Come Quickly, Lord: Notes and Discussion

Because God delights in worship that is biblical, thoughtful and passionate—what we often call intentional—please consider the following overview of the biblical texts and doctrinal themes behind the hymn Come Quickly, Lord:

The entire song is an expression of longing for Christ’s return, remembering the promise of Christ to “come quickly” (Rev 22:10, 20a) and the yearning of the Apostle John (on behalf of the church) requesting that He do so (Rev 22:20b). We not only await Christ’s coming, but love and long for it (2 Tim 4:8b; cf. 1 Cor 1:7; Phil 3:20; Heb 9:28; Jude 21).

Verse 1 begins by expressing why we so desperately long for Christ’s return—we along with all creation are “groaning” as we await our final deliverance (Rom 8:22-23). We groan from sin, from disease, from warfare, from want, from calamities, from death, all of which have arisen from the fall and subsequent curse (Gen 3). We long for Christ to undo the fall—to set the world right again and vanquish our enemy—as was promised to our parents in Gen 3:15. We long for unhindered fellowship, seeing heaven as a reclaimed Eden (though far more glorious and eternally secure).

The refrain continues the theme of longing and hope for the return of Christ and the events it will set in motion, including the reversal of the curse and the recreation of all things (Rev 21:3-5). The text anticipates our final redemption. Whereas we normally associate redemption with our conversion, Scripture also uses the term to describe the culmination of our salvation (Rom 8:22-23), the “purchasing” of our perfect bodies which we normally describe as glorification. As commanded, we “look for” Christ (Matt 24-25; 1 Cor 1:7; Tit 2:13) and anticipate being home with Him eternally (John 14:1-3).

Verse 2 expresses the frustration that is common to believers—the hatred of the very sin our flesh craves (Rom 7:14-25). We recognize that our greatest enemy is neither the world nor Satan, but our own traitorous flesh (Gal 5:16-21; Jam 4:1), and we long to be rid of it. Indeed, the absence of sin and the end of temptation from within and without will be one of the great glories of heaven (Rev 21:4, 27).

Verse 3 considers the song of the redeemed from Revelation 5:9-13. In context, the song is sung in expectancy as Christ prepares to judge the wicked and bring all things into subjection to His authority. We anticipate singing the song of eternal praise to Christ along with the redeemed from every tribe, language, people and nation. “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain!”

Verse 4 concludes by addressing the greatest pleasure of Christ’s return and of heaven itself—our eternal communion with the Lord Jesus! Just as we delight to gaze on Christ from afar now, through the Scriptures, and just as we are progressively changed by those looks (2 Cor 3:18), we will one day look on Him face to face and will be finally changed to His likeness by the look (1 John 3:2). Thus, the great prize of heaven is not merely seeing loved ones or being apart from sorrow and death, but being with Christ (and therefore, being like Him). Jesus Christ is the prize for which we long (Luke 23:43; John 14:3; 2 Cor 5:8; 1 Thes 4:17; Phil 1:23)!

“Maranatha—Our Lord, come!” (1 Cor 16:22)

“Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!” (Rev 22:20)

(The notes for Come Quickly, Lord were written by Chris Anderson.)