Revelation 22:20
He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.”Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
People have been expecting Jesus to return ever since he ascended into Heaven. Every generation reads this verse and says "He's coming back soon!" We've seen those people wearing the sandwich board signs saying, "THE END IS NEAR" or "ARMAGEDDON IS COMING."
People laugh and say, "Jesus has been coming quickly for over 2000 years!"
But that is not what the verse means.
Jesus didn't mean he was coming quickly as in a short time from once He made that statement to John.
The words for "I come" are interesting when you study the Tense, Voice and Mood of the words. With the Present Tense, Active Voice and Indicative Mood, Jesus is saying that He is currently on His way and that is a matter of fact and that it WILL happen.
He didn't say "I WILL come." He said "I AM coming," hence the present tense.
The word for "quickly" in the Greek means "without delay" and "speedily." Jesus is telling us that He is returning and it will be at His appointed time and He will be right on time with no delays and when He gets here it will be quick!
This is a warning for people to be ready for His return and specifically for those that say, "I'll get saved when Jesus comes back." or my favorite, "I'll get saved when I the rapture occurs."
When He comes back, if you are not ready, it will be too late. You won't have time to get saved.
Jesus explained this to His disciples and us in the parable of the Ten Virgins in
Matthew 25:1-13:
“Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.
And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’
Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming."
Some notes here:
It was dark, they needed lamps: We won't see Jesus coming when He comes for the church (the bride of Christ) (1 Cor 15:52)
He was delayed: Not delayed on His part, delayed from our point of view as in we don't know when He will come
A cry was heard: Jesus will come with a loud voice (1 Thess 4:16)
The five who took no oil were not ready: They didn't have time to get their oil, it was too late, He had come and gone.
Jesus said "I don't know you": They were not allowed in because Jesus didn't know them because they didn't know Him.
We need to be ready people because we are in a time of history like no other. Watch the news and read the Bible and you will see.
Be ready and don't get caught with your lamp out!
