Written by Nicole Parks
Did you miss part one? Click here to read Part 1: God’s Heart for the World – The Song of the Redeemed
The last book of the Bible, Revelation, reads like the script of a weird science fiction movie. It’s the final showdown between good and evil, full of unusual imagery and seemingly cryptic messages. Even the author’s story sounds like the beginning of a Hollywood blockbuster. John was an outcast and part of a rag tag group of troublemakers called the apostles. He even wrote a book about his time as an apostle, which he creatively titled “John.” He fought for his cause his entire life, only to end up exiled on the island of Patmos, where he had a strange vision and encounter with the Lord. The book of Revelation recounts the mysteries that were revealed to him during that divine encounter. One of these great mysteries is God’s end goal. In his vision, John is taken into the throne room of heaven where he sees a picture of this completed purpose:
“There before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” (Revelation 7:9)
This is God’s ultimate goal: redemption. He longs to see people of every nation, tribe, and language represented in heaven, basking in His glory and singing His praise around the throne. This has been God’s goal since the fall of man…to redeem His people and bring them back to Him. This was God’s purpose in sending His son to die…to redeem His people so that they “shall not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Throughout the ages, God has preserved stories and letters and prophecies and scriptures that illustrate how He has been working toward this end goal since the beginning of time.
This post originally appeared in For God So Loved, A Seven Part Study on God’s Heart For The World
