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Come, Lord Jesus: Meditations on the Second Coming of Christ
Bestselling Author John Piper Examines End-Times Theology and Scripture’s Command to Love the Second Coming of Christ Many people are curious about the second coming of Christ―what it will be like, when it will happen, and what signs will come first. In his latest book, Come, Lord Jesus , John Piper addresses all these issues, but stresses that those who love the second coming of Christ will receive a crown of righteousness (2 Timothy 4:6–8). Piper examines key biblical texts around the second coming while encouraging readers toward a Spirit-awakened affection for Jesus’s return. He also explores important questions such as, Could Jesus come at any moment, or must certain events happen first? ; What does it mean to “Watch, for you know neither the day nor the hour”? ; and What should we be doing when he comes? With a special focus on the teachings of Jesus, Paul, and Peter, Come, Lord Jesus portrays not only the glory of the revealed Savior, but also the glorification of the resurrected saints.
304 pages, Hardcover
Published January 24, 2023
131 people are currently reading
799 people want to read
About the author
John Piper
609 books4,636 followersJohn Piper is founder and teacher of desiringGod.org and chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary. For 33 years, he served as senior pastor at Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
He grew up in Greenville, South Carolina, and studied at Wheaton College, Fuller Theological Seminary (B.D.), and the University of Munich (D.theol.). For six years, he taught Biblical Studies at Bethel College in St. Paul, Minnesota, and in 1980 accepted the call to serve as pastor at Bethlehem.
John is the author of more than 50 books and more than 30 years of his preaching and teaching is available free at desiringGod.org. John and his wife, Noel, have four sons, one daughter, and twelve grandchildren.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
He grew up in Greenville, South Carolina, and studied at Wheaton College, Fuller Theological Seminary (B.D.), and the University of Munich (D.theol.). For six years, he taught Biblical Studies at Bethel College in St. Paul, Minnesota, and in 1980 accepted the call to serve as pastor at Bethlehem.
John is the author of more than 50 books and more than 30 years of his preaching and teaching is available free at desiringGod.org. John and his wife, Noel, have four sons, one daughter, and twelve grandchildren.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
January 30, 2023
The second coming of Christ is a critical theme that emerges in the New Testament. Tragically, the blessed hope is often eclipsed by love for things of the world. John Piper sets out to challenge this problem in his new book, Come Lord Jesus. The book's goal is to help readers love the second coming of Jesus Christ. Piper stands with Paul the apostle who wrote:
The book is arranged in three parts:
Part 1: Reasons to Love Christ’s Appearing
Part one is the heart of the book and the most helpful part of the book. The author sets forth twelve reasons why followers of Christ should love his appearing. Each reason is grounded in God’s Word and loaded with encouragement.
Part 2: The Time of His Appearing
The second part of the book is the most controversial as Piper presents the rationale for the post-tribulational return of Christ. I urge pre-tribulational proponents to carefully weigh the arguments that the author proposes.
Part 3: How Then Shall We Live?
Finally, the book focuses on practical concerns that relate to the second coming of Christ. Readers are urged to be alert, patient and gentle, plug into the local church, and pray for the fulfillment of the Great Commission.
A Commendation
As usual, John Piper “delivers the goods.” Come, Lord Jesus is a thoughtful book, packed with biblical wisdom and encouragement. Dr. Piper skillfully navigates through the eschatological fog and points the way forward by focusing on the glorious return of the Lord Jesus Christ. I commend Come, Lord Jesus without reservation and trust that God will use it to strengthen his people as they wait for the glorious return of his Son!
I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review.
Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing. (2 Timothy 4:8)
The book is arranged in three parts:
Part 1: Reasons to Love Christ’s Appearing
Part one is the heart of the book and the most helpful part of the book. The author sets forth twelve reasons why followers of Christ should love his appearing. Each reason is grounded in God’s Word and loaded with encouragement.
