The Significance of 'Come, Lord Jesus' in Revelation 22
Come, Lord Jesus, Come! Revelation 22
The closing charge of Revelation emphasizes Jesus' call to “Come,” the exhortation to pray for His return, and the command to go and invite others to follow Him. It challenges believers to examine their conviction in eternity, their allegiance to Christ, and how their lives reflect His lordship. By addressing the hope and urgency of the second coming, it encourages not being content with the world’s brokenness or the destruction of the lost but instead yearning for Christ’s return and actively sharing His love and invitation with others. Ultimately, the purpose is clear: to transform lives into who they are meant to be in Christ and to call others into the eternal glory of His kingdom.
Sermon Transcript
Then he showed me the river of the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the city’s main street. The tree of life was on each side of the river, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree are for healing the nations, and there will no longer be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. Night will be no more; people will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, because the Lord God will give them light, and they will reign forever and ever. Then he said to me, “These words are faithful and true. The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place.” “Look, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.” I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. When I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had shown them to me. But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you, your brothers the prophets, and those who keep the words of this book. Worship God!” Then he said to me, “Don’t seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, because the time is near. Let the unrighteous go on in unrighteousness; let the filthy still be filthy; let the righteous go on in righteousness; let the holy still be holy.” “Look, I am coming soon, and my reward is with me to repay each person according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. “Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to attest these things to you for the churches. I am the root and descendant of David, the bright morning star.” Both the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” Let anyone who hears, say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come. Let the one who desires take the water of life freely. I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book. And if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share of the tree of life and the holy city, which are written about in this book. He who testifies about these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with everyone. Amen. (Revelation 22)
Every time I finish a message series, it feels bittersweet. This series has been particularly significant because I was hesitant to take on Revelation as a sermon series. It’s a lot—an overwhelming amount at times—and I think you’ve experienced that too. Some of you might be thinking, “Yay, no more hour-and-fifteen-minute messages!” while others may say, “Yeah, but we learned so much!” Both are valid.
Moving forward, we’re going to get back to a more manageable amount of content—something that’s easier to hold in our minds. There’s value in that. Today, we’re in the last chapter, the last section, and the final message of Revelation. It’s fascinating because, in this passage, John reflects on everything that has happened in the book. Chapters 1 through 21, and the first six verses of chapter 22, encompass the Revelation itself. Then, in this final section, Jesus speaks directly to John, giving him the ultimate point of the entire book.
Even if you missed earlier messages—or if I was so wordy that things went over your head—this final message stands alone. It’s critical. The message is titled Come, Lord Jesus, Come, and it focuses on the second coming of Christ.
One of my college professors, Gerald Bray, who I didn’t particularly care for at the time but has proven to be a wise and insightful scholar, wrote a book about the future of the church. In many ways, Revelation is about that same topic: the future of the church. If you’re on our email list, you’ve already received an article by him that I referenced. It’s relatively short, but it provides three key points that help frame how we read Revelation 22.
Gerald Bray's Three Key Points
The Distinctive Future of Christianity
One of Christianity’s most distinctive features is its belief in the future. We believe that Jesus is coming again to gather us into His kingdom. This belief is foundational. There’s no orthodox Christian group that denies the return of Christ. It’s central to everything we believe as the church.Watch and Pray for Christ’s Return
Because the second coming is a defining feature of our faith, it should be something we are actively aware of. We’re called to watch for it and to pray for it. Revelation 22 explicitly exhorts us to pray for Christ’s return.Our Lives Have Eternal Significance
Our lives are neither hopeless nor meaningless. What we do matters—to God and to eternity. Unlike abstract hopes for some future nirvana, our hope is real, grounded in Christ’s return. That reality shapes how we live now. Even in an imperfect world, with our imperfect bodies, what we do has purpose and significance.
Bray’s points can be summarized in three words: remember, watch, and live. These principles will guide us through Revelation 22.
