A popular Christian song in 1978, written by Andrae Crouch was Soon and Very Soon. It said, “Soon and very soon we are going to see the King.” Some nearly 50 years later, the King has not come. How can we be certain he is going to come?

This series addresses the concerns we all have: the concern for sin, evil, death, dying, and what happens after we die. Is there hope after death? When God created us, humans, he intended for us to live forever in a loving, peaceful relationship with him. But this relationship has been broken by sin.

Here, we address the origin of sin and look more closely at death and dying. 

But, instead of looking at death negatively, we look at it in the context of hope, the promised hope based on what Jesus did for us when he died and came back to life again. 

From the Sabbath School Adult Bible Study Guide 2022 Quarter 4: Sabbath.School (See also Hope Sabbath School and 3ABN Sabbath School)

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Let’s invite the Spirit of God

Heavenly Father, Jesus your son promised to return to take us home to live with him forever. We look forward to that day when He shall return to take us out of this sin-infested world. Help us to hold out. In Jesus’ Name Amen.

As Jesus was leaving this earth, he made the following promise in John 14:1–3.

1 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.

2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. (John 14:1-3)

Almost 2,000 years have passed since Jesus made this promise that He would come again.

Four times in the book of Revelation Jesus said, “I am coming quickly”

Revelation 3:11

11 Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. (Revelation 3:11)

Revelation 22:7

7 “Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.” (Revelation 22:7)

Revelation 22:12

12 “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. (Revelation 22:12) 

Revelation 22:20

20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! (Revelation 22:20)

Jesus’ followers expected Jesus to come back in their day. This expectation drove the mission of the church.

Since that time, many Christians have maintained and shared this same hope. But many generations have come and gone, and still, this promise has not been realized.

Hence, many Christians started to ask, as in 2 Peter 3:4.

“Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” (2 Peter 3:4) 

Similar to the parable or allegory in Mathew 25:5, They complain about what seems like a long “delay”

5 But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. (Matthew 25:5)

How can we be assured that this promise of Jesus’ return is relevant to us today, even though it is far removed from the time when Jesus said it?

Why has Jesus, the bridegroom, not come? What is taking him so long?

This apparent long “delay” that has prompted the question of why is it taking so long for him to return leads to these questions: 

When should Jesus have come back? Should it have been 50 years, 150 years, or 500 years ago?

What really matters, however, is what Peter says about the promise in 2 Peter 3:9:

“the Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9, NIV).

This verse shows us that God is waiting patiently for us to get ready for his return. He is giving us time to repent, turn away from a life of sin and turn to him. He wants as many as possible to be saved when he returns.

So, the reason why the Bridegroom delays his coming is because He is longsuffering toward us. He is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance, turn away from their sins…

In the meantime, we keep praying, believing, and obeying. But remember, in our own strength we can do nothing; but in the grace of Jesus Christ, you can use your powers in such a way as to bring the greatest good to your own soul, and the greatest blessing to the souls of others. So, lay hold of Jesus, and you will diligently work the works of Christ, and will finally receive the eternal reward.—Sons and Daughters of God, p. 118. Adapted

Despite the thousands of years since Jesus ascended to heaven, the promise of His coming remains relevant today.

Because, two thousand years ago, Jesus woke up from the dead and went to heaven. He promised he will come back to take us home to be with him eternally. This, we must remember Psalm 90:10 tells us we live a short time. 

10 The days of our lives are seventy years; And if by reason of strength they are eighty years, Yet their boast is only labor and sorrow; For it is soon cut off, and we fly away. (Psalms 90:10)

After that, we fall asleep and remain in an unconscious state resting in the grave according to Ecclesiastes 9:5, 10. (Split)

5 For the living know that they will die, But the dead know nothing, And they have no more reward, For the memory of them is forgotten. 

10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going. (Ecclesiastes 9:5, 10).

Then, the day will come, when God will wake up the righteous dead at which time there will be no second chance for the wicket to change their mind and change their destiny. We only get one life to decide if we want to obey God according to Hebrews 9:27.

Hebrews 9:27

27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: After we die, when we wake up again, we will see Jesus. (Hebrews 9:27).

As far as the dead are concerned as indicated in lesson 3, You can review lesson 3 at SabbathSchoolDaily.com, because all the dead are asleep and unconscious, the second coming of Christ is never more than a moment or two after they die. For you, as well as for all of God’s people of every age, Christ’s return is no more than a moment after your death. That is soon and very soon.

With each new day, we get one day closer to the Second Coming of Jesus in the clouds of heaven. We don’t know when Jesus will return. But we are certain that He will come back.

The point is although we don’t know when He will come, we can be certain that He will, and that is what really matters.

Therefore, if you have not made the promise of Jesus return your hope, you can make that turnaround, and start looking forward to his return when he shall raise the righteous dead and the righteous living and take them home to live with him eternally. How? 

 Find out Day 4 “I Will Raise Him Up”

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