The very first declaration, "Look, I am coming soon!" (Greek: \\text{idou erchomai tachu}), strikes with the force of an immediate command for attention.

The word "soon" (\\text{tachu}) does not necessarily mean "in the next few minutes" in God’s time, which is not bound by human chronology (compare 2 Peter 3:8, "with the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day").

Instead, it conveys the certainty and suddenness of His return. It means "quickly," "suddenly," or "without delay when the time comes."

This urgency is a constant theme throughout the New Testament, designed to keep the Church watchful and active. The early Christians lived in the constant expectation of Christ’s return. This passage, found at the very end of the Bible, reinforces this state of perpetual readiness.

Scriptural Echoes of Imminence: Matthew 24:42-44: Jesus warns, "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come... So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him."

The "coming soon" is not a historical curiosity; it is the ultimate reality that shapes our present life. It demands a life of repentance, purification, and focused mission, as if every sunrise could herald the trumpet call.

The second part of the announcement reveals the purpose of His swift return: "My reward is with Me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done."

Here, Jesus is established as the final, righteous Judge.

This statement addresses two primary groups: the faithful and the unfaithful.

A. The Believer's Reward (The Judgment Seat of Christ):

For those who have accepted Christ's salvation by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9), this judgment is not about determining eternal destiny—that is secured by Christ's sacrifice. Rather, it is about the reward for faithful service.

This is often referred to as the \\text{Bema} Seat Judgment (2 Corinthians 5:10, Romans 14:10).

The "works" of the believer are examined—not for salvation, but for sincerity and quality (1 Corinthians 3:12-15). Deeds done in faith, love, and obedience, and those done for the glory of God, are the gold, silver, and costly stones that will endure.

Self-serving or unholy acts are the "wood, hay, or straw" that will be burned away, causing the loss of reward, but the person is still "saved—but only as one escaping through the flames."

The promise of a reward fuels our service. It elevates mundane tasks and sacrificial ministry from simple duty to eternal investment. Every cup of cold water given in His name (Matthew 10:42) and every act of enduring persecution (Matthew 5:11-12) has an eternal weight of glory.

B. The Unbeliever's Recompense (The Great White Throne):

For those who rejected Christ's grace, the same principle of recompense applies, but the works examined confirm their eternal exclusion from God's presence (Revelation 20:11-15).

They are judged according to their works because they failed to accept the free gift of salvation and righteousness found only in Jesus Christ.

Their works, however moral by human standards, are insufficient to meet God's perfect standard of holiness.

Verse 13 anchors the certainty of the promise and the authority of the Judge in the eternal, divine identity of the speaker: "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End."

This is perhaps the most significant statement, confirming Jesus Christ's absolute deity and eternal sovereignty.

The Power of Divine Identity:

Because He is the Alpha and Omega, He has the authority to declare, "I am coming soon." Because He is the First and the Last, He is the perfectly righteous Judge who knows every deed done in time.

Because He is the Beginning and the End, He is fully capable of executing the reward and the recompense promised. His word is not a mere prediction but a sovereign decree.

Revelation 22:12-13 is a powerful, concise theological cornerstone. It is a clarion call that should stir the soul of every believer:

Live in Urgency: The cry, "I am coming soon!" should dissolve complacency. We are called to be vigilant, ready, and active in the mission of the Kingdom (Matthew 25:13).

Live in Intentionality: The warning, "I will give to each person according to what they have done," demands intentionality in our daily conduct. We should strive to build our lives on Christ, the only true foundation, with the imperishable materials of godly character and self-giving service (1 Corinthians 3:11).

Live in Assurance: The majestic titles, "Alpha and the Omega," assure us that the One making the promise is the All-Powerful, Eternal God.

Our hope is not placed in a fallible leader or an uncertain future, but in the unshakeable, eternal Person of Jesus Christ, hallelujah!

The final pages of the Bible urge us to look up, for our redemption is drawing near...

...Let us, therefore, live in the joyful, expectant tension of His imminent return, making every moment count for the glory of the Alpha and the Omega, our Lord and our soon-coming King. Amen and Amen. Come, Lord Jesus Christ!