Walking Through Revelation 22
I won’t read every verse of the chapter today, but I encourage you to review it on your own, especially if you’re in my small group. There’s a lot of depth in the chapter that I won’t have time to unpack. Instead, I’ll focus on the main thrust: the theme of Christ’s second coming.
First, we are called to remember the second coming. Revelation describes Jesus returning on a white cloud. If you’ve been with us through this series, you know we’ve interpreted much of Revelation symbolically.
Jesus coming back on a white cloud is a powerful image, and we need to ask ourselves: What does the white symbolize? What does the cloud represent? In Scripture, clouds often symbolize heavenly or spiritual things. This tells us that Jesus is coming from a spiritual realm, not from another country on a jet plane or even from another planet in a spaceship. He is coming from the very presence of the Father, out of the ethereal places, if you will—another plane of existence.
The cloud is significant, and it’s not just any cloud. Throughout Revelation, we’ve seen references to both good and evil spiritual beings. Jesus’ cloud is not a dark or ominous one; it’s a white cloud. To the ancient reader, this imagery would have been clear: a white cloud signifies righteousness, holiness, and goodness. It tells us that Jesus is coming as the perfect, righteous Savior.
But this leads to an important question: Is this purely symbolic, or is it also real? As we’ve seen in Revelation, symbols often point to real things. If God is the great playwright who has written the story of this world, He can weave symbols into real events. So, we must ask: Should we take this image of Jesus on a cloud as both symbolic and literal?
Let’s explore this further. The idea of a cloud isn’t unique to Revelation—it appears throughout Scripture. One critical passage is Acts 1:9–11. After Jesus’ resurrection, He spent time with His disciples, teaching them, serving them, and preparing them for their mission. When the time came for Him to ascend to the Father, we’re told:
“He was taken up as they were watching, and a cloud took Him out of their sight. While He was going, they were gazing into heaven, and suddenly two men in white clothes stood by them. They said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up into heaven? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come in the same way that you have seen Him going into heaven’” (Acts 1:9–11, CSB).
This passage is crucial. It describes Jesus being taken up into a cloud—not as a metaphor, but as a literal event. Luke, the author of Acts, was a careful historian, known for his technical writing style. He wasn’t prone to using flowery or figurative language in his accounts. Instead, he recorded events as they happened, based on eyewitness testimony.
The angels’ words to the disciples are clear: Jesus will return in the same way He ascended—on a cloud. This ties directly to the vision in Revelation. John sees Jesus returning on a cloud because that’s exactly what the angels promised at the very beginning of the church. The ascension of Jesus into heaven and His return on a cloud are two parts of the same event, separated by time.
This idea of Jesus coming on a cloud isn’t just a New Testament concept; it was prophesied in the Old Testament. Consider Daniel 7:13–14, written hundreds of years before Jesus’ first coming:
“I continued watching in the night visions, and suddenly one like a son of man was coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was escorted before Him. He was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, so that those of every people, nation, and language should serve Him” (Daniel 7:13–14, CSB).
Notice how Daniel describes the “Son of Man” coming with the clouds of heaven. This title, “Son of Man,” is one Jesus frequently used for Himself throughout the New Testament. In Daniel’s vision, the Son of Man approaches the Ancient of Days—the all-powerful Father—and is given dominion, glory, and a kingdom that spans every nation, language, and people.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and His kingdom is one that will not be destroyed. Doesn’t this sound like Philippians 2? Paul describes Jesus’ ascension to the right hand of the Father, where He was given the name above all names, so that at the name of Jesus every knee would bow—from every nation, tribe, and tongue.
Isn’t this the same message as Daniel 7? If Paul wasn’t thinking of Daniel when he wrote Philippians, that would be an extraordinary coincidence. Clearly, Paul understood Jesus’ ascension to the right hand of the Father as the fulfillment of Daniel’s prophecy. Jesus ascended on a cloud, and for our purposes today, He will return on a cloud.
Why Focus on the Cloud?
