Revelation 22:20 - Homiletics

The closing aspiration: "Come, Lord Jesus."

In the homilies on Revelation 1:7 and Revelation 20:11-15 , compared with Revelation 22:12 , we have touched on the second coming of Christ. But in each case we have done so in direct pursuance of our aim of giving a homiletic exposition of the plan of the Apocalypse. Hence in one case we dealt with it as the one clue threading the entire Scripture; in another case we looked at it as bringing about the consummation of all things. In the passage before us now there is presented to us yet a third point of view from which it is to be regarded, even as the object of the believer's hope, longing, and prayer. "Come, Lord Jesus." Three inquiries will come up before us, replies to which may throw light on a most important aspect of the Christian faith and expectation.

I. WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THIS ONE HOPE OF THE CHURCH ? The glorious appearing of the great God, even our Saviour Jesus Christ, is, without doubt, the "blessed hope." The Church is longing for the personal presence of her Saviour. Love cannot be fully satisfied while its fondest Object remains unseen. Still, the expectation of the coming of the Lord is one which includes a great deal more than the hope of his personal presence. For that of itself, without very much more, would not by any means secure all that believers desire. In fact, even as it is, we are better off than the disciples were when Jesus was on earth. "It is expedient for you that I go away," etc. It is not, then, as if we were here weeping and mourning, without a Christ, that we long to see him, but because of the glory which shall be ushered in at his coming. It may be well for us, at this stage of exposition, to locate the personal advent of Christ according to New Testament eschatology. £ Increasing, repeated studies of the Word drive us further and further away from the pre-millennial hypothesis. We do not look for the personal reappearing of Jesus as near at hand, in point of time, as yet. It is not at the commencement of an era of blessedness that Scripture warrants us in placing it, but at the consummation thereof. Looking, however, at his coming as taking place at the restitution of all things, we must needs include in our aspirations after that glorious goal of human progress every step on the way thither. These steps towards the final blessedness are shown in the New Testament in the following order:

1 . The advance of truth and the proclamation of the gospel among all nations must take place before the end.

2 . The promise of the outpouring of the Holy Ghost is very far from complete fulfilment. Our Lord lives and reigns to bestow this gracious baptism. The Holy Ghost will both train the Church and convict the world.

3 . Through the pouring out of the Holy Spirit Israel is to be restored (Ezekiel 35-37).

4 . The effect of Israel's restoration will be "as life from the dead," and will be followed by the inbringing of the fulness of the Gentiles ( Romans 9:11 ).

5 . Then will follow a long period of millennial rest, during which righteousness, though not absolutely universal, will be in the ascendant; while at the same time the tares as well as the wheat will be ripening for harvest; ( Isaiah 60:1-22 ; Matthew 13:1-58 .).

6 . After this, for reasons known only to the great Disposer, the evil one, having long been bound, will be "loosed again," but only for a season. He will go forth to deceive. This will be his last effort, which will issue in his destruction. The enemies of God and of his Church will one by one be overthrown.

7 . Then will come the appearing of our Lord; the general resurrection; £ the gathering of the nations; the judgment; the award—for the wicked, the second death; for the righteous—

8 . The inbringing of the new heavens and the new earth, wherein righteousness wilt dwell. It is for this we long. For this believers are waiting, anxiously watching every step in the process which is to bring about that halcyon calm. Yea, in our eagerness for it, we sometimes wish to push forward the wheels of time. We ask impatiently, "Why is his chariot so long in coming?" We cannot rest while wickedness rides high, nor while tares so much abound. Hence our prayer, "Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly. Come and complete thy reign. Overturn, and overturn, and overturn. Throw down the wrong; bring in the right, and let the groaning and travailing of the creation cease because of the manifestation of the sons of God!"

II. WHY IS THIS IN SUCH AN ABSORBING DEGREE THE HOPE OF THE CHURCH ? We are not careful to disguise the fact that in this respect the Church's outlook is very different from that of some who devote themselves to science, philosophy, and literature. There are, indeed, men of highest literary and scientific standing who join heartily in the prayer, "Even so, come, Lord Jesus." At the same time, there is no doubt that while men generally deem it wise and right to seek and to expect human progress, there is a great divergence among them in their opinions as to what such progress means, and how it is to be secured. The hope of some is that, through the advance of science, the race will reach its goal; that as law comes to be more definitely understood, nature will be brought more thoroughly under control, etc. In distinction from any or all of these, stands out the Christian hope. If we be asked a reason for it, we are prepared to give it in a series of considerations which, we cannot but think, are too frequently overlooked. Accordingly, we now give in outline the reasons which Christians have for the conviction that nothing less than the inbringing of the Christian hope will meet the cravings of our hearts. These reasons are so given as to be taken cumulatively.

