The Christians of the time when ‘John’ wrote the Apocalypse, what we call the Book of Revelation, faced possible death for their loyalty to Jesus as Lord. They would gain from this writing the radical perspective that God is working to accomplish God’s purposes through the very traumas they faced. They would learn that God’s determination was greater than Roman power; that it is based on the risk taking suffering and self sacrifice of the One named ‘the Lamb’. They would also derive hope from the promise that this Lamb, Jesus, would claim them as His own. They would also discover that to have Jesus present with them did not require waiting for some far off event.

   This we can learn for ourselves. Throughout the Apocalypse there are suggestions that the prayer, ‘Come Lord Jesus!’  refers not merely to a future time, but to the here and now!  It is a Communion prayer. We utter the words to speak of the presence of Christ when we meet for communion.

Jesus states to the Church, ‘behold I stand at the door and knock, if anyone opens the door, I will enter, and I will sup with them, and they with me…. (3:20). A clear invitation to communion. The key images of communion are derived from the worship scenes in this book. We read of the saints ‘hungering and thirsting no more’ (7:16). The festive aspect of communion is hinted at with the words:’ blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb’ (19:9).

   The concluding words, ‘Amen, come Lord Jesus’ (22:20) are the Church’s response to the Jesus who stands at the door, knocking. The question put by Jesus earlier demands an answer, and here it is, ‘Come Lord Jesus!’     Whenever we meet, especially for communion, we can know the presence of Jesus. There is no need to wait till some future time; now is the time to pray, ‘Come, Lord Jesus!’.