In 1942, as Japanese forces advanced, General Douglas MacArthur was forced to leave the Philippines. Yet from Australia, he made a bold declaration that stirred the hearts of Filipinos: “I shall return.” Three years later, in 1945, he fulfilled that promise. He came back, and with him came hope, liberation, and a renewed future for a suffering nation.

But there is a far greater promise, one not made by a human general, but by the risen Lord Jesus Christ: “Surely I come quickly” (Rev. 22:20). This is His pledge to His bride, the Church, that He will return to take her to Himself, so that where He is, she may be also.

The theme of Christ’s return is not a footnote in the book of Revelation. In chapter 22 alone, Jesus affirms it three times: “Behold, I come quickly” (v. 7), “Behold, I come quickly” (v. 12), and again, “Surely I come quickly” (v. 20). In the remainder of this article, I will explore this theme under three headings:

1. The Promise of the Bridegroom to return: “I come quickly” (v. 20)
2. The Prayer of the bride to her Groom: “Come, Lord Jesus!” (v. 20)
3. The Provision of the Groom for His bride as she waits: “The grace of our Lord be with you all” (v. 21)

The Promise of the Bridegroom to Return: “Come, Lord Jesus!”

Revelation 22:20 is not written in the future tense. Jesus does not say, “I will come,” but rather, “I come” or “I am coming.” It’s like getting a phone call from a dinner guest at 5:30 p.m. confirming that he plans to come. Then at 5:45, he calls again: “I just left my house. I’m coming. I’m on my way.” That’s the difference. Jesus is not merely announcing His intention to return. He is declaring that He is coming, already on His way to take His bride.

The word “surely” in Greek is nai, a term often used in official declarations to express certainty. It’s the equivalent of a firm “Aye!” in parliamentary speech. Jesus is saying, “Yes, indeed, I’m coming. I’m on My way. Believe it. Trust Me.”

Still, some people scoff and ask, “Where is the promise of His coming?” (2 Pet. 3:4). After all, the book of Revelation was written around A.D. 95, and it’s been nearly two thousand years since then. But as the apostle Peter reminds us, “With the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack [or late] concerning his promise” (2 Pet. 3:8–9). God is never late. His timing is always perfect.

When General MacArthur returned to the Philippines, he said, “I’m a little late, but we finally came.” Jesus, however, will not be “a little late.” His return will happen with divine precision. The point is not delay, but certainty and imminence: He is coming and He is coming soon.

Jesus Himself tells us in Matthew 24 that wars, famines, earthquakes, persecution, and widespread lawlessness are not random tragedies. They are signs (or divine signposts) reminding us that the footsteps of the returning King are drawing near. And if these signs are increasing in frequency and intensity, then the question becomes urgent: Are you ready to meet Him?

When the apostle John hears Jesus’ promise, he responds with one word: “Amen.” It means, “I believe this. I affirm it.” Do you? When Jesus says, “Surely I am coming quickly,” can you echo, “Amen. Yes, Lord. I believe it”? Because if we truly believe He is coming soon, we will live like it. That belief should shape our priorities, our use of time, and our daily conduct. So again, we must ask: Are we living in light of Christ’s soon return?

The Prayer of the Bride to Her Groom: “Come, Lord Jesus”

Immediately after Jesus affirms His coming, John records the final prayer in all of Scripture: “Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” (Rev. 22:20). It is the cry of a prepared heart, a longing soul. The desire of someone who wants to be with Christ more than with anything this world can offer. This kind of prayer does not come from spiritual indifference; it flows from intimacy, from loving the Bridegroom so deeply that nothing matters more than seeing Him face to face.

The apostle Paul declares, “There is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing” (2 Tim. 4:8). This love for Christ’s return is a mark of true faith. Christians don’t just believe He is coming, they long for it.

When was the last time you sincerely prayed, “Come, Lord Jesus”? Has your heart been so captivated by the world that Christ’s return feels more like an interruption than a hope? Or does His coming fill you with joy and anticipation, like a child on a long road trip asking, “Are we there yet?”

Even the Song of Solomon ends with this passionate plea: “Make haste, my beloved” (8:14). The longing of God’s people throughout the ages has always been the same: to see the King in His beauty, to dwell in His presence, and to be free from the weight of sin and sorrow. But not everyone prays this prayer.

Some, entangled in unrepentant sin or worldly distractions, secretly hope Jesus delays His return. “Not yet,” they whisper. “Let me enjoy more of this life first.” Others, hardened in unbelief, do not want Him to come at all.

The question, then, is not merely theological, it is deeply personal: Do you want Jesus to return? Can you sincerely say, “Come, Lord Jesus! Come now, for I can’t wait to be with You”?

The Provision of the Groom for His Bride as She Waits for His Return: “The grace of our Lord be with you all”

Until that day comes, we are not left alone. The final verse of Scripture offers more than a farewell; it gives a benediction of hope: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen” (Rev. 22:21).

Grace is what carries us through the waiting. Grace sustains us in times of tribulation. It is the power to persevere when the world grows darker and love grows colder. We live in a culture that craves instant results: fast food, fast internet, fast everything. Waiting is hard. But the Church is called to wait, not passively, but with hope-filled endurance. And we are not left to do it in our own strength. Christ gives us grace.

Jesus warned, “You will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake” (Matt. 24:9). Yet He also promised, “He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” (v. 13). That kind of endurance is only possible through grace—the sustaining grace that flows from the pierced hands of the One who is coming again. So we rest in that grace. We live by it. We cling to it as we patiently wait for His return. And with each new day, we echo the final prayer of Scripture with deeper longing and deeper trust: “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”

Concluding Challenge: A Return That Divides

When General MacArthur returned to the Philippines, his arrival brought celebration to his allies but dread to his enemies. So it will be with Jesus. For His bride, His coming will be joy unspeakable. He will wipe away every tear. He will say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant . . . enter thou into the joy of thy Lord” (Matt. 25:21). All suffering will cease.

But for the unprepared and unrepentant, His return will be terrifying. Some will cry out, “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name?” only to hear the dreadful response: “I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matt. 7:22–23).

Jesus told of a man who came to a wedding feast without the proper garment—a picture of the righteousness that comes only through faith in Him. That man was bound hand and foot and cast into outer darkness, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth (see Matthew 22:11–13). The message is sobering: without the righteousness of Christ, no one will be admitted to the wedding celebration.

So I ask you in love: Do you have a wedding garment? Have you been clothed in Christ by faith? Only those who are can take part in “the marriage supper of the Lamb” (Rev. 19:9). His offer still stands; the garment of His righteousness is freely given. Receive it now, by faith, while there is still time.

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Note: An earlier version of this article appeared in Banner of Sovereign Grace Truth 33, no. 4 (2025): 149–50.