1 . We cannot but recognize the superiority of moral considerations to those which are merely physical. Doubtless, neglect of sanitary laws may prove a serious obstruction to men. But that neglect is itself a wrong moral act. And the immorality of the neglect must be done away ere the physical ill can be cut off. In a word, the moral and mental rule the physical.

2 . We recognize also the immense importance of men over things, or over any combination of things. There is more worth in one human spirit than in all the material atoms in the universe of God. Nothing can content us that fails to renovate spirit.

3 . The true moral and spiritual advance of men depends on what they are, rather than on what they know. Loyalty of heart is more than the furniture of the intellect. And when men talk about science being the regenerator, we ask—Which science? We ask—How is it, then, that the most accomplished men are sometimes the greatest rogues, and that some who are masters in knowledge are slaves to sin? Man is made for God, and only as he becomes God like is his weal secured.

4 . It is impossible to secure the world's peace while sin reigns in man's nature. Sin is the great mar-plot of the world. But:

5 . With all sin put away, what a change would be brought about! If men were all righteous, if they were like him who went about doing good, our race would forthwith have Paradise again!

6 . Now, as a matter of fact, no founder of a religion has ever set on foot a scheme of truth or an apparatus of power with the express purpose of putting down wrong and of bringing in righteousness, but the Lord Jesus Christ. He only has recognized fully the needs of our spiritual nature. But he has. And he is "mighty to save." He has saved millions, and is doing so now. But he alone.

7 . This being so, we look to him who is the Author of our faith to be its Finisher too. And he who by his Spirit now quickens men so that they are alive unto God, is effecting a work which is bringing in the issue for which we long. Of this, evolution gives no account, and can give none.

8 . The Lord Jesus Christ has left us the direct and. positive assurance that "he will make all things new." And if it be said. to us, "Do not the terrible disorders of earth shake your faith?" we reply—Not for a moment. Why should they? Nothing worse has happened yet than the seven seals, trumpets, and vials have indicated. And the end is beyond all these! How far beyond in point of time none can say.

9 . Already, in the millions of souls ingathered, we have had many an earnest and pledge of the glorious harvest day. History is opening up strictly according to the lines of the holy book, and it will! "He who hath begun the good work will perform it unto the day of Jesus Christ."

10. And the riper we get in grace, the more intense our love for our Lord, the more eagerly and passionately do we long for him to "complete the number of his elect," and to manifest her power and glory. And this desire, which by Christ has been created, by Christ himself shall be ultimately fulfilled. Surely these ten reasons, separately and fairly estimated, and then put together in cumulative force, do furnish an ample reason why believers in Jesus should regard the progress of their race and the glory of their Lord as leagued together in an everlasting bond. Reason enough is there here for the cry, "Come, Lord Jesus: come quickly!"

III. IN WHAT LIGHT DO ALL THESE CONSIDERATIONS SET THE ASPIRATION OF THE TEXT ?

1 . They account for the text being the prayer of the Church, for they show that it expresses the longing that the redemption already enjoyed by believers may be manifested in our race.

2 . This petition, "Come, Lord Jesus: come quickly!" is a constant revealer of the unity of the true Church. The words go up from all Christian hearts. Romanist, Anglican, Protestant, Conformist and Nonconformist, all unite here.

3 . The acceptance of the hope indicated in the prayer of the text is a test of the accuracy of a man's mental science and philosophic insight. That is no true science, that is no true philosophy, in which there is no room for this blessed hope. Its value can be denied only where plain and palpable facts of human nature, which ought to be taken into account, are ignored.

4 . The text becomes a test of character. "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he." Similarly, as a man longeth in his heart, so is he. Let a man toll us for what he most wishes, and we will tell him what he is. He will thereby show us:

5 . The text becomes a criterion of safety. If a man is among those who are looking for Christ, he is among those to whom Christ's coming will bring in the salvation yet to be revealed. If a man is among those who care not for these things, he is one to whom the second coming will bring weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth. "Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent, that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless." And should any urge that "he prophesieth of the times afar off," let such remember that, however distant the consummation may be, the previous preparation is in all cases a continuous process, which is going on now. "Seek ye the Lord while he may be found." "Now is the accepted time; now is the day of salvation."