The Gospel: A True Love Story

By Evan P. Turner

All Christians should know God's good news and in his third book The Gospel, Evan Turner uses scripture to scripture and examines soteriology to decipher what the good news actually is. The Gospel answers questions many Christians have had throughout history. You'll discover the fate of the wicked unbelievers who have rejected God to infants and those who've never heard the good news. From the creation story in Genesis to the tabernacle God had Moses built, Job, the prophets and Jesus's ministry a very consistent story unfolds a true love story that all believers should proclaim without hesitation. The scriptures reveal that God's good news isn't hopeful nor at the mercy of man's will but determined by God's own sovereign will. "Who willeth, all men, to be saved, and, unto a personal knowledge of truth, to come." (1 Timothy 2:4)

• Language: English
• Publisher: Evan P. Turner
• Release date: Mar 31, 2021
• ISBN: 9781393236702

Book preview

Unless stated otherwise, all quotes from scripture are from Joseph Bryant Rotherham’s Emphasized Bible 1902.

For other resources from Evan P. Turner go to www.unhiddentruth.com

Introduction

Many people who read and study the bible believe that the gospel is simply the first four books of the New Testament. This view however, is incorrect. As we will see the gospel is in fact proclaimed in the book of Genesis and also the book of Job, arguably, the oldest book in the bible. The actual word gospel, which appears in the New Testament is defined by the Greek word euaggelion which means God’s good news. There is a continuing thread throughout the bible which shows that the gospel was evident from the beginning. So, what is God’s good news? The good news is that when Adam sinned and fell, he cursed Adam, Eve and all of his descendants with death. Ever since they were evicted from God’s garden; he has slowly taken mankind on a journey back to his original state where he deemed everything good and to a state once again where Adam walked with God.

God speaks to us in types and shadows and repeats the same examples numerous times. In this monograph we will delve into many examples of these types and shadows in great detail. Some examples are harder to discern then others, even Peter admitted that he had a hard time understanding some of the things that Paul said (2 Peter 3:15-16). While some types and shadows are harder to understand than others, we will see a clear consistent message throughout the scriptures.

A knowledge of biblical numerology and astronomy also point in the same direction. This is a subject that many Christians overlook and ignore. For most Christians they aren’t aware or in some circumstances believe that numerology is a part of the occult. While it is true that the occult does contain some numerology, it does not mean that all numerology is occult. Some Christians also confuse astrology with astronomy, but the word of God is clear he made the stars for signs and seasons (Gen. 1:14).

Chapter 1

Biblical Numerics and Aion/Aionios

Biblical Numerics

Remember ye the things named in advance from age-past times,—For, I, am, The Mighty One, and there is none else, The Adorable and there is none like me!

Declaring from the beginning, the latter end, And from olden time, that which had never been done,—Saying My purpose shall stand, and All my pleasure, will I perform; (Isaiah 46:9-10).

Our journey starts in the book of Genesis where God created light on the first day, the firmament on the second day, it’s the only day that God does not declare good his silence here is deafening as there must be a reason, he made the firmament but was not pleased with it—hence not good. Dry ground and plant life on the third, the sun moon and stars on the fourth. On the fifth day he made the fish and birds on the sixth he made man and he rested on the seventh. Let’s go more in detail on the creation of man in Genesis 1:26-31, 2:8-17

And God said—Let us make man in our image after our likeness—and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the bird of the heavens and over the tame-beast—and over all the land, and over every creeping thing, that creepeth on the land. And God created the man in his own image, In the image of God, created he him,—Male and female, created he, them. And God blessed them, and God said to them Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it,—and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the bird of the heavens, and over every living thing that moveth on the land. And God said—Lo! I have given to you—every herb yielding seed which is on the face of all the land, and every tree wherein is the fruit of a tree yielding seed,—to you, shall it be, for food; and to every living thing of the land—and to every bird of the heavens, and to every thing that moveth on the land, wherein is a living soul, every green herb for food. And it was so. And God saw every thing which he had made, and lo! it was very good. So it was evening—and it was morning, the sixth day.

