May 22, 2023
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Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles said,
(Romans 16:25,26 KJ) Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
(26) But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
….There is the Great Commission's replacement.
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There was a change in the plans after Israel stoned Stephen and that extra year 'after' the cross, that God had given them (Israel) to change their mind about Him had expired (Luke 13:6-9 King James).
Then God started His "mystery" church... i.e., the Jew and Gentile in one body church (Eph 3; 2:14-16 KJ). That's why the commission changed for the disciples, who it was actually given to. Hear Paul:
(Galatians 2:9 KJ) And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.
..."and they unto the circumcision."
The disciples are now going to confine their ministry to the Jews (i.e., the circumcision). God did have Peter (Acts 10 KJ) go to one Gentile, Cornelius, for the express purpose of showing the disciples that His program on the earth was changing. So, going just to the "circumcision", i.e., the Jews, that's not going to the whole world with the gospel. And that's a major change in the program. God then began to "diminish" Israel (Rom 9-11 KJ), for a season, (Rom 11:25 KJ) and proceeded to begin His mystery church with Paul (Eph 3:1-7 KJ), that God kept SECRET since the world began (Rom 16:25; Eph 3:5,9; Col 1:25,26 KJ).
(1 Timothy 1:16 KJ) Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
..."that in me first", Paul said...; the Apostle to the Gentiles etc. (Rom 11:13 KJ).
God thus replaced the great "commission" where the gospel of the kingdom was to be preached, with the grace gospel that God gave to Paul to give to all of us. God changed, stopped rather, Israel's great commission when Israel forfeited their 'kingdom nation' status, by sending that message (stoning Stephen - Acts 7) up to God that they would not have Him rule over them:
(Luke 19:14 KJ) But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.
The Lord Jesus knew that Israel would reject Him at and 'after' the cross (Matt 10:23 KJ), but He let it play out; He let Israel make the decision. And they did....they stoned Stephen approximately 1 year after the cross.
The commission is for Israel to go to the whole world with the kingdom Gospel, i.e., that Gospel that John the baptist, the Lord Jesus and His disciples preached (Mt 3:2; 4:17; 10:7 KJ), and will be preached again in the 7 year tribulation (Mt 24:14 KJ). Israel will be God's "kingdom of priests" (Exod 19:5,6; Isa 61:6; 1 Pet 2:9 KJ). But they will not even get through the "uttermost par(t)", Acts 1:8 KJ, of the earth, i.e. Israel, (whereas the uttermost part(s) of the earth are the Gentiles - Psl 2:8 KJ), until the Lord returns (Mt 10:23 KJ).
Here is what God has been doing since Paul:
(Romans 16:25,26 KJ) Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
(26) But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
... Notice: That the preaching of the gospel now is according to "my gospel", ie., Paul's gospel, and according to the revelation of the mystery that God gave to Paul (Eph 3; Acts 20:24; Gal 1:15; Col 1:25; Rom 11:13; 1 Tim 1:16 KJ. ..etc), and not according to the gospel of the Kingdom that He gave to his disciples (Matt 10:7 KJ).
The disciples Kingdom of Heaven gospel is an earthly, physical, visible and literal kingdom in Jerusalem, called the kingdom of heaven where the Lord will rule for a thousand years.
Paul's Grace gospel of today in the dispensation of Grace (Ephesians 3:1-3) is for the heavenly places up there (Eph 1:3; 2:6 KJ).
That is, God was reconciling both places, the earth and the heavens back to himself through the blood of the cross.., and He has a government for both places and people for both places:
(Colossians 1:20 KJ) And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus.