In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the book of Revelation and its significance as the testimony of Jesus Christ. He emphasizes the importance of understanding that the revelation was given to John so that he could share it with the world. The preacher also mentions his personal love for the book and how it highlights the glory and testimony of the Lamb, Jesus Christ. Throughout the sermon, he touches on various aspects of the Lord's second coming, including the angelic announcement, the translation of believers, the necessity of a new birth, and other events such as the manifestation of the saints, the judgment of Christ, and the reign of peace and righteousness.

I've had the privilege under certain strain, I'll admit, because of a sudden attack which came upon one or two of us, and I often find they do come before meetings, I've had the privilege of presenting some thoughts about the Lord's set in common. Last night I brought before you that angelic announcement concerning his return in a kind of a nutshell glimpse, and on Sunday morning we spoke on the Titan picture of Enoch as a translated people being caught up to meet the Lord after their walk with God. Last night we tried in an evangelistic way to bring the essentiality of a new birth in the light of the coming of the blood of Jesus, and while I have no opportunity and will not have any opportunity to mention other aspects of the Advent, such as the manifestation of the saints with Christ, and then the day of tribulation, and the judgment seat of Christ, and the marriage supper of the Lamb, and the reign of peace and righteousness for a thousand years, and then the revolt of Satan, and the final heading up of the day of God. With no opportunity to touch those things, I pray to keep the most essential thing before you in our dispensation, be prepared to meet thy God. Be prepared for the sudden coming of the Lord Jesus Christ as a believer. And I bring before you in a closing message our Lord's last precious promise. You'll find it in the second last verse of scripture. We must testify of these things first. Now here's our text. Surely I come to you. Then there's a full stop. And John the Beloved said Amen. That's what I want to speak on. Surely I come to you. Amen. Never think of the revelations as the testimony of John. It was given to John that he might give it to the world. But it is the testimony of Jesus Christ. The second verse of the first chapter simply says the testimony of Jesus Christ. That's why I love the revelations. In my working bible it's the most annotated of all the books I think. I delight in the revelations because it's the book of the Lamb and it's the glory of the Lamb and it's the testimony of the Lamb. The testimony of Jesus Christ. Then on the second last verse of the revelations you've got He which testifieth these things. That is Christ himself. Yes. Surely I come quickly. When our Lord must have loved the message of his second coming it was his favourite farewell message and therefore it's good for me to bring it as a farewell message this afternoon. On the sad betrothal night when the dark shadows were gathering around him he said to his disciples if I go away I will come again and receive you unto myself. That was his promise. And then when he instituted the memory feast of the Lord's supper it was to be observed till I come. Then after his resurrection by the tree of Tiberias a little time before his ascension you'll remember how he said to Peter concerning John if I will that he carry till I come. What is that to be? Follow thou me. And then you'll remember that as soon as he was taken up into heaven he sent through his messengers to assure them that his farewell message would be faithful. This day Jesus which is taken from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as he has been involved into heaven. And now on the last page of the inspired word God's holy message to us. The book of the testimony of Jesus Christ. Almost on the last line of the testimony. He which testifieth these things saith shall I come quickly. Thou Lord's favourite farewell message. And it's a very sad thing to my heart that many of the Lord's preachers will not touch the second answer. They'll sidestep it or they'll make passing reference to it. But they will not open up the doctrine of the Lord's second coming. Some of them are afraid of it. Some of them are so careful not to offend people with other views they dare not present it. It hasn't been much of a conviction to them. Oh beloved our Lord's farewell message. How is it revel in it? And to me it's as simple as last text. It's a simple five finger exercise. Surely I come quickly. Amen. Now once my mother thought I had some musical skill. I don't know what put it into her heart or her head. She put me under two or three teachers and for two years I was filtered down to baneful discipline. I had to sit at the piano every afternoon doing the five finger exercise or struggling through the scales. And I had no interest in music really. And I stumbled on and staggered on. Got my Mr's pictures by moonlight