EVEN SO COME LORD JESUS
                                                           Revelation 22
 
 

INTRODUCTION

   The apostle John is trying to inform us about the splendor of heaven in Chapter 21 and 22 of  Revelation. The marvelous beautiful heaven is depicted in these chapters.

As a young person I learned the words to the song 'How Beautiful Heaven must be".  I often wondered why the writer of this hymn did not write, "How Beautiful Heaven Is".

But the more I have studied passages like these.  The more experience I have in this life with its pain, problems and perils I think I have the answer.  You see the human mind cannot fully understand and absorb the beauty of heaven.  There is not enough imagination or description in human language to adequately describe heaven.

I find this inspired apostle writing of, but our mind cannot  fully grasp the greatness and scope of this place.  My mind cannot fully entertain all the horror of hell.  My mind cannot phantom all the wonders and glory of heaven.  Words cannot adequately express or define this beautiful place.  I read about no more pain, sorrow or tears.  I read of this city of God and light and stand amazed and awed by the thoughts that have been conveyed about heaven.  Though I read hungrily and ready the words of the apostle I still cannot appreciate Heaven as much as I will when I see it with my own eyes.  A careful study shows that Jesus says he will come quickly.
 

Rev. 22:6-7   And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the
                          Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his    
                          servants the things which must shortly be done. Behold, I come quickly:

REV. 22:12   And, behold I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man
                          as his work shall be.

REV.  22:20-21   He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen.
                                 Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with
                                 you all. Amen.
 
 

Burton Coffman says that these passages are not referring to the end of the world. because 20 centuries have nearly passed.   Coffman says these passages mean the Lord will come suddenly when he does come.

B.W.  Johnson said there are two possibilities one the final coming or advent.  Ot that the second coming meant that the things  written in revelation would shortly come to pass.

One thing scholars agree on one thing which is the statement of Rev. 22:20

Rev.  22:20  He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen.
                        Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
 

John on the Isle of Patmos was uttering an expression and prayer born of his confidence of his well being when Christ would come.

We will sing an invitation song later today and I want you to prepare your mind on what we think about this hour.

Ask yourself this very personal and needed question.  Only you individually can answer this question.

Don't raise your hand but think in your mind and deal with the question in view of eternity.

How many of you today right here have the courage of the apostle John as we see in this text?

How many of us could answer truthfully and pray this same prayer.  Lord I am ready when you are ready.   Even so come Lord Jesus. This is an expression of great faith on the part of John.  He is giving a glimpse into the courage he possessed.  John is simply saying, I am ready when you are ready to come Lord.

When you and I think about the second advent or coming of Christ.  When we think about this world being no more.  When we think about standing before the Lord in judgment it makes us feel a need to examine our faith and lives today.  We need to really see what manner of persons we truly are before God and man.   Before we leave this building we need to see if we have the courage of John.  Do we have the faith like John in strength.

Lets make sure we know a little about John.  He was exiled on the isle of Patios.

Rev. 1:9  I John, your brother and partaker with you in tribulation and kingdom and patience
                  which are in Jesus, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God and
                  the testimony of Jesus.

Under the reign of the Caesar Dominion we find this account.  John a faithful Christian and apostle is exiled on Patmos sometimes around A.D. 81-96.

Domition was a very diabolical ruler that delighted in persecuting Christians.  He hated Christianity.
Under the other rulers many Christians had suffered terrible deaths and horrible mistreatment.

Domition used the tactic of exiling Christian leaders from the church as well as physical persecution.  John is exiled on this rocky island.  The island was about ten miles long and six miles wide.

There was very few if any trees on the terrain. I wonder how many people was with him.  Sometimes I try to think about what John saw and felt on that rocky island in the Aegean sea.

John received the message Jesus gave him about the condition of the church in Revelation chapters 2-3.  John loves Ephesus and the christians there very deeply.

 As he wrote of the persecutions, maybe he thought of other apostles who had been killed.  Maybe he thought of the brethren he had left in exile.

John certainly had to be lonely and anxious.  He was in the spirit on the Lord's day when
he received the message from the Lord about the pain the brethren would endure.

I do know that John longed for the coming of the Lord.  John said lord come quickly he was ready.  I do not believe he thought Jesus was coming in his lifetime but I do believe he was ready for Christ coming.  Are we as bold and confident in our faith as John was in his?

Is our faith as strong ?  are we as sure as John was of his destiny? are you certain that if you press the pillow of sleep tonight and the death angel arrives you are ready.  If the Lord was to come today would you be prepared and ready like John?

