09 Feb Is Jesus Coming ‘Soon?’
In the book of Revelation, filled with amazing apocalyptic imagery, we notice that it will happen according to the words of Jesus… ‘soon.’ But it was written two thousand years ago. So does it soon back then, or soon now? What in fact does ‘soon’ mean in this context?
My understanding is that the word ‘soon’ literally means soon just as it does in English.
Revelation 1:1 says the following:
‘The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place.’
While much of the book of Revelation is symbols and allegory, the prologue is plain. It speaks of how to interpret the prophecy. It was about things in the future, but the future of the intended audience, not ours, which is thousands of years later.
In the final chapter of Revelation, Jesus speaks directly and says:
‘Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done.‘ Rev 22:12
Whatever it was that Jesus was speaking about was to happen back then, not in our future.
The issue is that when Jesus says he is ‘coming’ we assume it is the second coming, which should technically not be called that, but which should be referred to as the second appearing. The reason for this, is that scripturally there are many things which are ‘comings.’
One example will suffice:
In the same book, Revelation 2:4–5 Jesus warns the Ephesians that they will be disciplined if they do not change their behaviour.
‘Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. **Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.’
Did you notice that Jesus would ‘come’ and deal with them?
The Ephesian church no longer exists; it did historically have its lampstand removed. In essence, Christ did come to them. But the next church in Revelation, the church of Smyrna, is there to this day.
One thing is certain, there are different things that ‘coming’ can refer to, but there are not different things that ‘soon’ can refer to. Soon means in the very near future.
It is clear that Jesus did not return a second time soon after the words of Revelation, so what did happen soon after that Jesus could possibly have been speaking of?
The destruction of Jerusalem is the answer. Jesus DID ‘come’ to judge his people, and close out the Old Covenant in accordance with the terms of Deuteronomy 28.
Matt 23:35–36
‘And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. Truly I tell you, all this will come on this generation.’
Even John the Baptist knew it was going to happen, and warned the Pharisees that one was coming who would discipline them for immorality.
Matt 3:11–12
‘I baptize you with **water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with **the Holy Spirit and fire. **His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.’
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