The long end-of-the-age period is initiated by a special ‘testimony’ given to the world called the ‘gospel of the kingdom’ (Matt. 24:14).
[Mat 24:14 NIV] 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
This is not the gospel of salvation that is being preached today, so what is it? This gospel has many dimensions so it’s hard to define in a few words, but it’s helpful to extract its most essential nature:
The Gospel of the Kingdom (GOTK) is a testimony of unprecedented clarity given to the world for the purpose of revealing the one true God. A testimony, fully entrusted to a human agency, spoken with unparalleled truth and power.
This type of testimony has happened before although on a smaller scale. God has given mankind similar testimonies at least three times in human history — in Egypt with Moses, at Mt. Carmel with Elijah, and in the ministry of Jesus and the apostles.
This Gospel of the Kingdom is a message that parts the curtain of ‘faith’ with an unambiguous demonstration of power, proving the reality and the identity of the one true God. The message asks–how long will you deny your creator exists. How long will you waver between two (or many) opinions (religions and philosophies)!
Here is Elijah on Mt. Carmel:
[1Ki 18:21 NIV] 21 Elijah went before the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.”
But the people said nothing. And just prior to the Exodus in Egypt:
[Exo 9:14, 16 NIV] 14 or this time I will send the full force of my plagues against you and against your officials and your people, so you may know that there is no one like me in all the earth. … 16 But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.
And two thousand years ago, with Jesus and the apostles: [Mat 9:35-38 KJV] 35 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
Adam walked with God in the garden. But since the ‘fall’ and the birth of billions of people (with millions of ideas), mankind’s confusion about God, his existence, and his prophetic program has greatly multiplied. The Gospel of the Kingdom is God’s gracious answer to intentional and unintentional confusion about God’s existence and his purposes for mankind.
The true Body of Yeshua was called and equipped for this very purpose. We see an unusually powerful message in that first generation. But for 2000 years that message has become elementary and diluted, in both truth and power even as it transformed a pagan world.
Unfortunately, because of this ‘traditional gospel’, many, through lack of knowledge or faith, have lowered their expectations of the Body’s identity and what we are called to do. Who are we? What is God’s expectations of us? Is there a role for us we have not expected?
Many see the Gospel of the Kingdom testimony as the same testimony we have demonstrated for centuries. Whether in truth or power, our testimony has been sufficient for the task of reaching a pagan world.
But, there can be little doubt that Moses, Elijah, and Jesus operated in special dispensations of truth and power much different than we see today. Likewise, the coming Gospel of the Kingdom testimony will be at a scale unprecedented in the church age.
If that is so, the question must be raised, how will this happen? What will transform Christianity into a super-church able to bring this unprecedented testimony of truth and power to the whole world?
Does the Bible give us a formula for such a transformation? The answer would appear to be yes! The principle is all around us, perhaps the first principle of creation—interdependence, and a ‘separation-of-powers’ (SOP).
Most people relate that term, SOP, to civil government. It is, in fact, the founding principle of the government of the United States. One body makes laws (Legislative), and one body carries them out (Executive). Using this technique, the corruption of absolute power in a single source is diminished. This principle has proven to be successful in the prosperity of the US.
But perhaps few have translated that expression to the spiritual dimension from which civil governments have borrowed this truth. It is time to reexamine this principle and how it is, or is not, working in our own spiritual government.
In the Tenach (Old Testament) we see prophet, priest, and king authorities operating interdependently. This is where we first see the SOP principle. But it is carried over into the NT as well, perhaps less overtly. It begins with the interdependent ministries of John and Jesus, but it is formally stated in Eph. 2:20: [Eph 2:19-20 NIV] 19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.
Apostles and prophets are not just a distinction of ministerial function, they are two distinct authority structures. In one sense they oppose each other, they have different perspectives, even different goals, although ideally and ultimately, together they produce a greater whole.
Paul speaks of this two-part authority structure in the context of a similar ‘hostility’, Jew and Gentile, who are being formed into a glorious ‘one’, a spiritual Temple. Notice these two verses from the same chapter in Ephesians:
[Eph 2:14, 21 NIV] 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, …
21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.
This principle of interdependence, of two becoming one is the foundational principle of creation. But this all happens through a difficult process—first dividing than uniting in mission (not merging).
We see this ‘first principle’ in the first chapters of Genesis. It is a process of establishing the ‘primary colors’ of creation. Heaven and earth, light and darkness, land and water, are some of the necessary composite elements of creation. Man, also is a composite that needs to be divided (male and female) and then united in greater mission.
Over time God’s prophetic program is continuing to clarify and separate distinct functions hidden within creation (mankind). He calls out Abraham to become the father of all the faithful, for example.
But most important to us in this discussion is understanding the role of the prophet function. The prophet ministry is enumerated first in this Scripture:
(Deu. 18:15-22 NIV) The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own brothers. You must listen to him. {16} For this is what you asked of the LORD your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said, “Let us not hear the voice of the LORD our God nor see this great fire anymore, or we will die.” {17} The LORD said to me: “What they say is good.