Part 2: The Time of His Appearing
The second part of the book is the most controversial as Piper presents the rationale for the post-tribulational return of Christ. I urge pre-tribulational proponents to carefully weigh the arguments that the author proposes.
Part 3: How Then Shall We Live?
Finally, the book focuses on practical concerns that relate to the second coming of Christ. Readers are urged to be alert, patient and gentle, plug into the local church, and pray for the fulfillment of the Great Commission.
A Commendation
As usual, John Piper “delivers the goods.” Come, Lord Jesus is a thoughtful book, packed with biblical wisdom and encouragement. Dr. Piper skillfully navigates through the eschatological fog and points the way forward by focusing on the glorious return of the Lord Jesus Christ. I commend Come, Lord Jesus without reservation and trust that God will use it to strengthen his people as they wait for the glorious return of his Son!
I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review.
February 17, 2023
This book is exactly what you’d hope for from a Piper book on the Second Coming. Rich reflections on the sovereignty of God, Joy, and atonement with a bent towards eschatology. The chapter “Jesus Will Deliver Us From the Wrath of Jesus” is worth the price of the book. Anyone who wants to have more joy about the second coming would enjoy this book.
May 2, 2023
Let not your servants shrink in fear
From that great day of flaming fire,
When those who chose not to revere
Your name will have what they desire, but never dreamed would be a place so dreadful, banished from your face. Grant us, O Christ from judgment freed, that we might ever fearless plead
O come, Lord Jesus, Come!
Oh to say those words and know the promise that this is not our home. To remember our mission which is not to make it to heaven but to proclaim the name of Jesus. John Piper is pretty clear in where he stands on the end times. We are not to be consumed with anxiety, dates but to be anticipate and look forward to the day. He also does not believe that the rapture will come that has been made into movies but when Christ returns in the air and the last battle. The end times are not for the faint of heart but those that are steadfast in the faith. Know your God, know your bible, know the sacrifice of Christ.
I have always enjoyed reading Piper and his exuberance on the Glory of God. It comes out in reading and teaching. Piper also makes you think. Do I agree with all- no but he has value for believers to keep the faith, the mission, and that is valuable for me. Revelation is written to give the believer peace. That God is in control. That these things must pass. So I will end Come Lord Jesus!
A special thank you to Crossway Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
From that great day of flaming fire,
When those who chose not to revere
Your name will have what they desire, but never dreamed would be a place so dreadful, banished from your face. Grant us, O Christ from judgment freed, that we might ever fearless plead
O come, Lord Jesus, Come!
Oh to say those words and know the promise that this is not our home. To remember our mission which is not to make it to heaven but to proclaim the name of Jesus. John Piper is pretty clear in where he stands on the end times. We are not to be consumed with anxiety, dates but to be anticipate and look forward to the day. He also does not believe that the rapture will come that has been made into movies but when Christ returns in the air and the last battle. The end times are not for the faint of heart but those that are steadfast in the faith. Know your God, know your bible, know the sacrifice of Christ.
I have always enjoyed reading Piper and his exuberance on the Glory of God. It comes out in reading and teaching. Piper also makes you think. Do I agree with all- no but he has value for believers to keep the faith, the mission, and that is valuable for me. Revelation is written to give the believer peace. That God is in control. That these things must pass. So I will end Come Lord Jesus!
A special thank you to Crossway Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
March 24, 2024
A classic John Piper work! Come, Lord Jesus opens with a question of how can we love the Lords second coming? Piper attempts to answer that question in 3 parts: Reasons to love Christs appearing, the time of His appearing, and How then shall we live. In keeping with Pipers “Christian Hedonistic” view (which Piper explains as God being most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him), this book guides the reader through the logical reasons why we should look towards the Lord Jesus’ coming with anticipatory excitement. Then it goes on to give a brief overview of what the end-times will look like (with plenty of help from his old mentor George Eldon Ladd). I enjoyed this part of the book because he accurately interpreted and brought out the symphony of different passages of scripture (both OT and NT) in their pictures and prophesies of the end-times using the idea of prophetic vision (you’ll have to read the book to find out what it means). He also managed to refute a few commonly held beliefs about the end-times without wandering too far out into the eschatological weeds.
