In the Old Testament, God's people were waiting for the promised Messiah, the Savior, to come rescue them. The first 4 books of the New Testament recount the coming of the long-awaited Savior, Jesus. Before Jesus left Earth and returned to Heaven, He promised that He would return and bring His people back to Himself so that they could experience eternity with Him.
The book of Revelation gives more detail about Jesus' return, which is also known as the second coming of Jesus. In the last chapter of Revelation, the writer of Revelation records the promise of Jesus' return. He writes that when Jesus returns, there will no longer "be a curse upon anything. For the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there, and His servants will worship Him." (verse 3). The curse on the earth caused by sin will be no more. Even more, John writes that "there will be no night there—no need for lamps or sun—for the Lord God will shine on them. And they will reign forever and ever" (verse 5). If you by chance think that sounds too good to be true, take hold of the words of the very next verse in Revelation 22, where the angel who was revealing the truths that John wrote down in Revelation said, "Everything you have heard and seen is trustworthy and true” (verse 6). Make no mistake, my friend, Jesus is coming again, and when He does, everything will be made right. Next, John records the words of Jesus, “Look, I am coming soon! Blessed are those who obey the words of prophecy written in this book” (verse 7).
Not only is Jesus coming, but Jesus is coming soon! This should give each of us a sense of urgency! There is no time to spare because Jesus is returning soon. This truth means that we must take our faith seriously and take Jesus' command to tell others about Him seriously. This truth should also give each of us a sense of peace, knowing that when He comes, everything that sin destroyed will be restored. We will worship Jesus, the Savior, face-to-face. What a day that will be! May we all say along with John in response to this good news, "Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!" (verse 20).
Jesus is coming soon! What would it look like if you lived with a sense of urgency, knowing that Jesus is returning soon? Would you be more diligent in sharing your faith? Would you spend more time with God in prayer and Scripture reading? Would you look for ways to serve in the church? Write down your answer to this question. Next, pick one thing that would change if you lived with a sense of urgency and start doing it, remembering that Jesus Himself promised He is coming soon!
Then the angel showed me a river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 It flowed down the center of the main street. On each side of the river grew a tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, with a fresh crop each month. The leaves were used for medicine to heal the nations.
3 No longer will there be a curse upon anything. For the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there, and his servants will worship him. 4 And they will see his face, and his name will be written on their foreheads. 5 And there will be no night there—no need for lamps or sun—for the Lord God will shine on them. And they will reign forever and ever.
6 Then the angel said to me, “Everything you have heard and seen is trustworthy and true. The Lord God, who inspires his prophets, has sent his angel to tell his servants what will happen soon.”
7 “Look, I am coming soon! Blessed are those who obey the words of prophecy written in this book.”
8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw all these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me. 9 But he said, “No, don’t worship me. I am a servant of God, just like you and your brothers the prophets, as well as all who obey what is written in this book. Worship only God!”
10 Then he instructed me, “Do not seal up the prophetic words in this book, for the time is near. 11 Let the one who is doing harm continue to do harm; let the one who is vile continue to be vile; let the one who is righteous continue to live righteously; let the one who is holy continue to be holy.”
12 “Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”
14 Blessed are those who wash their robes. They will be permitted to enter through the gates of the city and eat the fruit from the tree of life. 15 Outside the city are the dogs—the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idol worshipers, and all who love to live a lie.
16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this message for the churches. I am both the source of David and the heir to his throne. I am the bright morning star.”
17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” Let anyone who hears this say, “Come.” Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life. 18 And I solemnly declare to everyone who hears the words of prophecy written in this book: If anyone adds anything to what is written here, God will add to that person the plagues described in this book. 19 And if anyone removes any of the words from this book of prophecy, God will remove that person’s share in the tree of life and in the holy city that are described in this book.
20 He who is the faithful witness to all these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon!”
Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!
21 May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s holy people.
