The Age of Salvation

Following the death, resurrection, and exaltation of Jesus, the Gospel arrived for all men and every nation to hear and embrace.

After his resurrection, Jesus declared: “All authority in heaven and on earth is given to me; therefore, go and make disciples of all nations,” and he dispatched his disciples to the Good News to all men. The era of salvation began when God sent His Son to redeem us – (“In the fullness of time, God sent his son…” - Galatians 4:4-6).

The mission of the churches of Asia to proclaim the Gospel is never far from the surface of the Book of Revelation. For example, John found himself on the isle of Patmos “because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.” The churches are represented as “lampstands,” for they are light-bearers. In Pergamos, Antipas has been martyred for his “faithful testimony.” John saw the souls of those who had been killed “for the testimony which they held” underneath the altar of burnt offerings. And the two witnesses were slain by the Beast because of “their testimony” – (Revelation 1:9, 1:20, 2:13, 6:9-11, 11:7).

[Desert Dawn - Photo by NEOM (Saudi Arabia) on Unsplash]

Christ appeared at History’s pivotal point. The time of fulfillment arrived. “The season is at hand!” The scroll is opened; therefore, “Blessed is he who reads and they who hear the words of the prophecy, and keep the things that are written in it” – (See Daniel 12:4, Revelation 1:3, 5:5-6, 22:7, 22:10 [“The Lamb has overcome to open the scroll and its seven seals”]).

God exalted His Messiah to the throne of David as promised in the Scriptures. Therefore, Jesus now sends his envoys to announce his sovereignty and proclaim salvation throughout the Earth:

• “But I have been made king by him on Zion, his holy mountain, declaring the ordinance of the Lord. The Lord said to me: You are my Son, today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will give you the nations for your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for your possession.  You will shepherd them with a rod of iron…” – (Psalm 2:6-9, according to the Septuagint version. Compare Revelation 12:5, 19:15).

• “And to him was given the dominion, and the honour, and the kingdom; and all nations, tribes, and tongues will serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which will not pass away, and his kingdom will not be destroyed” – (Daniel 7:14, Septuagint. Compare Daniel 2:44).

• “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And YOU WILL BE MY WITNESSES, both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea and Samaria, and UNTO THE UTTERMOST PARTS OF THE EARTH” – (Acts 1:8. Note the allusions to Isaiah 43:10 [“You are my witnesses, says the Lord”], 49:6, 52:10. Compare Luke 24:46-49).

At “the ends of the ages,” Jesus came to bring salvation to the nations. The message of the Gospel is being announced to all nations by the Spirit-empowered Church, calling every man and woman to repent and believe the Gospel while the opportunity remains (“The time is shortened…  For the form of this world is passing away”) – (1 Corinthians 7:29-31, 10:11, Galatians 4:4-6):

• “Repent and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For to you is the promise, and to your children, and TO ALL THOSE WHO ARE FAR OFF, AS MANY AS THE LORD OUR GOD WILL SUMMON” – (Acts 2:38. Note the verbal allusions to Isaiah 49:1, Joel 2:32).

• “Now has come the salvation, AND THE POWER, AND THE KINGDOM of our God, and THE AUTHORITY OF HIS CHRIST, for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, who accuses them before our God, day and night” – (Revelation 12:10. Compare Psalm 2:2, Daniel 2:44, 7:13-14).

• “And I saw another angel flying in mid heaven, having the everlasting Good News to proclaim TO THE INHABITANTS OF THE EARTH, AND TO EVERY NATION AND TRIBE AND TONGUE AND PEOPLE. And he says with a great voice, FEAR GOD, AND GIVE HIM GLORY, for THE HOUR OF JUDGMENT IS COME. And worship him that made the heaven and the earth and sea and fountains of waters” – (Revelation 14:6-7. Compare Daniel 4:1, 6:26, and especially Daniel 7:22-26).

This salvation is for men and women of every generation and nation without exception. Jesus died, and God raised him from the dead, so that we should no longer live in fear or for ourselves, but for Christ and his kingdom.

God loved humanity so much that He “gave his only born Son” to liberate us from enslavement to sin and the fear of death. Moreover, Jesus gave each of us the ministry of reconciliation to bring the Good News to the rest of the world – (John 3:16, 2 Corinthians 5:17-20, Hebrews 2:14-18).

In response to his obedience, God raised Jesus from the dead and installed him on the Divine Throne. He is now the king with authority over all things, including the realm of death:

• “Jesus Christ, THE FAITHFUL WITNESS, THE FIRSTBORN OF THE DEAD, and THE RULER OF THE KINGS OF THE EARTH” – (Revelation 1:5. Note the allusions to Psalm 89:27 and Psalm 89:37).

