Answer
The petition to “come, Lord Jesus” is from Revelation 22:20. John writes, “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!” (ESV).
This Scripture contains Jesus’ last words to us, words He wants us to remember and keep dear to our hearts. His message is that our Savior, our King and Lord is coming back! The New Testament references the return of Jesus often, and, for believers, it is always in eager anticipation (e.g., Philippians 3:20–21; Acts 1:1; John 5:28–29; 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17; Revelation 1:7). The glorious appearing of Christ is our “blessed hope” (Titus 2:13). Praying, “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!” is the apostle John’s enthusiastic response to Jesus’ promise that He is coming soon, that is, without delay. It is a promise repeated three times in Revelation 22 (verses 7, 12, and 20).
The word amen means “truly” or “so be it.” John uses the word in Revelation 22:17 as an affirmation of the promise Jesus gave. It is John’s wholehearted desire that Jesus would indeed come quickly. John is saying that he is longing for Jesus to return.
Revelation chapters 21 and 22 reveal a picture of the time when all who believe in Christ will have left behind all sin, suffering, and sorrow (Revelation 21:4). They will fully experience the relationship they are intended to have with God and their fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. They will live in the land where they are supposed to live—the new heaven and new earth (Revelation 21:1). Praying, “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!” is a proper response to the promise of a glorious future.
Christians pray, “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus” in anticipation and longing for the time when we will be with God (Revelation 21:3). God desires to dwell with His people, so much so that the Son came to earth, lived among us, died on the cross for our sins, and rose again on the third day in fulfillment of the Scriptures. Jesus, who suffered for us, promises a time of no more death, mourning, crying, or pain (Revelation 21:4). That time awaits His second coming.
In Revelation 21:17 “the Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let the one who hears say, ‘Come!’” Such is the beautiful response of the Holy Spirit and the church to Jesus’ promise (in verse 12) of His coming. As the Holy Spirit and the church yearn for Jesus’ coming, they extend an invitation to those who are thirsty to “take the free gift of the water of life” (verse 17; cf. John 4:10). We pray, “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus,” as an enthusiastic response to the Bridegroom and the Giver of living water.
To God, “one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day” (2 Peter 3:8, NASB). God is patient, and His coming may seem to be delayed because He desires time for His people to repent and believe (2 Peter 3:9; Hebrews 9:27–28). The anticipatory prayer of “come, Lord Jesus” should be our heart cry, even as we share the good news of Jesus’ saving work on the cross.