Why make such a big deal about the cloud? Why is this so important? Frequently, biblical authors use symbolic language—clouds, colors, light, darkness, and other motifs—to communicate deeper truths. However, there are times when Jesus doesn’t merely point to Old Testament symbols; He enacts them.
If you read Matthew’s Gospel, you’ll notice how often Matthew highlights obscure Old Testament prophecies and shows how Jesus fulfills them. For example, Matthew will point out that Jesus did something specific “to fulfill” what was spoken by Isaiah, Jeremiah, or another prophet. Why does Jesus do this? He wants people to know who He is—the promised Messiah, the Anointed One, the King with all authority.
In the Bible, symbolism isn’t just poetic language meant to evoke feelings. Sometimes, the symbolism is tied to specific circumstances. In this case, Jesus coming on the clouds is tied to our expectations about His return. Isn’t that the main reason people study Revelation? Everyone wants to know when Jesus is coming back and what signs to look for.
We expect Jesus to return with an outward, visible expression—likely on a literal cloud. I’m not going to be dogmatic and insist that it must be a cloud, but the emphasis of this language is clear: when Jesus returns, it will be unmistakable. Everyone will know.
Misconceptions About the Second Coming
Some teach that the second coming will be secret and invisible. They claim it will be confusing—like waking up to find your spouse, child, or friend missing, unsure of what happened. Others teach that the second coming will be visible but not tangible, suggesting it will be more like a vision or collective experience rather than a real event.
But that’s not what the New Testament or Revelation teaches. John’s vision combats these misconceptions. Jesus’ return will be real, visible, and unmistakable. Why? Because Jesus isn’t just a symbolic figure. He is fully God and fully man. He lived the perfect life we couldn’t live, died for our sins, and rose again so that we could be forgiven and redeemed. His return will demonstrate these truths visibly and powerfully.
Paul on the Second Coming
Paul addresses this in 1 Thessalonians 4:16:
“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the archangel’s voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.”
Why does Paul emphasize “the Lord Himself”? Why not just say, “The Lord will descend”? Paul is combating an early church ideology that questioned Jesus’ identity. He emphasizes that it will be Jesus—the person, the self—who descends. Jesus, the visible representation of the invisible God, is the one who will return.
When we encounter Jesus at His return, it won’t be abstract or symbolic. It will be real. Revelation 22:10 says:
“Then the angel said to me, ‘Don’t seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, because the time is near.’”
This coming of Jesus on the cloud—the visible representation of God returning to earth—reminds us of a vital truth: Jesus wants us to remember at all times that He is coming back. And this is not just a figurative return or an ideological message. Jesus is a real King, ruling over a real kingdom, and He is coming back to bring His real people into that kingdom to live forever.
This means we’re not going to spend eternity as floating spirits, playing ethereal harps or endlessly singing hymns like Amazing Grace or Holy, Holy, Holy. No, we’re going to a real kingdom, where we will be real people, bowing before a real King named Jesus. That’s what this is all about. That’s the message of Revelation.
It’s crucial to remember the overarching story of Revelation. Despite the difficulties of the world we live in, despite the coming wrath of God, Jesus has not abandoned us. Think about how often we ask, “Why is this happening?” Why a pandemic? Why this election result? Some of you might feel victorious, while others are asking, “Why is this our president?” And then there are those who say, “Well, my president is Jesus.”
These questions reflect our struggle to make sense of the world. Why do things go wrong? Why do we face loss, illness, and decay? Why, even as followers of Jesus, do we still suffer? Why isn’t our brokenness immediately healed? Why doesn’t Jesus answer every prayer the way we hope? These questions can lead us to doubt. We might think, “Maybe God has abandoned us. Maybe He’s not for us anymore.”
Some of us even fall into the trap of moralizing our struggles: “Maybe I did something wrong. Maybe God is punishing me.” These thoughts can be overwhelming, but the promise of Revelation is profound and clear: Jesus has not abandoned you. He is with you, and He is coming back for His people.
