For the Time is Near

May the truth of Your Word resonate within my heart, Lord. Amen


"Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near" (Revelation 1:3).


The apostle John begins the book of Revelation with this admonition. Here are just a few examples of some similar Scriptures:


But the end of all things is at hand ... (1 Peter 4:7).


Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand (James 5:8).


Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand (Phil. 4:5).


All of these verses are saying the coming of Jesus is very near. Yet they were written over two thousand years ago! Were Peter, James, Paul and John all wrong? No, they were right. The time of Christ's return is always at hand. It may not be immediate, but it is always imminent.


People are wondering, "are these the last days?" The answer is: the last days began when Jesus ascended. We are living in the last days. Some may have the idea that certain prophecies must be fulfilled before Jesus can come. That just is not so. His coming is always imminent.


Suppose you want to see the ocean and it's a thousand miles away. So you begin driving to the ocean. You're driving, driving, but the ocean is not near. You're driving, driving, but you still don't see it. You continue driving, driving - until suddenly, there it is! There on the horizon, the ocean has finally appeared. You can see the water's edge and the waves coming up along the shore.


Some people think that's what the Second Coming of Jesus is like - as if we're at one point over her on history's timeline, and His return is way off in the distance somewhere. And perhaps we're just trying to get to it. But that isn't it at all. We're actually right on the edge - just as if we're walking along the seashore. We are living on the edge of eternity!


From the time Jesus first came until He comes again, we are on the edge of eternity. The time is at hand. Jesus may come at any moment!


~Adrian Rogers~