I was sitting silently, waiting on the Lord when I heard Him say, “Remember what I told you. The time is coming–and it’s coming soon.”
The time is coming–and it’s coming soon.
What does He mean? I turned to Scripture.
We see 38 occurrences of “the time is coming” in 23 translations of the Bible. That gives us a lot to chew on.
Some of the “the time is coming” instances in Scripture have already taken place. Some are yet to come–and it’s the ones yet to come that give us insight into what the Lord is saying.
In 1 Samuel 2:31 the Lord said, “Behold, the time is coming when I will cut off your strength and the strength of your father’s house, so that there will not be an old man in your house.” And in 2 Kings 20:17, He said, “‘Behold, the time is coming when everything that is in your house, and that your fathers have stored up until this day, will be carried to Babylon; nothing will be left.’” These things came to pass just as the Lord prescribed.
Unfulfilled Messianic Prophecies
But then we see verses like Jeremiah 23:5, “The time is coming,” declares the Lord, “when I'll raise up a righteous branch for David. He will be a king who rules wisely, and he will administer justice and righteousness in the land.” This, of course, is a Messianic prophecy that relates to the Second Coming of Christ.
Habakkuk 2:14 tells us, “But [the time is coming when] the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” This, too, has yet to come to pass and also relates to the Second Coming of Christ. So what has to happen before this happens?
We’ll see many of the unfulfilled signs of the times outlined in Scripture come to pass. Many of these signs, such as Israel becoming a nation once again in 1948, have already occurred. But there is more to come as the earth groans in anticipation of the sons of God (see Romans 8:22). Wars and rumors of wars, as well as earthquakes, famines and false prophets are not the only signs. There are many to watch for and pray through.
Rising persecution is one of them. John 16:2 tells us, “They will ban you from the synagogues. In fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering service to God.” We’re seeing this now and it will intensify.
Ear Ticklers Abound
We’re also seeing Paul’s end times prophecy coming to pass in a geater way. 2 Timothy 4:3 tells us, “For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine and accurate instruction [that challenges them with God’s truth]; but wanting to have their ears tickled [with something pleasing], they will accumulate for themselves [many] teachers [one after another, chosen] to satisfy their own desires and to support the errors they hold.”
We’ve also been seeing this prophecy come to pass: “For the time is coming when judgement is to begin at the house of God: and if at us first, what will be the end of those that obey not the gospel of God?” (1 Peter 4:17).
Consider Jesus’ words in the last chapter of Scripture. In Revelation 22:7, Jesus tells us, “Look, I am coming soon!” And again, in Revelation 22:12-13, Jesus said, “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” And again in Revelation 27:20, “Yes, I am coming soon.”
Living Like There’s No Tomorrow
The apostles in the early church lived like Jesus was coming back at any minute. So should we. Although it’s been over 2,000 years since Jesus told His friend John, “I am coming soon,” when we look at the signs of the times manifesting in rapid fire and with intensity all around us, is there any question that today we’re another day closer to eternity?
It’s time for us to return to our first love. Jesus told the church at Ephesus, “Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent” (Revelation 2:4-5).
Let this not be true of us. I pray if you are not on fire for Jesus, that you will return to Him with weeping and fasting until a revelation of His beauty causes you to burn and shine for Him in an increasingly dark world.
