THE FINAL RESULT OF GOSPEL WORK.
THE effect of the Gospel is twofold,—it is salvation to them that believe, and a witness in the judgment against those who believe not. The commission, as given by Mark, says: “Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” Mark 16:15, 16. Again He says: “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. A witness is one that gives testimony. So the Gospel message is to be a testimony to all nations, an official notice to every creature, that the Lord is coming to gather His own into His kingdom. See Matt. 25:31-34; John 14:1-3. And when this official notice shall have been given to all the world, then the event will take place. Now as to the effect on those who reject the Gospel invitation to come and take the water of life freely, Peter asks, “What shall the end be of them that obey not the Gospel of God?” And we have the answer given by the apostle Paul: “To you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ; who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power.” 2 Thess. 1:7-9. The next verse repeats the fact that this destruction of the disobedient will take place when Christ “shall come to be glorified in His saints, and to be admired in all them that believe.” Thus we have in these few scripture utterances the whole story of the ultimate effect of preaching the Gospel in the earth.