1. THE SECOND COMING.<br />Reading: REVELATION 22.<br />Today, I want to share on the Second Coming of Christ Jesus from Revelation 22. <br />“BEHOLD, I COME QUICKLY,” VERSES 7, 12, 20.<br /> “Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.” <br /> “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to everyone according to his work.” <br />“He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” <br />In the last chapter of the last book in the Bible, we find these THREE clear promises from the lips of Jesus Himself that He will return to the earth again. The Lord spoke these words with great determination and with greater authority “I shall return.”<br />It is the clear teaching of the New Testament from the lips of Jesus, from the angelic messengers, and from all the apostles, that one day soon the Lord Jesus Christ will return triumphant and victorious for His own.<br />EDEN RESTORED, VERSES 1-5.<br />“And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.” <br />It is interesting to note that mankind began their existence in a garden which God prepared for them. In this final chapter we find a picture of the redeemed in the restored garden of God enjoying that which God had prepared from the beginning and which humanity lost because of sin. Everything that sin wrecked, grace has restored. The activity of the redeemed is described: “His servants shall serve Him.” Verse 3. <br />Heaven will not be a place where we sit and rust; it will be a place where we serve and worship and praise the Name of the Lord Jesus forever.<br />THE GREAT FINAL INVITATION, VERSE 17.<br /> <br />“And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.” <br />The last chapter of Revelation contains one of the greatest invitations from the heart of God to the hearts of His people. It is like our gracious God that, after extending so many invitations to the hearts of sinful people, He would not let His Word come to a close without extending this last invitation to humanity. <br />As individual Christians and as congregations, it is our task to make this gracious invitation from the Lord known to those around about us. Let us not neglect our opportunity and responsibility these coming months. <br />THE REWARDS OF THE LORD, VERSE 12.<br /> “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to everyone according to his work.” <br />Forgiveness is full and free by the grace of God. Eternal life is the gift of God through faith in Jesus Christ. We do not merit a position of favour in the sight of God either by observing religious ceremony or by keeping the law. We become the children of God by the Lord's pure grace through faith. <br />It is the plan and purpose of the Lord to bestow rewards upon His servants who labour faithfully and unselfishly for Him and mankind. So let each of us pray that we might respond to God's grace and to God's commandments in such a way that He will be pleased with our stewardship and have words of commendation to bestow upon us at the end of the life.<br />OUR ABIDING HOPE, VERSE 20.<br />“He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” <br /> Some dread to even think of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. In this last chapter of the Bible, the beloved apostle John reveals, His attitude towards the return of Jesus in these words, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” <br />If the Lord's victorious return is properly understood, this will be the joyous and abiding hope of every living believer. There could be only one reason why we would not want Him to come immediately: is that some are not ready yet. <br />CONCLUSION: <br />Let us thank God that Christ Jesus came the first time. Yet let us also rejoice in the promise of His Second Coming. Let us respond to that promise by giving ourselves in service to Him that others might let Him be born within their own hearts and lives today. <br />“SURELY I AM COMING QUICKLY.” AMEN. EVEN SO, COME LORD JESUS!” THE GRACE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST BE WITH YOU ALL. AMEN.”<br />