Finally, Brethren, Farewell — November 2025

This is not the last word of God to his church. The last word is verse 21: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.” Grace certainly shall be to you. Grace is always and ever the word of God to his church. By grace are you chosen, redeemed, saved, preserved, and glorified. And if salvation is by grace, then salvation is not by works; for then work is no more work and grace is no more grace.

That grace of God is the beating heart of the things that Jesus Christ has testified to his church. These things are all the things of scripture. It is true that “these things” refer to the things that must shortly come to pass as revealed in the book of Revelation, yet these things are but the culmination of all the things that God has revealed to his people. Scripture is one book. God is its author. The revelation and glory of God is its purpose. Jesus Christ is its content. The beloved church is its addressee. Like a bright light, scripture shines in the darkness to give wisdom to the foolish. All scripture is a solemn testimony of Jesus Christ to his church that the things revealed therein are true. That word concerns the eternal purpose and mystery of God in the exaltation of Jesus Christ, the perfection of his church, and the glorification of all things in a new heaven and earth. This promise Christ sealed in his own blood. Of this promise he gives testimony in the preaching of the gospel. This promise he signifies and seals in the sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s supper. This promise he will perfect when he comes again.

That one who promised also testifies that he comes quickly. Surely, Christ comes quickly! He will not linger in the finishing of his work, but with single-minded focus he will open the seven seals of the eternal counsel of God for the end of all things; in their time Christ will order the angels to blow their trumpets; for the final destruction of the world, Christ will give the command to pour out the vials of the wrath of God; Christ will appear in the heavens to judge the world in righteousness according to the eternal gospel of God; and Christ will make all things new, and the tabernacle of God shall be with men.

“Even so, come, Lord Jesus,” says Christ’s bride. That is her response in the perfection of her faith. It is not her response always at the conscious level, for she is still very much in the world. The cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches often obscure her heavenly vision. The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life often appear to have a stronger hold on her than the hope of heaven. She may for a time vainly attempt the service of two masters, to give herself to the lord mammon and to her Lord in heaven. The word of Christ that he comes quickly often fades from her mind, so enraptured is she by the glittering vanities of this perishing world.

“Even so, come, Lord Jesus” is the response of the bride in the perfection of her faith as she is united to Christ and is taken up into his works and as she indeed groans in the Spirit for the coming redemption of the body and of all things. When she hears Christ’s voice, by the Spirit notices Christ’s operations in the world, and as she suffers the persecution of the ungodly world, then she comes to this height, so that consciously and with genuine longing she utters these words: “Even so, come, Lord Jesus! Even as thou hast promised, perfect thy purpose; glorify thy church; deliver us from sin; break the nations with a rod of iron; let thy kingdom come in all its fullness and glory; let that day appear when he who comes shall come and we shall see him and our eyes shall behold him. Yes, come, Lord Jesus, come quickly. Amen.”