Soon (Revelation 22:7)

 


Tuesday, 23 December, 2025


Psalms 124; 125; 126

Isaiah 26:1-19

Revelation 22:6-13


Soon (Revelation 22:7)


“And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”


Well done all of us for getting to the end of Advent! Tomorrow is Christmas Eve, a day which is, in my mind, almost a mirror of Holy Saturday (the day before Easter). We have almost reached the end of the penitential season, and I pray God has worked something in your soul – perhaps a new insight into his nature, or your own; or a new inner strength to overcome something you have been trying to put away.


Today also is the last day in which a reading from Revelation is set for Morning Prayer. And what a final word we have! Jesus is speaking to St John through his angel, or messenger. We have this final scene where St John goes to worship the angelic messenger, but is quickly corrected. The main theme of the book so far has been to worship God alone, to look to the Lamb who was slain but lives forever, to keep faithful to his commandments and to trust for his salvation, in spite of what we may see with our eyes on this earth.


Best of all, he is coming soon. Soon the wait will be over. Soon it will be Christmas Day – and soon the Lord Jesus will return, not as a baby, but as the mighty Lord of Creation, on clouds of the glory of heaven, to rescue his people once and for all from sin and death and tears and sadness.


Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord,

he has loosed the fateful lightning of his terrible swift sword,

he is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored:

our God is marching on!


Are you ready?


Jesus, our Lord and our God: teach us how to follow your commandments more faithfully, and to keep the words of the prophecy, that we may spend the last days of this earth in joyful waiting for your return.

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