Paul’s Gospel, The Rapture and the Two-fold Purpose of the Cross
Author: Daryl Gass
All Verses are from the King James Bible
Paul was given a different gospel than the one that Jesus and the 12 apostles taught. Jesus and the 12 apostles taught the gospel of the kingdom, (The preaching of Jesus Christ according to PROPHECY). Jesus chose the 12 apostles, while he was on earth. One apostle for each of the 12 tribes of Israel, for the prophesied earthly kingdom of God. The kingdom gospel was prophesied since the world began;
Act 3:20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:
Act 3:21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
Luk 1:70 As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:
Paul taught the gospel of grace (The preaching of Jesus Christ according to the MYSTERY). Jesus chose Paul as an apostle, after he was resurrected and in heaven. Paul was not the 13th apostle for Israel! He was the ONE apostle, to the ONE Body of Christ, which has a heavenly home! Paul’s gospel of grace, was keep secret (HID in God), (A Mystery), since the world began, until it was revealed to Paul by the risen Christ in heaven;
Rom 16:25 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,
Eph 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
Col 1:26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
There is a Huge, Huge difference between these two gospels and most fail to see it. One must know how to study scripture in order to understand this, and God gives us direction on just how to do that;
2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
As one can see in this above verse;
What: Study (Not Just read), the word of truth.
Why: To show thyself approved unto God, and so that one will not be ashamed.
How: By rightly dividing the word of truth. So, if one needs to rightly divide, then it must be possible to wrongly divide!
So, one might ask, “Why would there be two gospels?” It is because God had a Two-Fold purpose for Christ’s finished work on the cross, (His death, burial and resurrection)!! If the rulers of this world would have known of this two-fold purpose, they never would have crucified Christ! The verses below explain why;
1Co 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
1Co 2:8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
What is this two-fold purpose? It is to bring back under God’s control, all things in the heavens and on the earth in Christ. 1) The kingdom of God on earth, with Israel ruling under Christ, as the King of Kings, Lord of Lords. 2) The kingdom of God in the heavenlies, with the body of Christ ruling, with Christ as it’s head;
Gen 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
Eph 1:9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
Eph 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
The failure to recognize the difference of Israel’s earthly promises from the body of Christ’s heavenly promises, and their different purposes, is the reason there are so many different beliefs among the (so called) Christian’s. They mix law with grace; they mix the body of Christ’s purpose with Israel’s purpose!
The body of Christ is saved by faith alone, in the redemptive work of Christ alone. The only works that are needed were done by Christ through his sinless life and through his death, burial and resurrection for our sins and our justification! It is the Faithful works of Christ, which were done on our behalf, that insure our salvation. To add works to this free gift of grace, is to reject what Christ has done for us;
Rom 11:6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
Eph 2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Now, a lot of folks claim that all men have been saved by grace since Adam. This is absolutely true. Good works cannot save anybody, because every man has fallen short of God’s perfection and all men have sinned, so therefore, grace has always been necessary for salvation;
Rom 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
So yes, God’s grace has always saved mankind. This however, is not the difference here between these two gospels. The difference is when and why God applies his grace to a man. God doesn’t change himself, but his instructions to man change, as he deals with them in different times, situations and dispensations. God gives man different orders over time that suit his purpose. God told Noah to build an ark, and God told Moses to lead his people out of Egypt. These orders were given to other people, not us, for other reasons and purposes then what we have today. We would be foolish if we tried to follow those orders today, since they were not given to us. This might seem like an extreme example, but in reality, it is no more extreme than us today, following the orders that God gave for Israel!
Now, let’s look at the book of James for an example. Should we follow what James wrote? Who was James talking to?
Jas 1:1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
James is Talking to the 12 tribes. This book is for Israel, for instructions during the 7 year tribulation time (Daniel’s 70th week, the Time of Jacob’s trouble). If we rightly divide, this will become clear.
In every dispensation, God has a different purpose, and accordingly, he deals differently with different groups of people, throughout the various dispensations. God has different sets of rules for different dispensations that must be followed, in order to obtain his grace. In order to receive God’s grace one must believe God’s words (instructions), that are written to them! All scripture is for our learning, but not all scripture is given to us as our marching orders! If we do not believe God’s words (instructions), to us in scripture, we become fools and receive no grace and therefore no salvation. God instructs each group of people what they must do to be saved.
