The Ultimate Prayer of Anticipation: Come, Lord Jesus!

The Ultimate Prayer of Anticipation

Have you ever prayed for something so desperately that you felt like your heart was about to burst? Or hoped for something so fervently that it felt like your entire being was consumed by it? Perhaps it was a job you needed, a relationship you longed for, or a healing you sought. Whatever it was, it probably felt like the most important thing in the world to you at the time.

Now, imagine praying for something that is infinitely bigger than any of those things. Something that is cosmic in scale and eternal in impact. Something that has the power to transform not just your life, but the entire world. This is the kind of prayer that the apostle John prayed at the end of the book of Revelation. And it's a prayer that should be on our lips as well.

The Context of the Prayer

Before we dive into the prayer itself, let's take a moment to understand the context in which it was prayed. John, the beloved disciple of Jesus, had been exiled to the island of Patmos for his faith. There, he had received a series of visions from God that would become the book of Revelation. In these visions, John saw the future of the world, including the return of Jesus, the final judgment, and the establishment of the new heaven and new earth.

As he neared the end of this vision, John was overwhelmed by the glory and majesty of what he had seen. He saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband (Revelation 21:2). He heard the voice of God saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God" (Revelation 21:3).

John saw that there would be no more tears, no more death, no more mourning, no more pain. The former things would have passed away (Revelation 21:4). And then, in the midst of all this glory, John heard the voice of Jesus say, "Surely I am coming soon" (Revelation 22:20).

The Prayer Itself

It's in response to this promise that John prays the ultimate prayer of anticipation: "Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!" (Revelation 22:20).

At first glance, this might seem like a strange prayer. After all, Jesus has already come once, lived a perfect life, died on the cross for our sins, and risen from the dead. He has ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father. So why would John pray for him to come again?

The answer lies in the fact that Jesus' first coming, while incredibly significant, was only the beginning of God's plan for the world. When Jesus returns, he will bring that plan to completion. He will establish his kingdom on earth, defeat evil once and for all, and make all things new. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:24-28:

Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For "God has put all things in subjection under his feet." But when it says, "all things are put in subjection," it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.

Jesus' return will be the final act in God's redemptive plan for the world. It will be the culmination of everything that has come before. And so, when John prays, "Come, Lord Jesus," he is expressing his longing for that day to come. He is saying, in effect, "Lord, we can't wait any longer. We need you to come and make everything right."

The Significance of the Prayer

So why is this prayer so significant? Why should it be on our lips as well?

First of all, the prayer reminds us of the hope that we have as Christians. No matter how dark the world may seem, no matter how much suffering we may endure, we know that Jesus is coming back. We know that there is a day coming when all things will be made new. As Paul writes in Romans 8:18:

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

When we pray, "Come, Lord Jesus," we are affirming our belief in this hope. We are declaring that we trust in God's promises and that we are eagerly awaiting the fulfillment of those promises.

Secondly, the prayer reminds us of our ultimate allegiance. As Christians, we are citizens of the kingdom of God. We have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus and have been transferred from the domain of darkness to the kingdom of his beloved Son (Colossians 1:13). When we pray, "Come, Lord Jesus," we are declaring our loyalty to that kingdom. We are saying that we are not ultimately committed to any earthly power or authority, but to the one who has the power to make all things new.

Finally, the prayer reminds us of our mission as Christians. We are called to be ambassadors of the kingdom of God, proclaiming the good news of Jesus to the world and working to bring about his kingdom on earth. When we pray, "Come, Lord Jesus," we are expressing our desire to see that mission fulfilled. We are saying that we long for the day when every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Philippians 2:10-11).

The Urgency of the Prayer

It's worth noting that John doesn't just say, "Come, Lord Jesus." He says, "Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!" The word "amen" is significant here. It's a word of affirmation and agreement. It's a way of saying, "Yes, Lord, I believe this with all my heart."

By adding the word "amen," John is expressing the urgency and intensity of his prayer. He's saying, in effect, "Lord, I don't just want this to happen someday. I want it to happen now." This is a prayer that comes from the depths of his being.

And it's a prayer that should come from the depths of ours as well. We live in a world that is broken and hurting. We see the effects of sin and evil all around us. We see injustice, violence, and oppression. We see sickness, disease, and death. We long for something better.

And so we pray, "Come, Lord Jesus." We pray with urgency and intensity, knowing that only he can make all things new. We pray with hope and confidence, knowing that he has promised to return. And we pray with faith and trust, knowing that his timing is perfect and his ways are higher than our ways.

Conclusion

The prayer to end all prayers is a simple yet profound one: "Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!" It's a prayer that expresses our longing for the day when he will return and make all things new. It's a prayer that reminds us of our hope, our allegiance, and our mission as Christians. And it's a prayer that should come from the depths of our hearts, with urgency and intensity.

As we look to the future, let us be a people who pray this prayer with faith and trust, knowing that he who promised is faithful. Let us be a people who live in anticipation of his return, working and praying for his kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven. And let us be a people who proclaim the good news of Jesus to the world, inviting all to join us in this prayer of anticipation.