February 24
“He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming quickly.’ Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus,” Revelation 22:20.
The Lord Jesus Himself bears witness to what the evangelist John has written in the Book of Revelation. He bears witness to what John wrote to the seven churches of Asia Minor and to the Christian Church on earth until the end of time.
The Lord Jesus is speaking to all believers who might be tempted to become impatient while they wait for Him to return. During the days of His public ministry, Jesus told the multitudes, “Of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only,” Matthew 24:37. In his first Epistle John wrote, “Little children, it is the last hour,” 1 John 2:18. The apostle Peter wrote, “The end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers,” 1 Peter 4:7. The apostle James wrote of the need for patience. “Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand . . . Behold, the Judge is standing at the door!” James 5:7-9.
The apostles lived and wrote two thousand years ago. However, when they spoke of the Savior’s return to earth to take us to heaven, where He has gone on before us to prepare a place for us, they spoke of His return as being near at hand.
We must remember that God is not bound by our calendar. When writing about the end of the world and Jesus’ return, Peter wrote, “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,” 2 Peter 3:8. Remember that from the time when God first promised to Adam and Eve, to send a Savior to the time when that promise was fulfilled, a few thousand years (an unknown number to us) passed by. God is from everlasting to everlasting. He has no beginning and no ending.
When Jesus says at the end of the Book of Revelation, “Surely I am coming quickly,” He is speaking not so much of when He is coming but of the certainty of His coming. The “when” we will leave to God, but we should be absolutely certain that He is coming again to take us into the halls of heaven where there will be no more sin or sorrow, no more grief or pain, and no more tears or death!
Yes, when Jesus says, “Surely I am coming quickly,” we can respond with certainty, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” Come quickly! Our certainty rests upon what He has done for us. He kept the Commandments in our place. The Father laid on Him all our sins for which He suffered and died. He was raised from the dead for our justification. With our faith, hope, and trust in Jesus, we can say with the psalmist and with certainty, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me,” Psalm 23:4.
And we seal it all with an “Amen!” So shall it be! Our faith rests on God’s sure promises! Come, Lord Jesus! Come quickly! Amen!