Soon and Very Soon
Pastor Kevin Harris
2023 German Soccer Camp • Sermon • Submitted
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Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Good morning and welcome!
Soccer Camp visitors
Group from Antioch Community Church
33 German Team
12 “Look, I am coming soon, and my reward is with me to repay each person according to his work. 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, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates. 15 Outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. 16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to attest these things to you for the churches. I am the root and descendant of David, the bright morning star.” 17 Both the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” Let anyone who hears, say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come. Let the one who desires take the water of life freely.
[pray]
This passage that we just read is part of a larger vision that the Apostle John experienced, revealing the end of our world, the end of this age, and the establishment of the next world, where Jesus will establish his kingdom for a thousand-year reign.
The book of the Revelation, the Apocalypse, provides one of the most enduring glimpses that we get of Jesus as the victorious king. Much of what we understand (or don’t understand) about heaven and the events that will come are gathered from this highly symbolic and sometimes confusing book. However, I don’t want to embark on a deep dive into this book today. I want to capture the sentiment of a brief passage near the end, where we find a promise, spoken by Jesus Christ, himself.
I Am Coming Soon
I Am Coming Soon
Jesus says multiple times in these passages, “I am coming soon.” While the text does not name the speaker, many theologians believe these to be words of the Christ as he speaks to John in his vision.
The word “soon” is a relative term.
This word “soon” is perhaps better translated “quickly.”
In the Greek, the word used is ...
ταχύ tachu; neut. of 5036; quickly:—before long(1), possible(1), quickly(11), soon afterward(1).
When we hear this, we have to ask, “soon in comparison to what?”
When we talk about microwaving popcorn, we might mean a matter of minutes.
When we talk about the birth of a child, soon means the normal gestation period of 9 months.
When we talk about completing an undergraduate degree, we are usually talking about 4-years of study.
No matter which word we use “soon” or “quickly”, these things will come in their proper time, when all of the proper criteria have been met for the fulfillment of whatever is coming to pass.
We have to do the same thing here when we see that Jesus says “I am coming soon.”
The word “soon” is not spoken in relation to Jesus’ ascension to heaven. In fact John did not write his vision of revelation until the year 96, some 60-odd years after the ascension of Christ to the right hand of the Father.
As we read the book of Revelation, it seems rather likely that John was not only transported through space, but also through time to observe events that were far in his future.
The word “soon” bears no relation to our almost 2000 years of waiting for the return of Christ. It is much more likely meaning that once these things begin to happen, the events will unfold quickly, without delay.
From our perspective 2000 years of waiting on God seems never ending, however God is waiting on his timing to be perfect and to meet his needs rather than our own.
8 Dear friends, don’t overlook this one fact: With the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. 9 The Lord does not delay his promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.
Frequently Asked Question
Frequently Asked Question
A Frequently Asked Question that I hear as a pastor is this one:
“Are we in the last days?” - Yes, we have been in the last days ever since Jesus ascended. But that is not, perhaps, what is intended by the question. People want to know if they are going to experience the return of Christ in their lifetime. I cannot say that I know the time, nor the hour, of his return.
Christian researchers have been asking similar questions and report that 9 in 10 pastors today can see current events matching what we have been warned to watch for at the end of our age.
[Research completed] in early 2020, [by] Lifeway Research asked pastors if they considered certain current events to be included in Jesus’ warnings.
At least 3 in 4 pastors agree Jesus was referring to current events including the rise of false prophets and false teachings (83%), the love of many believers growing cold (81%), traditional morals becoming less accepted (79%), wars and national conflicts (78%), earthquakes and other natural disasters (76%), and people abandoning their Christian faith (75%).
Clear majorities also see famines (70%) and anti-Semitism toward Jewish people worldwide (63%) as signs of Jesus’ return.
[https://research.lifeway.com/2020/04/07/vast-majority-of-pastors-see-signs-of-end-times-in-current-events/]
Over 56% of pastors surveyed stated that they believe that Christ will return in their lifetime. I know—we all hope that will be true. In fact, many of the apostles seemed to believe the same thing about their own lifetimes.
We can look to passages like Matthew 24-25, Mark 13, and Luke 21 to see things like the rise of false teachers and false prophets, wars and international conflicts, earthquakes and natural disasters, a great falling away from the Christian faith, a rise in antisemitism. There are many signs and as we look throughout our history, we can see all of these signs proliferating.
Almost certainly some of the things that we are seeing in the news today are signs that we can consider to point to the birth pangs of the world in anticipation of the returning Christ, the Messiah.
One thing that we need to do as we look at passages like this is to glean any teaching or understanding that we might be able to find regarding how we should live our lives in light of the imminent return of Christ.
I see four major commands that we can apply to our lives today from these passages...
I. Keep God’s Word
I. Keep God’s Word
The first command that I see here is “Keep God’s Word.”
6 Then he said to me, “These words are faithful and true. The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place.” 7 “Look, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.” 8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. When I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had shown them to me. 9 But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you, your brothers the prophets, and those who keep the words of this book. Worship God!” 10 Then he said to me, “Don’t seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, because the time is near. 11 Let the unrighteous go on in unrighteousness; let the filthy still be filthy; let the righteous go on in righteousness; let the holy still be holy.”
We look specifically at verse 7...
7 “Look, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”
The action verb here is “keep.” And as we look at the Greek, we can see a wide variety of possible interpretations...
