Last week we preached on the first advent of Jesus Christ. Jesus came as the lamb of God to be sacrificed for the sins of man. God the creator of all of mankind, the creator of the heavens and the earth. God the redeemer and the judge of man was born in a manager as a little baby boy.

But in the second advent of Jesus Christ He is coming riding a white horse as Lord of Lords and king of kings. Jesus will literally come back to this planet He left so long ago. He will fulfill the promise He gave to us in this text. When He does, it will command the attention of all earth's inhabitants. The whole world will know that the Lord Jesus is alive.

When Jesus ascended to heaven, the angels declared to His first followers, "This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven" (Acts 1:11). The early Christians were often under severe persecution, many of them became martyrs and died for the faith. For them, the greatest message of encouragement was the truth that Jesus was coming back to get them and take them home.

Do we not face the same problem today as those of long ago? As we view the world around us through the newspapers, TV screen and computer monitor we see it growing more and more antagonistic against Jesus and His people. We see our biblical values debased and rejected, we see Christians persecuted. In the inner depths of our hearts we ask questions like, "What can we do, to whom can we turn, what does the future hold and where is God in all of this?" The answer to these questions is right before us in our text. John bursts onto the page with the words of the Christ, "I Am Coming!"

This text is the conclusion of the Apostle John's visionary visit to the future that awaits the people of God. He is shown a new heaven, a new earth and a new city, the New Jerusalem. (21:9) tells us an angel is his tour guide.

In (v.7), the angel conveys Jesus' words about His return. Hearing this, John "fell down to worship before the feet of the angel (v.8). Note the angel's response in (v.9), he says emphatically, "Worship God."

In (vv.10-11), the angel tells John not to "seal" this book up or put it away "for the time is at hand." People are to study it to know what will happen. Turn back and read a similar statement in (1:3).

In (vv.12-13), we have a sure and certain testimony of Jesus concerning His Second Coming. The Second Coming is distinct from the Rapture of the saints. However, the context of this passage deals with both, especially the Rapture.

Let's consider three aspects of His coming.

    1. The Word "Quickly" does not Refer to WHEN Jesus will Return.

        A. It has been approximately 2,000 years since John penned these words

            and we still await His coming.

           1. This being the reason why many do not believe.

           2. Notice (2 Pet.3:3-13)

           3. However in (v.8), Peter reminds us, that with the Lord one day is as a

               thousand years, and a thousand years as one day."

      B. Throughout the NT, particularly in Jesus' words in the gospels, we see

          many signs of His coming. Many of those signs have already been fulfilled

          and some are being fulfilled this very day.

         1.Based on such biblical evidence, we can confidently conclude that not

            only is Jesus coming "quickly" He is coming SOON!!!

    2. The Word "Quickly" Refers to HOW Jesus will Return.

        A. The idea behind the Greek term and tense here is that when Jesus

            comes, His coming will be sudden and surprising. It also carries the idea

            that it could happen at any time. Don't be unprepared.

       B. 1 Thess.5:2 says, "For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the

            Lord so comes as a thief in the night."

       C. Jesus said in Mat.24:27, "For as the lightning comes from the east and

           flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be." Lighting

           comes at the speed of light.

      D. The coming of Christ will catch men unprepared (Mat.36-44).

   3. The Word "Quickly" is a WARNING.

      A. Jesus is coming suddenly;

          1. The question we must ask is not "when will He get here" but..."Will we

              be ready when He comes?"

II.  Jesus is Coming For His People (verses 7,12-14)

1. Jesus is Coming for Those who "Do His Commandments" and "Wash Their

     Robes" (vv.13-14).

    A. Jesus says He is "the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,

        the First and the Last." He exists beyond space and time.

   B. "Robes" are symbolic or our lives. All of our robes have been stained with sin

        (Rom.3:23). So how do we have the stains removed?

       1. (Isa.1:18) says, "Come now, and let us reason together, says the LORD,

           Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though

            they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool."

       C. God removes the stain of sin by washing us in the blood of Jesus.

           1. (1 John 1:7) says, "But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we

              have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son

              cleanses us from all sin."

         2. (Rev.7:14) speaks of tribulation saints who "washed their robes and made

             them white in the blood of the Lamb."

         3.  Have you washed your "robe?" Have you been immersed in Christ's

              blood? Do you "do His commandments" If so, Jesus is coming for you.

    2. Jesus is Coming for Those who Keep "the Words of the Prophecy" (v.7).

       A. Again, note the similar statement in 1:3. Those who "read," "hear" and

           "keep [take to heart] the words of this prophecy" will be "blessed."

        B. Those who first heard these words were facing the unknown. If they held

             on to the Words of God and kept the faith they faced persecution. Yet,

            what else could they hold onto? Where could they or we find grace, love,

            and hope but in the words of the prophecy?

      C. What else can we hold onto except the Word of God? The message of

          hope for this generation is the message that comes to those who hold onto

          the Word of God for their strength. The message is a message of power,

          joy, and grace and salvation. Are you one who "keeps the words of the

          prophecy?" If so, then Jesus is coming for you.

    3.  Jesus is Coming for Those who have Answered His Call to "Come" (v.17)

       A. The Holy Spirit says "Come." The bride says "Come." Believers in Christ

            say "Come." All of us have an opportunity to "come" to Jesus.

      B. God's invitation to life eternal is universal in scope. It is for the men and

          women of all ages. It is for the black and white, rich and poor, good and

           bad. It is for you and I.

      C. The call to "come" is a call to salvation. It is an invitation from God to

           become a part of His eternal family. And for those who have responded to

           that invitation: Jesus is coming for you.

    1. Jesus has a "Reward" for His Faithful Followers.

    2. There is a connection between the deeds we do on earth and the amount or

        value of our reward in heaven.

       A. 2 Cor.5:10 says, "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of

           Christ,that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to

           what he hasdone, whether good or bad."

      B. One of the rewards for believers is "the crown of righteousness." Paul says

           in 2Tim.4:8, "Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness,

           which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to

           me only but also to all who have loved His appearing."

    3. Those who have not "come" to Christ will be judged and their reward will be

        the "lake of fire" (20:11-15).

   4.  The Greatest Reward We can Receive is to be in the Presence of God.

        A. We know that is ubiquitous, equally present everywhere. However,

             sometimes we want someone we can touch.

        B. One day we will see Him and touch Him. 1 John 3:2 says, "Beloved, now

            we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be,

            but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall

            see Him as He is."

     5. But there will also be a reward for all he lost, those who have rejected Jesus

         Christ

          A. (Rev. 20:11-15) And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

CONCLUSION

There is a legend of a wealthy woman who, when she reached heaven, was shown a very plain mansion. She objected. "Well," she was told, "that is the house prepared for you." "Whose is that fine mansion across the way?" she asked. "It belongs to your gardener." "How is it that he has one so much better than mine?" The houses here are prepared from the materials that are sent up. We do not choose them, you do that by your earthly faithfulness." (This may be a legend, but it bears a profound truth.)