Here we see the formal idea of ‘a prophet’, any prophet, introduced which has huge implications for mankind. God is recognizing something very deep within the innate nature of humanity. In a general sense, he is acknowledging and formalizing two personalities, two ministries within mankind.
Some did not want to hear the ‘voice of God’ in his most intense form. That sounds rather evil on the surface, but this is not motivated by an attitude of disobeying God. No, it does not stem from wickedness or rebellion. Rather, it is recognizing a subtle distinction in the human personality. There are some (most) people who respond best to a softer assimilation of God’s word and presence. They prefer a more humanized presentation of God’s truth rather than a face to face encounter with God.
They are ‘people’ people. They are more adapted to interacting with people, also a vital ministry. But, here, God is recognizing the need for a role of an intercessory ministry, a prophetic ministry between people and God.
The interesting thing is, God acknowledges that this is OK, he will accept this two-tier arrangement – for he says, it ‘is good’ (a creation formula from Genesis 1). This recognition of these innate qualities of mankind will eventually be expressed in the design of ecclesiastical and even secular government (and even eternal destinies).
The general application of Deu. 18 is the formal and vital role of prophets in the national and spiritual life of Israel going forward. Generally, it has been the prophetic ministry (not always from prophets) that has brought us the revelation of Scripture. The prophetic ministry is a vital counter-balance to the much larger and more powerful ‘executive’ offices of priest and king.
As we said in the ‘By the Numbers’ article the first kingdom government agency is the ‘Prophetic’ ministry (effectively some connection to ‘Elijah’). As far as I can tell that ministry does not exist ‘out there’ today. Pastoral Christianity has no separation-of-powers. There is only ‘them’, the pastoral ministry, although many claim or promote some semblance of the prophetic ministry even associated with their pastoral ministry. For these, on closer examination, one would see that the prophetic ministry is only an extension of the pastoral ministry.
So, how do we detect a true separation-of-powers type of prophetic ministry? Dose the prophetic manifest in greater supernatural expressions such as miracles or other supernatural gifts? Or perhaps it is a ministry of words of judgment or correction?
There appears to be wide spread misunderstandings regarding these distinctions in ministry. To explain them we have to go back to the beginning and the story of creation.
When we look at the story of creation prophetically we see what may be the first principle of creation – interdependence. That has created ‘truth’ in two interdependent elements.
[2Ti 2:15 KJV] 15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
I think a true prophetic ministry is validated by a true prophetic model, and a forceful promotion of that end (including the SOP below).
How do we advance a new Christianity with two separate powers? Instead of using the terms Apostles and Prophets, it might be more understandable to use the terms Vertical and Horizontal ministry (the obligation of the office to which you are called). The Prophetic is a vertical ministry, a ministry connected to the strategic, long-term purposes of God, with truth as their first priority and administration. The other ministry, the Pastoral, is a horizontal ministry, their first priority is people, relationships, and today’s needs.
I know some of these ‘pastorals’ who do care for people, one in particular (Pastor Ron) who has been praying, teaching, and longing for a new empowering to meet people’s needs.
Here’s the deal that I have for pastorals like this (I wonder if they would accept this?) God will give you unlimited power for ‘people’ ministry, IF you will completely submit to the truth ministry. This is true SOP as it should be, and as far as I can see, as promised in sermons like the Upper Room Discourse (all power).
The Pastoral ministry will have absolute POWER to meet the needs of people (not abuse it), when and if they acknowledge the Prophetic ministry having absolute AUTHORITY to monitor, influence, and direct that power (not micromanaging). Do we see the beauty in this relationship? Is it Biblical? As near as I can see, YES and YES.
What if we, representing the Prophetic, made this deal with Christianity? What could they object too? This would seem to be the secret of a new and empowered Christianity.
This is how the world works: Priest and Prophet, Male (authority) and Female (power); Legislative and Executive, etc.
This idea could be the spark that really triggers the Gospel of the Kingdom, AND finally motivates or entices, (true) pastorals to listen. What a deal!
[Mat 4:23-25 KJV] 23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. 24 And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them. 25 And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and [from] Decapolis, and [from] Jerusalem, and [from] Judaea, and [from] beyond Jordan.
[Mat 9:35-38 KJV] 35 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. 36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. 37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly [is] plenteous, but the labourers [are] few; 38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
• Interdependence – The first principle of the creation?
• The distinctions between the Pastoral and Prophetic
• Is the separation-of-powers Biblical?
• How can it work?
[Jhn 5:36 NLT] 36 But I have a greater witness than John–my teachings and my miracles. The Father gave me these works to accomplish, and they prove that he sent me.
[Act 19:11 NIV] 11 God did extraordinary miracles through Paul,
[2Co 12:12 NIV] 12 I persevered in demonstrating among you the marks of a true apostle, including signs, wonders and miracles.
[Exo 9:14-16 NIV] 14 or this time I will send the full force of my plagues against you and against your officials and your people, so you may know that there is no one like me in all the earth. 15 For by now I could have stretched out my hand and struck you and your people with a plague that would have wiped you off the earth. 16 But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.