Jesus’ Promised Coming
For many years, we’ve proclaimed that Jesus’ coming is very soon. The cries of “Get your house in order,” “Your redemption draweth nigh” and “The end of the world is near” are just some of the phrases that have been echoed in churches, declared on street corners and preached in revivals. Despite these passionate pleas for vigilance in preparation for this grand, climactic event, the urgency of Christ’s coming has regrettably been desensitized due to our current postmodern society coupled with Christ’s delay in redeeming His people from this earth.
Revelation 1:7 makes it very clear that Jesus is coming: “Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him!” (KJV). “Shall” doesn’t suggest speculation, supposition or conjecture, but rather a definite promise.
Revelation 22:20 confirms that He’s coming soon. Jesus’ statement about the imminence of His return is a reiteration of what He said in Matthew, when He described the state of the world just before His coming. “The disciples came unto Him privately, saying, ‘Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?’ And Jesus answered and said unto them, ‘Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars ... but the end is not yet. ... and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in diverse places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved,’” Matthew 24:3-13 (KJV).
Many of these occurrences have either transpired or are transpiring. Deception, calamity, strife, natural disasters, false prophets and wars are rampant in our world. While we may experience daily tests and trials, there is still hope! Jesus is coming, and He’s coming soon!
Revelation closes by telling us that Jesus wants to spend eternity with His people and is coming for those who love and obey Him. Those who don’t would be unhappy living forever with Him. Yet Jesus desires for everyone to accept Him as their personal Savior. He wants all of humanity to live eternally with Him. He is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance,” 2 Peter 3:9 (KJV).
Jesus is coming soon and He wants us to be ready. Take courage in Paul’s counsel in Hebrews 12:1-2: “Let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.”
May our prayer be, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” Revelation 22:20 (KJV).