and by chance. The teacher the last teacher I might say the third one that tackled me. She said to my mother she's got no music in him Mrs Woodley. You're wasting your money. I was awfully glad because I was allowed to go free then in a practice in the five finger exercise. And I did manage at least to play the blue bells of Scotland. Five finger exercise enables one to bring forth wonderful harmony afterwards. Later those who have the spirit of music can produce the harmonies of the great masters. And if we can only master this final five finger exercise from our Lord Jesus we'll bring out heavenly harmony in some way or other through our lives. Surely I'm going to strike each note slowly and definitely. Surely, surely it's the seal, the seal of the final promise of our Lord. All the promises of God are go and amen. They are yet and so let it be. In Christ Jesus to the glory of God by us who fail, who fail the promises. But some of the promises and some of the prospects of our Lord are sealed. You'll notice this in the scripture some of them are sealed by a certain seal. Now for instance when you come to the precepts of the new birth or conversion the seal is verily, verily, verily I say unto thee except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto thee except he be converted and becomes little children he shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. As much as to say in most solemn truth that solemn truth I say to you except you're born again you've no hope of the kingdom. So he feels the precepts they are and in the sermon on the mount he feels the precepts by the words I say unto you. You'll notice how frequently that comes out. It's been said in the old times that I say unto you. The word of God is speaking to us the word I pray. And then when it comes to world evangelization and you're about to go to the ends of the earth he says no, no I am with you always even to the closing up of the age. Well the seal there to the promise is low but when it comes to the second advent especially in the revelation his seal is behold, behold, behold I come quickly. You'll notice how often that comes in and right at the close he changes the seal. Soon, soon it means certainly yes, yes, yes, yes I'll come, I'll come quickly. You know what minister, what preacher should have any fear of when the promise has been sealed by God almighty. I remember preaching once to a fashionable congregation in the midwest at a very dignified church inside. It wasn't so dignified outside and the people got chattering outside after an evening service and as I pumped it out into that great milling crowd out until a man pushed through the crowd and gripped my hand and said thank you Mr. Redleaf for that certain note in your message we don't get much of it here. I don't wonder. They had a pastor who didn't hear any certainties. My young friend if you're going to become a preacher of any power, of any value, speak with authority. You're God's messenger, you're God's advocate, you're God's ambassador, speak with all authority but be careful you don't speak with all crowns, you can speak with all authority and yet be humble. You know that Dave Gould, the American millionaire, he often went to hear D. L. Moody preach in the days of the revival and a fellow millionaire said to him once, Mr. Gould, why do you want to hear that unlettered Moody preach? You don't believe what he believes? No, he said I don't. But he does, he does. Can you bother that? He was so gripped by the certainties of what Moody said. He was so seized by the power of that man that could still a great multitude until one testified he could hear a pin drop. Though he often blundered in his grammar. Often made mistakes in his utterance. Dipped right up he'd say. See Dennis? And so on. Well some of your people, they act in whole trouble. See there's a sitcom for man like this. Ah, he had authority, he had power. He had God. No means of grace in doing that. But if a man hasn't had the background, God can make him a rare blessing without it. And here we've got surely, surely. Surely he cometh and a thousand voices speak to the saints but to the deaf are dumb. Surely he cometh and the church rejoices, glad in his coming to have sworn, I come. That brings me to the second of third notes. I come. I come. As Jesus come, I come. I would call that the substance of the promise. Promise. After all, he is the substance of the promise. The one we look for. The hope of the promise, the health of the promise is the Lord Jesus himself. I come. Why does he say that? Because he went away. He went away. A certain learned professor in a certain denomination in Sydney who was defending himself many years ago against charges of modernism said no I don't want the second coming of Christ because he never went away. What a twisting of truth to a wrong angle. Banking on that word, I will come unto you by the Spirit you know. He was making out there was no second advent. But our Lord simply said to his disciples, it is expedient for you that I go away. For if I go not away, the Comforter will not come to you. But if I go