Come, Lord Jesus, Come預覽

I Am Coming Soon

READ: Revelation 3:10–11

SOAP: Revelation 3:11

Because you have kept my admonition to endure steadfastly, I will also keep you from the hour of testing that is about to come on the whole world to test those who live on the earth.

Into the Text

Revelation 3:10-11, originally written to the church in Philadelphia, can be considered controversial depending on your view of the end times. Some scholars have read these verses and believe they are a promise that the church, as a whole, will be spared from experiencing the tribulation in the end times (1 Thessalonians 4:13—5:11). However, other scholars believe these verses apply to only the church in Philadelphia, regarding a specific hour of testing and persecution in their time and region.

Either way, we know Jesus is coming back. That is both a fact and a promise. God could choose to remove the church before His final testing, sometimes called the tribulation, as He did with Noah from the flood and Lot from Sodom. Or He could allow the church to go through the tribulation and protect the church, as He did with Israel in Egypt or with Daniel in Babylon. Either way, we know that God has made a provision for His bride! He has been providing the church with strength and courage in the midst of horrific persecution throughout the centuries and is doing so to this day.

Instead of allowing division to form around the interpretation of eschatological events, let’s remain united around the promise of Jesus’ return and our hope of eternity spent with Him.

Prayer

Dear Lord, thank You for the promise that You are always with us to the end of the age. Help us to not allow our hearts and minds to give in to fear, but to find supernatural courage to face the world without fear, knowing that You are fighting our battles. Help us remember our persecuted brothers and sisters around the world who are currently facing great difficulty for Your name. Thank You, Lord, for Your goodness in our lives and the blessed hope we carry in our hearts as we look to our future spent with You in heaven for eternity! Until that glorious day, we will continue to pray, "Come, Lord Jesus, come." Amen.