Watchfulness for the Second Coming
Not only has Jesus promised to return, but He has also commanded us to watch for it. This isn’t some abstract belief to file away as a minor doctrine of the church. Watching for the second coming is an active part of our faith. Jesus calls us to be ready, to pray for His return, and to live in anticipation of it.
But that raises the question: When is Jesus coming back? Shouldn’t we, as His followers, know when He’s returning? Can we decode the Scriptures to figure it out? Shouldn’t we have some insight?
The reality is that this question has led many off the path of following Jesus. Throughout history, people have become obsessed with predicting the time of Jesus’ return. Worse, some have built platforms and ministries on false predictions, leading others astray. These speculations have often caused harm, not just to individuals but to the broader witness of the church.
At the same time, in reaction to these false predictions and charlatans, many evangelicals have swung to the opposite extreme. We’ve become so wary of speculation that we’ve filed away the doctrine of the second coming, treating it as a distant or irrelevant concern. Instead, we focus on other topics like the Holy Spirit, moral issues, or practical matters of faith.
But the Bible doesn’t let us dismiss the return of Christ. In our passage alone, Jesus says three times:
“The time is near” (Revelation 22:10).
“Look, I am coming soon” (Revelation 22:12).
“Yes, I am coming soon” (Revelation 22:20).
And these are just from Revelation 22. The New Testament is full of references to the imminent return of Christ. The disciples believed Jesus would return soon, and they lived in anticipation of that day.
Wrestling with the Timing of His Return
This brings us to an important question: If Jesus said He was coming “soon,” and the disciples believed it, why hasn’t He returned yet? How do we reconcile this promise with the passage of time?
First, it’s essential to understand that the language of “soon” doesn’t contradict the broader teachings of Jesus about His return. Jesus repeatedly emphasized that no one knows the day or the hour—not even the angels in heaven, only the Father (Matthew 24:36). He taught His followers to live in a state of readiness, not speculation.
The only time Jesus explicitly says the timing of His return is "soon" is here in Revelation. When the New Testament authors reflect on the timing of Jesus’ second coming, it’s always in passing. It’s never the central point of their teaching. They don’t write as though Jesus will necessarily return in their lifetime. Instead, there’s an occasional sense of urgency—like Paul feeling anxious to complete his mission before Jesus returns—or moments where Paul’s actions seem aimed at hastening Christ’s return. But he never gives a date. He never says, “Jesus will return on January 12, 2021.”
Why? Because the teaching of Jesus Himself is clear.
In Matthew 24:3, the disciples ask Jesus directly, "What is the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" Jesus responds with a lengthy explanation, outlining many of the signs we’ve discussed throughout Revelation. These signs are laid out more concisely in Matthew 24, and after His detailed explanation, Jesus gives the answer to their question in verse 36:
“Now concerning that day and hour, no one knows—neither the angels of heaven nor the Son—except the Father alone” (Matthew 24:36, CSB).
At that moment, even Jesus, in His earthly ministry, didn’t know the exact timing of His return. I believe He knows now, seated at the right hand of the Father, but at that time, He emphasized that only the Father knew.
The focus is not on the nearness of the time but on the necessity of watchfulness. The disciples asked about timing, but Jesus redirected their attention. He essentially said, “Don’t worry about how soon it will be. That’s not the point. Instead, stay alert.”
Revelation and the Present Age
As we think about Revelation, it’s important to realize that most of the book isn’t about Jesus’ return. It’s an explanation of the world we live in now—the age between His ascension and His second coming. Much of what Revelation describes has been unfolding for the last 2,000 years and will continue until Jesus returns.
The final chapters, including today’s passage, remind us to see the signs of Revelation in the world around us as evidence that Jesus is coming again. When we face challenges—pandemics, pain, confusion, wars, or any kind of suffering—the book of Revelation provides an answer: Jesus is coming back for His church. He has prepared a place for His people.
