospel of the kingdom of
God.
Isaiah asks: "Who has believed our message?” -Isaiah 53:1. The
answer is that few people believed the
report of Isaiah, and few will believe the
report of Jesus. This is Jesus’ report that
will not be believed: "Those who love their life in this world will lose it.Those who despise their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” -John
12:25.
So don’t blame me if you don’t believe
anything I have written here. You would
just be fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah.
By Femi Aribisala
an article knowing fully well it will not be
belie-ved. This is one such article. The
report of the Lord says the gospel will
not be believed. Moreov-er, it insists
most people will refuse to believe the
prophecy that the gospel will not be
believed.
Isaiah’s prophecy
"And he said,"Yes,go.But tell my people this:'You will hear my words,but you will not understand.You will see what I do,but you will not perceive its meaning.'Harden the hearts of these people.Close their ears,and shut their eyes.That way,they will not see with their eyes,hear with their ears,understand with their hearts,and turn to me for healing.” -Isaiah 6:9-10.
Isaiah could not believe this kind of
assignment. What is the point of preaching to people when you know they will
not listen? So he asked how long this
would last. But the answer brought no
reprieve..”And he replied,"Until their cities are destroyed,with no one left in them.Until their houses are deserted and the whole country is an utter wasteland." -Isaiah 6:11.
Since this dire prophecy has never been
revoked, it means most people will not
receive the gospel of the kingdom of
God.
Noah’s gospel
As with every eternal word of God,
Isaiah’s prophecy was in operation even
before he received it. For 120 years,
Noah preached a gospel of salvation. He
said God would destroy the whole earth
by a flood but would save those who
sought refuge in the ark.
However, the people did not believe
Noah. Even those he employed in building
the ark did not seek refuge in it with him.
As a result, all mankind perished in the
flood except for eight members of Noah’s
immediate family.Jesus draws a close analogy between the
rejection of Noah’s gospel and the
rejection of his own gospel. He says: "When the Son of Man returns,the world will be like the people were in Noah's day.In those days before the flood,the people enjoyed banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat and the flood came to destroy them all.” -Luke 17:26-27.
Lot’s Gospel
Lot also preached a gospel of salvation.
He told the people of Sodom God would
destroy the city because of its
wickedness, but would save those who
ran to the hills for refuge. However, the
people did not believe Lot either. As a
result, they were destroyed by fire and
brimstone.
Only Lot and his two daughters were
saved. Even though Lot’s wife escaped
with them, her heart remained in Sodom.
Against the Lord’s injunction, she looked
back wistfully at the smouldering city and
was turned into a pillar of salt.(Genesis 19:1-26)
Jesus draws a close analogy between the
rejection of Lot’s gospel and the
rejection of his own gospel. He says: "And the world will be as it was in the days of Lot.People went about their daily business-eating and drinking,buying and selling,farming and building-until the morning Lot left Sodom.Then the fire and burning sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all.Yes it will be 'business as usual' right up to the hour when the Son of Man returns.” -Luke 17:28-30.
Moses’ gospel
Of all people God could choose to pastor
the church in the wilderness, he chose
Moses; a man with stammering lips. God
chose him because he was determined
that the people should not understand
Moses’ gospel of salvation.
As a result, although a mixed-multitude
of 600,000 people left Egypt with Moses
(not counting women and children); only
two of them entered into the Promised land. Even Moses himself did not make it.
Jesus draws a close analogy between the
failure of Moses’ gospel and the failure of
his gospel. He said to the Jews: “But if you had believed Moses,you would have believed me because he wrote about me.And since you don't believe what he wrote,how will you believe what I say?” -John 5:46-47.
Jesus’ gospel
So determined was Jesus to fulfil Isaiah’s
prophecy that he only spoke to the
people in parables. When his disciples
wondered why, he told them bluntly he
did not want the people to understand
him. Jesus said: “That is why I tell these stories,because people see what I do,but they don't really see.They hear what I say,but they don't really hear,and they don't understand.This fulfils the prophesy of Isaiah,which says: 'You will hear my words,but you will not understand; you will see what I do,but you will not perceive its meaning.'” -Mat
thew
13:13-14.
Inevitably, the Jews rejected Jesus. John
says: “But despite all the miraculous signs he had done,most of the people did not believe in him.This is exactly what Isaiah the prophet had predicted: "Lord,who has believed our message? To whom will the Lord reveal his saving power?"” -John 12:37-38.
What about today? Will we receive the
gospel? We cannot and will not because
the prophecy of Isaiah is still in force.
Jesus used the mouth of Abraham to
prophesy that his gospel will continue to
be rejected even after he is gone. In one
of his stories, a rich man in hell pleaded
with Abraham that a report from the
dead should be sent to his living five
brothers so they would believe the
gospel.
But standing by the word of Isaiah,
Abraham maintained it would be
pointless. He said to him: “If they won't listen to Moses and the prophets,they won't listen even if someone rises from the dead.” -Luke 16:31.
Of course, Jesus himself is the one who
rose from the dead. Thereby, Jesus
predicts that most people will not accept
his gospel even though he will validate it
by rising from the dead.
The broad and the narrow way
How then do we explain the billions of
people said to be Christians today? The
answer is straight-forward. Most so-
called Christians are not disciples of
Christ. Most Christians reject the gospel
of the kingdom of God. We believe the
gospel about Jesus rising from the dead.
But we do not believe the gospel
preached by Jesus; the man who rose
from the dead. The two are not the same
for the simple reason that Jesus
preached the gospel before his death.
Jesus says: “You can enter God's Kingdom only through the narrow gate.The highway to hell is broad,and its gate is wide for the many who choose the easy way.But the gateway to life is small,and the road is narrow,and only a few ever find it.” -Matt
hew
7:13-14. Therefore, when you see a
large church, know the attraction cannot
possibly be the gospel of the kingdom of
God.
Isaiah asks: "Who has believed our message?” -Isaiah 53:1. The
answer is that few people believed the
report of Isaiah, and few will believe the
report of Jesus. This is Jesus’ report that
will not be believed: "Those who love their life in this world will lose it.Those who despise their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” -John
12:25.
So don’t blame me if you don’t believe
anything I have written here. You would
just be fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah.
By Femi Aribisala
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