Now God tells us through Paul, that we are saved by grace through faith, and not of ourselves, that it is a gift, and not of works.
James says to the 12 tribes, that without works, faith is dead;
Jas 2:14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
Jas 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
What we have here is two different and two opposing statements about faith. Paul says faith alone saves, and James says faith does not save unless it has works. Which one is
right? They both are! Since faith is all about believing God; which includes, believing God’s instructions
and to whom he gave them!
Can you see the confusion, that not rightly dividing causes? There are dozens of verses that seem to contradict each other if one does not realize; that God gives different groups of people different things to follow, depending on his will and his purpose. Below I will give a few more examples;
Js 2:21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
Rom 4:3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
Mat 6:14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
Eph 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
Act 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
Col 2:13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
Jas 2:24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
Rom 4:25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
There are so many more verses, but these should be enough to see that things that are different are not the same.
Since the purpose of the nation of Israel is to be priests, (mediators between man and God), to the
whole world, and since all nations will come through them, in God’s earthly kingdom, it is critical that
they have works to show to the world, so they can be justified in the sight of man, as God’s chosen people! Therefore, God requires works as part of their salvation. If they show their
faith by their works, then, they will be given grace and forgiveness of their sins.
When the 12 apostles and Jesus talk about works being needed to justify one’s faith, the justification is
to other men and not before God. God already knows their hearts. God knows that, if they have faith in him and believe his word, they will keep his commandments and do good works, as
God commanded them to do.
God also gave Israel the animal sacrifice system, because he knew that they would all sin. During the tribulation time, the believers in Christ will not be making animal sacrifices anymore, (since Christ was the sacrifice for all), but instead, they will just confess their sins to God to be forgiven;
Jas 2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
As we can read in scripture, Israel was temporarily cut-off from God and they were temporarily blinded from the truth! God did this because of their unbelief as a nation in whole.
Rom 11:7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded
Rom 11:8 (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not
hear;) unto this day.
Rom 11:20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
Rom 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
In Acts chapter 2, during the day of pentecost (Acts 2:1), the Jews gathered (Acts 2:5), and the next thing that was on God’s prophetic clock, was Daniel’s 70th week (The time of Jacobs trouble), or as most refer to it as; The 7 year tribulation (Acts 2:16-21). This is why they sold all their possessions and divided them up as needed, so that they could concentrate on enduring to the end (Acts 2:44,45). But instead, God put the (time of Jacob’s trouble), on hold, to bring in the mystery program!
Now we also see that the apostles did not go to all nations on earth with the gospel of the kingdom, as Jesus commanded them to do. This is because they understood that Israel (as a nation), had to repent, (change their mind about who Jesus was), first and accept him as; The Son of God and as their Messiah. Thus, they did not.
Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Instead of going to all nations, we see in the book of Acts that the 12 apostles never left Jerusalem. The book of Acts is a recorded history which shows how the gospel of the kingdom, (prophecy gospel), is being faded out while Paul’s gospel of grace (mystery gospel) is being brought in.
The fact that Daniel’s 70th week (the 7 year tribulation), has not happened yet, should be all the proof one needs to see that it was put on hold, (until the fullness of the gentiles come in; Ro 11:25), in order to bring in the gospel of grace, which is the mystery program! If this wasn’t the case, we would now be well done with the millennial reign of Christ, and we would be well into eternity now.
Alot of so-called Christians, will try to explain this with the false doctrine of replacement theology. They claim that we (the body of Christ), replaced Israel and that we are spiritual Jews. This is a false doctrine and it is another satanic lie! It has no scriptural support, but rather, scripture proves it to be false. It also defies all logic! In order to make mashed potatoes, one must start with potatoes, otherwise you can’t have mashed potatoes! The same logic applies to spiritual Jews! One cannot be a spiritual Jew unless he is first a Jew. Otherwise all you have is a spiritual person or a spiritual gentile. In fact, this false doctrine makes God out to be a liar, because it voids God’s unconditional promise to the nation of Israel, (The Abrahamic Covent, the Davdic covenant and lastly, the New covenant), that they will rule over an earthly kingdom, with Christ as their King.
