The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen. (Revelation 22:21 NIV)
Jesus, what would it be like if You came to the world today?
Would You need permits to hold a public gathering?
Would You be clean-shaven and have short hair?
Would You wear jeans and boots, or a jacket and tie?
Would You be recognized at all for Who You are, or would there have been so many false messiahs that no one even tries to believe anymore?
Will there be anyone who still stands in faith amid all the false religions of this world?
Will there be anyone left who still knows and believes what You have taught us in Your Word and by Your Spirit?
Most of the learned and spiritually devoted men in Israel—the priests and council members, those who knew the Torah best—could not see You for Who You were. They knew all the prophecies and signs of the Messiah. They did “all the right things,” yet most of them totally missed You.
What if we did, too?
The Jews of that day did not understand the prophecies about Your coming. Do we understand what You have taught us about Your return? Or do we just tie ourselves in spiritual knots trying to understand something You do not intend us to understand? Perhaps we want to be able to control something through our understanding, or perhaps we want to understand so we won’t fear. But You didn’t call us to understand; You called us to be prepared and faithful.
“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” (Matthew 24:42–44 NIV)
Child, you are right: it is your faith, not your understanding, that will help you. Do not let your heart be troubled. Yes, many have come and will come, claiming to have a message from Me and the Father. Some may even claim to be Me. But My sheep hear My voice, and no one will take them from Me. I go to prepare a room for you in My Father’s house, and I will come back and bring you there with Me.
You should continue to keep watch because you do not know the day or hour. Mostly, you should just be ready: confess, repent, and forgive. Bless those who curse you. Care for the downtrodden. Proclaim the Good News to all people. Live out fully the fruits of the Spirit I have placed within you. Be salt and light to all those around you as you await My return.
Do not forget this one thing, dear one: in the Lord, a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. I am not slow in keeping My promise, but I am patient with humanity. I do not want anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance and faith in Me. I say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come, and let those who wish take the free gift of the water of life.
My children will know the day of the Lord. It will come suddenly and seemingly unexpectedly, like a thief. For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. The sun, moon, and stars will change. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. You will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. I will send My angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather the elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.
Look, I am coming soon! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star. Yes, I am coming soon.
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going. (John 14:1-4 NIV)
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. (John 10:27-28 NIV)
But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. (2 Peter 3:8-10 NIV)
For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather. Immediately after the distress of those days
‘the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light;
the stars will fall from the sky,
and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’
Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other. (Matthew 24:27-31 NIV)
Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.
The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.
I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen. (Revelation 22:12-21 NIV)