Week 53: The Second Coming!

“Surely I am coming quickly.” Rev.22:20

The book of Revelations is not an easy book to imbibe. Replete with allegories and apologues and the like, it can challenge your power of comprehension and interpretation. But there are some things that stand out. The above statement of our Lord Jesus Christ, for instance.

Since we know without doubt that over 2000 years ago, He came into the world as a baby born to virgin Mary – the story of Christmas we celebrated last week – the coming, pronounced above, must be the Second Coming. In John’s vision the word ‘quickly’ is included , so well may we wonder if this is another instance of the scriptures crying wolf.

But it appears that any delay that we may perceive in this matter is actually an act of the grace of God to us-ward. Apostle Peter gives the perspective:

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.2 Peter 3:9

Then of course we have the other verse ( just the previous) stating that ” beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day”.  This would seem to echo the words of the servant of God Moses when he writes “A thousand years in Your sight are like yesterday when it is past, and like a watch in the night”. By way of explanation, we read that “this passage conveys that God’s experience of time is different from ours because he is eternal and not dependent on physical factors.” 

For Israel

To Judge The Nations

To Destroy The Works Of Satan

For The Honor Of His Father And The Holy Spirit

For The Honor Of His Father And The Holy Spirit

Since the Church is described as the body of Christ and also as His bride, we can delve into that a little bit. Jesus said even in His high priestly prayer, “Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me that they may behold my glory.” (John 17:24) He wants His bride to be with Him in order to behold His glory and rejoice with Him.

Will you be there when the invitation is given for the banquet or would you find a handy excuse to indulge in earthly pursuits?  You might sense that I am coming to the parable of Jesus where He says:

¹⁶ Then He said to him, “A certain man gave a great supper and invited many,¹⁷ and sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, ‘Come, for all things are now ready.’¹⁸ But they all with one accord began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused.’¹⁹ And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused.’²⁰ Still another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ Luke 14

How easy it is to choose the temporal over the eternal! Another account of the same parable tells us that it won’t do to enter the banquet hall in filthy clothes. You need the robes of righteousness, the garments of salvation (Isaiah 61:10).

I am aware that I have been freely employing a mix of metaphors, all with the one intent of emphasizing the need to get ready to meet with the king of Kings and lord of Lords and to reign eternally with Him.

Surely we don’t want to be left behind. Once you hear the pronouncement made at the start of this article, may we raise a full-throated chorus of

“Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! “Rev.21:20