Our Goal
“And from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
Revelation 1:5-6
“And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth.”
Revelation 5:9-10
“Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.”
Revelation 20:6
What is the ultimate goal of the Christian life?
“…To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (Rev. 1:5b-6).
Everyone sets goals in their human life whether to earn a degree, promotion in their career, or provide for their family. If man, who is created in the image and likeness of God, is so goal driven, then the heavenly Creator Himself must have an even greater and higher goal for man. Since the beginning, God created man “to have dominion over all the earth” (Gen. 1:26) and “be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it;” (Gen. 1:28). But immediately afterwards, man fell and disobeyed God. Sin entered into man; man became corrupt. This is evident today in man’s government.
Despite man’s fallen condition, God’s word shows that His plan for man never changed! God solved man’s problem of sin by sending His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to become, “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). When a person believes in Jesus Christ, he receives the forgiveness of sins, and the free gift of eternal life (Rom. 6:23). He is born again with God’s life (John 3:3) to enter into God’s heavenly kingdom (John 3:5). Why would God go through such great lengths – only to save His people from sin and the eternal lake of fire? He had a specific goal in mind when He saved His people.
Revelation 1:5b-6 says that God not only loved us and washed us from our sins in Jesus Christ’s own blood, but did so with the purpose to make us kings and priests. This is stated in the last book of the Bible. This high and great purpose for God’s children is so important that He repeats it again in Revelation 5:9-10: “…For You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.” He wants man to be kings and priests to reign on the earth! And to drive His point in, God says a third time in Revelation 20:6, “Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.” The ultimate goal of the Christian life is to become kings and priests to reign on the earth with Christ in the coming 1,000 years millennial kingdom age. What a glorious goal!
If you have God’s glorious goal before your eyes, then you must ask Him, “How do I prepare to become a king and priest for the coming millennial kingdom age?” This goal motivates you to change your Christian life; it will inspire you to cooperate with the Lord Jesus Christ to be trained according to His commandments maturing to reach His goal.
The Different Harvests (Raptures) at the End of the Age
Will all the Christians be raptured before the great day of God’s wrath? According to the Bible, the answer is NO.
The Paths of Rapture for God’s People
The Goal of the Christians
Male-Child (Overcomers)
“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.” Rev. 12:5, 11
Firstfruits
“These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God.” Rev. 14:1, 4-5
Martyrs
“And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.” Rev. 15:1-2; 20:4
Left Behind Christians
“And the dragon [Satan] was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Rev. 13:7; 12:17
The Coming of God’s Judgement
The Goal of the Christians
We all will appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ
“Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.” Rom. 14:10; 2 Cor. 5:9-11
