THE TIME IS NEAR
Rev. Bernt P. Tweit
Old Testament Lesson; Malachi 3:14-18
Gospel Lesson; Luke 12:42-48
Sermon Text; Revelation 22:6-13
Today I would like to examine the subject of time. The book of Revelation gives numerous references to time, that may confuse us. We naturally think of time in literal terms. Time is a part of the creation in which we live. It is almost impossible for us to contemplate existence in a timeless world.
If I asked you, "What time is it?" You would probably look at your watch and say, "It is 8:45." What does that mean? It means that it has been 8 hours and 45 minutes since a new day has started.
Again, when we think of time, we usually think of it in concrete or literal terms. What does time mean to you? If I were to observe time on a Sunday morning, what would it reveal about how you view time? The time that church begins is 8:15. For some of you that means you get here at 7:15, for others 7:30 or 8:00, or even 8:30.
As human beings, we know that we are accountable to time, because we live in time. If you have a test tomorrow, you are accountable to be prepared, or you might fail. If you have a project due at work, you are accountable, or you might lose your job.
Today our text talks about time. It says, "The time is near". That phrase really says two things:
I. The time of Jesus’ Second Coming is near.
As believers, not only do we look at time in a concrete fashion, we also look at time in a little different light. In view of the world’s history over the last 2,000 years, it is clear that people and nations have experienced (and are still experiencing) the consequences of our sin. During those centuries, many Christians have died and are still dying. Although Jesus’ coming in glory has not yet occurred, Christians look forward to it, no matter what point of time they live within.
The way we understand the phrase, "The time is near", is not identical to what God means by "The time is near". He operates in a time system not controlled by the movement of heavenly bodies. Recall these words of Peter, "With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." II Peter 3:8-9
Jesus had His own time schedule in regard to the sequence of events on the earth, and He implemented these events according to His will. In the gospel of John, there are many places where Jesus says, "My time has not yet come." Before Jesus changed water into wine, he said to his mother, "Why do you involve me? My time has not yet come." During Jesus’ ministry, many people didn’t want to believe in him, instead they wanted to seize him, stone him, or kill him, but in each instance no one laid a hand on him because his time had not yet come. Then, while Jesus was praying in the Garden of Gethsemane on Maundy Thursday, he said, "The time has come." This was now the time for Jesus to pay for the sin of the world.
Right before Jesus ascended into heaven, the apostles expected the restoration of Israel’s earthly kingdom. Little did they realize, however, when Jesus would initiate the Kingdom of God in its final form. To the disciples, Jesus said, "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by His own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
Later on, the apostle Paul said this to authorities in Athens about God and time, "From one man He made every nation of man, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live." Acts 17:26
God controls time, even when we live. In speaking about time the book of Ecclesiates says, "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die."
And so it shouldn’t surprise us when the book of Revelation says, "The time is near". The Bible clearly states that we are living in the end times. The end of the world is near. We have been given signs - wars and rumors of wars, nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. These end times should impress upon us that the time of Jesus’ coming is near.
When Jesus comes, he will separate all people into two groups: believers and unbelievers. To the believers he will say, "Come you who are blessed by my Father. Receive the inheritance prepared for you since the beginning of the world." To the unbelievers, "Depart from me you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels".
Since we know that the time of Jesus’ coming is near, the book of Romans tells us, "And do this understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over. The day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light." Romans 13:11-12
II. The time of the Fulfillment of Prophecy is near.
The context of the phrase "The time is near", speaks not only to the time of Jesus’ coming, but begins with a reference to "the things that must happen soon." This time refers not only to the time of Jesus’ second coming, but also that the fulfillment of prophecy is near.
In confirmation class I recently asked a question similar to this, "Is knowing that "the time of the fulfillment of prophecy is near" a comforting thought or a scary thought? Everyone agreed it was both. As sinners that phrase "The time is near" is scary. We have to say we have blown it, we have failed and soon we are going to have to stand before the judgment seat of Christ. And there, account for all the things, good and bad done during our time on earth. That’s scary. That, my dear Christian friends, scares me to death. Because in the catechism, at the conclusion of the commandments, Martin Luther writes, "God threatens to punish all who transgress these commandments."
Even when we think we haven’t sinned, we have. There is an E-Mail floating around that is a prayer,
"Dear Lord,
So far today, I am doing all right. I have not gossiped, lost my temper, and been greedy, grumpy, nasty, selfish, or self-indulgent. I have not whined, complained or cursed. But I will be getting out of bed in a minute, and I think that I will really need your help, then."
Even before we rise from sleep, we deserve to be punished for our sins.
Thanks be to God that He took the time to love us. Jesus’ birth, death and resurrection came at the appointed time. Jesus birth came "When the fullness of time had come, God sent His Son." Before his death Jesus said, "The time has come." And with Jesus’ resurrection the time of his resurrection was fulfilled when he rose from the grave three days later.
Jesus’ birth, death and resurrection prove God’s love for us. And with Jesus keeping the Ten Commandments for us, God promises grace and every blessing to us. Our sins of gossip, anger, greed, grumpiness, nastiness, selfishness, whining, complaining and cursing are all forgiven.
God has set a time, a time for the fulfillment of prophecy. We need that reminder so that we will not despair. The moment of victory will not be delayed beyond God’s appointed hour. The victory is not so far away as it often seems to be. The time is near.
Time is a creature. It will be destroyed with everything else at the judgment. Our confusion with time in Revelation is based on our inability to comprehend timelessness.
But this we do know "the time is near." The time of Jesus’ second coming and the fulfillment of the scriptures is near.
Let us use our time to serve God and His Kingdom until there is not more opportunity to do anything in this world. Let us use our time to thank God for His marvelous gifts.
Amen.
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