Read Revelation 22:6-21.

Introduction⤒🔗

Suppose you went to encounter one of those opinion poll surveys on the street one day. The subject of this particular poll was the Second Coming of Christ. Those conducting the poll asked you to respond to the following questions:

• Do you believe that the Lord Jesus Christ will return to the earth? If so, how does this belief affect your life in a practical way?
   
• When you think of Christ’s return, what is your reaction?
   
• How often do you think about Christ’s return?
   
• Do you think Christ will return in your lifetime?
   
• If Christ were to return today, would you be ready to stand before Him?
   
• If you knew that Christ would return tomorrow, what changes would you make in your life today?

With this “opinion poll” in mind, let us now turn our attention to this closing passage of the Book of Revelation, a passage in which the Lord Jesus three times (vs. 7, 12, 20) repeats the words, “I am coming suddenly.” [Note: The Greek word, ταXυ, contains a variety of nuances, including, “soon, suddenly, without delay.” From the context of the passage and the whole of N.T. Scripture, it seems preferable to translate the term as “suddenly” in verses 7 and 12, and perhaps as “without delay” in verse 20.]

Our Lord is concerned that we take seriously the message of the Book of Revelation, and especially the fact that He shall return in glory and with great power. Let us, therefore, take to heart His warning and His appeal that we be prepared for our Lord’s return.

Be Prepared for the Lord’s Return, because He is Coming “Suddenly”←⤒🔗

The angel’s testimony to the Apostle John, recorded in verse six, has usually been translated, the Lord “has sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place.” However, the Greek adverbial phrase, Eν ταXEι (a derivative of ταXυ), contains the meaning, “in a short time, [i.e. “soon”], or “in a swift, or sudden, manner.”¹ If we say that something will happen “soon,” we are speaking about when an event will happen. But if we say that something will happen “swiftly” or “suddenly,” we are speaking about how an event will happen. The New Testament seems to be using this term (Eν ταXEι) in the sense of “swiftly, quickly, suddenly,” telling us how these events will take place more than when they will happen. Consider the passages listed below:

As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. ³⁸In the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; ³⁹and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. This is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man... ⁴²Therefore, keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. ⁴³But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have allowed [the thief] to break into his house. ⁴⁴So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him... ⁴⁸But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, 'My master is staying away a long time,' ⁴⁹and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. ⁵⁰The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour of which he is not aware. Matt. 24:37-39,42-44,48-50

Beware, watch and pray, for you do not know when the time will come. ³⁴[It is like when] a man travels to another country, leaving his house and giving authority to his servants, assigning to each one his work, and also instructing the doorkeeper to stay alert. ³⁵Stay alert, therefore; because you do not know when the master of the house is coming, whether [he will come] in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows at daybreak, or in the morning. ³⁶[Stay alert], so that when he suddenly [Eξαιφνrls] comes he will not find you sleeping. ³⁷Now, what I say to you, I am saying to everyone, Stay alert. Mk. 13:33-37

Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the cares of this life, and that day will close upon you unexpectedly [αιφνιδιοs] like a trap. ³⁵It will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth. ³⁶Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man. Lk. 21:34-36

...the day of the LORD will come like a thief. 2 Pet. 3:10a

In each of these passages the emphasis is on the suddenness and unexpectedness of the Lord’s return. In light of these other New Testament passages, the Greek phrase (Eν ταXEι), as it occurs here in Revelation, may be better translated, “suddenly,” rather than “soon.” If such is the case, then the main emphasis of this passage is that the Book of Revelation is revealing events that will take place suddenly in their appointed time, rather than soon in the chronological sense of the term. It seems that the angel is conveying two things in a contracted way: he is speaking about things that must happen; and when they occur, they will happen suddenly. Thus, we have translated the phrase, “things that must happen, suddenly.”

In verse seven, Jesus declares, “Behold, I am coming soon,” or better translated, “I am coming suddenly.” The Greek phrase that occurs in Revelation 22:7 (ερXοµαι ταXυ) may be rendered, “I am coming soon,” or, “I am coming suddenly,” or, “I am coming without delay.”² Again, the New Testament seems to be using this phrase in the sense of “quickly,” “swiftly,” “suddenly.” The Old Testament also seems to support the sense of, “without delay;” i.e. the Lord is determined to keep His appointment and will not allow anything to deter Him. In this regard, consider Habakkuk 2:3, “the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it lingers, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.” The LORD has an appointed time for the fulfillment of His great works, and He is diligently bringing history to that appointed time, not allowing anything to prevent the occurrence of those great events in their appointed time; and when the divinely-appointed moment has arrived, the events will occur suddenly, without any warning.