Brethren,  there is a great day coming, and if we are not prepared like John,  I humbly and prayerfully suggest you get ready.  John is talking about that day.  What will that day be like?
 

                             Jesus is certainly coming again
 

Just as sure as the sun came up in the east this morning , Jesus will come again.  Just as sure as the sun sets in the west this evening, Jesus is coming again.  As certain as  life and death, so is the fact that Jesus is coming again.
 

Heb. 9:27  It is appointed once for a man to die ands after that the judgment. So Christ was
                once offered to bear the sins of many and unto them that look for him shall he appear
                the second time without sin unto salvation.

Just as certain and sure was his ascention so will his coming again be revealed.
 

Acts 1:11    Yea men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven. This same Jesus which is taken
                  up from among you into heaven, shall so come in like manner, as ye have seen him
                  go into heaven.
 

This passage of the New testament declares that Jesus Christ is coming again.

Matt. 25:31  The son of man shall come in his glory.

John. 14:3  And if I go to prepare a place for you I will come again. and receive you unto myself.
 

Titus 2:13  Looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and
                     savior  Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ is going to come back.  He said so, his word says so also.  He will come again. He is coming again!  The question for you and me is,  are we ready for that day?

Are we as excited about his coming as John?  Are you today as bold as was John.  Are you today as ready as was John?

Someone says well, what is that day going to be like?
 

                                OPPORTUNITY WILL BE GONE

Whatever opportunity we have to obey him today will be gone.  Whatever opportunity to rededicate or restore our faithfulness will be gone.  Whatever opportunity to reach out with the gospel to others will be gone. Whatever we need to do will be gone.  Eternity will be ushered in.

We will be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye. We will receive a new body.  We will come from the grave if we have died, or if we are still alive at the coming of Christ we will be changed.

We will stand before the Lord's bar of judgment without anymore opportunities to obey him!

II Pet. 3:9  The Lord is not slack concerning his promises as some men count slackness,
                   but is long-suffering to usward not willing that any should perish, but that all
                   should come to repentance.  But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the
                   night in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise and the elements
                   shall melt with fervent heat the earth also and the works that are therein shall
                   be burned up.  Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved what manner of
                   persons ought ye to be in holy conversation and godliness.  Looking for and hastening
                   unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved
                   and the elements shall melt with a fervent heat?

Think about this.  What is he saying?  , Well, first of all the Lord is not double-faced.  The Lord has promised the second coming and he will deliver.  His promise is cure and certain.

The Lord said his day will come as a thief in the night.  People, we can count on this.  God has spoken and given his word about this matter!  He means what he says!

God wants us all to be prepared.  He wants us all to be saved.

The long-suffering of God will not always be mocked and always last.  When Christ is dispatched to make his second appearance then its all over.

The heavens will pass away with a great noise.  Lets think about that for a moment.

April 4, 1974 I lived in North Alabama.  That day was a Wednesday.  The evening services arrived and I attended the Flint Church of Christ and was 11 years of age.  That day we had been under tornado warnings and storm alerts. Bad weather was everywhere.  When we dismissed church that night I remember looking outside and the sky was lit up with lightning.  The air was still and the thunder rolled all night long.  All night long the air was charged and angry.  My people huddled around a radio and heard of all the destruction and damage that was being done all around us.

The hospitals were filled by people banged up by the debris and damage when their homes were destroyed.  Their bodies were bruised and torn as if they had been in car wrecks or traffic accidents.

I heard of one man that was described as, nearly having his eyes pulled from his sockets from the pressure and power of the storm.  This man had ran from his house with his little girl and put her under a ledge of rocks for safety. He pulled his wife from the trees that was falling around him and as he looked back he watched years of work an labor blow away with his home.  Everything he owned was gone.

The man stumbled over a neighbor's sister who had been killed.  Her husband was dead a little further down, a few yards lay their the son dead, with a string tied around his body connected to a bush.

That was a terrible night.  People died.  19 people died in Lawrence County.  In one church 6 in one family lay in caskets.

The stories and accounts they gave about the night was horrible.  The Decatur Daily recounted many personal tragedies and losses.
 

That day and that destruction and sadness is nothing compared to the day the Lord comes again.

Mothers won't punch dads, and say,  "what is that noise"?  If the Lord comes in the middle of
the night you won't have to wake him up!  You will all know when he comes.

You will hear the voice of thousands begging for one more opportunity!  Thousands of voices
will be  crying and pleading for one more chance!  This world is going to reel and rock and
unwind like a scroll from the east to the west.

