The expectation of Christ’s return definitely belongs to the Christian lifestyle. The congregation in the New Testament is constantly directed to the revelation, the appearing of her Lord in glory. In the parable of the Ten Maidens (Mt 25:1-13) the Savior has openly preached that his congregation must expect him at all times. To his people his return may seem to take a long time, but when their hearts are filled with the joy of the feast that is coming, they will persevere in expecting the appearance of the Bridegroom.

Christ’s return cannot follow immediately after his ascension. A very great number of things have to take place yet before the great day of his glorious return will dawn. The apostle Paul tells us firmly in 1 Corinthians 15:25 that Christ must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. Our Savior does not sit on his throne in heaven as an emeritus who has retired from office. On the contrary, in heaven and from heaven, Christ has many things to do yet. That is why he ascended his throne in heaven, to execute his world dominion in order to propel everything to the very end.

The book of Revelation makes known to us all that Jesus has to do yet before he appears in glory. This book has rightly been called the book of his return. It begins with the shout, “Look, he is coming with the clouds....” (Rev 1:7.) This exclamation is the heart of the last book of the Bible.

The book of Revelation pictures Christ’s coming. He is coming, as John has seen in his visions on Patmos.

The last book of the Bible is about the revelation of Jesus Christ (cf. Rev 1:1). This is how the book is announced and this is how we must read it. It is about him who is the Christ and who is coming as God’s Anointed One with the clouds of heaven.

Generally all agree that the vision of Revelation 5 occupies a central place in this book. John sees how the Lamb, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, takes the scroll from the hand of him who sits upon the throne. This scroll is the book of God’s plan for the church and the world. In it are written the things that must soon take place (Rev 1:1).

The book of Revelation pictures before our eyes how the Lamb opens the seven seals of the scroll one by one. The opening of each seal brings along awesome judgments. Trumpets are sounded and bowls are poured out. The Lamb administers God’s wrath to a world that has turned away from the living God and his Word.

But the book of Revelation is not only a book of wrath and judgment. It is also the book of God’s faithfulness to his people. For John may also see how the Lamb watches over his congregation right through all judgments. Indeed, the gates of Hades will not prevail against her. Right in the middle of the opening of the seals John sees a great multitude that no one can number (Rev 7:9). That vision is a particularly comforting proclamation for the church on earth. It is going to be dreadful, the judgments will follow one after another. But Christ’s church, bought with a price, will come through it!   She is on her way to the marriage feast of the Lamb (Rev 19:6-10). Christ’s coming means the ultimate glorification of all who have followed the Lamb on earth, the union of the Bridegroom and his Bride!

And because the Bride knows and believes this, she is calling out, “Come, Lord Jesus!”

No, of herself the Bride cannot call out. Who can persevere in an expectation that takes centuries and centuries to be fulfilled? Moreover, who would yet dare to pray for the final day when realizing the dreadful things that must take place before Christ’s appearance in glory?

Is it not remarkable that even in heaven there is silence when the seventh and last seal is opened by the Lamb (cf. Rev 8:1)? Heaven shudders in silence because of the horrors that the opening of the seventh seal brings.

Yes! But, when heaven is silent, John sees the smoke of the incense together with the prayers of the saints go up before God’s throne (cf. Rev 8:4). It means that the church, the Bride of Christ, keeps praying. The prayer for his return does not die on her lips.

Our text reveals to us that the church’s constant prayer is the miracle of the Holy Spirit. It should not escape our attention that it says, “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come!’”

The Spirit leads the way. He is the Spirit of grace and prayers. The Spirit teaches the Bride. He makes her repeat it after him and works it in the Bride’s heart.

For the Holy Spirit is the Friend of the Bridegroom. He longs earnestly for the great marriage feast of the Lamb. All his work in the hearts and lives of God’s children reaches out to the final, ultimate union of the Bridegroom and the Bride.

Also in this text we must remember that the Spirit is the Spirit of the Word. Through and with and in the Word, the Spirit works in the Bride her prayer for Christ’s return. In the Word the Spirit speaks about the Bridegroom and proclaims the salvation that the Bridegroom has prepared for his Bride.  This is how the Spirit glorifies Christ (cf. Jn 16:14) and focuses the Bride’s eyes on Christ.

This is how the Bride starts longing to be united with her Bridegroom. So she starts calling, “Come, Lord Jesus!”

This calling marks at the same time her life. The expectation of Christ’s coming is not limited to the prayer for his return but permeates all our doings. The Parable of the Talents (Mt 25:14-30) and the Parable of the Pounds (Lk 19:11-27) are recorded in the gospel to impress upon us that Christ’s return has to determine our whole life. The prayer for his coming must be supported by a concrete walk of life (cf. 2 Pet 3:11).  From everything we say and do, must sound forth the cry, “Come, Lord Jesus!”  Here too we have to pray and work! This unity we see in Revelation 19:7 where it says that his Bride has made herself ready for the great marriage feast.

Jesus is coming. He tells his Bride him self (cf. Rev 22:7). And the Spirit says it too.  All the work of the Spirit is one great cry for the meeting of the Bridegroom and Bride.

When the church lets the Word of the Lord and the call of the Spirit resound in her heart, she is the Bride who with a great yearning looks forward to the coming of the Bridegroom. Then the prayer on earth, “Come, Lord Jesus!” will not fall silent. 

The Spirit says, “Come!” When the congregation is filled with that Spirit, she calls out to her Bridegroom, “I am my beloved’s, and his desire is for me” (cf. Song 7:10).