The Last Promise in the Bible
By
Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr.
OPENING: - There are approximately 8800 promises in the Bible but today I want to just talk about only one and that is the Last Promise. Revelation 22:20 says, “He who testifies to these things says, Surely I am coming quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen”.
The ancient Greek word translated Revelation is apokalupsis (apocalypse). The word simply means “a revealing, an unveiling.” Let me inject here a correction, it is the book of Revelation not Revelation(s). We will say turn to the book of Revelation(s) chapter, so n so and never give it much thought, but it is the Book of Revelation, the revealing or unveiling of Jesus Christ.
The Book of Revelation belongs to Him and nothing or no-one else, He is the one doing the revealing. He is the object revealed; Jesus is the person revealed by the book; therefore, it is not Revelations but THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST.
The Book of Revelation reveals Jesus Christ, but it also emphasizes readiness and watchfulness for the people of God the Church. If we miss this practical lesson from the Book of Revelation, then we miss the essential message of the book.
Although the Book of Revelation concerns many prophetic events, it closes with John’s longing for the return of Jesus for His people, and it should be the desire of all the children of God and that is the return of Jesus Christ. Romans 8:19-23 says, “For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body”.
If the whole creation groans and travails together in pain for the manifestation of the sons of God, how much more we the sons of God should have an earnest desire for the return of Jesus Christ.
PRAYER: -
SCRIPTURE: - Revelation 22:20 says, “He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen”.
WATCH THIS: - If the statement “I am coming quickly” were not enough, Jesus puts emphasis on both sides of this promise. Surely, before it which indicates without a doubt, this is a guarantee, you can count on this and amen which means so be it or it is so afterwards. It’s a double guarantee if you will.
John who represents the church, the sons of God is excited and desires for Jesus to come and says, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus”! This should be the desire of us all today, especially when we look around and see the condition of the world.
THE PROMISE: - “Surely I come quickly amen” Within this simple promise is embraced a series of events which will culminate in the Lord Jesus returning and reigning upon the earth as the Son of the house of David Jeremiah 3:16-18 says, “And it shall come to pass, when ye be multiplied and increased in the land, in those days, saith the Lord, they shall say no more, The ark of the covenant of the Lord: neither shall it come to mind: neither shall they remember it; neither shall they visit it; neither shall that be done any more. At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the Lord; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the Lord, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart. In those days the house of Judah shall walk with the house of Israel, and they shall come together out of the land of the north to the land that I have given for an inheritance unto your fathers”.
The initial stage of His coming will be the Rapture of the Church, an instantaneous shout, at which, all who are saved, both dead or alive, will be caught up (Greek: HARPAZO to seize, carry off by force to seize on, claim for one' s self eagerly to snatch out or away) Raptured to be with Christ in the moment in a twinkling of an eye.
WATCH THIS: - In this initial event, the Rapture, the HARPAZO Jesus will come as a thief, not making His intent known beforehand Revelation 16:15 says, “Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame”. Matthew 24:42 says, “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come”. Behold I come as a thief is the promise, He is coming Blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth is the warning.
Once the Rapture has taken place you think it is bad now, the world will regress into unrestrained immorality and rampant evil, unrestrained human nature will be the ruling factor, murderous bloodshed, natural disasters, and demonic delusions, moving rapidly into the dreadful and terrible Great Tribulation. The Antichrist, who will eventually oppose Jesus Christ in futility will be in control. Then the victorious Christ will judge and destroy all His enemies, reign for a thousand years; then will come the final eradication of evil, the Great White Throne Judgment and the inauguration of the new heavens and the new earth.
2 Peter 3:4 says, “Where is the promise of His coming?”
The Promise Delayed
“Surely I come quickly amen” yet since this promise was made in Revelation 22 it has been some 1928 years, because the Book of Revelation was written in 95A.D., so the promise seems to be delayed. Understand the promise delayed is not the promise denied. The Lord Jesus has not forgotten His promise for 2 Corinthians 1:20 says, “all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us”. Three times in Revelation 22 the Lord Jesus affirms, “Surely I am coming quickly” Revelation 22: 7, 12, 20. There has been false predictions of His coming which deceive and disillusion many people, and there are many scoffers who say, “Where is the promise of His coming?” 2 Peter 3:4. However, understanding His word has lost neither veracity nor imminence. In fact, what people say is a delay of His promise is not a delay to God at all. He is longsuffering because He loves people and does not want them to perish eternally, but desires that they come to repentance and everlasting life in Christ 2 Peter 3:9. Maybe, just maybe He is waiting for you.
Exceeding great joy.
The Promise’s Delight
When we who are saved and earnestly expect the manifestation of the Sons of God read this promise our hearts swell with joy unspeakable and full of glory, a sparkle glows in our eyes, and our feet dance with joy just thinking of leaving this sin sick earth. 1 Corinthians 15:52 says, “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed”. We long for that change and when we think of this promise we rejoice in the promise as the song says, Oh I want to see Him look upon His face there to sing forever of His saving grace on the streets of glory let me lift my voice cares are passed home at last ever to rejoice. Not only us but those that have died will rise first for 1Thessalonians 4:16-17 says, “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord”.
Woe to the inhabitants of earth.
The Promise’s Danger
Yes, His promise is great joy for those who are saved, but for the sinner and the ungodly there is danger. The Bible says in Acts 17:32 “Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead”.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son Jesus Christ who freely gave His life as a sin-atoning sacrifice, endured the cross, despising the shame, died, was buried, and rose again. Yet there are those that refuse to accept Him as their personal Lord and Savior. They will meet Him one day and when they do it will be at the White Throne Judgment Revelation 20:11-15, but it will be too late, the Books will be opened, and the Book of Life will be opened and they will be judged out of these books and whosoever is not found in the book of life will be cast into the lake of fire.
That’s the Promise’s Danger eternal separation from Jesus Christ in the Lake of Fire.
CLOSING: - When we think about the last promise in the Bible for those of us who earnestly expect His return, those that are saved it is a joyous thought and a much-anticipated event. However, it is also a scary thought that you might not be ready. When we have lukewarm people who are too attached to this world and the things of this world. To the infidel, the atheist, the reprobate, and the apostate church it is a joke and a point of contention. But to those of us in the true church of God expectantly and excitedly are waiting for His return. We sing the song with exuberance Soon and very soon we are going to see the King.
His last promise given to us in Revelation and the last promise of God found in God’s Word is “SURELY I COME QUICKLY AMEN.” It is a sure thing, and there is no doubt.
As John said and we should say also Even so, come Lord Jesus.
Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr.