So, why a pandemic? Why pain? Why confusion about what’s happening in the world? Revelation tells us these things are reminders of the brokenness of the world and the promise of Jesus’ return. The wars, the suffering, the chaos—these aren’t reasons to despair. Instead, they are calls to fix our eyes on Christ and to yearn for His return.
That’s the promise of the second coming: Jesus is coming to take us into perfection. When we see the brokenness of the world, we don’t lose hope. We don’t ask, “Why does God allow this to happen?” Instead, we ask, “Why the pain?” and respond with, “Blessed be Jesus. Glory to Christ. He is coming for me and for us.”
Be Alert and Ready
Jesus says in Matthew 24:42–44:
“Therefore, be alert, since you don’t know what day your Lord is coming. But know this: If the homeowner had known what time the thief was coming, he would have stayed alert and not let his house be broken into. This is why you are also to be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
Jesus uses the analogy of a thief in the night to emphasize the unpredictability of His return. Just as a homeowner wouldn’t leave their doors unlocked if they knew when a thief was coming, we are called to be ready and watchful.
Now, don’t take this analogy too literally—Jesus isn’t saying to stay up all night worried about someone breaking into your house. But He is calling us to spiritual vigilance. Lock the door. Set the alarm if you have one. Don’t leave the front door open, especially if you live in a neighborhood where that’s not a good idea!
Twice in my own experience, we’ve come home and found evidence that someone may have been in the house. It’s unsettling, to say the least. In the same way, Jesus warns that His return will come unexpectedly, and we need to be spiritually prepared for it.
Twice, in just five years of living in our house, we’ve had experiences where we wondered if someone had broken in. You don’t know when it will happen, and that’s the point Jesus is making. He says, “You don’t know when I’m coming back, but would you prepare for My return so that I don’t catch you off guard? Would you stay watchful so that, on the day I come, you aren’t surprised?”
This is the exhortation Jesus gives us: to be prepared and watchful. But notice, He also warns us not to get caught up in speculation about the end times. For the most part, conservative Christianity has done well in avoiding that trap. We haven’t let ourselves get lost in speculative theories that lead us or others astray.
At the same time, we’re charged to be watchful for the signs. If we’ve understood Revelation correctly, we know that the signs are all around us. They point us to the glory of Christ, and we are called to remember this central truth: Jesus is coming again.
I love it. I love that we are part of a community where people can see our worship and hear us sing praises to Christ. When we were in a building, many people never saw what we were doing. Most of you parked around the back anyway, so no one even knew you were there! I’ve always hated that design—why couldn’t we have parked in the front so people could see we were worshipping? But here we are now, more visible, reminding the world that Jesus is coming again.
Living in Expectation
As Christians, we are called to live in great expectation of Jesus’ return. Think about how our lives change when we plan a vacation. As the trip approaches, everything in your household shifts. You start saving money, packing, and preparing. You might even spend nights online researching places to go and things to do, building excitement for what’s to come.
When the time for the vacation arrives, the anticipation often drives you to do as much as possible in those first couple of days because you’ve been waiting so long. It’s a good kind of anxiety—a joyful expectation of something great.
That’s the kind of expectation we should have for Jesus’ return. It should shape how we live, how we prepare, and how we focus our hearts and minds.
Avoiding Fanaticism and Embracing Revelation’s Message
My hope is that this series hasn’t led anyone into the fanaticism that often surrounds discussions about Revelation and the second coming. I hope I’ve been clear that our focus should not be on wild speculations or conspiracies. Instead, Revelation invites us to see how John’s vision connects the Old Testament, other New Testament texts, and the themes of Scripture to give us a clear picture of our eternal destiny with Jesus.
The ultimate goal of Revelation is to set this reality before us: Jesus is coming again, and we are called to live in anticipation of that great reward. How does that change how you live? Revelation is about knowing who we were and where we are going. It spends time revealing the brokenness of those who are not followers of Jesus, and then it shifts to what it means to be with Jesus for those who are His followers.
