We read in Revelation 22:12, “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.”  The word ‘quickly’ is translated in several translations as ‘soon’, but most believe that quickly is the right word, signifying that when the Lord returns, it will happen quickly.  We read the words of the Lord, Himself, speaking of His return to the earth in Mark 13:32, “But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.”  This is hard to understand because the Lord Jesus is God and has knowledge of everything.  It seems here, that as Son, He has limited Himself as to the knowledge of His return to earth to establish His Millennial kingdom and has left that to the Father. 

We read this pointed remark in 2 Peter 3:3-4, “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.”  Of course, all things had NOT “continued as they were from the beginning of the creation.”  These unbelievers were mocking the promise of the Lord to return.  I do not believe the inquirer here is asking a mocking question, but we do need to be patient as we wait for the return of the Lord.

When will that happen?  We just don’t know, but we do know from Hebrews 10:27 that “For, after just a brief moment, he who is to come shall come; he shall not delay.” (NABRE).  When the time is right, the Lord will return, and He will not delay.  When we consider the word ‘soon’ or ‘brief moment’ we must remember that “But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” (2 Peter 3:8).  To our God and creator, who created time and space, time to Him is much different than it is to us.  The Lord Jesus came the first time at the “fulness of time” (Galatians 4:4).  He will return again when the time is right.  We read this great commendation in 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10, “For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.”  May we also patiently wait for the return of our Lord…not one minute sooner or one minute later will He return.  As we wait, let us take up the prayer of Revelation 22:20, “He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. EVEN SO, COME, LORD JESUS.”  (CC)  (665.2)