Jesus Is Coming: Live Ready While You Wait

Oct 11, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: Cleaning House Before the Parents Return

The image of children scrambling to tidy up before their parents’ return mirrors how believers ought to live in light of Christ’s imminent coming. Just as kids adjust their behavior knowing authority is near, Christians must examine daily choices—obedience, holiness, service—through the lens of eternity. This isn’t about fear but love: living ready means aligning every corner of life with the King who could appear at any moment. The clock is ticking, but hope fuels the cleanup. [42:25]

“Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so, Amen.”
(Revelation 1:7, ESV)

Reflection: What “mess” in your life—a habit, relationship, or neglected calling—needs immediate attention before Christ’s return? How might cleaning it up honor His nearness today?

Day 2: Lightning Across the Sky, Visible to All

Jesus’ return won’t be a quiet manger scene but a cosmic display no one can ignore. Like lightning illuminating the entire sky, His glory will rupture the ordinary, seen by every nation and generation. This global visibility strips away excuses: no one will claim ignorance. For believers, this truth anchors hope; for others, it’s a warning to stop hiding. The question isn’t if they’ll see Him, but how they’ll respond. [59:35]

“Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.”
(Matthew 24:30, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your life needs to hear about the unavoidable reality of Christ’s return? What step will you take this week to share this hope or warning?

Day 3: Priests on Night Watch

Christians aren’t just waiting—they’re stationed as priests, called to keep the lamps burning and the altar ready. A priest’s role is twofold: worshiping without ceasing and interceding for the unprepared. This isn’t passive duty but urgent stewardship. Every prayer, act of service, and moment of worship fuels the watch. The King’s delay is mercy, granting time to gather others into the light. [14:49]

“And made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
(Revelation 1:6, ESV)

Reflection: Where is God inviting you to act as a priest today—in worship, intercession, or leading someone toward readiness? What distracts you from this sacred post?

Day 4: Wailing at the Unlocked Door

The wail of those caught unprepared at Christ’s return echoes the dread of children surprised by early-arriving parents. It’s the sound of irreversible consequences. This grief isn’t for sin itself, but for facing judgment without a mediator. The door of grace still stands open, but its hinges creak with urgency. For those outside Christ, today’s complacency is tomorrow’s despair. [01:01:35]

“They called to the mountains and the rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?’”
(Revelation 6:16-17, ESV)

Reflection: Does the thought of Christ’s return stir joy or unease in you? What unfinished business with God needs resolving to replace dread with anticipation?

Day 5: Signing the Guarantee

God doesn’t merely predict Christ’s return—He stakes His eternal identity on it. Alpha and Omega, Almighty—these titles aren’t poetry but legal signatures on history’s ultimate contract. His power ensures no force can delay the promise. This guarantee transforms waiting from anxiety to active readiness. Every sunrise is a counted heartbeat toward the day He splits the sky. [01:08:09]

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
(Revelation 1:8, ESV)

Reflection: How would living today change if you fully believed Christ’s return is as certain as tomorrow’s sunrise? What “Almighty-sized” step could you take in faith this week?

Sermon Summary

John opens Revelation 1:7-8 with a word meant to grab hold of everybody listening: “Behold.” John says, look, see, pay attention, because something significant is coming. John does not give a maybe or an if here. John declares, “He is coming.” Jesus’ return is certain, and nothing is going to stop it.

The phrase “is coming” also carries the sense that Jesus is already on the way. John’s words call Christians to stop living like children left home alone, bending the rules, making a mess, and assuming there is always more time. Christ’s return should change how His people live, not because they are terrified of seeing Him, but because they love Him and want Him to find them faithful.

John shows that Christ’s second coming will be glorious. Jesus first came humbly, laid in a manger, seen by only a few. Jesus will come again with the clouds, with power and great glory, in the very presence and authority of God. The clouds point to the divine glory surrounding the Son of Man, the King who ascended and will return just as He went.

John also says Christ’s coming will be global. “Every eye will see him.” Jesus will not return incognito. No tribe, nation, tongue, believer, or unbeliever will miss the full display of His deity, authority, and sovereignty. Those who pierced Him, meaning all who have rejected Him throughout the ages, will see Him too.