And Yahweh God planted a garden in Eden, on the east,—and put there the man whom he had formed. And Yahweh God, caused to spring up, out of the ground, every tree pleasant to the sight and good for food,—and the tree of life, in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Now, a river, was coming forth out of Eden, to water the garden,—and, from thence, it parted, and became four heads, The name of the one, is Pishon,—the same, is that which surroundeth all the land of Havilah, where is gold; moreover the gold of that and, is good,—there, is the bdellium, and the beryl stone, And the name of the second river, is Gihon,—the same, is that which surroundeth all the land of Cush, And, the name of the third river, is Hiddekel, the same, is that which goeth in front of Assyria; and the fourth river, is Euphrates. So Yahweh God took the man,—and placed him in the garden of Eden, to till it and to keeps it. And Yahweh God laid command on the man, saying,—Of every tree of the garden, thou mayest eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it,—for in the day thou eatest thereof, thou shalt die.

Adam was created sinless by God and given simple instructions. If Adam disobeyed God by eating the forbidden fruit then the penalty would be death. This is an important point; God did not tell Adam that the penalty was to be tormented forever nor did he tell him that the punishment would be death that would last forever. He was simply told he would die. It is simply death for an indefinite period of time not infinite. Some Christians interpret God’s statement of you shall surely die to mean that God changed his mind because Adam would go on to live to be 930 years old (Gen 5:5). But the fact of the matter is that the scriptures state that a day is like a thousand years (2 Peter 3:8), so Adam did in fact die that day—the first day in what we’ll see as God’s plan for mankind.

Numbers in scripture have a certain meaning that are repeated multiple times. Of course, we know that numbers are infinite but in terms of biblical numerics there are only nine numbers. The mistake many Christians make is not adding numbers until a single digit is left. So, for example they’ll take a number like 5 and assign a different meaning to 50 when in reality it should be 5+0 = 5. We’ll go over these numbers thoroughly but not exhaustively.

The number one has many meanings like the one and only God (Deut. 6:4 Gal. 3:20) and unity with him (John 10:30). Also, the union of man and woman become one flesh (Gen. 2:24).

Ephesians 4:4-6 One body, and one spirit, even as ye were also called in one hope of your calling, One Lord, one faith, one immersion, One God and Father of all—who is over all, and through all, and in all.

Two is the number of witness, testimony, companionship, agreement and division. The testimony of two or three witnesses was needed for the death penalty to be enforced (Deut. 17:6). Two witnesses will be empowered by God to testify against the Kingdom of the Beast (Rev. 11:1-12). For any agreement requires at a minimum two people (Amos 3:3); but also, division because God divided the day into daylight and nighttime (Gen. 1:18). Marriage requires at least two people (Mark 10:8).

The number three is one of the most important numbers because it relates to salvation, Jesus the firstborn of the firstfruits. Who was raised from the dead to immortality after three days, then we who are believers at his return, and then the unbelievers at the end of 1,000 years. We have all been saved from death, but the last two groups have also been saved from sin. This important number has been lost to many Christians. Let’s take a look at God’s second judgment against mankind and delve into Noah, the flood and more biblical numerics.

Genesis 6:3 And Yahweh said—My spirit shall not rule in man to times age—abiding, for that, he also, is flesh,—Yet his days shall be a hundred and twenty years.