• “Fear not; I AM THE FIRST AND THE LAST, and THE LIVING ONE. And I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have THE KEYS of Death and Hades” – (Revelation 1:17-18. Note the allusions to Isaiah 22:22, 41:4).

The Book of Revelation presents a graphic picture of this final era, which will culminate in the arrival of the New Creation. The Book is the “revelation and testimony of Jesus Christ.” He is the ‘Faithful Witness’ who testified to the world through his sacrificial death, and he is summoning his churches to give faithful testimony to the nations, whatever the cost:

• “I know where you dwell, even where Satan's throne is. And you hold fast my name, and did not deny my faith, even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness,  who was killed among you, where Satan dwells” – (Revelation 2:13).

• “And they overcame the Dragon by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and because they loved not their life even unto death” – (Revelation 12:11).

• “And the Dragon became enraged with the woman and departed to make war with the rest of her seed, those who keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus” – (Revelation 12:17. Compare Daniel 7:25, 8:10, 8:24, Revelation 1:9, 6:9, 11:7, 12:11, 20:4).

Christians who remain faithful in their testimony will overcome the Dragon and find themselves standing before the Lamb in his Holy City, New Jerusalem, along with the kings and nations of the Earth won to Christ by their message– (Revelation 7:15-17, 21:22-27).

FOR ALL NATIONS AND PEOPLES

Salvation is available to all men “through the faith of Jesus Christ for all who believe, for there is no distinction.” The offer of life is made to all men because of Christ’s faithful obedience. The Son of God “died for our sins,” even though we were alienated from God, and to liberate us from the tyranny of sin, Satan, and death (“in due season, Christ died for the ungodly”) – (Romans 3:21-22, 5:6).

God is creating a new community that includes men and women from every nation who have been purchased by Christ’s death, His kingdom of priests. Every person who repents and turns away from sin to follow Jesus becomes a member of this priestly company:

• “Unto him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood; and he made us A KINGDOM, PRIESTS for his God and Father” – (Revelation 1:6. Note the allusion to Exodus 19:6).

• “And they sing a new song, saying, You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals, for you were slain and purchased for God with your blood men of every TRIBE AND TONGUE AND PEOPLE AND NATION, and you made them A KINGDOM AND PRIESTS for our God; and they are reigning upon the earth” – (Revelation 5:9-10. Note the allusions to Exodus 19:6 and Daniel 7:13-14).

No nation, civilization, or political ideology can claim Jesus or his teachings as its property. His Gospel is a message for every man, woman, child, and nation on Earth; therefore, it transcends all national and cultural boundaries. His Church proclaims one message for all men – (Galatians 3:28).

• “After these things I saw, and behold, a great multitude that no man could number from every NATION AND TRIBE AND PEOPLE AND TONGUE standing before the throne and before the Lamb, ARRAYED IN WHITE ROBES, and PALMS IN THEIR HANDS. <…> These are they who come out of THE GREAT TRIBULATION, and they WASHED THEIR ROBES, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore, they are before the throne of God, and they render divine service to him day and night in his sanctuary. And he who sits on the throne WILL SPREAD HIS TENT OVER THEM. THEY WILL NOT HUNGER ANY LONGER, NEITHER THIRST ANY MORE. NEITHER WILL THE SUN STRIKE UPON THEM, nor any heat. For the Lamb who is in the middle of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will lead them to FOUNTAINS OF LIVING WATERS. And God will WIPE AWAY EVERY TEAR FROM THEIR EYES” – (Revelation 7:9-17. Note the several verbal allusions: Exodus 19:10-14, Leviticus 6:10, 23-40, Psalm 121:6, Isaiah 4:5-6, 25:8, 49:10, Daniel 7:14, 12:1).

• “Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to render to each man according to his works. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to come to the tree of life, and may enter in by the gates into the city” – (Revelation 22:12-14).

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[Citations of Old Testament passages in this article are based on the ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, the Septuagint (see the links here and here). Text printed in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS represents quotations and verbal allusions from the Old Testament. The Septuagint is represented by the Roman numeral for ‘seventy’ or LXX based on the Latin name of the translation, ‘Interpretatio septuaginta virorum’]

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SEE ALSO:

• L'Âge du Salut - (Après la mort, la résurrection et l'exaltation de Jésus, l'Évangile est arrivé pour que tous les hommes et toutes les nations l'entendent et l'embrassent)

• Redeeming the Nations - (The nations and the Kings of the Earth are found in the City of New Jerusalem because of the redeeming work of the Slain Lamb)

• Our Shepherd and King - (The reign of Christ began after his death and resurrection, and since then, he has been guiding the nations to the New Jerusalem)

• The Last Enemy - (The arrival of Jesus at the end of the age will result in our resurrection and the end of the last enemy, Death - 1 Corinthians 15:24-28)