Rev. 3:11.
What a message is this. Is it not like a telegram from the Bridegroom to the bride? “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say Come.” Have you gone out to meet the Bridegroom? Have you received the message? What is your reply? Is it “Come? Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” Surely the bride should rejoice to have such a message from the loving Bridegroom. Once He said, “In my Father’s house are many mansion’s: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”
Now He says, “I come quickly.” The Spirit applies this tender whisper to the heart of the bride. So that “the Spirit and the bride say, Come.”
“Quickly” does not mean in so many years. It does not mean, after you have passed through the great tribulation, such as never was, and never shall be again. It does not mean, after the literal city of Babylon is rebuilt. It does not mean, after the man of sin has been manifested. It does not mean, after the Roman empire has been restored. It does not mean, after you have all been slain for the word of God, as those who shall have the then testimony of God, as in Rev. 6:9. It does not mean, after you have been killed by the man of sin, for refusing to worship the beast, or head of the Roman empire. (Rev. 13:11-17.) No, it just means this, that the coming of Christ for the church is the very next, the very first event.
These words, “I come quickly,” just mean what they would from a bridegroom coming from a distant shore to take his bride. He sends her a telegram. It does not give the day nor the hour, but it says, “I come quickly.” In the gladness of her heart, she sends a telegram in reply—“Come, my bridegroom.” Yea, one word expresses the desire of her heart—“Come.”
Can you say in reply to Jesus, “Come; come now, come soon, come quickly?” These inspired words were written, expressing the hope of the church, eighteen hundred years ago; but for long centuries this hope was lost, and death, or even Christ coming in judgment, was put in its place. Yes, not only was the brightest hope taken away, but the most gloomy fear was put in its place; thus robbing the soul of its chief comfort, and the gospel of its joy.
Suddenly, when least expected, in the midst of the darkness that prevailed in the early part of this century, say fifty or sixty years ago, the midnight, cry was heard, “Behold, the Bridegroom; go ye out to meet him.” Yes, the Person of the Bridegroom has been suddenly again revealed to the church; and the need was felt to go out to meet Him.
The foolish are found without oil in the lamp of profession. Surely it becomes the wise to stand with trimmed lamps, waiting to hear the voice, and to see the coming Bridegroom. But what a moment! How soon the door will be shut. A moment, the twinkling of an eye, the bride is gone; the door is shut.
And then that bitter wail of everlasting despair, “Lord, Lord, open unto us.” Will He hear? Will He open? No, no. He says,” Verily, I say unto you, I know you not.” Long had the door stood open, and you refused to enter. In the days of Noah, the longsuffering of God lingered 120 years. In this dispensation of richest grace, of deepest mercy, the patient long-suffering of God has waited more than 1800 years. But the day for Noah came at last, the hour, the last moment, and “the Lord shut him in.” The eight were shut in; the world of violence and wickedness were shut out. Yes, the door was shut, and it was forever too late. Another year of longsuffering grace has run its course; but the door may be shut before another comes to a close.
What a reflection if still unsaved—you may be forever shut out before this year shall close; and then, too late. Not a ray of hope shall ever cheer your dark despair—shut out. “I know you not,” Jesus has said. “But of that day and hour knoweth no man; no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. But as the days of Noe, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the] day that Noe entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” (Matt. 24:36-39.) Every word of Jesus will assuredly come to pass. Did He not weep over Jerusalem? Did He not foretell its utter destruction, and that the Jews would be led away captive into all nations? that it should be trampled underfoot, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled? (Luke 19:41, 44; 21:22-24.) Yes, and every word He has spoken will as surely come to pass.
Is not the moral darkness and wickedness of the world fast becoming what it was in the days of Noah? Restrained at present, but preparing, and ready to break out in universal violence and bloodshed, such as the world never yet saw? And this will surely be, when the redeemed are caught up, and peace is taken from the earth.
Fellow believers, let us then read our telegram—precious words from the Bridegroom—“I come quickly.” What a calm this gives to the soul in the midst of the storms of the world. And to the one really walking with God, what peace in the midst of these last of the last days of sorrows in the church. Let us behold the Bridegroom. What love! “Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church [or, to himself glorious], not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” (Eph. 5:25-28.)
Ο bride of the Lamb, what scenes await thee! To be presented glorious to Him who has loved thee, and washed thee from thy sins; to be with Him and like Him forever. Nothing can separate thee from His love even now; but thou wilt be with Him—yes, with Him in holy, adoring worship, whilst the storms of judgment are poured out upon the earth, and upon the great Babylon of apostasy: and then shall the assembled multitude of the heavenly host rejoice, and with the voice of mighty thunderings say, “Alleluia; for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him; for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready,” &c. (Rev. 19) And still further, one of the seven angels said, “Come hither, I will show thee the bride, the Lambs wife.....Having the glory of God, her shining was like a most precious stone as a crystal-like jasper stone.” (Rev. 21 New Translation.) The bride shall be in every way suited to the Bridegroom.
How sad that so many Christians should be robbed of the enjoyment of this blessed hope. It would even be a terror to some to believe that Jesus really means what He says in those three words, “I come quickly.” Would it be terror or joy to you, dear reader, to know that we may now expect Him at any moment? Is there still some dread of judgment? If you are in Christ, there is no condemnation; there is no judgment for sins or sin. He has settled all this when He came the first time. He comes now to us, to all believers, as Savior, yea, as Bridegroom. As Isaac met Rebecca, so will He, the Bridegroom, meet us. What joy to Him to take us into the place prepared. Then will the desire of His loving heart be granted. “Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.” (John 17:24) What words of love then, are these of Jesus.
“I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.”
Whatever may be the perplexity and confusion, and though some may have been discouraged by reason of the difficulties of the path, yet the Lord does not say, Give in, let go; no, but, “Hold that fast which thou hast,” if gathered to Him the Holy and the True, and if He can say to us, “Thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.” Oh the privilege then of holding fast the testimony of the Lord. He will not fail to give the crown of reward. Yes, He says, “Hold fast that which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.”
Surely our heart’s reply, Until Thou come, “Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe.” If He tarry a little longer, may we be kept as faithful witnesses of the rejected Jesus, in the midst of the increasing darkness; and to Him be all praise.
C. S.