Behold, I Come Quickly

We have reached the end of our look at Revelation. As I pored over this chapter I was impressed by the wording. We will begin looking at verse 6 and 7, will you read those verses with me?

These verses begin the final message of Revelation. Let me be clear: when John received this revelation he was on earth, was taken up to heaven and saw things which have not happened yet, and now, just as suddenly as he was taken up to heaven, he is back on earth in the “present” (our past, his present). His head must have been spinning! When we read this final passage we get a sense of the urgency that John had.

Put yourself in John’s place. You had just seen how everything will end, how it will all turn out, how the church will be gathered, the saints spared, the wicked destroyed, the devil defeated and the blessing of eternity that awaits…You would want to tell someone about this! John wanted everyone to know about this message, what message? That Jesus is coming soon.

Church, listen to me, its the same message today, Jesus is coming soon, and you better be ready!

Are you ready to meet the Lord?

John was excited about the coming of Jesus, and church, we need to be as well! He was excited because he knew the facts. Notice the fact of...

The Quickness of His Coming

Revelation 22:6–10 (KJV 1900)

6 And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.

7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

8 And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.

9 Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.

10 And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.

Revelation 22:12 (KJV 1900)

12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

Revelation 22:20 (KJV 1900)

20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

These verses speak of two truths regarding the quickness of Jesus Coming:

They speak of timing

Verse six mentions things, which “must shortly be done.”

Verse 10 tells us that the “time is at hand”

Both of these verse refer to the fact that coming of Jesus is near at hand!

Let me clear, these verses most certainly refer to the rapture of the church!

John, back in his own time, writing to people living in his day, was telling them that Jesus was coming, and they had better be ready!

Church, there is NOTHING standing in the way of Jesus coming to get us!

There are no prophecies to be fulfilled no signs to be given

Not even a solar eclipse!

I’m amazed at the number of people, you tell them Jesus is coming and they don’t believe you, but you let a natural occurrence like a solar eclipse take place and all the sudden they’re getting right with God?

How about you get right with God because He’s God and you’re a sinner in need of forgiveness?

These verses speak of the timing, any minute now, and of the…

Swiftness

“Behold I come quickly” is repeated three times

Quickly refers to a sudden, unexpected appearance.

Did I mention that there are no signs pointing to the rapture, if there were, the it wouldn't be a sudden unexpected appearance!

Why is it so important that the rapture not have any signs associated with it? Becasue of...

The Questions Settled at His Coming

I want to begin by looking at the most confusing verse first, Revelation 22:11

Revelation 22:11 KJV 1900

11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

What are these verses teaching? Tow things:

You will either get right with God now, while you have time or you will not.

You say:

“Pastor, I know I need to give my life to Jesus. I know that I am a sinner, I know that He died for me, but I am not ready to do it right now.”

“I believe you are telling me the truth, that Jesus is coming soon, but I’m going to wait until He does and then I’ll Get right.”

The Bible says:

When Jesus comes, you will either be ready or you will not.

His coming is so quick, that you will not have a chance to repent if you do not take advantage of the time you have right now.

The second truth these verses teach is:

When Jesus returns for His Church, He will be justifed in leaving those behind who rejected Him.

Read verses 14-15...

Again we see Jesus proclaiming “I come quickly (suddenly), but He adds something to this declaration

“My reward is with me to give to every man according as his work shall be.”

We know He is not talking about working for salvation, because that cannot be earned

Rather He is referring to His justice in handing out judgment, refer back to verse 11.

Read verses 18-19… now read verse 10 again...

There is a promise that if anyone adds to or takes away from this prophecy that his name will be removed from the book of life

Literally out of the book of the living.

God takes His Word very seriously!

To tamper with it, to change it, to deny is to take your life into your own hands.

God takes His Word very seriously, and so should we.

Friends, this is how serious a matter this is. John knew that the very lives of the world are at stake here! Friend, when Jesus comes back it will be too late for you to make up your mind. That is why we are thankful for...

The Request to be Ready For His Coming

Read verse 16 with me, notice the phrase “I Jesus have sent mine angel...”

The word angel does not always refer to a heavenly being, in fact its most basic definition is “messenger.” John is Jesus’ messenger and what is the message? That Jesus, the root and offspring of David, the bright and morning star, is coming! His response? Revelation 22:17

Revelation 22:17 KJV 1900

17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

What is the greatest message in all of History? That God sent His Son Jesus from heaven to earth, to live a perfect life, to die in the place of sinners, to rise from the grave, and the best yet, to come again! He is inviting you to “Come” today.

Conclusion:

You say, “How can I come to Him?” Simple, you must come to Him on His terms. Acknowleging that you are a sinner with no way to save yourself, believing that He died in your place, and calling on Him to save your soul. That is how you come to Him. That is how you can say with John, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”

Jesus is coming, are you ready? Jesus is coming, will you go with Him, or will you be left behind?