Paul’s Gospel
Now, with the gospel of grace and the body of Christ, we do not need to be justified in man’s eyes because we will live in heaven, not on earth. We are not going to be mediators between man and God (Priests).
So, while we are on earth our salvation is not based on our works justifying our faith through the eyes of man. We are saved by faith alone; in the finished work of Christ on the cross, and we are justified by his resurrection.
Although we are now ambassadors for Christ (2Co 5:20), while we are on this earth, we are expected to represent him in a Godly manner! Our works for Christ
will be judged at, (the judgment seat of Christ), (not the great white throne judgment, where the lost are
judged). If we do well, we will receive eternal rewards. Our salvation though is not in question because;
all our sins have already been forgiven (Col 2:13). Our salvation is a free gift. We, (the body of Christ), receive God’s grace by believing Paul’s gospel, (The preaching of Jesus Christ according to the Mystery).
The Pre-Tribulation Rapture
(The catching away of the body of Christ)
1Th 4:14-18
Not rightly dividing the word of God, is also why most (so-called) Christians do not believe in the
pre-tribulation rapture of the body of Christ. They do not understand God’s purpose for the body of
Christ!
They do not understand that we have our salvation already, as soon as we believe the gospel of grace. We are then immediately baptized (a spiritual baptism), by the Holy Spirit of God. We are also immediately sealed with the Holy Spirit as an earnest down payment until our redemption, (the rapture or catching away). At that same time we become God’s purchased possession! The rapture is not taught in Matthew 24,or in any other place in the bible, except for in Paul’s epistles! The rapture, is part of
the mystery given to Paul only; by the risen Christ, and it is only found in Paul’s epistles;
1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the
Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
1Th 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Note: Going through the tribulation would not be comforting!
1Co 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one
Spirit.
Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Eph 1:14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
So, as one can see, we must be gone before the 7 year tribulation, because those who are in the tribulation, must endure to the end to obtain their salvation. If they take the mark of the beast they cannot be saved, and they lose any chance of obtaining salvation! We, (the body of Christ), on the other hand, are already saved, and we are sealed. So, it is not possible for us to lose our salvation, or to have to endure to the end, in order to be saved.
My Gospel (Paul’s)
Below is a long list of verses, wherein God makes it extremely clear, that Paul was given a separate; a different gospel, from the gospel the 12 apostles were given for Israel. Take note of all the times Paul calls it MY gospel and not our gospel and all the times he says that it was given UNTO HIM and not {unto us};
Rom 11:13 For I speak to you Gentiles, in as much as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:
Rom 2:16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
Rom 16:25 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,
1Ti 1:11 According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.
1Ti 1:16 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.
Note: Paul says “in me first” and for “a pattern” and “which should hereafter”. This could not be any clearer !!
1Co 3:10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
1Co 9:17 For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.
Gal 2:1 Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also.
Gal 2:2 And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.
Note: If Paul was teaching the same gospel as the other 12 apostles were teaching, it would not be necessary, and in fact it would be foolish of him to go to Jerusalem, just to communicate (the same gospel) to them, that they would have already known and also they would have been already teaching it for many years, (if it was the same gospel, but it was not)!
Gal 2:6 But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God
accepteth no man’s person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me:
Gal 2:7 But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;
Gal 1:11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
Gal 1:12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Note: Paul’s gospel was not after man! This means; No man had taught it before Paul did; otherwise, Paul could not say this!
Eph 3:2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
Eph 3:3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
Eph 3:7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
Eph 3:8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
Note: Unsearchable: It was a mystery and cannot be found, or searched out in any scriptures of the old or new testament except for in Paul’s writings!
It was hid in God until it was revealed to Paul!
Eph 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
Col 1:23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
Col 1:25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
Col 1:26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
Act 20:24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
I pray that this article will help those who are searching for the truth. That it will lead them to study out what is written here, through the word of God, and come to the knowledge of truth, rightly divided!!
Grace and Peace
NOTES