“But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:8).
In the final and climactic reference to preaching the “gospel” in the Bible, we read of an angel flying through the sky preaching what the Apostle John called “the everlasting gospel” to “them that dwell on the earth.” His message? “Worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters” (Revelation 14:6,7).
It is clear from our text that this gospel of the angel could not have been any different from the gospel preached by Paul, as the angel (like Paul) had been sent by God into the world to preach the true gospel. Furthermore, it was the everlasting gospel and, therefore, has always been the one true gospel, from the beginning of time to the end.
The gospel is identified, however, in many different ways. It is called “the gospel of the kingdom” the first time it is used (Matthew 4:23). The opening verse of Mark speaks of “the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God” (Mark 1:1). Paul calls it “the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24) and “the gospel of peace” (Romans 10:15). He also speaks of “the glorious gospel of Christ” (II Corinthians 4:4) and “the gospel of your salvation” (Ephesians 1:13). It is frequently called “the gospel of God” (e.g., Romans 1:1) and even more frequently, “the gospel of Christ” (e.g., Romans 1:16).
Most frequently of all, however, it is called simply “the gospel” (e.g., Matthew 11:5), as though it needed no other descriptor at all. The word “gospel” means “good news,” and this true gospel centers on the glorious news of the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ, from eternity to eternity. He is our Creator, our Example, our Redeemer, our Savior, our Lord, and our eternal King. As the angel will cry across the heavens in the last days, we must worship Him! HMM
