Jesus Is Coming Soon
Bible Study Guide
This Bible study will explore the meaning behind what is meant by the phrase, “Jesus is coming soon.”
As we approach the closing verses of Revelation, John is about to complete his greatest work ever. A masterpiece of future events spoken by God. Communicated to the angels by Jesus. Then, delivered to John in visions.
There is no other book ever written or will ever be written as consequential as the book of Revelation. A book that is the culmination of every book that precedes it, from Genesis to Jude. It’s the final stitch in the Bible’s cloak of prophecy.
How consequential is the book of Revelation? Well, it’s not only going to impact some people, or many people, or even most people. No. It matters not where you stand in your belief of God and His Son. Every single person born of a woman since the dawn of creation will be touched by the book of Revelation. There is not a single one that will be exempt.
Isn’t that a remarkable fact. You would think that everyone would want to pick up a copy of the Bible to understand how it relates to their lives. Sadly, it doesn’t. There’s no hiding, escaping or exempting yourself from the Words of God written in the book of Revelation.
Too many people believe that physical death brings finality to their existence. Physical death only brings the beginning of eternity. Death is only the beginning. Most reasonable people might understand the major difference in time between our physical existence on this earth and eternity somewhere else. But they don’t. People are more concerned with the desires of their flesh and worldly things in their temporal existence than the desires of their soul and eternal and heavenly things.
John’s Final Journey
Once John completes this epilogue, he’ll be sent on one more mission. This will likely be the most important journey of his life. He’ll have to deliver Revelation and its seven letters to the seven churches.
Needless to say, his congregation in Ephesus will be most happy and surprised to see him. Even more so, they’ll want to know what Jesus had to say about their congregation.
Jesus Is Coming Back Soon!
(Verse 6) We see John still with same angel who showed him the new earth and the new heaven.
As we’ve learned, Revelation is the only book filled with blessings from the beginning to the end. Blessings to encourage people to read, understand and share the message of God’s plan for mankind.
The angel speaking to John will emphasize the importance of the book by telling John, “These words are trustworthy and true.” The Words of God from the prophets throughout scripture have been woven into a cloak of prophecy presented in the book of Revelation.
(Verse 7) This is the first time we hear directly from Jesus since Revelation 4. This is when John was called up in spirit (raptured) to the throne room of God. This happened to John after he wrote the seven letters to the seven churches and before Christ unleashed God’s judgments upon the world with the opening of the first seal.
John’s temporary rapture at this moment is symbolic of the actual rapture of the church before God’s judgments upon mankind. It’ll be after God’s several warnings of the coming Tribulation.
Look around you. Look closely at humanity outside your door. Examine the actions of nature across the globe. Do you see the warnings increasing? If you’re a believer, this is all in plain sight. If not, you don’t see the coming storm.
“As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.” (Matthew 24:37-39)
Here in verse 7, Jesus will add support to the angel’s statement of, “These words are trustworthy and true.”
“Look, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy written in this scroll.” (Revelation 22:7)
Another Revelation Blessing
Do you notice anything interesting about Jesus’ statement? He doesn’t only reaffirm what the angel is telling John. But He also offers another blessing. It’s a blessing to anyone who holds to the trustworthiness and truthfulness of the words in Revelation.
Would you like to have blessings brought upon you and be found in God’s favor? Read Revelation. Stay true to its literal message. Encourage and help others to understand it and share it with others. God will bless you. Trust me. I know first hand.
The Meaning Behind Jesus is Coming Soon
As we always want to encourage you to do, always allow scripture to interpret the meaning of scripture.
When we hear the words, “Jesus is coming soon” it automatically begs the question of when? Jesus spoke these words to John over two thousand years ago. To us fleshly creatures, that is not reminiscent of quickly.
We have to keep in mind that we’re here on this earth, slaves to time and gravity. God doesn’t operate within our time frame. Remember, we’re talking about spiritual things and not worldly things. The apostle Peter reminds us of this in his second letter.
“But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:8-9)
God’s definition of quickly is very different from ours. The important thing to remember here is that Christ’ return is imminent. In other words, nothing has to happen to trigger it. That’s what causes it to be imminent. And we don’t know when that’ll be.
When prophecy is fulfilled and God says, “It’s time,” then it’ll happen and it’ll happen quickly. Isaiah, the prophet reminded us of this when he spoke from God. When it’s time comes, He will act act swiftly.
“The least of you will become a thousand,
the smallest a mighty nation.
I am the Lord;
in its time I will do this swiftly.” (Isaiah 60:22)
God doesn’t look down upon the earth and say, “Oh, these people are so impatient. I better do something quickly.” No. He causes things to happen on His schedule and not ours.
A Confused John
As if it wasn’t embarrassing enough, John is about to admit again to his slight folly with an angel. But, it’s an indiscretion worth mentioning again. There’s a powerful lesson in it for all of us. We’ll take a look at it in the next Bible study.
Let’s give old John a break. He’s likely over 90 years old. He has literally been brought through a spiritual gauntlet. One moment he’s in the spirit and then the flesh. He witnesses violent images, then come other visions of heavenly worship and perfect beauty. It would be difficult to find words in any language to describe the emotional roller coaster John experienced.
Through it all, he managed to write it down. Not just for the benefit of the seven churches. But also for the benefit of you and I. Through an old Jewish man, apostle, and a friend of Jesus, God reserved him for a time such as this.
Although there are only a few verses left in the book, let’s go take a look why these verses are some of the most important of Revelation.
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