In verse ten, the angel informs John, “the time is at hand.” In Greek, there are two words for time: the word Xρονοs, (pronounced, chronos, from which is derived the English word, “chronology”), refers to a period of time. The other term, καιροs, (pronounced, kairos), refers to a period in time. The Untied Bible Societies’ Concise Greek-English Dictionary of the N.T. (p. 90), lists one definition of καιροs as “time (viewed as an occasion rather than an extent).” In the statement, “the time is at hand,” the Greek word translated “time,” is the word καιροs. Hence, when the angel informs John that “the time is at hand,” he is telling John that “the time [i.e. the occasion of the fulfillment of the Revelation] is at hand” [i.e. it is imminent].

We may better understand the meaning and the significance of this statement by comparing and contrasting Daniel 12:4,9 with this present passage of Revelation 22:10,

But you, Daniel, preserve the words and seal the book, safeguarding it until the time of the end. Many will diligently study it, and the understanding of these things will increase... ⁹But he said, Go your way, Daniel; for the words are preserved and sealed until the time of the end. Dan. 12:4,9

Then [the angel] said to me, 'Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand.' Rev. 22:10

Why the difference in the instructions given to Daniel and John respectively? The reason: Since the time of Daniel, the Messiah has come and accomplished the work of redemption at the cross of Calvary, He Himself has declared, “It is finished!” (It is accomplished!) (Jn. 19:30)

The Holy Spirit-inspired writer of the Book of Hebrews divides history into two epochs: “God...spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, ²in these last days [he has] spoken to us by his Son” (Heb. 1:1-2). The period of history before the coming of the Messiah and the accomplishment of the work of redemption is designated as “time past,” while the period following the Messiah’s coming is designated as “these last days.”

In biblical chronology, we are living in “the last days,” the days when the work of redemption has been accomplished and our salvation is ready to be revealed. At present, it is only the long-suffering mercy of God towards fallen mankind that holds back the day of fulfillment: “The Lord is not negligent with regard to the promise, as some consider negligence; on the contrary, he is exhibiting great patience toward you. He does not desire anyone to perish, but all to come to repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9). But, the Apostle Peter goes on to assure us, and warn unrepentant mankind, “the day of the Lord will come” (2 Pet. 3:10). As the LORD informed Noah, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever” (Gen. 6:3a). When the LORD’s patience has expired, the duration of which is known only to the LORD, the events of the Revelation will have their sudden fulfillment.

The first reason why we must be prepared for the Lord’s return: the great work of redemption has been accomplished. The Lord Jesus now stands poised and ready to come, and that coming when it does take place shall be swift, sudden, even unexpected: it will catch the world off guard. We must take to heart His warning and be prepared to greet Him.

Be Prepared for the Lord’s Return, because He Shall Come in His Majesty←⤒🔗

Whereas on the occasion of His first coming, the Lord Jesus appeared in humility as the babe born in the manger, at His second coming He will appear in His full divine identity.

He will return as “the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets” (vs. 6). The phrase, “the spirits of the prophets,” appears to be a reference to the mental and spiritual faculties of the prophets, through which the LORD communicated His Word to the covenant nation of Israel. Upon His return in glory, the Lord Jesus will be revealed as the God who has spoken by the prophets, the One whose direct communication with men was to awesome to be endured (cf. Debt. 5:22-27, printed), but now He shall address men directly and personally.

These are the commandments the LORD proclaimed in a loud voice to your whole assembly there on the mountain from out of the fire, the cloud and the deep darkness; and he added nothing more. Then he wrote them on two stone tablets and gave them to me. ²³When you heard the voice out of the darkness, while the mountain was ablaze with fire, all the leading men of your tribes and your elders came to me. ²⁴And you said, 'The LORD our God has shown us his glory and his majesty, and we have heard his voice from the fire. Today we have seen that a man can live even if God speaks with him. ²⁵But now, why should we die? This great fire will consume us, and we will die if we hear the voice of the LORD our God any longer, ²⁶for what mortal man has ever heard the voice of the living God speaking out of fire, as we have, and survived? ²⁷Go near and listen to all that the LORD our God says. Then tell us whatever the LORD our God tells you. We will listen and obey.' Deut. 5:22-27

Furthermore, the Lord Jesus will return as the great Judge who will “repay each man what he deserves for his work” (vs. 12). God the Father has given to Christ “the authority to execute judgment,” as the Lord Jesus Himself testified during the days of his earthly ministry (Jn. 5:27). The Apostle Paul likewise declared before the Athenians, “[God] has appointed a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has ordained. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead” (Acts 17:31). Referring to the Lord Jesus, the Apostle Peter declares, “he is the one whom God ordained to be judge of the living and the dead” (Acts 10:42).