The graves will vomit the corpses out.  The departed soul will join the resurrected body.
From the unmarked graves, to the depths of the sea, all the dead will come out.  Time will be
no more!

Souls will scream, "Dear God, please wait just one more minute".  But when that happens it will be
too late to change anything.  Time will be no more, only eternity.

Untold million who are lost will be weeping and gnashing their teeth in horror.  This time signals the end for all flesh to have just one more minute one more opportunity or one more chance.

Are you ready for that night or day of judgment?

You may survive tornadoes, hurricanes and storms, and we have.  On the night or day of Christ's coming nobody will survive unless they are a child of God.

When Jesus comes again, we all will stand there.   we cannot stop this day of reckoning.  The day the Lord will come will be a day that is least expected. The day will come like a thief in the night.

We have never heard or seen such a noise or sight as we will on that great day.

Again I ask are you as bold and confident as John.  This whole earth will be burned up not scorched.

Peter asked what manner, or sort of persons should we be.  I ask you the question of life today, what kind of person are you?

Are you prepared for that night?
 

            THAT DAY WILL BEGIN AS AN ORDINARY DAY
 

The day will be an ordinary day.  Maybe a day just like today.
 

Matt. 24:36-44  But of that day and hour knoweth no one, not even the angels of heaven,
                              neither the Son, but the Father only.   And as were the days of Noah, so
                              shall be the coming of the Son of man.  For as in those days which were
                              before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage,
                              until the day that Noah entered into the ark,   and they knew not until the flood
                              came, and took them all away; so shall be the coming of the Son of man.   Then
                             shall two man be in the field; one is taken, and one is left:      two women shall be
                             grinding at the mill; one is taken, and one is left.  Watch therefore: for ye know not
                             on what day your Lord cometh.    But know this, that if the master of the house had
                             known in what watch the thief was coming, he would have watched, and would not
                             have suffered his house to be broken through.  Therefore be ye also ready; for in an
                             hour that ye think not the Son of man cometh.
 
 
These passages depict the destruction of Jerusalem, but can also be used to show the quickness of the return of the Son of God.
 
We may get up and say well he hasn't come back in 2,000 years so, no big deal.  Because the day or night is ordinary, that will not stop Jesus from coming.
 
 
                     A DAY OF GREAT WRATH 

II Cor. 5:10-11  For we must all be made manifest before the judgment-seat of Christ;
                           that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what
                           he hath done, whether it be good or bad.    Knowing therefore the fear of
                           the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest unto God; and I hope
                           that we are made manifest also in your consciences.

The day of the Lord will be a day of his justice and wrath.

Who is going to face that wrath?

A number of years ago, a man graduated from Alabama Christian College.   This man owned a pawn shop in Mobile, Alabama.  He supported his family from this little shop.  One day a man went into the pawn shop.  He put a gun in the owners face, and said, give me the money.  The thief in front of the children of the pawn shop owner,  killed their daddy after taking everything he wanted.

I suggest to you that if this killer has not repented and obeyed the Lord before Jesus comes he will face the wrath of God.

Ted Bundy  killed young women from Florida State University number of years ago killed two co-eds and beat another.  He worked the system for years but finally was put to death.  I will tell you this if that man has not obeyed the Lord will face the wrath of God when Jesus comes back.

Its easy to talk about Ted Bundy and other criminals but I suggest to you some members of the church, the body of Christ who will face the wrath of God almighty!

Yes, I really mean that.  Some who fall away are going to have a rude awakening.  If they are unfaithful and trust in their once being faithful they are in for a bad day on judgment day!

Matt.  13:40-43 As therefore the tares are gathered up and burned with fire; so shall
                             it be in the end of the world.  The Son of man shall send forth his angels,
                             and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that cause stumbling,
                             and them that do iniquity,   and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there
                             shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.   Then shall the righteous shine
                             forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He that hath ears, let him hear.
 

The Kingdom is the church of Jesus Christ. This means if a member of the church becomes unfaithful he will be cast into a furnace of fire if he or she offends.  The guilty will face the wrath of God.
 
Those who hear the gospel over and over, yet never obey, will feel the wrath of God almighty.

II Thess. 1:7-9 and to you that are afflicted rest with us, at the revelation of the Lord Jesus
                            from heaven with the angels of his power in flaming fire,  rendering vengeance
                            to them that know not God, and to them that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus:
                            who shall suffer punishment, even eternal destruction from the face of the Lord and
                            from the glory of his might,
 
I think maybe the Lord might come on a Sunday I don't know this far a fact but listen to this.