John says all the tribes of the earth will wail on account of Him. Christ’s appearing will bring joy to those saved by His blood, but grief and terror to those who remain in rebellion. The wailing will come from knowing that the King has arrived as Judge and that God’s wrath against sin cannot be escaped. Revelation’s warning is plain: hell is real, judgment is certain, and no one can hide from the face of the Lamb.

God Himself guarantees this prophecy. The Alpha and Omega, the One who is and who was and who is to come, has signed His name to Christ’s return. God knows the end from the beginning, rules over all things, and possesses all power to bring His purposes to fruition.

Christians are called to live ready: worshiping, serving, pursuing holiness, repenting of sin, and making the Savior known. Those who do not know Christ are called to repent and trust in the One who died for sin and rose again, so that His coming will bring salvation rather than wailing.

Key Takeaways

1. Jesus is already on the way John’s words do more than predict a future event. The present-tense language presses Christ’s return into everyday life, calling Christians to live as though the King could appear at any moment. Christ’s imminent coming does not produce panic in those who belong to Him, but faithful readiness. [54:52]
2. Christ’s return will be unmistakably glorious Jesus first came in humility, but He will return with clouds, power, and great glory. Every attempt to reduce Him to merely a teacher, example, or religious figure will collapse before His visible majesty. The returning Christ will reveal in full what faith now confesses. [57:35]
3. Every eye will see the King John leaves no room for a hidden or local return of Christ. Every people group will see His divine identity, authority, and sovereignty on full display. The same Jesus whom many ignore, reject, or keep at a distance will stand before all creation as Lord. [1:00:13]
4. Readiness means repentance and priestly living Christ’s people are not saved to drift through life for comfort, possessions, or self. Jesus has made His people a kingdom of priests who worship Him, serve Him, and make Him known. Repentance is not merely regret over sin, but a turning back toward faithful worship and holy obedience. [1:13:41]
5. Christ’s return fuels gospel urgency The certainty of Christ’s coming should not make the church less engaged with the world. The return of the King gives greater urgency to holiness, sacrifice, service, and gospel witness. Those who know Jesus is coming should want others to be ready rather than wail at His appearing. [1:19:52]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[42:07] - Children Left Home Alone
[45:10] - Jesus Is Coming
[46:42] - Behold, He Is Coming
[49:41] - The Meaning of Behold
[52:19] - Christ’s Return Is Certain
[54:27] - Jesus Is Already on the Way
[56:18] - The Glorious Coming of Christ
[59:35] - Every Eye Will See Him
[1:01:11] - Wailing Before the Returning King
[1:06:15] - God Guarantees His Return
[1:10:33] - Living Ready While Waiting
[1:14:49] - Making Christ Known
[1:16:07] - Be Ready Through Faith in Jesus
[1:18:57] - Christ’s Return Creates Urgency

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Revelation 1:7-8
“Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen. 'I am the Alpha and the Omega,' says the Lord God, 'who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” [46:42]

Matthew 24:30
“Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” [58:18]

Romans 12:1
“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” [01:13:41]

Observation questions

What details in Revelation 1:7 describe how Jesus will return, who will see Him, and how people will respond?
What titles does Revelation 1:8 use for God, and what do those titles emphasize about His ability to fulfill His promises? [01:06:49]
How does Matthew 24:30 add to the picture of Jesus coming “with the clouds”?
According to Romans 12:1, what does it look like to offer one’s body as a living sacrifice, and how is that connected to worship? [01:13:26]

Interpretation questions

Why does John begin this prophecy with a call to pay attention? What does that reveal about the importance of Christ’s return for every person? [50:42]
What does it mean that Jesus “is coming,” rather than merely that He will come someday? How should the certainty and nearness of His return shape a believer’s outlook? [54:41]
Revelation 1:7 says that every eye will see Jesus, including those who rejected Him. Why will His appearing bring joy to some and wailing to others? [01:01:25]
How do God’s names in Revelation 1:8—Alpha and Omega, the One who is and was and is to come, the Almighty—give confidence that Christ’s return cannot fail to happen? [01:07:12]

