The Great Sending, Chapter 42

STUDY 42: A Panoramic View of God’s Love for the World

pp. 203-205
References:  Revelations 5:9; 7:9; 10:11; 11:9; 13:7; 14:6; 17:15

Reverand Dr. Will Sohns

One of the joys our family had in living in the Rocky Mountains for years was to park along the mountain highways at special turnouts to take in the panoramic views. The unobstructed views of the valleys, meadows, and steams below, the snow-capped mountains, the pine and aspen trees, were breathtaking. The view was worth every second we took to let the beauty and the vastness press in on us.

In the Book of Revelation, Saint John provided the breathtaking view of the world, which God so dearly loves. Indeed, John powerfully illustrated that love in Chapter 3 of his Gospel: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son… that the world might be saved through him" (vs. 16-17). We see that all-encompassing love at work with the panoramic view in Revelation 5:9, with "every tribe and language and people and nation". And we see it in Revelation 7:9: "a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb".

What a Missio Dei panorama! Jesus shed His blood and purchased everyone of common descent, common language, common history. He won people from every constitution, and every common custom and social mores. John’s panoramic vision was of a multitude wearing robes that had been made white by the blood of the Lamb, with palms in their hands signifying eternal life… "and crying out with a loud voice, 'Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb'’” (Revelation 7:10)!

The Revelation passages reflect God’s mission worldview in Christ. His heart’s desire is that every people be saved: Greeks and non-Greeks, wise and foolish (Romans 1:14), slave, free, male, female (Galatians 3:28), circumcised, uncircumcised, or barbarian (Colossians 3:11). God wants the world, with no distinctions, partiality, or limitations. The sent Lamb of God ransomed everyone.

God’s revealed mission view of heaven is spectacular. His loving heaven view is His worldview and His heart’s desire is for every people to be saved. His world view of “saved” is His heaven view to never again hunger nor thirst, nor suffer scorching sun and heat but to be led by the eternal Shepherd to springs of living water with every tear wiped from the eyes (Revelation 7:16-17). God holds this panoramic heaven view for everyone.

The panoramic view of God’s love for the world is breathtaking from yet another observation turnout-view. Christ conquers the great dragon, Satan, the deceiver and imitator of God. He destroys Satan’s world powers and evil forces, which are determined to destroy every tribe and people and language and nation (Revelation 13:7) and to prostitute the peoples and multitudes and nations and languages (Revelation 17:15).

Another unobstructed view Christ holds is of the believers below, who live in the valley of the world. We see another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people (see Revelation 10:11). Every believer (not just Luther or the clergy) who has been saved possesses the eternal Gospel. The panoramic view is clear: the Missio Dei involves every believer and assembly of believers in the great sending task of proclaiming the Gospel of Christ to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people..