New American Standard Hebrew-Aramaic and Greek Dictionaries: Updated Edition 5083 τηρέω (tēreō)
τηρέω tēreō; from a prim. word τηρός tēros (a guard); to watch over, to guard:—continue(1), guard(1), guards(1), heed(2), heeds(1), held in custody(1), keep(27), keep watch over(1), keeping(1), keeping guard over(1), keeps(9), kept(12), kept in custody(3), observe(3), preserve(1), preserved(1), reserved(4), watching over(1).
When we look at the context, we can observe that the writer is concerned that the words of this scroll of prophecy should be guarded, preserved, or kept intact. We can often see this expanded to include the entire word of God that should be held and preserved. This is not an uncommon idea in scripture, as we can see this kind of command pop up in the word...
2 You must not add anything to what I command you or take anything away from it, so that you may keep the commands of the Lord your God I am giving you.
5 Every word of God is pure; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. 6 Don’t add to his words, or he will rebuke you, and you will be proved a liar.
For this reason, you will find that translators and interpreters of scripture tend to take their job seriously. We see Paul warning Timothy to take this job seriously, especially when it comes to interpreting scripture.
15 Be diligent to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth.
So, keeping God’s word is something that is still of utmost importance for the church today as we march ever closer to the return of Christ.
We know that the end will bring more and more challenges to the truths that we hold to be true. Christ warned us that there would be many false teachers seeking to change the meaning of scripture. We should be alert and guard against that possibility.
But that also means that we have to have a good understanding of the word so that we will be able to identify false teaching. This good understanding of the word is part of what it means to “Keep God’s Word.”
II. Serve The Lord
II. Serve The Lord
Additionally we can see a reference to a reward that Christ will bring to those who have carried on his work while he was away.
12 “Look, I am coming soon, and my reward is with me to repay each person according to his work. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.
While this is not a clear command, it is definitely implied that we must carry on the good work that Christ has set out for us and we can expect a reward on his return. In fact this is a theme that is repeated throughout the teachings of Jesus and his apostles.
The words from verse 12 are taken, almost verbatim, from Isaiah 40:10...
10 See, the Lord God comes with strength, and his power establishes his rule. His wages are with him, and his reward accompanies him.
…and echoed in Isaiah 62:11.
Jesus used similar words in Matthew 16:27, but let’s read the broader context from Matthew...
24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will find it. 26 For what will it benefit someone if he gains the whole world yet loses his life? Or what will anyone give in exchange for his life? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will reward each according to what he has done. 28 Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
All who are called to follow Christ have a job to do and the expectation of Christ is that we will be about his business.
III. Keep Yourselves Clean
III. Keep Yourselves Clean
Furthermore, we are told to keep ourselves clean...
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. 15 Outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
This is not as much about physical cleanliness as it is about clean living, especially in light of the fact that we are made clean through forgiveness and through the salvific work that Christ completed on the cross. Christ is reminding those who are serving and those who are keeping God’s word to keep themselves from being contaminated by sin.
The hymn of praise from early in the Revelations says this...
Revelation 1:5b (CSB)
5b ..... To him who loves us and has set us free from our sins by his blood,
It’s pretty common in Hebrew thought to have a statement of blessing to be balanced by a statement of curse. These references to those who live sinfully, but have not been cleansed by the work of Jesus Christ, will find themselves banished eternally from God’s presence.
IV. Expect Christ’s Return
IV. Expect Christ’s Return
Finally, the passage establishes that the speaker we have been hearing is Christ, who makes his claim to the throne and reminds the readers to be ready for his return...
16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to attest these things to you for the churches. I am the root and descendant of David, the bright morning star.” 17 Both the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” Let anyone who hears, say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come. Let the one who desires take the water of life freely.
Christ said three times throughout this passage that he would come quickly. We continue to wait for him, yearning for his return.
We know that Christ’s delay is for good reason and is solely at God’s command...
3 Above all, be aware of this: Scoffers will come in the last days scoffing and following their own evil desires, 4 saying, “Where is his ‘coming’ that he promised? Ever since our ancestors fell asleep, all things continue as they have been since the beginning of creation.” 5 They deliberately overlook this: By the word of God the heavens came into being long ago and the earth was brought about from water and through water. 6 Through these the world of that time perished when it was flooded. 7 By the same word, the present heavens and earth are stored up for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. 8 Dear friends, don’t overlook this one fact: With the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. 9 The Lord does not delay his promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.
...
14 Therefore, dear friends, while you wait for these things, make every effort to be found without spot or blemish in his sight, at peace.
...
17 Therefore, dear friends, since you know this in advance, be on your guard, so that you are not led away by the error of lawless people and fall from your own stable position. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity.
So, brothers and sisters, we wait together patiently for the return of our Lord, remembering to do the things that he asks of us.
The text goes on to provide another word of warning about preserving the integrity of the prophecy...
18 I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book. 19 And if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share of the tree of life and the holy city, which are written about in this book.
And finally we come to the close..
Our Heart’s Cry: Maranatha!
Our Heart’s Cry: Maranatha!
Jesus tells us in verse 20 one final time that he will return to us quickly...
20 He who testifies about these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!
And we close with the heart cry of every Christian, “Come, Lord Jesus!”
We sometimes use the Aramaic word “Maranatha!” to voice this call.
For we remain the bride waiting for the return of the bridegroom. We are not to wait for him slothfully, but to be about his work, telling others about him and about the transformation that he can bring to their lives.
Conclusion
Conclusion