Application questions

If Jesus returned this week, what parts of life would you be glad for Him to find you doing? Are there any areas—at home, at work, in relationships, or in private—where you need to turn from delayed obedience? [01:10:33]
It is easy to pour time, energy, and resources into comfort, possessions, recreation, or career while giving little thought to eternal things. Where are you most tempted to live that way, and what is one change that could help you put eternal priorities first? [43:52]
Jesus has made His people a kingdom of priests. What could daily worship and service look like for you beyond a Sunday gathering? [01:13:09]
Is there a specific sin, pattern of compromise, or unfinished act of obedience that you have been putting off? What would repentance look like in a practical next step this week? [01:14:17]
Who in your life may not be ready for Christ’s return? What is one loving, clear, and appropriate way you could begin or continue a gospel conversation with that person? [01:15:33]
Christ’s certain return should produce greater holiness, sacrifice, service, and gospel urgency rather than fear or withdrawal. Which of those areas does God seem to be pressing on in your life right now, and why? [01:20:00]

Sermon Clips

44s

#RepentAndBelieve

“If you're a Christian who's been living an unholy, sin filled life, walking in disobedience to Christ, if you're a Christian who's sinning in your marriage, at work, at home, if you're Christian who's living for this world, John wants you to hear loud and clear, Jesus is already on the way. You really want him to find you living that way? No. John's message is the message of the Bible. If you're living in sin, may godly grief over your sin rise up within and lead you to repentance. I implore you to repent.”

43s

#ReadyForHisReturn

“Remember that illustration a few minutes ago about us being children home alone? The parents leave. We tend to live free. We bend the rules. We make a mess. But when we know they're already on their way home, we behave differently. We stop bending the rules. We start cleaning up our mess. We turn down the music. This verse is like our father from heaven speaking to us saying, my son is already on the way. He's already on the way. Every time we say or hear Jesus is coming, we need to remember his coming is certain. He's actually already on the way.”

49s

#SecondComing

“Brothers and sisters in Christ, when Jesus appears the second time, he's not coming in a crib, he's coming with the clouds. And it's gonna be a spectacular sight. Unlike his first coming where only a few saw it, the second time Jesus comes, everyone's gonna know because as John says, his second coming will not only be glorious, it will be global. The whole world will see it. Not just a few in Bethlehem. He will be seen by all men. Next time Christ comes, his glory, his power, his divine identity, his glorious coming will not be seen just by a small group. His divine identity, his coming will be seen by every people group.”

32s

#LiveReady

“Just as the knowledge that our parents were on the way home when we were kids changed the way we behaved, knowing that Jesus is returning, he's already on his way, should change the way we live every day. Not because you and I are terrified of his coming, but because we love him, because we belong to him, and we want him to find us living faithfully when he comes. John's message to us is gonna be, live ready.”

53s

#JesusIsComing

“There is one who when he says something will happen, no one or nothing can stop it from happening. And that someone is the almighty God. And he has signed this prophecy declaring it will happen, guaranteeing it. Jesus is coming. This is God guaranteed. And his coming is guaranteed to be glorious, to be global, and to bring grief. Which brings us full circle back to the first four words of verse seven. Behold, he is coming. God's message to us all is this, pay attention. Pay attention everyone. Jesus is coming. This is certain. He's already on his way.”

43s

#ComeLordJesus

“So behold, this is the theme of revelation, this is the first prophecy of revelation and there are implications for all of us. This is an event we look forward to. We, like John, will say, come, Lord Jesus, come. And what John wants us to know is his coming is certain, and the certainty of his return should affect the way we Christians live. He wants us to live as if Jesus is already on the way. Because in a sense he is.”

44s

#GodAlmighty

“And finally, he says he's the almighty. This describes the great power and the sovereign authority of God over everything. Now think about that. You think about Jesus' coming. It's like, he's basically saying it's guaranteed because I have the power to accomplish it and nothing can stop it from happening. He's like, I'm God almighty. put it all together, God basically picks up the writing utensil, signs this prophecy saying, I am the eternal, omniscient, all powerful, sovereign God who guarantees Jesus is coming.”

43s

#KingdomLiving

“While he's away, many are not following him, many are not living for him, and many are not joining him on his mission. This morning through the verses we are about to read, the apostle John reminds us of a significant event that is on the horizon. Jesus coming. Just fittingly the title for this morning's message. John reminds us of this significant event because his desire and more importantly God's desire is that when Jesus comes he finds his people living ready.”

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