The Pastoral Privilege of Telling Our Flock When Jesus Will Return

Scripture gives us very specific information about when Jesus will return. Pastors are privileged to remind their flocks of this truth.

I called on one of our older folks today. It is the nicest day of the year in Stillman Valley, and she lives an October football field away from church, so I walked. My friend is going through radiation and chemotherapy so she barely had the strength to let me in. But we soon got comfortably situated. She had to turn off a favorite Andy Griffith episode but she was pleased to see me just the same.

We visited for a bit and then I began to read Scripture and talk about different passages. We spent a lot of time in Revelation 22. We tried to picture the New Earth which was made easier by the fact that it is such a beautiful Fall day and the leaves on the maple tree in her front yard are just beginning to catch on fire.

One of the parts of Scripture we enjoyed the most was being reminded that in Revelation 22 Christ repeatedly says “when” he is coming back. You can read the answer for yourself:

    [22:1] Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb [2] through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. [3] No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. [4] They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. [5] And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.
    [6] And he said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place.”
    [7] “And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”
    [8] I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me, [9] but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”
    [10] And he said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. [11] Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy.”
    [12] “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. [13] I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”
    [14] Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. [15] Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
    [16] “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”
    [17] The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.
    [18] I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, [19] and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.
    [20] He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
    [21] The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.

Question: When is Jesus coming back?

Answer: Soon!

I told my friend that “soon” is one of my favorite words.

We talked about how anxious we were as kids waiting for Christmas. We thought it would never get there. But Christmas came soon enough.

She shared with me that the worst part of cancer is not being able to get out. She is confined to her home. She doesn’t feel like eating and she doesn’t suppose that she will get a lot of Trick or Treaters this year. Though my little girl knocked on her door last year. Of course, we talked about her granddaughter who went off to college.

We weren’t done in Scripture yet when we finished Revelation 22. We reviewed John 14, I started Psalm 23 and she quoted it to me, and we finished by talking about the story of Namaan  from 2 Kings 5. I knelt down and we prayed together. As her pastor, I was able to tell her with great confidence and sincerity that our congregation loves her. She responded, “I love you too.”