The Lord Jesus will carry out this divine judgment on the day of His return, as He testifies:

When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. ³²All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. ³³He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. ³⁴Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.' ...⁴¹Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.' Matt. 25:31-34, 41

The Lord Jesus will return in the full revelation of His identity as “the Alpha and the Omega...the Beginning and the End” (vs. 13). Here in Revelation 22:13, the self-description of the LORD, as He revealed Himself to the prophet Isaiah, is applied to Christ Jesus: “This is what the LORD declares, [the one who is] the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: I am the first and I am the last; there is no other God besides me” (Isa. 44:6). Christ will return in His full divine identity as the LORD (JEHOVAH), the true and sovereign God: the One who is the Source and Sum of all existence. The One of whom the Apostle Paul wrote: “from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.” (Rom. 11:36) As was foretold through Isaiah, on the day of His appearing, “The arrogance of man shall be brought low, and the pride of man shall be humbled; and the LORD alone shall be exalted on that day, ¹⁸and the idols will totally disappear” (Isa. 2:17-18).

Finally, it is revealed that the Lord Jesus will return as “the bright Morning Star” (vs. 16). Just as the morning star dispels the night and ushers in a new day, the Lord Jesus at His return will cause the brightness of God’s truth and glory to shine upon the whole renewed creation. Then will be fulfilled yet another prophecy of Isaiah: on the day of Christ’s return, “the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea” (Isa. 11:9b).

Here is a second reason why we must be prepared for the Lord’s return; namely, the fact that He will come in all His majesty as the LORD God the Almighty.

Be Prepared for the Lord’s Return, by Practicing the Spiritual Life←⤒🔗

We are to prepare ourselves for the Lord’s return by keeping “the words of the prophecy of this book” (vs. 7). That is to say, we are to receive the message of promise and warning that is presented in the Book of Revelation; we are to take the message to heart; and we are to allow it to impact and transform our whole perspective on life. We are to take to heart the instructions the Lord Jesus gave when, during His earthly ministry, He foretold the day of His coming in glory:

Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the cares of this life, and that day will close upon you unexpectedly like a trap. ³⁵It will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth. ³⁶Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man. Lk. 21:34-36

We are to prepare ourselves for our Lord’s return by “washing our robes” (vs. 14-15). “Washing,” as it occurs here in the Greek tense of the continuous present, is a reference to developing the Christian life, what the Bible calls “sanctification.” We must, by the grace imparted by Christ, obey the exhortation given in 2 Corinthians 7:1, “let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” Again, by the grace imparted by Christ, we as Christians must not allow our lives to be dominated by the former works of the sinful nature, as they are described by the Apostle Paul in Galatians 5:19-21,

Now the works of the sinful nature are well known, [such as]: sexual immorality, moral impurity, debauchery, ²⁰idolatry, witchcraft, hatreds, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, ²¹envy, drunkenness, orgies, and other such things. I warn you [again], just as I [previously] warned you, that those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Gal. 5:19-21

In the light of Revelation 22:14-15, we must give due consideration to the seriousness of yielding ourselves to the Holy Spirit as He carries out the process of sanctification:

Blessed are they who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to eat from the tree of life and may enter through the gates into the city. ¹⁵Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral and the murderers and the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

We are not only to prepare ourselves for the Lord’s return, we are also exhorted to pray for the coming of that Great Day (vs. 22:17a, 20). In verse 17a we read, “the [Holy] Spirit and the bride [representing the church of Christ] say, Come!” The Holy Spirit inspires the Christian to desire and to pray for the Savior’s return. Another indication of a Spirit-filled life is prayer for the Savior’s return, just as a bride desires the day of her wedding. In Philippians 3:20, the Apostle Paul informs us that our attitude should be that of eagerly awaiting the Savior: “our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.”

The certainty of Christ’s return: “Yes, indeed, I am coming without delay!” (vs. 20a), becomes the motivation and stimulus for prayer: “Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!” (vs. 20b) By way of illustration: When your favorite soccer player comes toward the empty goal with the ball under his control and a sure goal is about to be scored, you as a fan react by vigorously cheering him on, not with idle complacency. The certainty of the anticipated goal arouses you to excited exhortation, urging him on. In the same way, the certainty of our Lord’s return should move us to earnest prayer for the great day.

Furthermore, one must prepare himself for the Lord’s return by taking “the water of life freely” (vs. 17). Using the imagery of drinking the life-giving water, the Word of God invites men and urges them to receive the Lord Jesus as their Savior and sovereign Lord. The Lord Jesus Himself extended the invitation to men to place their faith in Him by the use of very similar imagery: “Now on the last day, the great [day] of the Feast, Jesus stood and cried out, If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink” (Jn. 7:37). The Apostle John solemnly informs us: “He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life” (1 Jn. 5:12).