If you’ve followed this series, that reality has been laid before you. The question now is: Will you live in it? Jesus invites us to come to Him.
A Clear and Urgent Charge
At the conclusion of Revelation, Jesus gives us a threefold charge. After all the symbols, themes, and motifs—the beasts, the dragon, the cloud, and the sickle in chapter 14 where Jesus reaps and casts the weeds into the eternal fire—if that hasn’t framed reality for you, I don’t know what will.
Jesus says, “Come.” The invitation is clear. Will you come to Jesus? Will you respond to this charge to live in expectation of His return, prepared and watchful, as we await the day when He will make all things new?
Jesus’ expectation at the end of Revelation is this: if you’ve found yourself outside of Christ, not a follower of Jesus, then all these images and truths presented throughout the book should compel you to come to Him. And when Jesus says, "Come," it’s far more than just intellectual belief.
In our culture, we often treat belief as a series of checkboxes: "Do you believe in God? Yes. Do you believe in the Bible? Sure, I like the Bible. Do you believe in Jesus? Of course, He healed people and forgave sins." Many are quick to say they believe in God, the Bible, or Jesus, but this kind of belief falls short of what Jesus calls us to.
Jesus doesn’t just say, “Believe in Me.” He says, “Come.” And the immediate question is, "Come where?" Jesus answers, “Come to Me. Come to My kingdom. Come and follow Me.” This is the language of the Gospels.
When Jesus called people during His ministry, He didn’t simply ask them to believe. He invited them to leave their old lives and follow Him. He saw people burdened by the weight of life, carrying heavy loads, and He said, “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, because My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:28–30).
Jesus didn’t say, “Believe in Me and then go back to living however you want, maybe fixing a few obvious moral issues.” No, He said, “Come.” Leave the old life behind. Live now in the kingdom of God.
The Kingdom: Both Future and Present
Though the kingdom of God is a future reality, it is also a present reality—a here and now reality. Jesus says in Revelation 22:12:
“Look, I am coming soon, and My reward is with Me to repay each person according to his works.”
This verse can be misunderstood. At first glance, it might seem like Jesus is saying we earn salvation by our works, but that’s not the case. This isn’t about following moral rules to gain eternal life. It’s not about religious ceremony or performance. Even the Pharisees—who were obsessed with moralism and religious rites—missed the point.
Instead, the works Jesus speaks of here are about allegiance. They reveal where your heart belongs. Jesus isn’t saying, “Let Me see how much work you’ve done so I can pay you accordingly.” He’s saying, “Let Me look at your works to see who you belong to.”
The Question of Allegiance
The real question is: Who do your works say is your king?
Did you live your life in allegiance to Jesus? Did your actions reflect allegiance to another god? Or did you live in allegiance to yourself? That last one—allegiance to self—is especially difficult for us as Americans. It challenges our culture of self-centered independence.
There’s a classic illustration used by The Navigators, a Christian organization, where they show a picture of a throne. Before coming to Christ, you are sitting on the throne of your own life. But when you come to Jesus, you step off the throne and place Him there instead. You kneel at the foot of the throne, declaring, “My Lord, my Master, my King, my Savior.”
That’s what it means to come to Jesus. It’s not just acknowledging Him as Lord—it’s living under His rule, asking, “How then shall I live in Your kingdom?”
Jesus says, “Look, I am coming soon, and My reward is with Me to repay each person according to their works.” So, ask yourself: What do your works say about your king?
Examine Your Life
Take inventory of your life. Look at your days, your weeks, and ask yourself: Who is my king? What does my life say about where my allegiance lies?
For some of you, this is a calling to take significant steps in following Jesus. Some of you are being called to be missionaries, evangelists, pastors, or elders. Others are called to lead unique ministries that God has placed on your heart—ministries that address the needs of the world in ways we may never have imagined.