So here we have God giving mankind 120 years before his judgement of the Great Flood. Since 120 is more than one digit we add 1+2+0= 3. So, after 120 years God unleashed his judgment of the flood and declared the end of all flesh. The flood story teaches us that after judgment comes salvation. Genesis 6:13-18,

So God said unto Noah: the end of all flesh, hath come in before me, for, filled, is the earth with violence, because of them,—behold me, then, destroying them with the earth.  Make for thee an ark of timbers of gopher, Grooms, shalt thou make with the ark,—and-thou shalt cover it within and without with pitch. And, this, is how thou shalt make it,—three hundred cubits, the length of the ark, fifty cubits, the breadth thereof, and thirty cubits the height thereof. A place for light, shalt thou make to the ark and to a cubit, shalt thou finish it upwards, and the opening of the ark—in the side thereof, shalt thou put,—with lower, second and third stories, shalt thou make it. And, I, behold me! bringing in the flood—even waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh wherein is the spirit of life, from under the heavens,—everything that is in the earth, shall cease to breathe: therefore will I establish my covenant with thee,—and thou shalt enter into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons wives, with thee.

We have a lot of threes here pointing to salvation but we also have the number five making a debut in this treatise, for the width of the ark is 50 cubits, five implies grace, which is unmerited favor.  Multiplying the length 300 cubits, width 50 cubits and the height of 30 cubits we have a total of 450,000 cubits. Which adds up to nine, the number nine in scripture is associated with finality. Jesus died in the nineth hour and Hoshea ruled Israel for nine years before they were conquered by the Assyrians. Revelation which reveals the return of Christ and the future of mankind is full of nines. The mark of the beast 666, the reign of the beast 1,260 days, and the 144,000 all equal nine confirming that Revelation truly contains the last prophecies. Thus, when one adds up numbers until they are a single digit, they will always be no more than nine. It is worth noting that the dimensions of the ark are as close as you can get to the golden ration or phi while using whole numbers. This ark of salvation had three different compartments in it. Are there three different classes of salvation? Yes, further readings of scripture will reinforce this answer.

Noah, his wife, his sons and their wives survived the flood for a total of eight people. Now we have the number eight which means a new beginning after flood eight people were left to start civilization over again. A week lasts for seven days and the eighth day is the start of a new week. It’s also the day that God commanded that newborn males be circumcised.

As our journey continues God called a man from Ur of Chaldees originally named Abram in Genesis 12:1-3,

And Yahweh said unto Abram: Come thou on thy way, Out of thy land and out of the place of thy birth and out of the house of thy father,—Unto the land that I will show thee; That I may make thee into a great nation, And bless thee and make great thy name, And become thou a blessing; That I may bless them who bless thee, But him who maketh light of thee, will I curse,—So shall be, blessed in thee, all the families of the ground.

God tells Abraham that So shall be, blessed in thee, all the families of the ground, such a statement is clear, all means all. This same statement is also mentioned after the angel tells Abraham not kill his son (Gen 22:18). But how will God accomplish this blessing?

Moving forward to the Mosaic era God commands Moses to build a tabernacle in the wilderness. But he had to build it to specific dimensions. There are three sections to the tabernacle, the outer court, holy place and holy of holies. The dimension of the outer court is 50x100x5 for a total of 25,000 which equals seven. The second area is the holy place or inner court its measurements are 10x 20x10 = 2,000 cubits which equals two. The last area is the holy of holies its 10x 10x10 = 1,000 cubits equaling one.

We have the tabernacle of God equaling seven the same number of days in the creation. God rested from his work on the seventh day. The seventh day is the sabbath there is no sowing or reaping on this day. Moreover, on the seventh day after 6,000 years will be a day of rest for the righteous believers of God. It seems as though Moses built better than he knew. As of this present age nearing the end of the sixth day, we have Jesus the first born of the firstfruits and high priest in the holy of holies representing immortality, Christians representing the firstfruits and priesthood of believers currently in the holy place and unbelievers in the outer court.

We have been in the last days for nearly 2,000 years. Which represents the holy place in the tabernacle, or the fifth and sixth days of the God’s spiritual days. The kingdom of God will be in the earth on the seventh day being a part of God’s destiny for us. So, in terms of the kingdom of God ruling in the earth; we can make the conclusion that we are in the last days.

Hebrews 1:1-2 Whereas, in many parts and in many ways of old, God spake unto the fathers, in the prophets, At the end of these days, He hath spoken unto us in his Son,—whom he hath appointed heir of all things, through whom also he hath made the ages.

