HE IS COMING!
REVELATION 22:12-13
REVELATION 22:12-13 NKJ
12 "And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last."
Revelation Chapter 22 is the back of the book. The end. And in these final words, the Lord repeats a phrase three times. "Behold, I am coming quickly."
Now this phrase has caused some confusion over the years. People have been predicting His return. And they have been incorrect. In 1988 a book came out with 88 Reasons Jesus Is Coming Back in 1988. I did not buy the book. My pastor did not endorse the book. The author even listed the day Jesus would return. Church was unusually full that day. Well, He obviously did not come in 1988. But this same author doubled down with another book about Jesus' return in 1989. After that didn't happen, he gave up making predictions and still banked the money from the first two books. Bless his heart.
If anyone tells you they know the exact time and/or day Jesus is coming back, don't buy it. If it's a book don't buy it. Because they do not know.
And the Lord's quickly is not our quickly. His time frame operates differently from ours.
And there is another way to look at quickly. The word can mean suddenly. In 1 Corinthians 15:51-52, the scriptures talk about being changed in the twinkling of an eye. That's sudden. In 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18, the coming of the Lord is described as an event that will happen suddenly. Paul goes on to say that the day of the Lord comes as a thief in the night. So we will not have an abundance of preparation time.
APPLICATION:
How do we particularly apply a verse like this? How do we deal with the Lord coming quickly?
The best thing we can do is stay ready. Because He is not just coming, He is coming with rewards according to our work for His kingdom. This chapter and the entire book of Revelation is a strong reminder that our days on earth are not forever. There is a spiritual kingdom that is eternal. There are rewards that are eternal. And our time, money, and effort to advance that kingdom are worth it. Now and forever.
He is coming quickly. Come quickly, Lord Jesus.