away, I will send him unto you. And again our Lord said on one other occasion, when the children of the bride shall take the day come when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, then they will pass. And then he told, remember one of those great stories or parables. Was it a man taking a journey into a far country and he gave authority to his servants and commanded the porter to watch and then instantly said watch. Knew also for in such an hour as he thinks not the Son of Man coming. Of course he went away. He was perceived up into heaven. He was perceived up into glory the word said. In another passage he proceeded at the right hand of the majesty and high. Of course he went away. He went away. He ascended. But he's coming. He's coming again. The same Jesus. I come. I come. I will come again. The Lord himself shall descend from heaven. Substance of the promise is clear enough to me. I'm not going to look for some substitute tonight. I'm not going to look for somebody else to come. I'm not going to look for a sudden thrilling joy and blessing. I'm not going to look for the grave. Those I know only too well. If I die my spirit I trust will be protected and protected. I remember you know old W.P. Nicholson he had some strange sayings. Ever hear W.P. Nicholson preach? Oh you missed something. If you didn't hear old W.P. preach isn't that so Bill? W.P. Nicholson you know in one place he was urging the people to come to a service. And he said now look here I want you to come. I expect you to come. I know when he promises I hear from people sometimes. Oh God bless you Mr. Nicholson. We can't come but we'll be there in spirit. I don't want your ghostly spirits around me again. I want you here in front of me. I'm not looking for some feeling tonight. Some strange joyous feeling. What? Terrific excitement in my soul. I'm looking for him to come. I'll come. That's what I've sent him a promise. The Lord himself. Ah what a blessing. Hope the people will think that we shall see him as he is. And we shall delight in him. Chosen in a moment. In the twinkling of an eye. To bear the likeness. Of the Lord of Glory. The lost likeness. The likeness that Adam lost in the garden. The likeness that was lost to Cain. Restore him now. When we see the face that we have lost. We shall reflect the likeness of our Lord forever. There's a measure. In which we can reflect that likeness. In the spirit. But never in the same way as when we see him. That's why revival never satisfies my soul. I've seen little miniature revivals. Nothing like the great revivals of Billy Graham. And others. But I've seen little movements of the spirit. In my ministry. And they send a thrill of joy through my heart. They don't really satisfy. I am an advocate of the advent every time. I believe the only thing that satisfies. The only hope of the church. And the world. Is the coming of the King. And I don't want you in my closing address. Dear friends. To look for Antichrist. And surmise who he is. I don't want you to look for the great tribulation. And imagine you're passing through it. I don't ask you. The rest of the great upheaval signs. Great as they are. And I've mentioned some of them. And they can see you. But I ask you in my closing message. You look for the Lord himself. You look for that one that says. I'll come. Look for the substance. Of the promise. Go. Said an ancient king. As he was dying. To his pagan officers around him. But pointing to the poor officer. At the glorious sword. And stabbed himself in the ground. A word from Alpine. Go. He says. Tell the dead in sin. I'll come. Go. Tell the nations. That may need. I'll come. Go tell those that are struggling. To try and get some unity. Amongst distressed people. I'll come. The Prince of Peace. The Lord of Righteousness. Then we strike the cross. No. Quickly. Quickly. That's the speed of the promise. Isn't it? Yes brother you say. And it's the thing that spikes the promise. For me too. It can't be true. If the Lord Jesus Christ. In the year 1896. Could give out that word. Surely I'll come quickly. And here we are. At 1960. And he hasn't come yet. Do you call that speed? That's not my mind of speed. No it is Christ. Because you're followed. And he is infinite. Because you're reckoning time. According to your clock. And God has a clock. Which may be different to your clock. And you haven't even adjusted. Your watch or clock. To God's time yet. The uncertainty of his coming. Is one of the delights of his coming. It might have been. Or he might have been as he went. It might have been. In the middle ages. It might have been in the great revivals. Of the evangelical succession. When West Westley and Whitfield. Were in the forefront of the battle. And it might have been. But it's always at hand. Archibald Brown's spurgent great friend. Once said to people who complained. About that very word. Quickly he once said this. Look here he said. There are multitudes of little insects. Born into this world. They're nurtured through their insect babyhood. They grow up into maturity. They stagger into old age. And they die in 24 hours. And I expect their life. To them as long. As 60 or 70 years to us. Now he said. Just you imagine for a moment. An old age insect. Tottering in his weakness. Came to a friend of his. A little younger. Did you hear. What that man said when he went out. A long time ago to his wife. Goodbye dear. I'll be back soon. I was only a little more than a baby when he said it. And he hadn't come yet. The man couldn't have been through. Just silly insects. Said Archibald Brown. Silly insects. Measuring time. By your clone age 24 hours. If. Would the Lord. A day is a thousand years. A thousand years of the day. Why it's only about two days. A day since he said to John. Sorry. Two days. I'll come quickly. Two days. Not for that. If we're right in our phenology. If we're right in our time keeping. But if you turn back in your Bibles. If they're handy. And you look at certain passages. The sixth chapter. Where the inspired prophet is speaking. Concerning the remnant of Israel. Who will be restored. In those great days. When the Lord brings the restitution. Of all things. With his coming. Come and let us return unto the Lord. For he hath sworn. And he will heal us. He hath smitten. And he will bind us up. After two days. Will he revive us. In the third day. He will raise us up. And we shall live. In his sight. Beloved. If you take a thousand years for the day. About two days. Of almost gone since the time. The promise was given. And if the third. Great millennium. Is going to be the millennium. Of God's peace. You'll find that Israel. Is going to come back into her own. As a central spot in the earth. Where the Lord will reign. Before his ancients gloriously. And a remnant of the nations. Will be saved. And there a day. He'll prove his promises. In the covenant promised to Abraham. Long before the Lord ever came. The bones from the dry bones. And bring the whole army. Into life again. Will they seem ready to go. So are the works. Of the Lord. Beyond finding out. Quickly also means. I'm coming speedily. And when I come I'll make quick work of it. I'll be like a flash of lightning. I'll come. Like the express flash of an eagle. Down upon his prey. In a moment. In the twinkling of an eye. There'll be no force. To prepare them. There'll be no halt. To adjust them then. Surely. I'll come. The substance of the promise. Quickly the speed of the promise. Now the sequence of the promise. Amen said John. You seem to have slipped fast. Into those hilarious times. Of shouting Amen. Now the proverbs know. That as you murmur next to your own heart. And not shout it out to disturb. The woman sitting next to you. Now I love to hear somebody call out. With a true fervent heart. Amen. As a good word is spoken. As though they're backing up. God blessed word. When I worked. Over in Melbourne 25 years ago. Old Harry Dyer used to be my song leader. And Harry Dyer had a face. Like the full moon. In his joy and beauty. Big massive man. Came from Brinton to Vauxhall. And he'd leave the singing in a grand style. And if he saw one responding to the appeal. That we'd been praying for Harry. He'd say keep up, keep up. And if I'd say something when I was preaching here. And I'd say something that seemed to be. To them conclusive. Amen, Amen. With a couple of few voices behind me. And he's pushing on. Like an engine at the back of a train. There must be a confusion of this kind. That hearts should be bubbling over with joy. Have I ever heard any young men. Even Mr Kudo who calls himself. An army. He doesn't seem to burst out with many amens. Until he doesn't burst out. We've all got to be quick when it comes to. Amen. So let it be. So let it be. Amen he said. So let it be. God loves the Lord. John couldn't think of a better word. With which to climax that. That's it, that's just what I want. Amen. Even so. Come Lord Jesus. Ah it's a sweet beat with the promise isn't it. I wonder if every heart in this gathering. This afternoon could honestly say. To the last precious promise of our rhythm Lord. Amen, that's what I want. Amen, so let it be. Or would there have to be some adjustment of breath? Would there have to be some adjustment of deportment? Would there have to be some adjustment in your house? Would there be something have to be done quickly to prepare yourself for that meeting? Is there a nasty undercurrent of resentment to someone that should long ago have been buried beneath the blood? Would there have to hurry to ask forgiveness for? Would it not be nice after all if you claim to be a brother to all the saints that suddenly at his coming you're going to carry, or attempt to carry your bad feeling up into the air? Or knows the man, the woman who has separated from his world as much to come to the cross and die to himself? And that's not easy. Not easy. But at least he's made some effort and he'll be so happy as Hudson won't sin against him anymore. And the thought of his heaven coming to me is this was his! And like his! And at last, I want to praise him with lips that are full of real love and a heart that overflows for his wonderful suffering that I'll bring to be with them all. What affinity! I know the world in a dreadful state distressed of nations with perplexity the great ones of the nations lost me in New York with some disgraceful exhibition with some most earned efforts that they've made. I know on every side we've got claims to claim and claims to win them and the love of many is lost in cold. I know that the dark sensations and discoveries are lighting up the whole place with a new type of light. But that doesn't cause us a promise. The only thing that will satisfy men and women made in the image and likeness of God is to be brought back to us when we see this as a likeness. And it could be tonight it could be before you've reached with me a little home centre pardon me for giving another illustration of World War I but it was so bigger to me I remember it more than any other thing in my life I think. As I was in hospital I'd been brought from a terrible battle field and placed in a hospital at Boulogne, it belonged some call it no matter much there on the very shore of France waiting for the ship to take me to England and I was covered with bandages round my head and every swallow was in agony and the doctor came in the morning after our arrival and looked at one after another shattered and broken by a horrific battle looked and felt around a little and then he flipped to the next bed and he said something to the nurse as he moved and I'll never forget in my restless description of pain and suffering that little nurse an Australian nurse coming back hoisting us from the doctor's side, cutting in the clothes that I was gotten away constantly in the reluction of the agony of the wound never mind sonny he said never mind you'll be in England tonight you'll be in England tonight it was the softest, sweetest thing the little Australian lass could think of to whisper to one in his teens, he shouldn't have been at war you know, in the ordinary kind of a thing it was in great agony you'll be in England tonight no matter how severe your fight is young Christian you won't be in glory tomorrow no matter how heavy the burden my older sister or older brother and how constant the flame of life in a moment perhaps by the nightfall or by the crop growing of the morning you may be in the land of love and life the home of the redeemed it'll all happen so suddenly for the same there'll be in a moment one one place I'll be loved in forever and though the judgment of Jesus Christ may be a very solemn time it won't destroy the likeness it won't rob you of your eternal salvation it might rob you of your reward that you're supposed to have I don't want nothing I judge not my own self it's the Lord who will judge me if the judgement of Christ I know not that a lot of my ministry I might have been struck through with selfishness but if then all your good high-end trouble is blazed up in the fire of God's holy face I can have a little gold, silver, precious stones to do service out of a surrendered heart then every man shall have praise of God and that will be glory did you ever hear these lovely words low as some ship outworn, overladen cranes for the harbour where her sails are furled low as some innocent and eager maiden dreams o'er the wistful limit of the world dreams of the glow and glory of the distance wonderful ruin in the grace of tears dreams with what eyes and what a sweet insistence lovers are awaiting in the hidden years sorry than I that there's a pain more filling sorry than I that there's a hope more sweet yearn for the sign O Christ of thy fulfilling path for the final of thy adventing O have you got that chanting, that counting, that yearning that longing, that wisdom the love that lends to themselves your people what a sweet voice it would be nice to know them if it be on a quest their hearts are touched and softened with you that it might not speak to someone who's away from Christ altogether emotion and softening that sense of being almost in tears with the wonder of a blessed translation may be alright to the senses but not always to the soul I must tell you this and then finish I was teaching at a little church one night not far from Sydney and I gave an appeal for anyone who had not accepted Christ or resisted that to raise their hands of prayer and a few hands went up and right in the centre of the church a man with a big war-wrapped moustache fell all over the lips looked up and lifted his hand like that and we prayed for them and then had to leave the church and him and ask them to come forward and thank God a few of them walked out immediately but not the man with that peculiar moustache he didn't see he moved from one foot to the other and drew back his pen book and then in the last verse I made a prayer of praise and there how my heart leaped with joy as I saw him put his pen book down whisper something to the man next to him stooped down and picked up a bag and his hat took his way up from the centre of the street and into the aisle and come forward and take my hand passed him to the inquiry room and after they'd been there the councillor brought him up to me and he said he'd like to have a little word with you before