Revelation 14:7 "...Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters."
In the previous post I mentioned that this definition for the gospel covered the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. I will agree that the term "gospel" is only used in the new testament, but look at how this one verse seems to summarize both the old and new testaments.
God as creator. Genesis 1:1 "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth" and later in Genesis 1 the seas. And at the end of chapter one, God says about his creation,
"...it was very good."
God as judge. In Genesis 3, Adam and Eve decide not to fear God and give glory to him, but instead listen to the serpent and disobey God. As a result, God has to remove them from the garden and the blessing of being in close fellowship with him.
It does not take too much more reading to find the next judgment. That would start in Genesis 6. Genesis 6:5 says, "And God saw the wickedness of man was great in the earth...." God also found a man named Noah who "found grace in the eyes of the LORD." God judged his creation by sending the flood. But also note in Genesis 7, in the account of the flood, the "fountains" are mentioned.
Next is the tower of Babel, another judgment and another creation. The judgment, confusing the languages, the creation the languages. Then throughout the rest of the old testament cycles of blessings and cursings. When people wholeheartedly call upon God, he blesses. When they don't, God allows them to suffer the consequences, but he remains faithful.
His faithfulness is clearly demonstrated the sending of his Son. The first time the word gospel is used is in Matthew 4. Matthew 4:23 says, "Jesus....preaching the gospel..." If Jesus preached the gospel, what did he preach? Look back a few verses to Matthew 4:17 "From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." To me that sounds like "Fear God and give glory to him" (repent) "for the hour of his judgment is come..." (for the kingdom of heaven is at hand). Of course, Jesus taught more than that, but in general it seems that what he taught reflects what Revelation 14:7 says.
The ultimate judgment is Jesus dying on the cross to pay for our sins, "and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:" I Corinthians 15:4.
For those that believe we become new creatures.
Ultimately God will "...create new heavens and a new earth..." Isa 65:17. Or Revelation 21:1 "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth..." Not quite close enough to the end of the Bible for you? How about this...
Revelation 22:20 "He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus."
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