Terror of all kinds fills our world today. Suicide bombers, anthrax, radioactive “dirty” bombs, killer epidemics, kidnappings, gangs, rapes, murders, wars.

Everywhere we look, the trend is downward. Man’s inhumanity to fellow man is growing worse, and even the optimistic can find it harder to fight the feelings of foreboding that our world is on a course to self-destruction.

Jesus Christ looked down through history and predicted this spiral of sorrows leading to an unprecedented time of trouble before His return (Matthew 24:7-8, 21). Our spiritual Savior also promised to save humanity physically from total annihilation by His glorious coming (Matthew 24:22, 30).

As King of Kings, He will set up God’s wonderful, righteous Kingdom (Revelation 11:15).

This is the time God’s people through the ages have longed and prayed for: “Your kingdom come” (Matthew 6:10).

John, an apostle of deep love and compassion, looked beyond all the troubles, plagues and war necessitated by man’s unrepentant evil, and saw the time when God will wipe away all tears, when there will be no more sorrow or crying (Revelation 21:4).

At the end of the last chapter of the last book of the Bible, three times John recorded Christ’s wonderful promise: “I am coming quickly” (Revelation 22:7, 12, 20). In response, John and all Christians reply with deep yearning: “Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” (verse 20).