The Coming of the King: Anticipation and Preparation

"And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen." - Revelation 22:12-21

$"And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen." - Revelation 22:{verse.verse_number}$

In the closing chapters of the book of Revelation, we witness a powerful and poignant declaration: “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be” (Revelation 22:12 KJV). This moment encapsulates the urgency of Christ's return and compels us to reflect on our lives as we await His second coming.

As Christians, we often hear the term ‘imminent return’ and may even view it with a vague sense of expectation, a little like knowing a storm is coming but not preparing for the deluge. However, Revelation 22:12 urges us to perceive Christ’s return not merely as a future event but as a present reality that affects the way we live today. This urgency speaks to the heart of our citizenship in heaven. The phrase, “my reward is with me,” invites us into a deeper understanding of the relationship between faith and works. Jesus is not only the initiator of our faith but also the ultimate judge of our deeds. Each action, each word, each thought carries weight in the Kingdom of God.

The Scriptures assure us of the blessing attached to obedience: “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city” (Revelation 22:14 KJV). Here, we are not only motivated by fear of consequence but by the blessed assurance that adhering to God’s commandments grants us access to eternal life and communion with Him. How incredible is it that our obedience opens a pathway to both the heavenly city of New Jerusalem and the Tree of Life? It is a beautiful reminder that our faith leads to action, and that action ultimately brings us closer to God’s promises.

Yet, starkly contrasting this invitation is the stark warning: “For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie” (Revelation 22:15 KJV). Those who choose a path contrary to God’s commands face a perilous consequence. This distinction is crucial, as it outlines the clear division between the righteous and the unrighteous. The society we live in may often blur these lines, but Scripture provides a clear delineation. It serves as both a warning and a call to repentance.

In verse 17, we see a beautiful invitation extended to all who desire more than just existence in this world: “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come” (Revelation 22:17 KJV). The imagery here is vivid, revealing the heart of God that yearns for relationship with His people. Jesus beckons those who are spiritually thirsty to come and partake of the Water of Life freely offered. It is an invitation that transcends the confines of time, extending to every soul longing for truth, purpose, and satisfaction.

As we reflect on this passage, it invites us to ask ourselves: Are we living with the urgency of the hour? Are we preparing our hearts for His return? The final verses contain a solemn warning against altering the words of this prophecy, ensuring we approach the Scriptures with reverence and a desire for truth. “He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20 KJV). What a comforting thought to end with—the grace of our Lord Jesus is with us, compelling us to share this good news with a world in desperate need.

In closing, let us embrace the call to be faithful stewards of our lives, to share the gospel boldly, and to live in anticipation of our glorious King who promises us His reward. As we navigate through the temporal to prepare for the eternal, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ abide with us always, empowering us to live righteously as we await His grand return.

Want to reflect more on Revelation 22:12-21?

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Daily verses

Revelation 22:12-21 Artwork

Revelation 22:12-21 KJVA (12) And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. (13) I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. (14) Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. (15) For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. (16) I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. (17) And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. (18) For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: (19) And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. (20) He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. (21) The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

"And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen." - Revelation 22:12-21

Revelation 22:12-21 - "And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen."

Revelation 21:12

Revelation 22:21 - "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen."

Revelation 21:22 - "And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it."

Revelation 22:12 - "And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be."

"The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen." - Revelation 22:21

"And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it." - Revelation 21:22

Revelation 21:12 - "And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:"

Matthew 2:1-2

Genesis 2:1-2

Revelation 21:22-23 - "And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb."