Soon and Very Soon

I don’t know how soon “soon” is, but I know that Christ Jesus the King will return soon. The question is: are you ready?

The revelation John received from the Lord begins this way: “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place” (Rev. 1:1).

In the last chapter of Revelation the truth of what is soon to come is further emphasized. “The angel said to me, ‘These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place’” (Rev. 22:6).

And in the very next verse in the red letters we read: “Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book.”

And in Rev. 22: 12, again the words of Christ: “Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”

And in the very next to last verse in the Bible we see once more the urgency of the whole matter: “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus” (Rev. 22:20).

It’s imperative. It’s urgent. It’s imminent. Jesus Himself will come again, and He’s coming soon! Only this time it won’t be as a baby in a manger in the little town of Bethlehem, but as the mighty, conquering King of Glory.

“At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other” (Matt. 24:30-31).

The question remains, and it’s more pressing now than ever: are you ready? It’s more pressing now than ever because the signs of His coming are clearer now than they’ve ever been. We’re one day closer to that Day now than we’ve ever been.

And no man knows when it will be. Oh, many have made predictions on when the world will end, and so on, and thereby have proven themselves to be false prophets by their failed prophecies. But do not be deceived, dear friend. “The day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, ‘Peace and safety,’ destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape” (1 Thess. 5:1-2).

The Bible warns over and over again that we must be ready for that Day. “Be dressed and ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes…You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” (Luke 12:35-37, 40).

So, are you ready? Are you waiting and watching for His return? Are you longing for that day? Have you put away all sin and turned in faith to Jesus Christ? Have you received Christ Jesus as the Savior and Lord over your life? Don’t wait! You never know what tomorrow may bring! “I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:2).