Second Sunday in Advent – Saturday
Surely, I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. – Revelation 22:20.
When will the Lord Jesus come again in His glory to judge the world in righteousness according to His Word? On the Last Day. But when will that be? Jesus says: “Of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but My Father only” (Matthew 24:36). However, the Lord has also told us in the Scriptures that the Last Day is near. The Apostle John writes: “Little children, it is the last time” (I John 2:18); and Peter: “The end of all things is at hand” (I Peter 4:7); and James: “The coming of the Lord draweth nigh. …Behold, the Judge standeth before the door” (James 5:8-9).
Likewise, St. Paul speaks of the Christians of his own time as those “upon whom the ends of the world are come” (I Corinthians 10:11). And the Lord Jesus Himself says to the Apostle John: “Surely, I come quickly” (Revelation 22:20). Thus, approximately twenty centuries ago the coming of the Lord was declared to be at hand, to be coming soon. – But how can that be? Have not centuries upon centuries elapsed since then? Has not generation upon generation returned to the dust since those days? Does not the old and wretched world still stand? How is this? Has God’s Word, the Bible, come to naught? God forbid! Peter writes: “Beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day” (II Peter 3:8).
Furthermore remember that death transports you in a moment into the presence of the Lord. At that moment, you will no longer dwell in time, but in eternity. As we wait for the end of the world, or for the end of our own lives, Christ wants us to be ready at all times—realizing that it could come at any time. And the thing that makes us ready to meet the Lord is saving faith in Him as our Redeemer.
Trusting in His grace, we can eagerly look forward to His coming. “Surely, I come quickly,” He says. And you, in joyous, blessed faith, say: “Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”
PRAYER. – Dear Lord Jesus, come in that glorious final Advent, or grant me a blessed Christian death, that I may dwell in the mansions of heaven forevermore. Ah, Lord Jesus, how quickly and speedily, as in a moment, shalt Thou then transport me to be with Thee, when new heavens shall smile upon a new earth. Lord Jesus, grant me grace to be ready at all times. Surely, Thou wilt come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! Amen.
Zion hears the watchmen singing, and all her heart with joy is springing,
She wakes, she rises from her gloom; For her Lord comes down all glorious,
The strong in grace, in truth victorious, her Star is ris’n, her Light is come.
Now come, Thou Blessed One, Lord Jesus, God’s own Son, Hail! Hosanna!
The joyful call we answer all and follow to the nuptial hall.
Hymn 609, 2.