Some of you have been called to go—to lead in significant, Spirit-led ways—and if that’s you, you need to watch, listen, and pray to discern what God is calling you to do. Age doesn’t matter; circumstances don’t matter. If God is calling you, you need to respond.
But even if that’s not your specific calling, there is one thing I know for certain: God is calling every single Christian to live a life of gentleness, self-control, obedience, hope, joy, peace, and faithfulness. We are called to live in a way that declares, “I am this way because of who my King is. My King is Jesus.”
So, when Jesus calls us to follow Him, our lives should reflect that. Our lives should look like the gentle, self-controlled, bold, and faithful life that Jesus lived. Day by day, hour by hour, we are to lay every decision before Him and ask, “Jesus, is this for me? Is this for Your kingdom?”
Have You Come to Jesus?
When Jesus calls us to “Come,” it’s not a vague or superficial invitation. It’s not just about believing in a set of ideas. It’s a call to leave behind the burdens of this world and cling to the cross of Christ.
Every religion in the world acknowledges human brokenness. Every religion teaches that you’re a bad person who needs to make yourself better. But Jesus is different. Jesus says, “You’re a bad person. You can’t make yourself righteous, holy, or perfect. I will make you righteous, holy, and perfect.”
Jesus knows our hearts yearn for eternity because He created us that way. And He promises to give us eternity if we will come to Him. So, have you done that? Have you come to Jesus? Is He your King? Can you see it in the way you live your life?
Have you found refuge from the pain of this world in Him? Even in the midst of all the brokenness, can you say, “I have peace in the Holy Spirit because of Jesus”? Or have you allowed the pain to overwhelm you, even contributing to your own pain in the process?
Rescue, Transformation, and True Righteousness
Some of you have incredible testimonies—stories of being rescued from deep darkness, from things not even generally accepted in society. If that’s you, have you found refuge in Christ? Have you experienced His Spirit enabling you to repent, to change?
Have you experienced righteousness ruling in your heart by the power of God’s Spirit? Many of us know how to act righteous on the outside, but Jesus teaches that true righteousness comes from within. It’s not about appearances or forcing yourself to do good. It’s about a heart transformed by love for Jesus.
When you bless someone in need, is it out of obligation or out of joy? Do you say, “Well, I guess I’m a Christian, so I have to do this,” or do you say, “We’re going to sacrifice something today because this family is hungry, and we want to bless them in Jesus’ name”?
True righteousness flows from a transformed heart. It’s not begrudging or forced; it’s genuine. That transformation takes time—it grows in you as you walk with Jesus. But have you sought it? Have you seen it growing in your life?
Jesus’ Second Charge: Pray
Jesus also charges us to pray, specifically for His return. Revelation 22:17 says:
“Both the Spirit and the Bride say, ‘Come!’ Let anyone who hears say, ‘Come!’”
Jesus is calling us to cry out to Him: “Come, Lord Jesus!”
The early church had a word for this cry—Maranatha. It’s found in 2 Corinthians, and it means “Come, Lord.” It wasn’t just a prayer; it was a rallying cry. Together, the church would raise their hands and declare, Maranatha! Come, Lord!
The early Christians understood the glory of the eternal state so deeply that they longed for Jesus to come. They prayed for it. They lived for it.
And I’ll admit, I’ve said many times that I’m not ready for Jesus to come.
And then I get pious and self-righteous. I think to myself, “There are so many people who still need to know about Jesus.” But even as I studied this, I was convicted. That’s not the full picture of what we’ve been called to do. We’ve been called to set our hearts and minds on the second coming of Jesus—to yearn for His return.
Yes, we care about the lost. Yes, we care about the sinner who has not come to repentance. Yes, we care about those living in the kingdom of self, the kingdom of the world, or the kingdom of evil. But if my faith is what it’s supposed to be, then my heart should cry out, “Come, Lord Jesus, come!”
