I am coming soon

This article is dedicated to the well-known statement of the Lord Jesus: “Behold, I come quickly; hold onto what you have so that no one takes your crown!” (Revelation 3,11: XNUMX)

What is to be understood by the word "soon" is decided by the content of the waiting. What takes too long for one person may seem too short for another. This is how the word “soon” is to be understood relatively. This relativity must be observed, because it can avert some disappointments, but it can also weaken faith.

Noah, the messenger of God, preached for 120 years about the imminent coming of the flood. It's good to imagine this: Day after day, month after month, year after year, Noah proclaimed the same thing: "Soon there is coming a flood that will destroy all things!" It's easy to imagine that people took it seriously at first. But with the long wait of 120 years, the seriousness has lessened more and more. At the end they even laughed at Noah: “Where are the dark clouds? Where is the big rain?” (The content of this paragraph is taken from the book: “Patriarchs and Prophets” Chapter 7, by EGWhite.)

The above words of the Lord Jesus are already 2.000 years old. During this long period of time, the people of God continued to believe that the last times had already begun. The apostles of the Lord Jesus also shared this opinion:

“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven at the commandment and the voice of the archangel and the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that we will, that we live and those who remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will be with the Lord always. So comfort one another with these words!” (1 Thessalonians 4,14:16-XNUMX)
The Apostle Paul wrote this above word about two thousand years ago. In this situation the

While waiting, history before the flood was repeating itself. This time, too, the belief in the imminent coming of the Lord Jesus is disappearing; additionally accompanied with an ironic smile:
“Know ye above all, that in the last days scoffers will come, scorning, following their own desires, saying, Where is the promise of his coming? For after the fathers have fallen asleep, all things remain as they were from the beginning of creation.” (2 Peter 3,3.4:XNUMX, XNUMX)

An important and serious question remains: “How is this foretold imminent coming to be understood today? Is this "soon" even still relevant?

Above all, it must be kept in mind: “For you yourselves know well that the day of the Lord is coming like a thief in the night.” (1 Thessalonians 5,2:XNUMX) A thief makes no obvious signs of when or when he is coming . Not so God! He leads his people in the light.

“When they say: Peace and security! then sudden destruction comes upon them, like the pangs of childbirth upon the pregnant woman; and they will not escape.” (1 Thessalonians 5,3:XNUMX)
The labor pains are the last sign that the child is coming soon. What is crucially important at this time: A mother who is about to give birth soon must be consciously and thoroughly prepared beforehand.

The Bible contains all the necessary preparations for the return of the Savior. In my words: “What must the character of a waiting person look like in order to be able to live in peace and social justice on the new earth?”

This vital, crucial preparation cannot be put off because you never know what will happen in the next moment! Not only can a sudden death be disastrous, but various circumstances can also arise that can prevent repentance, remorse and turning away from the wrong way of life. This loving call from our Savior, who does not want anyone to perish, applies here: "I am coming soon!". This should ring in your ears more often!

“But you, brothers, are not in darkness, lest the day overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of the day; we do not belong to the night and not to the darkness. So let us not sleep like the rest, but let us be awake and sober! For those who sleep sleep at night, and those who are drunk are drunk at night. But we, who belong to the day, let us be sober, clothed with the breastplate of faith and love, and with the hope of salvation as a helmet.” (1 Thessalonians 5,4:XNUMX)

All of these qualities that enable a person to live on this glorious new earth are contained in God's moral law - the “Ten Commandments”. For those who claim that the Lord Jesus brought all these commandments to the cross and that they are no longer valid, the loving call is: “Do and fulfill them, because "I am coming soon!"

For those who suffer a lot in their lives, there is a solid anchor of tremendous hope: "I am coming soon"! If you let go of this anchor of faith, what meaning in life would be left?

By nature a person, no matter what state he is in, does not want to die. Two examples can make it clearer: My father was appointed doctor to a seriously ill, very old woman. She asked him in her dialect: “Father, will I live a little longer?” And from me personally: In my constant pain, I often longingly wish to die. But when it looks like it, I'm sad that I should die.

In some conversations about the suffering in this world, the great longing often comes up: “Lord Jesus is coming soon!” And HE has promised it:

“And the Spirit and the Bride say, Come! And let him who hears say: Come! And whoever thirsts, let him come; whoever wants it can take the water of life for free. He speaks who testifies to this: Yes, I'll be there soon. – Amen, come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with everyone!” (Revelation 22,17.21:XNUMX, XNUMX)

Grace and blessing be upon all those who are eagerly waiting and seriously and sincerely preparing their characters for the joyful event of the coming of the Lord Jesus.
“Rejoice, whatever happens; …Be kind in your dealings with all people; For you know that the coming of the Lord is at hand.” (Philippians 4,4:XNUMX)