Series 37
Study 10 THE BRIDE’S PRAYER FOR THE BRIDEGROOM’S RETURN
GREAT PRAYERS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
by Francis W. Dixon
(Scripture Reference: Revelation: 22:20)
This study is based upon the last-but-one verse in the Bible – Revelation 22:20, and it introduces the glorious theme of the personal, visible and bodily return of our Lord Jesus Christ. This verse contains:
(1) The Promise of the Bridegroom – “Yes, I am coming soon.”
(2) The Prayer of the Bride – “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.”
The Lord Jesus is the Bridegroom (Matthew 9:14-15; Matthew 25:1-13; John 3:29). The Church, which is constituted of all who are called out (Acts 15:14), baptised into His Body (1 Corinthians 12:13), born again of the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5), and washed in His precious blood (1 John 1:7), is the Bride – look up Revelation 22:17. While it is our main object to centre our thoughts upon the Prayer of the Bride, we must consider first of all:-
1. THE PROMISE OF THE BRIDEGROOM
This is clearly and emphatically stated in Revelation 22:20 – “Yes, I am coming soon”. We may say three things here:-
- (1) It is an ancient promise. It was first made in Genesis 3:14-15.
- (2) It is an often-repeated promise. Throughout the Bible there are many references to the coming again of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- (3) It is a certain promise. All the promises of God are certain – “Yes, I am coming soon” – look up 2 Corinthians 1:20.
Our key-verse tells us that when the Bridegroom announces His return the Bride cries out with holy joy, and with an ardent desire prays, “Come, Lord Jesus!” How should we pray this prayer?
2. THE PRAYER OF THE BRIDE
(1) “Come, Lord Jesus, and see the light of life and be satisfied.” This prayer is prompted by a careful reading of Isaiah 53:10-12 and Hebrews 12:2. There is a reference here to the Calvary work of the Lord Jesus and that while He was on the Cross He anticipated the joy that would be His when many sinners would be saved. What a wonderful day it will be for our Lord when every saved sinner has been gathered into His presence, when after the suffering of His soul, He will see the light of life and be satisfied! The Bride longs for the Bridegroom to be filled with joy and satisfaction.
(2) “Come, Lord Jesus, and fulfil your gracious promise to me to receive me to yourself.” Our Lord made many promises about His return, but one in particular is recorded in John 14:3. How clear this promise is! Our Lord was not referring to death, or to the coming of the Holy Spirit, or to any historical event on earth, but to His personal coming again to receive believers to Himself so that He might take them to be with Him in Heaven.
(3) “Come, Lord Jesus, for every time I take the bread and the wine I anticipate your coming again.” In 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 we have the order for remembering the Lord in His death. Note the words in verse 26 – “until he comes”. Here is the Bride sitting at the table of her Bridegroom, and on the table are the emblems of His love for her; she remembers Him with gratitude and her heart goes out to Him as she anticipates His return. The Bride joyfully anticipates the coming of the Bridegroom, when there will be the marriage supper of the Lamb – look up Revelation 19:6-9.
(4) “Come, Lord Jesus, for I long to see again the loved ones who will come with you.” Many Christians have loved ones who died ‘in Christ’ and they long to meet them again. When will that be? When the Lord Jesus comes! (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). Notice five aspects in relation to the Lord’s coming – Return, Resurrection, Rapture, Reunion, Reign. We shall meet our loved ones again and recognise them – what a comforting word this is (verse 18)! The Bride longs for the Bridegroom to return because He will not come alone.
(5) “Come, Lord Jesus, and help me to live for you as I wait, watch and work, so that I shall not be ashamed at your coming.” John reminds us in 1 John 2:28 that a loving Bride will keep herself pure for her Bridegroom. She will want to please Him. Look up and compare 2 Peter 3:11,14; Mark 13:35, where we learn that we are to work for Him, and 1 Thessalonians 1:10, where we learn that we are to wait for Him. The Bride’s greatest desire will be to bring joy to the heart of the Bridegroom.
(6) “Come, Lord Jesus, for I am waiting to see you as you are, and to be changed into your likeness.” 1 John 3:1-3 should be read carefully, and particular note should be taken of the words in the second part of verse 2. We are actually going to be like the Lord! Every day we should be being changed into His likeness (2 Corinthians 3:18), and God’s ultimate purpose is that we should be conformed to His image (Romans 8:29). Because the Bridegroom is perfect in His character the Bride longs to be like Him.
(7) “Come, Lord Jesus, for only then will my union with you and my vision be one of sight and not just one of faith.” As believers, we are now joined to the Lord, but we are waiting to see Him (Revelation 1:7), and it is only when we see Him that faith will be lost in sight. This is what Peter had in mind when he said – 2 Peter 1:8! Every loving Bride longs to see and be with her Bridegroom.
These are seven suggested prayers, the Bride’s prayers for the Bridegroom’s return. As the Lord says to you, “Yes, I am coming soon”, will you not cry out with great joy, “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!”?