The person who truly understands and believes in the reality of eternity will long for that eternal reality to come now. So, how firm is your conviction in this eternal reality? Because if that conviction is everything to you, it will radically change the way you live your life.
Do you believe—deep down in the core of your being—that you will spend eternity with Jesus? Sometimes, we ask people being baptized, “Do you know if you died today that you would spend eternity with Jesus?” But I wonder if we’ve watered that down. Instead of saying, “Do you believe?”—a word that has often been reduced to intellectual agreement—what if we asked, “Do you have conviction, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that Jesus is King, that He is righteous, and that He is coming again to take you to His eternal kingdom because of your faith, allegiance, and loyalty to Him?”
Imagine looking someone in the eye and asking them that. It’s intense. And for some, it might make them pause and say, “Talk to me in a month. I have some things to sort out.” This isn’t to discourage baptism but to remind us that belief—true allegiance and loyalty to Jesus—should be taken seriously.
Do You Long for Glory?
How firm is your conviction in eternity? Do you fear death for reasons other than pain? Pain is understandable—whether it’s physical or the pain of leaving loved ones behind. But do you also hope for glory?
We’re complex people, capable of holding both fear and hope. Do you hope for glory? Or do you fear death because of the unknown?
Jesus’ Final Charges: Come, Pray, and Go
At the end of Revelation, Jesus charges us to come, to pray, and then to go.
Revelation 22:17 says:
“Let anyone who hears, say, ‘Come.’ Let the one who is thirsty, come. Let the one who desires take the water of life freely.”
This charge is twofold. First, we cry out to God, “Come, Lord Jesus.” But then we turn to the world and cry out, “Come to Jesus!”
Jesus offers living water—water that satisfies eternally. He says, “If you drink from Me, you will never thirst again.” The stream that flows from the throne in the eternal city is a stream of living water. It nourishes the trees of life, and its source is Jesus Himself.
So, can you go to those around you—those who toil, labor, and thirst—and ask them, “What’s your life about? What’s your purpose?” Can you show them that while you experience the same cycles of toil and labor, you have hope because you’re building toward eternity with Jesus?
Jesus calls us not to celebrate the destruction of the wicked. While the angels rejoice at justice being done, Jesus’ heart is clear: It is not His will that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). He is patient, waiting for more to turn to Him.
But don’t forget, Christian, that if you have come to Jesus and you cry out, “Come, Lord Jesus,” your personal relationship with Him is never just you and Jesus. It’s you, Jesus, and them.
Jesus’ charge is clear: come to Him, cry out for His return, and then go to the world and invite them to come to Him. That’s the flow, the purpose of Revelation: to know who you are, to come to Jesus and become who you were created to be, and then to go into the world and call others to find their identity, purpose, and glory in Christ for all eternity.
Who do you yearn to see follow Jesus? Who do you pray for to follow Him? Who do you share the good news of Jesus with? Who do you demonstrate the love of Jesus to? And to whom will you call out, “Come, follow Jesus”?
Let me pray.
Lord, I’m thankful for Your word and for this capstone in Revelation. So much of this book has been heavy—filled with hopelessness, details that overwhelm, and moments that leave us longing for clarity. We’ve wrestled with the righteousness of the destruction of the wicked and been confused by the depth of Your mercy and grace.
I confess, even as I studied this, I felt the weight of those tensions. And yet, Lord, I’m so thankful for Your words to John at the end of this book. You remind us to go—to not be content with a world that perishes, to not celebrate the destruction of an enemy, but instead to yearn for their repentance.
You call us to see our enemies not as those to be defeated, but as people who might become allies—who, by Your grace, can be forgiven for their crimes and welcomed into Your kingdom. Not just as subjects, but as sons and daughters, as princes and princesses who will sit with us in Your eternal glory.
Lord, we know You love them. You care for them. You desire that they should come to repentance and find life in You. Use us, Lord. Use us to make that truth real in the world around us. Use us to make it known.
We pray all of this in the name of Jesus. Amen.