The purpose of salvation is the Christ-like life, but the way of salvation is faith in Christ: trusting His sacrifice offered to God upon the cross of Calvary for the forgiveness of our sins; trusting in His perfect righteousness for acceptance with God; and trusting His grace for the ability to live the Christ-like life to the glory of God. The way we prepare for the Lord’s return is by entrusting ourselves to Him to be our Savior and Lord, and then, by means of His all-sufficient grace, practicing the spiritual life of being His disciple.

Conclusion←⤒🔗

In light of this final passage of the Book of Revelation, how would you answer the following questions?

• Do you personally believe that Christ will return? What practical affect will this belief now have upon your everyday life?
   
• If Christ were to return today, are you ready to meet Him?
   
• If you knew that Christ would return tomorrow, what changes would you make in your life today?

Let us take careful note of the fact that these are our Lord’s closing words, not only in the Book of Revelation, but in the entire Bible: “Yes, indeed, I am coming without delay!”

Discussion Questions←⤒🔗

1. With regard to all that he has revealed to John concerning the identity, the eternal residence, and the destiny of Christ’s church, of what does the angel now assure John? See Rev. 22:6a. Christian, do you accept and anticipate this incomprehensibly wonderful heritage that is yours in Christ Jesus your Savior, relying upon the absolute reliability of God to fulfill all that He has spoken? Note Jn. 14:1-3; Num. 23:19,

[The angel] said tome, 'These words are trustworthy and true.' The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants the things that must take place, suddenly.Rev. 22:6

Do not let your heart be troubled; trust in God, trust in me also. ²In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I am going to prepare a place for you. ³And if Igo and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me; so that where I am, you may be also. Jn. 14:1-3

God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? Num. 23:19

2. Now speaking personally to John through His angel, what urgent exhortation does Christ issue to John and to us? See Rev. 22:7. In light of the unexpected nature of our Lord’s appearing, what does He call us to do? See, also, Mk. 13:33, 35-37,

Behold, I am coming suddenly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book. Rev. 22:7

What is the difference between an event occurring soon and one that occurs swiftly? Does not “soon” express when an event will occur (i.e. the chronological timetable), while “swiftly” expresses how an event will occur (i.e. suddenly, unexpectedly)?

³³Beware, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time will come... ³⁵Stay alert, therefore; because you do not know when the master of the house is coming, whether [he will come] in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows at daybreak, or in the morning. ³⁶[Stay alert], so that when he suddenly comes he will not find you sleeping. ³⁷Now what I say to you, I am saying to everyone, Stay alert. Mk. 13:33, 35-37

3. What does the angel now tell John to do with regard to the revelation he has received? See Rev. 22:10. How does this instruction compare with the instruction given to Daniel with regard to a preview of this very things? See Dan. 12:9. What great event has taken place between the time of Daniel and the revelation given to the Apostle John, and what does that mean for us as present-day Christians? How does the LORD God sovereignly divide human history? See Heb. 1:1-2a,

Then he said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand. Rev. 22:10

But he said, Go your way, Daniel; for the words are preserved and sealed until the time of the end. Dan. 12:9

God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, ²has in these last days spoken to us by his Son, whom he has appointed heir of all things... Heb. 1:1-2a

4. What directive does the angel now give to sinful mankind in general (cf. Rev. 22:11a), and to the church in particular (cf. Rev. 22:11b)? What is the meaning and the purpose of the directive given to sinful mankind? Note Rom. 1:28; Psl. 92:7. As a Christian, are we complying with the directive given to us (vs. 11b)? Note, too, 2 Pet. 3:18,

He that is unrighteous, let him continue to practice unrighteousness; he that is defiled, let him continue to defile himself; but he that is righteous, let him continue to practice righteousness, and he that is holy, let him continue to become holy. Rev. 22:11

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting... Rom. 1:28

When sinful man refuses to repent, the LORD God releases him to his own sinful desires, allowing him to pursue that which he desires, unto his own just condemnation.

When the wicked spring up like grass, and when all the workers of iniquity flourish, it is that they may be destroyed forever. Psl. 92:7

When sinful mankind, released to their own sinful nature, produces the full harvest of sinful fruit, it becomes evident that, not only is it time for the judgment, but also that the judgment is just.

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 2 Pet. 3:18a

5. As the bride of Christ, how are we to respond to all that our Lord has revealed to us, both with regard to tribulation and blessing? See Rev. 22:17a. Are we aware of the role the Holy Spirit performs in focusing our attention on heavenly things, stimulating our desire for our Lord’s return, and reviving our waning faith? Do we thank our Lord Jesus for giving us the Holy Spirit, and are we relying upon Him as we should? Has our study of the Revelation served to make you more zealous to cry out with the Spirit, “Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!” (vs. 20b)?

The Spirit and the bride say, 'Come!' Rev. 22:17a