JESUS IS COMING SOON!   Revelation 22:6-21

Grace, mercy, and peace to you in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

As we come to the end of an old year, let us turn to the final words of the last book of the Bible, Revelation 22:6-21.

And he said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true.  And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent His angel to show His servants what must soon take place.”     “And behold, I am coming soon.  Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”     I, John, am the one who heard and saw 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, but he said to me, “You must not do that!  I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book.  Worship God.”     And he said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near.  Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy.”    “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing My recompense with Me, to repay everyone for what he has 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, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates.  Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.     “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you about these things for the churches.  I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”     The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.”   And let the one who hears say, “Come.”  And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.     I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book:  If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.    He who testifies to these things says, “Surely, I am coming soon.”   Amen.  Come, Lord Jesus!   The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all.  Amen.

             The story is told of a preacher preaching on this text.  You may have noticed that 3 times Jesus states that He is coming soon.  The preacher leaned heavily on the pulpit and expressed strongly, “Behold, I am coming soon.”    “Behold, I am coming soon.”   “Surely, I am coming soon.”  With that, the old pulpit pulled loose and the embarrassed preacher tumbled out and ended up in a heap in the lap of a woman in the front row.  Her response? “Well, I should have known and been prepared.  You warned me 3 times that you were coming!”

              That is exactly what Jesus says at the very end of His autobiography in the Holy Bible.  He wants us to know that His coming in glory to judge the living and the dead is very near.  And He wants us all to be prepared, so that no one is caught off guard. 

          So, is this thrice-repeated announcement good news or bad news?  It all depends on whether we are ready to receive our Lord when He returns.

Sadly, for a great many people on this earth, it will not be a good day.  In fact, it will be the worst day ever for them.  Our text tells us that for many:  for sorcerers who have messed with false gods, for the immoral who have abused God’s good gift of sex, for those who have murdered others, despising God’s sacred gift of human life, for those worshipping idols made by men, and for those who love and practice falsehood—these will be excluded from the holy city of heaven that God has prepared for those who love Him.

So for them, instead of joyfully entering with our Lord into the glories of His heaven, they will be excluded from that holy city and sent away from the Lord to a place known as hell:  the abode of Satan and his evil demons and his followers.  Hell is a place of darkness, despair, eternal death, a place where there will be eternal weeping and gnashing of teeth.    

              There is also a warning in verses 18-19 not to tamper with God’s holy Word of truth.  Those who add to it will have deadly plagues added to them, and those who take away from His precious Word will forfeit their share of the tree of life in heaven. 

              But you and I do not want that final day to be a day of horror, torment, shame, and hell.  We want to have our Lord welcome us into His heaven, a heaven described in Revelation as the place of God’s abode, with thick, high walls of protection, with streets of gold and precious jewels and brilliant light that symbolize the great glory of God, with the beauty of that holy city compared to a bride adorned in her best for her husband, a place of praise and peace unbounded.  A place compared to a grand, heavenly banquet.

            There are 7 special beatitudes throughout Revelation that will inform us of who is prepared and ready to welcome our returning Lord.

            Revelation 1:3:  Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear and keep what is written in it, for the time is near.

            Revelation 13:14:  “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.”  “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!”

            Revelation 16:15:  “Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!”

            Revelation19:9:  “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.”

            Revelation 20:6:  Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection!  Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with Him for a thousand years.

            Revelation 22:7:  “Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”

            Revelation 22:14:  Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates.

            So, with whom does our God wish to share His glory of the heavenly city?  With all those who are willing to heed His invitation.  Note also that the invite goes out 3 times in our text in verse 17.

            The Spirit and Bride (Holy Spirit and the Church) say, “Come.”

            The one who hears (as we have) says, “Come.”

            Let the one who is thirsty (who hungers for God & His righteousness & glory) come.   God gives His gifts freely and gladly to those who are willing to receive them.

            3 times Jesus announces that He is coming soon.  3 times the invitation goes out for sinful, thirsty people to come to Him. 

            This past year the Lord has called home the souls of 7 of our members:  Glenn Bode, Lyle Bode,  Omi Budahn, Wayne Thompson,  Linda Ostermann, Rachel Drill, and Don Brandes.

            Where will we be a year from now?  It is very likely that some of us will be home in heaven.  It is also possible that our Lord will return in 2021 and take all of His believing children and faithful followers home to heaven.  May you and I be among them!  May He find us ready!  Then when He says, “Behold, I am coming soon,”  we can answer, “Amen.  Come, Lord Jesus!”

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with all His people.  Amen.

 New Year’s Prayer for 2021

            Gracious Lord God, as we stand on the threshold of a new year, we pray that you would mercifully hear our prayer and grant us grace in the coming year.

            2020 has indeed been a strange and challenging year for all of us.  The threat and reality of COVID-19, the necessity of social distancing and virtual meetings, the contentious election, and the disruption of normal family, church, jobs, travel, shopping, school, and sports activities has caused much stress to all of us.  In many cases, our lives were simply put “on hold.”

            Nevertheless, we thank You for having safely brought us through this past year.  You were faithful, even when we were not.  You were trustworthy, even when we wondered what You were up to.  You were forgiving, and that forgiveness we often needed as we complained and went our own sinful, rebellious ways.

 We confess that too often we were motivated by fear rather than faith, embraced despair rather than hope, and lived selfishly rather than lovingly serving and sharing with others.  We give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, and His mercy endures forever.

            As we face the new year, You, O Lord, know the fears and hopes that fill us.  Will 2021 be a better, healthier, more prosperous year?  We certainly hope so.  Will more tragedies and challenges come upon us this coming year?  We fear it may be so.  You tell us to cast all our anxieties upon You.  So we humbly give to you our fears and our hopes, and trust that as we seek You and Your kingdom, You will graciously supply what we need in this life.  We pray that You will bless this coming year, not because we are worthy of Your blessing, but because we dearly need it! 

            If this next year should be the year of Your glorious return, or the year that You call us home to glory, then please help us to be ready for that glorious day!  We want to be strong in faith, fervent in our love for You and others, and faithful and fruitful in living out the life of faith and love to which we have been called.  Like Simeon of old, we long to depart in peace, having seen Your salvation.

            Remind us, Lord, that You are with Your people always.  You give us the promise of Your presence and Your peace.  Let Your Holy Spirit continue to teach us and guide us into the ways of peace and holiness.  Encourage us with Your great faithfulness, compassion, and love.  Enable us to see You more clearly, love You more dearly, and follow You more nearly, day by day.

“Father, let me dedicate all this year to Thee, in whatever earthly state Thou wilt have me be.  Not from sorrow, pain or care, freedom dare I claim;  this alone shall be my prayer:  Glorify Thy name.”  (from an old hymn)

            And when this next year is history, as the old year has now become, may it find us closer to You, stronger in faith, and fervent in the love and mission of our Lord.  By Your grace, may we live each day and year to Your greater glory.  We pray all this boldly and confidently in the  precious and powerful name of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen.