Thoughts for the Day

DETOUR CONTINUED Revelation 22:7,12,17,20

“Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book.” “Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.”
‘The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes let him take the free gift of the water of life.’
‘He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.’

Long ago I read somewhere that thrice repetition is a Hebrew form of superlative.  Checking online more recently, I find it isn’t.  Nevertheless, repetition certainly emphasises the point.  In Revelation 22 Jesus twice says, “Behold I am coming soon!” The Spirit and bride (church) reply “Come!” “Him who hears” (you and I) are encouraged to say “Come!” Jesus answers “Yes I am coming soon”, to which the response is “Amen. Come Lord Jesus.”  In trying to make sense of this nearly 2000 years later, I find myself falling back on Peter’s admonition (2 Peter 3:8) not to forget “this one thing”, that “With the Lord a day is like 1000 years and 1000 years are like a day.  The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise … He is patient …”  It is an evocative picture, turning our understanding on its head.  We imagine we are waiting patiently (or not) for God, but Peter says God is waiting patiently (but not indefinitely) for mankind.  I doubt we can really understand more than the merest hint of God’s relationship with time, given that we are so firmly rooted in it.   I may try to imagine the last 2000 years equating to two days of God’s patience as if He somehow skims over the surface of time.  But Peter doesn’t allow that.  He states equally that for God a day is like 1000 years.  How does that work?  Whatever the answer, Peter is clear that the “day of the Lord” is coming, and we should keep ourselves ready.  Amen!