The Lord was resurrected from the dead on a Sunday.

Mark 16:1-5   And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother
                        of James, and Salome, bought spices, that they might come and anoint him.
                        And very early on the first day of the week, they come to the tomb when
                        the sun was risen.   And they were saying among themselves, Who shall roll
                        us away the stone from the door of the tomb?   and looking up, they see that
                        the stone is rolled back: for it was exceeding great.  And entering into the tomb,
                        they saw a young man sitting on the right side, arrayed in a white robe; and they
                        were amazed.

The church started on a Sunday.

Acts 2:36-47  Let all the house of Israel therefore know assuredly, that God hath made
                     him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom ye crucified. Now when they
                     heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and the rest
                     of the apostles, Brethren, what shall we do?    And Peter said unto them,
                     Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ
                     unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
                     For to you is the promise, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even
                     as many as the Lord our God shall call unto him.   And with many other words
                     he testified, and exhorted them, saying, Save yourselves from this crooked generation.
                     They then that received his word were baptized: and there were added unto them in
                     that day about three thousand souls.   And they continued stedfastly in the apostles'
                     teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and the prayers.  And fear came
                     upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. And
                     all that believed were together, and had all things common;   and they sold their
                      possessions and goods, and parted them to all, according as any man had need.
                      And day by day, continuing stedfastly with one accord in the temple, and breaking
                      bread at home, they took their food with gladness and singleness of heart,   praising
                     God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to them day by day
                     those that were saved.

The first day of the week is called the Lord's Day.

Rev 1:10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet

We take his memorial every first day of the week.

Acts 20:7 And upon the first day of the week, when we were gathered together
                  to break bread, Paul discoursed with them, intending to depart on the
                  morrow; and prolonged his speech until midnight.

What if the Lord comes on a Sunday?  We will hear people plead for one more invitation song.  One more time to be baptized.  One more time to repent of sin.

That day will take away the second chance we have today.  You cannot become a better father or mother on that day it will be to late.  You can't become a better son or daughter on that day its to late.  You can't become a better husband or wife on that day it will be too late.  You will weep and cry, beg, and plead.

The erring child of God will remember every elder, minister, deacon, Christian, that encouraged them to get their life right.

Every prayer, that was prayed for your soul, and rededication will be remembered.

The person who did not obey the Lord, will remember every invitation, and every plea extended them.
 
Do you say as John,  "even so come Lord Jesus".

The people who have obeyed the Lord, and are faithful, are the ones that are prepared to meet God.

Luke 12:16-20    And he spake a parable unto them,  saying,   The ground of a certain rich man brought
                              forth fruit plentifully: and he though within himself, saying,  What shall I do, because
                              I have no room where to bestow my fruits?  And he said, This will I do : I will pull down
                             my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.  And I will
                             say unto my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink,
                             and be merry.  But God said unto him, Thou fool , this night thy soul shall be required of thee:
                             then whose shall those things be. which thou hast provided? 
 

God has blessed him with so many things he doesn't know what to do with all of them  Maybe the man had
 been poor once before and now he has become a miser and selfish.

The man thought all about his things but not his soul.  He wanted to live it up and retire but now its time
for him to die.

 Luke 12:20  Thou fool, this night thy soul is required of thee.

That man knew that he would die that night.  We do not know the hour or time of our death but this man did.
What if we were told you have 12 hours before you die.  The only way we would know if we have only twelve hours is if we plan on taking our life.

What would you do if you knew God was taking you tonight? That you were going to face God in your spiritual condition right here and right now?

How many of us would say as John,  "Even so come, Lord Jesus".

Are we satisfied where we stand tonight?    Have elders, deacons, ministers, and every member done what is right?     Are we prepared?

Are we doing the best we can do for the Lord?  Are we prepared to meet him as a husband, wife, child?

Can we say,  "even so, come Lord Jesus".

There is a great day coming, the question is;   are we prepared for that day.
 
CONCLUSION
THE LORD DESIRES US TO MAKE OUR CALLING AND ELECTION SURE.  HAVE YOU OBEYED THE LORD'S PLAN OF SALVATION ?

                                                                     Believe Jesus to be God's son, John 8:24
                                                                     Repent of sins,  Luke 13:3-5
                                                                     Confess Christ with the mouth,  Romans 10:10
                                                                     Be baptized for remission of sins, Acts 2:38
                                                                     Live faithful unto death,  Revelation 2:10