“I Am Coming Quickly”(Revelation 22:12-21)

Revelation 22:12-21  “I Am Coming Quickly”

 

In these days when many pastors give sermons emphasizing material blessings they raise worldly thoughts that result in saints pouring their hearts into the things of this earth.  Therefore I would like to preach the word from the Scripture as it is.  Since the 18^th century scientists, in these olden days, thought the speed of natural sciences to continually and rapidly develop medical advances would prevent any one from suffering due to disease and keep them from dying.  As things became civilized, people would enjoy the benefits from this and therefore the world would become a utopian world.  However as we face the 21^st century, how is today’s world?  As time goes by, the world gradually becomes harder and more difficult.  As we see this panorama of the world, it is not utopianism we see in which the world was suppose to be better everyday and it is not pessimism we see which has no hope but disappointment.  Then how do we Christians who believe Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord see this world?  As we contemplate this today, may the spirit of our Lord speak to us.

 

First of all, let us think about how do we saints see the world today?  Summarizing in one word, we live in the last days of history.  We are living in the word that was taught and given to the twelve disciples when Jesus lived in this world (Matthew 24:1-31).  We are living in the time when nations rise against nations and there are famines and earthquakes in various places, people bring tribulation to each other because of hate, and lawlessness abounds because the love of many grows cold.  The population has quickly increased and because of pollution from various gases, nuclear dust and chemical things in the air the earth is on the brink of crisis.  The world is in a critical situation.  The development of a scientific civilization, which human beings are so proud of, has brought this crisis and not the utopia to it.  More than 2700 years ago, God foretold about this through the prophet Isaiah.  Let’s read Isaiah 24:17-20 together.  “Fear and the pit and the snare are upon you, O inhabitant of the earth.  ¹⁸And it shall be that he who flees from the noise of the fear shall fall into the pit, and he who comes up from the midst of the pit shall be caught in the snare; for the windows from on high are open, and the foundations of the earth are shaken.  ¹⁹The earth is violently broken, the earth is split open, the earth is shaken exceedingly.  ²⁰The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall totter like a hut; its transgression shall be heavy upon it, and it will fall, and not rise again.” (NKJ)  “For the windows from on high are open” means the changing of outer space.  “The foundation of the earth” means the whole earth in which we live.  “Shaken and broken” means shaken and broken by earthquakes which were prophesized approximately 2700 years ago.  The apostle Peter said in 2 Peter 3:6-7, “By which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water.  ⁷But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.”  The meaning of these words at the time of Noah was that God judged the world with water, but now at this time it will be by fire.  During the time when the Old Testament and New Testament (scripture) were written they could not be understood because they were before the civilization of science.  However, how is it now?  It is this situation we live in, everything is prepared to brake the earth with great explosions with just one press of a computer key, now is the time, wait on the day of explosions (Ref. Revelation 16:12-21).  The Bible says those who don’t know this matter belong to darkness (1 Thessalonians 5:7).  We who know this belong to light and day (1 Thessalonians 5:8).

 

Secondly, let us think about how our attitude is as we live in a time like this.  For example, president Seong Man Lee’s first slogan, which you know, was “United we stand, divided we fall.”  It was during the time of the Korean War, June 25^th.  After that he used the words “U-B-Moo-Hwan.”  It means if we want to bring victory in fighting with North Korea we must be prepared ahead of time, then victory will be brought without tribulation.  It is the same in our faith.  Prepared saints will bring victory in this awful generation.  Then in what attitude shall we prepare?  There are so many, but I will only point out a few things.  They are: jBelieve in Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord (John 3:16).  kWash your robes (Revelation 22:14A, NIV).  “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life.”  We need to be washed by having our dirty deeds washed in the blood of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 10:10).  The “fine linen” stands for the righteous acts of the saints (Revelation 19:8).  lBelieve in the promise of God (Revelation 22:7).   “Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”  It is said that those who keep each word and believe are blessed.  mProhibit lies and idol worship.  Exodus 20:3 says, “You shall have no other gods before Me.”  nDo not follow the beast and the false spirit (Revelation 19:20).  “Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.”  Revelation 20:10 says, “The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”  As we see, we know what to prepare for and what is forbidden.  Believe in Jesus as our personal Savior and Lord, wash our robes with Jesus’ blood, and believe in the words of promise.  Things that are prohibited are idol worship, false prophets (cults) and all things that are unclean.  I believe we, ourselves, must be well prepared in the last days (Matthew 25:1-11).

 

Thirdly, what happens when the second coming of our Lord occurs?  I will tell you according to scripture.  The end of this final conclusion in scripture is the Revelation, this final conclusion is, “He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming quickly." Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20).  With the second coming of Jesus there will be two phenomena happening; jWar will break out in heaven and kthe saints will be assembled and they will enter heaven.  When war breaks out in heaven, Michael and his angels fight with the dragon (Revelation 12:7-8), verse 7 says, “And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought.”  Verse 9A says, “So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world.”  The Bible says that when God’s time comes Satan will be thrown into hell along with his servants and his followers.  The smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever (Revelation 4:11) and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever (Revelation 20:10).  Saints will be gathered and enter into heaven.  All the saints who went before us will rise from the grave (1 Thessalonians 4:16A) and those saints who are alive shall be changed (1 Corinthians 15:51-52).  At that time, the sea will give up the dead who are in it and Death and Hades will deliver up the dead who are in them (Revelation 20:13).  Those who drown in water and those who were cremated; they will all rise from the dead and stand before God.  Then we who are alive and remain shall meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:17A).  This assembly will be the great universal gathering.  In that day we will see God our Father and Jesus as the bridegroom (Matthew 25:1-11) and we will be His bride and look on Him who we have longed to see all the days of our life.  In this assembly, we will see those saints who went before us in front of Jesus.  Then we will live in joy forever in heaven.  Daniel prophesied about this day saying in Daniel 7:17-18, “Those great beasts, which are four, are four kings which arise out of the earth.  ¹⁸But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.” 

Beloved saints, I will finish preaching.  The worldly people speak, teach, and live that this world will exist forever.  However the Bible doesn’t say so.  Rather, the earth is preserved for the last day by the word (2 Peter 3:7).  The scientists say that because every kind of improvement in medicine and civilization will be developed in the future, this world will be a utopia with peace and without any sick people.  But this is not true.  Look, there is more sickness and more wars instead of peace.  Why is this?  It is because the Bible says so.  The false prophets teach saints to believe in the blessings which focus only on the blessings that tickle their ears; as a result of this it seems that there is only life in this world.  All of this brings problems.  We must learn and teach the grace of Jesus Christ and the way of salvation so we may lift our heads toward God’s kingdom.  This world will be dissolved by fire, nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for a new heaven and a new earth in which righteousness dwells (2 Peter 3:12-13).  We must prepare with the wisdom of our belief to meet Jesus Christ Who will come again in His glory.


By: Rev. Samuel  Choi