Evangelism in Nigeria
Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke
Did the Great Commission end with the fulfillment of the completion of the Mosaic era in A.D.70? Did it stop with the termination of the times of the Gentiles in A.D.136? If it did it would mean that God put more value in the animal sacrificial system than he did in the sacrifice of his own Son; if it did it would mean that for fourteen centuries he preserved the Levitical Priesthood, the Temple services, sacrifices, and oblations and then let the offering of the body and blood of Jesus last a mere century!
Our reasons for continued and aggressive world evangelism are implicit rather than explicit:
(1) After the destruction of the Fourth Kingdom and the scattering of the chaff, the great mountain replaces them and lasts forever (Daniel 2:44). But the mountain could not last forever because it is not static and would, therefore, dwindle without CONTINUED evangelistic efforts by the people of God.
(2) Daniel 7:14 and 22 and 27 says this kingdom shall not be destroyed, but if evangelism lapses it would disappear.
(3) The Church is part and parcel of the kingdom of God because Jesus said to the Apostle Peter, "You are Peter, and upon this Rock, I will build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. AND I WILL GIVE UNTO THEE THE KEYS OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven" (Matthew 16:18-19). Furthermore, Hebrews 12:28 tells us that the first Christians were in the process of receiving a kingdom "that cannot be removed" and the Apostle Paul assured that God should get the glory IN the church "throughout ALL ages, world without end" (Ephesians 3:21).
So when that kingdom came without observation (Luke 17:20-21) but with power (Mark 9:1; Revelation 11:15; 12:10) that meant, not the end of it, but its real debut and initial success in view of all time to come (see Acts 2:21). Only in this way could there have been a second and third and fourth-century church; only in this way would Christians still exist on this planet this day. But for tomorrow ALL Christians must do their part, through whatever talent each of us has been given, to evangelize or support local churches and the edification of Christians as a primary goal.
Animal sacrifices and carnal commandments and a priesthood that was established without oath are not more precious in the eyes of God than that new and better way that he swore to establish with an oath (Hebrews 7:19-24). Just as Jesus has an unchangeable priesthood; Christians, therefore, have an unchangeable mandate to be ambassadors for Christ to bring all men and women to salvation through the blood of Jesus, and the efficacy of his death, burial, and resurrection.