There is a danger in studying the book of Revelation where “we cannot see the forest for the trees.” We can become bogged down in the fascinating details and lose sight of the central focus. The book ends much as it begins, when immediately we are confronted with Christ, “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John,” (Rev. 1:1). It commences with Christ and concludes with Christ, “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming quickly.’ Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.” (Rev. 22:20-21).
John got a glimpse of the glorified Lord and never got over it. He shared that this is what every believer will fully experience, “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” (1 John 3:2). We shall behold Him!
This is a call for ATTENTION, “ ‘Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book,’ ” (Rev. 22:7). “Behold!” Look! Pay attention! Christ is coming again, as He promised. “I am coming.” There is the certainty of it.
“I am coming quickly,” and that is the urgency of it. The word, “quickly,” is repeated three times in this final chapter. Yet, it has been around two thousand years since this promise was made. But, the calendar of an eternal God is not like that of mortal man. Peter alerted us, “But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Pet. 3:8-9). So, it has only been a couple of days as the celestial calendar reckons it!
This is the doctrine of imminence. The Apostles expected Jesus to come back in their lifetime. We hear this in Paul’s words,
“But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that WE WHO ARE ALIVE AND REMAIN until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then WE WHO ARE ALIVE AND REMAIN shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.” (1Thess. 4:13-18, emphasis added).
Every generation of believers has been called to look up for the Lord’s return. There are no prophetic events that must occur before the rapture of the church. It could be today! Does that get your attention!
The certainty and urgency demands industry! We do not stand around star-gazing, but get busy soul-winning! Here is the promise,
“ ‘Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.’ ”
Beyond a call to attention, this is a cry of ANTICIPATION, “ ‘And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.’ ” (Rev. 22:12). For the sinner, this is an event of dread for it means retribution. But, for the saint, it is an event of delight for it means reward.
The truth is that there will be degrees of reward based on our faithfulness and fruitfulness. Paul wrote of it in 1 Corinthians 3:10-15:
“According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.”
Yet, this call to attention and cry of anticipation, builds to the crescendo of ADORATION, “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming quickly.’ Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” (Rev. 22:20). We end where we began—that ultimately, this reality of our Lord’s return is not about us, but about Him! This is more than a glance, or a glimpse, but a gaze, and ends in glory—His glory! Our attention is a call to work. Our anticipation is a call to watch. But, greatest of all, our adoration is a call to worship, and it will be the order of eternity—a ceaseless celebration of the infinite Being of God!
The crowns we win will be cast at the feet of Christ who made it all possible. We read that, “the twenty-four elders [representing the redeemed] fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: ‘You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.’ ” (Rev. 4:10-11).
Years ago, I loved to listen to Sandi Patty sing, “We Shall Behold Him!”
Preparing His entrance
The stars shall applaud Him
With thunders of praise
Shall enhance those awaiting
And we shall behold Him
Then face to face
Yes, we shall behold Him
Face to face in all of His Glory
Yes, we shall behold Him
Face to face our Savior and Lord
The shout of His coming
And the sleeping shall rise from
Their slumbering place
We shall be changed in a moment
And we shall behold Him
Then face to face
Oh yes, we shall behold Him
Face to face in all of His Glory
Oh yes, we shall behold Him
Face to face my Savior and Lord
Our Savior and Lord!
Savior and Lord!!
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