Stop SayingThat!

                                          by Elder Victor Vaughn

Adventistm has been around for nearly 170 years.  We’ve been saying, “Jesus is coming soon” since the beginning.  In fact, that sentiment, that yearning, is what started our movement.  Others have been saying the same thing before us.  The New Testament is filled with references to Jesus’ Second Coming.  But our world is still here.  Jesus hasn’t come.  People are beginning to doubt whether Jesus is really coming or not.  We shouldn’t be surprised at this however, because it was predicted in scripture.

“Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.” (2 Peter 3:3-4)

It is my contention that we must stop saying, “Jesus is coming soon.”  But before you cast me into the heretical pile, let me explain why I make such a statement.  When we say that Jesus is coming “soon” we place that event too far in the future.  When you say that someone is coming to visit you soon, it may be they are even several days away.  But when you say they’re coming quickly, you know you’ve got to hurry and get things prepared; they may be in the driveway, walking up the sidewalk, or even standing at the door.  Let’s look at this idea a little closer and you’ll see what I mean.

The book of Revelation is God’s last message to His people.  All of the words of God are significant, but last words, parting words, can be much more significant.  Our last words to our loved ones as we leave them are often, “I love you,” which should be very significant to them.  The last words of Jesus to us, through His prophet John, are no exception.  As such, we should take note of those last words.  There are three places in Revelation where Jesus talks about His Second Coming.

Jesus says something significant to the church of Philadelphia, one of the churches that received no rebuke, “Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.” (Revelation 3:11)  Here we find Jesus telling us to hold on and don’t give up.  This text seems to suggest that there might be some that are tempted to let go of their hope in Jesus’ coming.  But Jesus says to hang on tight because He is coming “quickly.”  Jesus is telling them He will be there before their grip gives way and they are unable to hold on any longer.

“Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.”(Revelation 22:7)  Here we find Jesus telling us not to give up on the prophecies of Revelation.  The ones that could be given up on are those that have not been fulfilled.  What has not yet been fulfilled?  The very prophecies that tell us Jesus is coming.  He pronounces a blessing on those who follow His admonition.  But more importantly, Jesus says He is coming “quickly.”

And again in Revelation 22:20 John says, “He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”  Here we have Jesus’ testimony.  This is something we can trust.  Unlike the testimony of those in earthly courts, the word of Jesus is beyond reproach.  He says he is coming “quickly.”

And what are the things being testified about?  “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.” (Revelation 22:18-19)  We must keep the sayings of this book.  The sayings of the book of Revelation are all pointing to the fact that Jesus is coming.  And how does He say He is coming?  Quickly!

Jesus talked about His coming with His disciples.  He told them the signs they should look for that indicated His coming was nigh.  “And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. . . For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. . . Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:”  (Matthew 24:6-12, 24, 29)

After telling them all these signs, then He said, “So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.”  (Matthew 24:33)  Do you think we’re there yet?  Have you been seeing or hearing about the signs Jesus mentioned?  Jesus says that when all these things are occurring that His coming is not soon, it is “even at the doors.”  What doors is He speaking of?  Let’s look at some scriptural evidence.

The Bible is full of examples where God met His people at the door and they worshipped Him there.  Exodus 33:9,10 says, “And it came to pass, as Moses entered into the tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended, and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the LORD talked with Moses. And all the people saw the cloudy pillar stand at the tabernacle door: and all the people rose up and worshipped, every man in his tent door.”

The prophet Ezekiel talks about worship occurring at the door.  “And the cherubims lifted up their wings, and mounted up from the earth in my sight: when they went out, the wheels also were beside them, and every one stood at the door of the east gate of the LORD'S house; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above.” (Ezekiel 10:19)  At the door is where worship takes place.  In heaven it is at the door or “gate” of the Lord’s house. 

And again in Ezekiel 46:3, “Likewise the people of the land shall worship at the door of this gate before the LORD in the sabbaths and in the new moons.”  The people were to worship the Lord at the door of the temple.

But since we’re talking about God’s last message to us in Revelation, we need to know if it also says something about the door.  We are not disappointed.  Revelation 3:20 says, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”  Jesus is not coming soon, He is even at the doors!  All we have to do is open the door and let Him in and worship Him there.

But how do we open that door and how do we hasten His coming to the door?  “No man can of himself cast out the evil throng that have taken possession of the heart. Only Christ can cleanse the soul temple. But He will not force an entrance. He comes not into the heart as to the temple of old; but He says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock. . .” (Desire of Ages, p. 161)  All we need do is to simply allow Him entrance and He will come in and cleanse us.  And when that is accomplished, something great and wonderful will happen.  We will have the privilege of hastening His coming!

“It is the privilege of every Christian not only to look for but to hasten the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Were all who profess His name bearing fruit to His glory, how quickly the whole world would be sown with the seed of the gospel. Quickly the last great harvest would be ripened, and Christ would come to gather the precious grain.” (Christ Object Lessons, p. 69)  Notice the words of Mrs. White, “QUICKLY the last great harvest would be ripened . . .”

Second Peter 3:11,12 confirms the fact that we can hasten Christ’s coming.  “Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?”  We hasten that day by being engaged in holy conversation, sharing the good news of Christ’s coming and how to live Godly lives.  In short, we share the message of the three angels of Revelation 14.

But there is another group that comes to the door.  “When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are.” (Luke 13:25)  God’s people have opened the door to their hearts and have let Him it.  Others have not opened the door and now find themselves outside the door to Christ’s kingdom.  They come to the door and find that they are now the ones knocking.  The door of mercy and entrance to God’s kingdom has been closed and He tells them, “I know not whence you are.” 

The Bible gives us a preview of what happens outside that door.  “And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning. For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you.” (Exodus 12:22-23)  We all know the sad consequences of being outside the door on that fateful night.  Outside the door was only death.  Outside that door is not where I want to be.

In Revelation 3:20, Jesus said if we would only open the door, He would come in and eat with us.  That meal is what we call the marriage supper of the Lamb.  It also refers back to that terrible night in Egypt.  The Israelites ate a meal before the angel came.  The meal consisted of a lamb that had been sacrificed that it’s blood might be posted on the door and spare the life of those who were inside.  You didn’t want to be caught outside the door that night.  And you don’t want to be outside the door when Jesus comes.  You want to be inside that doorway that is stained with the blood of the Lamb, Jesus, the blood that spares us from eternal death and separation from Him.

We’ve got to stop saying Jesus is coming “soon.”  He’s not coming soon, His coming is “Even at the doors!”  He’s standing outside the door of your heart now, knocking, pleading with you to open the door before it’s too late.  Won’t you open the door and let Him come in?