THRICE does the Lord Jesus say these words in the final chapter of Scripture. Let me quote them.
(1.) “Behold, I come quickly. Blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book” (Rev. 22:77Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book. (Revelation 22:7)). Here we have the value of keeping the prophetic word pressed on us. Prophecy deals with the earth, and reveals the solemn fact that the besom of judgment is about to sweep this godless scene of man’s sin, pride, and folly, ere the Son of Man can “reign in righteousness,” as He most assuredly will do. Solemn fact for “men of the world, which have their portion in this life” (Psa. 17:1414From men which are thy hand, O Lord, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes. (Psalm 17:14)). If you are of such, my reader, it is about time you woke up to see your imminent danger.
(2.) “And, behold, I come quickly, and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be” (vs. 12). This is surely sweet encouragement to every laborer for Christ. Go labor on, my brother, my sister, in Christ. Your Master will not forget your toil, and your reward is assured, even though your success be apparently small. He will say, “Well done!” by-and-by, to the “faithful and good servant,” even though he may not have been as successful as some others. Toil on, work on, pray, preach, visit, exhort, plead with souls, and seek to win them for Christ. The rebuff day and the reproach day will soon be over, and the reward day is at hand.
(3.) “Surely I come quickly” (vs. 20). This is what the loving heart wants. We want to see Him face to face, and soon, very soon, we shall. Fellow-saint, “quickly” is His word. Are we waiting and watching for Him? He is at hand. While you read this He may be here. Our future is assured. The next thing we are certain about is this:― “The Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thess. 4:16, 1716For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:16‑17)) Glorious prospect! Heavenly hope! Eternal rest! Who would not be a Christian in view of this?
But there is a solemn side even to this blessed truth. What is it? Our blessing will be the world’s doom. The day of the Gospel will then be over forever. This should make us deeply earnest now to gather in the lost ones.
Reader, if you are not yet saved, let me finally and affectionately urge you to bow to, and believe in the Lord Jesus, that you may be ready for His second advent, for He does not lightly say thrice
“I COME QUICKLY.”
W. T. P. W.