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Summary: Even So, Come, Lord Jesus
(Revelation 22:20-21)
Chapter 25

"He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen.  Even so, come. Lord Jesus."         (Revelation 22:20).

The Book opens with the statement. "Grace be unto you, and peace, from Him which is, and which was, and which is to come." (Revelation 1:4).

"Which is..." literally, WHO is. "He that cometh to God must believe that HE IS..."  (Hebrews 11:6). The IS-ness of God is not a fact to be argued about, debated, supposed, etc.  He just IS! "The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts (or, all his thoughts are, There is no God.)" (Psalm 10:4). But man's unbelief does not negate the reality of Him WHO IS! And in ways never considered shall He yet be revealed, until "ALL shall know Me, from the least to the greatest."  (Hebrews 8:11).

Every coming of Christ is a further revelation of Himself, and the outworking of redemption is His people. "So shall He sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at Him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider."  (Isaiah 52:15).

"Sprinkle many nations." The Hebrew word for "sprinkle" is "nazah" from the root meaning: to spurt out, but the original idea of the Hebrew root seems to be that of leaping (or causing to leap,) either with surprise or joy.  The word really needs both thoughts to express its meaning.  To spurt out, as from a brush of hyssop would bespeak of the sprinkling for cleansing, but surely as He redeems, cleanses and purges all nations, "He will cause many nations to leap with surprise and joy." Obviously this is the effect of the inworking of the Gospel.  No wonder they shall "shut their mouths at Him," for, "That which had not been told them shall they see; (visible demonstrations of reality); and that which had not heard shall they consider  (or, understand)."

"The revelation of Jesus Christ" is so awesome and glorious, as He comes to every man, to reveal Himself as Lord and Saviour.  Then shall they all know Him "WHO IS" in an experiential way, and leap up with joy in His salvation.

"And Who is to come."  Literally, He who is coming, the Coming One.  The COMING is not relegated to history, nor even to that which is presently known and experienced-- but there is a FURTHER COMING-- because the "revelation of Jesus Christ" is a progressive unveiling until He has COME TO EVERY MAN, to be the Saviour, Redeemer, Lord, and King. "Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 1:13).  Thus He is rightly spoken of as "Who is to come." He comes to be the Alpha of our life, the Initiator of ever new beginning. And He comes to be the Omega, the Consummator, the Fulfiller of every promise in us.  May we NEVER limit Him to any one coming-- as if that visitation were all that is to be.  "Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end."  (Isaiah 9:7).Therefore He who WAS, and IS, remains "The Coming One."

"We don't know what we shall become in the future.  we only know that, if reality were to break through, we should reflect His likeness, for we should see Him as He really is."  (1 John 3:2, Phillips). There is a REALITY to break through-- He is coming!

"I am Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the Ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty."  (Revelation 1:8).

Repeated again in Revelation 4:8, it gives added emphasis of the on-going revelation of His holiness. "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come."

While Revelation 11:17, includes the thought of His power, and reigning victoriously for ever and ever. "We give Thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because Thou hast taken to Thee Thy great power, and hast reigned."

One coming, one burst of revelation cannot express the height and depth, length and breadth, but every visitation of God with His creation expands and unfolds more of the wonders of His grace and mercy to us, and in us.

He comes with clouds of witnesses, or He may come in them midst of our tribulations and pressures.  He comes as the Cherubim inspiring us to great worship, or He may come riding on the horses of judgment, cleansing, purging. He may come to us in times of silence, or it may be as thunder and lightning and voices.  He may come as the Lamb of God, or as the Lion.  He may come in such power as to cause our earth to quake, or He may come as the gentle rain which refreshes us-- with His tender mercies.  But however He may appear, let Him fulfill that Word, "Behold, I come quickly."

"And the Spirit and the bride say, COME." Out of the depths of the processing comes the realization that all that we could ever desire is found in Him-- and so the deep cry of the Spirit is birthed from within-- "Come, Lord Jesus." Whatever it takes, the desire for Your fulness fills our being, and all we can do is cry out "Come!" Let the revelations of God flood our soul and make us whole.  Indeed, "That you may be filled through all your being unto all the fulness of God-- that is, may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself."  (Ephesians 3:19, Amplified).

"And let him that heareth say, COME." In the message to the overcomers, again and again it was said, "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches out-called)." And the angels (messengers) have sounded out their message. They have blown their trumpets, poured out their vials, and given forth the WORD OF GOD in divers ways and manners. But always the message was positive-- pointing towards the ultimate redemption that is to be realized.  Now, if we have had our ears anointed to hear-- then there can be but one response, "Come, Lord Jesus." Come and fulfill in us all that the angels have voiced.  Regardless of how deep the purgings may go-- we would be totally changed and brought into oneness with our Lord.

It was said of Paul, "For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake."  (Acts 9:16).  Yet he was able to say, "In my opinion whatever we may have to go through now is less than nothing compared with the magnificent future God has planned for us."  (Romans 8:18, Phillips). And later he would write, "I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord... that I may know Him."  (Philippians 3:8,10). For the joy set before him, the process could be endured, and all of his being responded, "Come, that I might know Thee more."

And so it is, as we come to the end of the Book, and the Word is given, "Surely I come quickly," John could only give one whole-hearted response, "AMEN, Even so, come, Lord Jesus." I have seen the panorama of events-- awesome, stirring, frightening betimes, causing great rejoicing at other times-- indeed, seals, trumpets, vials and woes, beasts and dragons, all combining to fulfill their purpose and bring an end to the old order, that there might be a "new heavens, and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." To all this we say, "AMEN!" So be it! Let it all happen, the end result is so desirable and glorious, we shall walk out the processing and rejoice in the "nevertheless afterwards."

"Even so..." The Greek word is "nai," a strong affirmation meaning: YES. And in some cases it is used as a particle of appeal or entreaty.  It is a yes spoken from the deep longing of the heart until it becomes not only an affirmation, but an earnest entreaty.  In spite of all the severity of the happenings, events that speak of intense travail to birth the new-- "Even so, come." If it takes all this, to have all that-- YES-- DO IT! Do it all, but come-- let there be "a revelation of Jesus Christ" that unfolds until it envelopes us in its glory, and transforms us into the same image.

"And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for Him, we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation."  (Isaiah 25:9).  HE is the COMING ONE! "And unto Him shall the gathering of the people be."

While He is coming to us, there is a responsive action on our part as we come to Him. "Let him that is athirst come.  And whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely." Being drawn by the Father, we come. Deep is calling unto deep.  Out of the depth of our need we are calling to Him.  Out of the depth of His sufficiency He is calling to us.  There is a coming together, and in the revelation of Him who is altogether lovely, we find that He is truly our Redeemer-- "The Lord of hosts is His name: and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall He be called."  (Isaiah 54:5).

"The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen!"

As already noted, the Book began with "Grace be unto you, and peace, from Him..." For it is truly the GRACE of God which reveals our Lord, sustains us through all the out-workings of the vision, and brings us into the fulness of His reality. God, in grace began it, and God, in grace will finish, it, to His glory and praise. To this we all can say, "AMEN!"