he goes Mr Ridley and I put him by the hand and I said I'm so thankful you came out to the Lord tonight did you come back to Christ or was it a first decision ah Mr Ridley you said I came to the Lord many years ago to salvage an armour you said I put the uniform on and I worked in the army for years and then something happened I got as well I lost the old fire I slipped badly I disgraced the uniform I got mixed up with clubs and lodges and I put them first in the right and money making and other things and now he said there are my two boys both of them far out in the world and so now I've come back to Jesus tonight he said oh brother Ridley he said if ever there was a man in this world needed prayer, if you wrote your notes let him know he better know I said I'll pray for you he said thank God you've come really you've come right back to Jesus oh yes I've been about that brother I slipped you see well I'll pray for you brother and he went and I didn't think I'd ever see him again or have perhaps any contact with him it wasn't a church where I often preached the following Saturday I got a phone call and the secretary of that church said oh Mr Ridley do you remember the service last Sunday night the church yes I said indeed do you remember that man that came out with a big moustache I do yes I said how is he getting on oh he's all right for the first few days he said I'll get it on Friday what I said so he did yes Mr Ridley he said it worked but I said was he suffering did he have heart trouble not at all, none of us knew anything nothing was wrong with him just collapsed and died I just come from his funeral I thought you'd like to know he just got in in time it might be more certain than that with you my brother my sister not right with God trifling as our sister gave us a little message trifling with some little fox that's spoiling the vine holding back part of the price in a way conforming to the world to be well thought of and popular and admired by the world look out when that sudden coming drops upon your life and you find yourself lifted to another realm the only thing that will count to conquer you I dare to be different I dare to be a Daniel I dare to be a true Christ one I didn't stand up for popular opinion I did try to live for my Lord and then even so I'm an unprofitable scorn of them as we find a moment silent prayer move not a last call if you have a need in your heart it might be even only a little fox that's keeping away at your spiritual life it might be only a Sabbath that gets found in you to a world in its popularity as we vow to be brave enough to lift that hand up for prayer that the Lord would touch you in our final moments and prepare you to be able to say unto you, Amen even so come come quickly come now Lord Jesus may God give us grace to do the right thing let us vow in prayer I pray heads bowed, hearts humbled I hope are you humble enough to ask for prayer where God has spoken to you just before we close you may have asked before but something has seemed to be open over a little fox, a little failure a little weakness, would you just lift a hand for a moment and let me pray I pray unto you that God would support you through His coming, by His gracious spirit, are there some that would do that, just before, God bless you my sister, the Lord bless your heart God bless you my brother, God bless you my brother, God bless you, that's right someone else would do that say brother, say unto my sister God bless your heart, say someone else while they are bowed in God's presence, would you be humble enough to say brother I must go to leave this convention fighting with God I'm not going to leave this convention just about, a grand welcome from my Lord I want you to pray for me I'm not the out and out of thy office I need the grace of thy Holy Spirit to touch me this very day, open unto me will you, someone else just before I speak to God would you lift that hand up and the Lord would thank you dear friend God bless you, I see you right at the end that's good, someone else would ask for prayer thank you my sister, that's right think well think well for the moment we mustn't hurry when we're dealing with vital holy things when you ask for prayer will you lift that hand to heaven as you put your heart down low before God and He longs for prayer, remember the original had four days in which to get right and He got there by God's mercy you don't know how long you've got, anyone else just before I speak to the Lord would you lift your hand up in God's time for blessing this afternoon Heavenly Father we commend these dear friends to do we thank you for their willingness to ask after many of us during the convention to ask this afternoon to help, it is the spirit that quickeneth, the flesh profiteth nothing by thy quickening spirit by thy ringing and challenging word by thy love fathomless and wonderful lift them to a new confession a new dedication a new deliverance we plead this in the light of that sudden, lightning-like return of our Lord to the air and the translation of the glory the Lamb's right to move Him make a marriage proper