In the name of Jesus Christ, ascended to the right hand of the Father and returning on the Last Day, Amen. The text for our consideration is the epistle reading from Revelation 22, the last chapter of the Bible, particularly these words: He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! (Revelation 22:20). This is the Word of the Lord.
On Thursday the Christian Church celebrated the bodily ascension of Jesus Christ into heaven. Forty days after rising from the dead, Jesus visibly left His disciples ascending into the clouds. Two angels interpreted this event. This Jesus whom you have seen ascend into heaven will return in the same way that you saw Him go into heaven (Acts 1:11). Behold, He is coming with the clouds and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him (Revelation 1:7). The Church has been waiting ever since
Come, Lord Jesus! Lutherans says these words before every meal. We want Jesus to grace us with His presence as we give thanks for what He provides in support of our body and soul. Scripture says that all creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God (Romans 8:19). The world in which we live is rapidly falling into decay. This week we heard of the dramatic escape of three women, kidnapped and held captive by one man in a Cleveland home for the past decade. A woman in Arizona is convicted of murdering her boyfriend. She stabbed him twenty seven times, slit his throat and shot him in the head for good measure five years ago. Testimony from the abortion doctor on trial in Pennsylvania is too gruesome to share. Come, Lord Jesus!
In the Gospels Jesus reveals that His return will come upon the world unexpectedly. As in the days of Noah people will be eating and drinking, marrying and given in marriage until the day when Noah entered the ark and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them away, so will it be at the coming of Jesus (Matthew 24:37-39). John carries the same theme forward in our text. His words are not to be sealed but proclaimed, taught and believed. The world continues on its self-destructive course. Christ’s Word is no longer heeded, let alone respected. Jesus notes that evil will increase before He returns. The pre-flood world and the examples of Sodom and Gomorrah remain valid as to conditions prior to Jesus coming back.
The progression of evil continues. “Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy” (Revelation 22:11). There is a distinction between believers and unbelievers. “Outside are the dogs and sorcerer and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood” (Revelation 22:15). Jesus will return and hold the whole world accountable. This is something our world does not like to consider. Many try to convince themselves that sin has no consequences. The unbelieving world extols the virtue of doing whatever you like without interference from others. Conversely society doesn’t get it when two brothers, one a naturalized citizen, set off bombs with the intent to maim and kill as many as possible. Rather than look at what is in the human heart, sinful from birth; America is blamed for failing these men. It is your fault and mine for what these men did. Strange logic.
There are others who recognize the sin that lurks within each heart. They have come to know how often they fail. Their best intentions are not so good. The good that they would do they fail to accomplish. The evil they despise is what they continue to do. These people believe that if they are to be saved, salvation must come from outside of them. They long for the return of Jesus. These are the ones described by the angel speaking with John. “Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates” (Revelation 22:14). What began in the Garden of Eden culminates in the Eternal City of God. Heaven is a described as a beautiful city coming down from heaven. It has the glory of God. Its’ radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal (Revelation 21:10-12). Within the walls of the city is the throne of God. Like the four rivers flowing outward from Eden, the water of life flows from the throne of God and of the Lamb. It bisects the main street of the city. Along is route is the tree of life constantly bearing fruit each month of the year. The leaves of this tree are for the healing of the nations. (Revelation 22:1-2).
No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His servants will worship Him. They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever (Revelation 22:4-5). These words are trustworthy and true. You can count eternity upon them. Jesus says: “And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book” (Revelation 22:7).
What Jesus says in this last chapter of the Bible is consistent with what has been taught throughout the Scriptures. Blessed are those who hear the Word of God and treasure it, that is regard it is as precious and do it (Luke 11:27). People are neither to add nor subtract from the Holy Scriptures. Paul gives and excellent description of the Office of the Holy Ministry when he writes regarding the Lord’s Supper. “For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you” (1 Corinthians 11:23). The Church receives with one hand and delivers with the other. Entering the Promised Land, Joshua was directed not to depart from the Law of the Lord either to the right or to the left (Joshua 1:9).
In an age that believes it knows better than God what the world needs listen again to Holy Scripture. “I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book. If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of this book of this prophecy, God will take away His share in the tree of life and in the holy city which are described in this book” (Revelation 22:18-19).
Jesus is coming soon. That is His promise. The ascended Lord is returning. He will bring an end to this present way of life and judge the world in righteousness. May we with the Church of all times and places say with the evangelist. “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!” Amen.
