LEARNING DAILY

 

Revelation 22:20, He who testifies to these things says, “Surely, I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come Lord Jesus!

 

Three times in the last verses of The Revelation Jesus, Himself stated He would be coming quickly.  The word quickly has been interpreted to mean within the life time of whoever is reading it.  Paul thought that the return of Jesus might be in his lifetime.  Because He has obviously not returned yet, the apostle Peter writes there will be “scoffers in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” (2 Peter 3:3-4).  He goes on to say that we are not “to forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.  The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but all should come to repentance.”  (verses 8-9).  The Lord is waiting for as many as would give their lives to Him would do so; only He knows who that it is and when the last will do so.  “Quickly” will be determined from God’s perspective.  We know that He is never early and never late.

 

The last verses of The Revelation reflect an urgency for people to give their lives to the Lord Jesus Christ – to do so and then to walk on the narrow way that leads to God’s kingdom and life lived for eternity with Him.  Notice in these last verses that the words of this prophecy are to remain open so all can see; it is to be proclaimed to all Believers and in all the chapters.  When was the last time you heard a message in your church on this prophecy?  The Lord knows that there will be those who scoff at these words and will reject it as nonsense; the result is they will continue in their sins.  Those who read it, study it, reflect on it and will look forward to the coming of Jesus.  You and I do not need to live in fear of death or what is to come because we are armed by the truth.  “When we understand what God has prepared for those who love Him, we need never fear again (1 Corinthians 2:9-10).  If we have heaven clearly in our minds, then our only other concern is for those we love and those who have yet to hear of God’s eternal plan.” (DJSB). 

 

So, what is the take away from doing this study?  John gives a warning to neither take away nor add anything to this prophecy.  You and I and every other reader must take what is written in absolute seriousness.  If we do, we live our lives in such a way that we will be ready for the trumpet that sounds to meet the Lord Jesus in the sky.  You live your lives on the narrow way.  There is an urgency, in my opinion, to be cleansed of all unrighteousness through repentance and to be alert.  There is absolutely nothing else that needs to be fulfilled so the trumpet can sound.  There is “every reason to believe that the day is fast approaching when He who is called “the word of God” will come from heaven to take His faithful bride from the earth to His Father’s house after which He will triumphantly return in glory to reign forever as “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS”.  This is our unfailing hope and joyful expectation (2 Peter 1:19).” (LSSB).

 

I am so looking forward to that day; this world no longer has any hold on me.  I am trying to stay on the narrow way, ask for forgiveness when I get off of it (and I do!) in order to found ready when the time comes to either be part of the rapture or when He takes me home through death.  What about you?

 

“Even so, come Lord Jesus.”  

From now on DJSB will be used to note information or quotes from the David Jeremiah Study Bible and LSSB will refer to information and quotes from the Life in the Spirit Study Bible.