Joel 2:28 And it shall come to pass afterward, [that] I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:

The number four represents a time of testing or a probationary period. The Israelites wandered the wilderness for forty years and Jesus fasted for forty days. The world itself was created on the fourth day and it has four corners. The 2,000 cubits of the Holy Place is 40x50 which represents a time of testing for Christians as we await our day of rest at the end of 2,000 years.

Pentecost took place exactly fifty days after Jesus’s death and ten days after his ascension to heaven. The number five once again meaning unmerited favor which is grace. It is the other half of the previous equation 40x50. A Jubilee was every 50 years a time of celebration and release from all debts. Due to man’s sin God confounded the language of our ancestors forcing mankind to spread out and keep company only with those who spoke the same language. Sin divides but the Spirit gives way to unity, the gift of tongues unites people erasing the division that God caused at Babel. God’s appointed time had arrived but only for the firstfruits.

Acts 2:1-18 And, when the day of pentecost was filling up [the number of days] they were all together with one intent;— When there came suddenly out of heaven a sound, just as of a mighty rushing wind,—-and it filled all the house where they were sitting; And there appeared unto them—parting asunder—tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each one of them; And they were all filled with Holy Spirit, and began to be speaking with other kinds of tongues just as the Spirit was giving unto them to be sounding forth. Now there were in Jerusalem sojourning Jews, reverent men from every nation who were under heaven;

And this sound occurring the throng came together and was thrown into confusion, because each one severally heard in his own language them who were speaking; Yea they were beside themselves and did marvel, saying—Lo! are not all these who are speaking Galilaeans? How then do, we, hear each one in our own language in which we were born? Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judaea also and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia also and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of the Libya that is towards Cyrene, and the sojourning Romans, —both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians, we do hear them speaking in our own tongues the magnificent things of God.

But they were all beside themselves and were utterly at a loss, saying one to another—What doth this please to be? While, others, in mockery were saying—With sweet wine, are they drunken! But, taking his stand, Peter with the eleven lifted up his voice, and sounded out unto them—Ye men of Judaea, and all ye who are sojourning in Jerusalem!

Let, this, unto you be known, and give ear unto my declarations;— For not, as, ye, suppose, are these men drunken, for it is the third hour of the day;— But this is that which hath been spoken through the prophet Joel— And it shall be, in the last days saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and, your young men, visions shall see and, your elders, in dreams shall dream,—And, even upon my men-servants and upon my maid-servants in those days, will I pour out of my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.

Additional evidence is given that the Spirit gives life several verses later when the people heard Peter’s message.

Acts 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added [unto them] about three thousand souls.

This is in contrast with the sin of idolatry at Mount Sinai when three thousand were killed (Ex. 32:27-28). The New Covenant is much better than the Old in every way possible.

The number six represents mankind, Adam was formed on the sixth day. The wicked Queen Athaliah ruled for six years in Israel. It would be six days before Jesus took Peter, James, and John with him to see the transfiguration on the seventh day. Likewise, it’ll be 6,000 years before we go into a day of rest for 1,000 years; the pattern is undeniable.

Psalm 90:4 For, a thousand years, in thine eyes, [are], As yesterday, in that it passed away, Or [as] a watch in the night.

2 Peter 3:8 But, this one thing, forget not, beloved, —that, one day, with the Lord, is as a thousand years, and, a thousand years, as one day.

Let’s catalogue the days of God’s will keeping in mind that each day is 1,000 years. Each day is not exhaustive in cataloguing every historical or future event.

Day 1    Creation of man Adamic Covenant

Day 2    God’s Covenant with Noah, Abraham

Day 3    God’s Covenant with Israel

Day 4    Birth of Messiah, Beginning of his Ministry

Day 5    Beginning of New Everlasting Covenant

Confirmed with the death of Jesus

Day 6    Tribulation, Mystery of God