Revelation 22:10-21 – 10Then he told me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, because the time is near. 11Let him who does wrong continue to do wrong; let him who is vile continue to be vile; let him who does right continue to do right; and let him who is holy continue to be holy.” 12“Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. 13I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. 14“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. 15Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. 16“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.” 17The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life. 18I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. 19And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. 20He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. 21The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.
The series on the Second Coming of the Lord is in three segments. The first focus is the Biblical promise of His coming. The series entitled “Look Who’s Coming” asked four questions: Do you know Him? Are you serving Him? Are you looking for Him? Are you preparing to rule and reign with Him? In other words: Have you entered into a meaningful relationship with God? Is the nature of your salvation reflecting a life of value instead of a life built with inferior materials? Does your lifestyle give clear evidence each day that you expect Him at any moment? Are you abiding in the Holy Spirit as an effective servant in His kingdom?
The second focus is the Biblical signs of His coming. The series entitled “Notice the signs” was divided into two groups and reveals that Jesus can come at any moment. Ongoing signs, such as human conflict and natural calamity, give testimony Jesus has not yet come. As they continue believers are assured His return has not taken place and they have not been left behind. Closing signs are unique to the last generation: the sign of Noah, the sign of Sodom, the sign of the fig tree, and the worldwide proclamation of Good News. The closing signs are presently being fulfilled. Jesus could come today!
The third focus is how the Biblical promise and the Biblical signs should influence the believer’s life. How should you respond? First Peter shows your activities should be influenced. Second Peter shows your attitude should be influenced. Jude shows your motivation should be influenced. First Timothy shows your finances should be influenced.
The final attention is drawn from the books of James, 1 Thessalonians and 2 Thessalonians: martyrdom, ministry and mission.
Martyrdom – live patiently.
“Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. 8You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. 9Don’t grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door! 10Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.” (James 5:7-11)
Followers of Jesus may experience cruelty and injustice. James challenges every believer to be patient and to stand firm.
Are you being harassed at home, school, work or neighborhood? Be patient.
Are you sensing injustice, unfairness, bias, prejudice or discrimination? Be patient.
Have you come to the conclusion that life is unfair and even unbearable? Be patient.
The concept of patience runs contrary to present social norms. Living in a microwave/microchip culture fails to equip people with this critical personality trait.
People hardly wait for anything. Instant orange juice, instant coffee and fast food is easily available. There is instant soup and minute rice. In most department stores credit is given instantly at the check-out counter. In political, economic, social and national issues instantaneous solutions are expected to longstanding problems.
Expecting immediate results has also crept into spiritual matters. God is now expected to work in our time frame. Concepts of time management and scheduling have been carried to an extreme. What if God sees your time differently? What if your greater need requires waiting? Do you dare have a schedule so rigid that even God cannot alter it?
People want God to give instant answers yet easy answers do not develop perseverance and quick solutions do not develop endurance, important qualities for end-time people.
Being patient does not suggest idleness or passivity. Look to God for ways out of agonizing situations with assurance that He does everything right. The promise is, “The Lord’s coming is near…the Judge is standing right at the door…the Lord is full of compassion and mercy.”
James reminds the reader about life on the farm. Being an inner-city kid from Seattle, I did not understand the heart of the farmer until serving a church in rural America.
Farmers are very dependent upon the elements of weather and nature. Too much rain or not enough rain can mean success or failure. Hail, blight and insects can lead to ruin. Each year farmers deal with questions about planting soon or planting late, harvest now or wait? They plant, they hope, they dream and they work but each changing season determines the yield of the harvest. If the yield is poor or the crop is ruined, they hope next year will be better.
When all of life seems to be against you, be patient.
Ministry – encourage.
“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18Therefore encourage each other with these words.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18)
“May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, 17encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.” (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17)
Are you facing what appears to be an insurmountable problem? Jesus specializes in the impossible. Are you struggling with sin? The Holy Spirit will help you overcome.
Jesus said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
A major objective in your relationships with believers is encouragement, not control. All authority has been given to Jesus.
The objective of community is not condemnation, harassment or affliction. The objective is consolation, solace and relief. There is only a two-foot difference between “a pat on the back” and “a kick in the pants” but they are miles apart in results. Look for ways to encourage one another.
An elderly pastor's wife was known for her ability to make positive comments about every facet of her husband's Florida ministry. The church choir, however, consisting as it did of seniors in their 70s and 80s, had defied positive but truthful comment. She finally solved the problem one Sunday morning. As the choir members filed into the choir loft, she leaned over and remarked, "Aren't they walking well this morning?"
In the church world discipline and correction are regularly needed. They must be dealt with, however, in the Biblical model of Matthew 18. There are limitations. Reprimand is done in the smallest arena possible, where a transgressor is encouraged to personally deal with the issue. Out of a posture of encouragement instead of judgment a person is confronted about inappropriate behavior.
In ministry to one another, encourage.
Mission – be like Jesus.
“God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you 7and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. 8He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power 10on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you. 11With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith. 12We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Thessalonians 1:6-12)
The Scripture text speaks of “trouble.” You are mistaken if you believe identity with Jesus will be without cost.
A story is told from the life of John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist Movement. He was traveling between assignments one day and noticed it had been a long time since he experienced any trouble. This bothered him. He wondered if his life was no longer reflecting Jesus. Getting off his horse, he got on his knees and began to cry out to God. Someone nearby got agitated and threw a brick that just missed him. He jumped up, shouted, “Hallelujah,” got back on his horse and rode away. If your faith in God has not caused an element of trouble, maybe you should get on your knees and cry out to God.
The Bible warns that the message of Jesus is offensive. Those who are followers of Jesus can expect occasional moments of trouble. A difference exists, however, between being offensive and obnoxious. When being offensive, trouble is looking for you; when being obnoxious, you are looking for trouble.
Paul wrote, “Fulfill every good purpose” and “Jesus may be glorified in you.” Doing good and glorifying Jesus offends those who make themselves enemies of God. The Gospels reveal Jesus was often criticized for acts of kindness. Whenever you act, in a manner similar to Jesus, someone is bound to misunderstand and kind fault with you. Your objective in life is not to live without trouble but to be a testimony of His Lordship.
Challenge yourself with tough questions regularly. Can people see Jesus in me? Is my integrity a reflection of Biblical truth? Is there a clear distinction between my behavior and those who have not placed their faith in God? Do my actions line up with my confession?”
Believers are His ambassadors, His representatives. He chose to send them instead of coming Himself. Are you being an accurate reflection of His government? Be like Jesus.
The end
The last recorded statement of Jesus in the Bible is, “Yes, I am coming soon.” There is no legitimate reason for doubting His return. Your end-time response should be, “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.”
Until He returns live patiently, encourage one another and be like Jesus.
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