Overall, this book was a thoroughly enjoyable read. It was deep and thought-provoking, yet not so academic as to be dense and boring. This book has helped me to better live my life now with the anticipatory hope of the Lords coming and to better understand the often confusing prophesies revolving around the end-times.
Overall, this book was a thoroughly enjoyable read. It was deep and thought-provoking, yet not so academic as to be dense and boring. This book has helped me to better live my life now with the anticipatory hope of the Lords coming and to better understand the often confusing prophesies revolving around the end-times.
December 12, 2024
Throughout, John Piper upholds a strong, overarching theme of encouraging believers to increasingly love the second coming of Christ. A sobering, but motivating book with a call to be vigilant and watchful, setting our minds on obedience and spiritual things. I especially appreciated how he included the Greek words used in describing the second coming to show the unified picture Scripture presents. I know I rate everything 5/5, but this one really deserves it lol
January 9, 2024
“[T]he test of our proper affection for the first coming of Christ is the measure of our affection for the second,” and this affection is, as Piper identifies it, nothing less than a “Christ-enthralled longing for his presence and glorification.”
September 12, 2023
John Piper carefully handles passages to do with the second coming of Jesus Christ and clearly and sufficiently clarifies seeming contradictions with a post-tribulation rapture view. Most importantly, he helps you build a deep love and longing for the glorious, powerful, beautiful, and triumphant coming of our Lord. He then reveals how this knowledge has important implications for how we should live. This is knowledge that God wants us to know as it is powerful and changes us from the inside out.
February 3, 2026
Piper gives warm exegesis.
Even as an amillenial, I found myself agreeing with him or questioning my position at times in helpful ways. And even reflecting on questions I haven’t completely hammered out.
Come, Lord Jesus.
Even as an amillenial, I found myself agreeing with him or questioning my position at times in helpful ways. And even reflecting on questions I haven’t completely hammered out.
Come, Lord Jesus.
June 24, 2025
Plenty to find interesting and helpful, but to me the tone was a bit dry and the pacing dense.
August 4, 2023
Come Lord Jesus by John Piper is a timely read in this weary and expectant world. Addressing the second coming of Christ, end times eschatology, many questions that believers have regarding scripture surrounding these events. As always John offers the reader a book built on solid biblical interpretation to spark our longing for Christ's return, awakening our hope. So yes John, "Come Lord Jesus, Come"!!!
Thank you, Net Galley and Crossway, for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Thank you, Net Galley and Crossway, for the opportunity to read and review this book.
January 30, 2023
How should the return of Christ compel Christians today? In Come, Lord Jesus, John Piper presents meditations on the second coming of Christ.
Glory and Love
Piper begins his book by showcasing the glory of the second coming of Christ. He ties it to our hearts and how we are to love his appearing (2 Timothy 4:6-8). This is a careful and worshipful work.
I was most thrilled to read in Chapter 5 about the grace that will be brought to us at the revelation of Christ. When Christ comes, it will be terrifying. He brings condemnation for those who have rebelled against him. But for those who are his, he brings grace. His heart disposition towards us is love. After I read this, I couldn’t help but worship, and I was inspired to work harder for the Kingdom as we wait for his return.
Physical and Spiritual Perfection
I was most moved to read in Chapter 7, where Piper speaks on how we will be perfected at Christ’s second coming. While I tend to stress the physical aspects of being perfected, Piper helped me anticipate the spiritual aspects of perfection. “Both physical resurrection and spiritual transformation are essential for God’s ultimate purposes to be fulfilled. His people must undergo both bodily and moral perfecting.”
As always, I appreciate Piper for tackling difficult questions. In Chapter 11, he answers how we can rejoice in the hope of our diverse rewards at the appearing of Christ: (1) We will have no condemnation, (2) every good will be rewarded, (3) no faithful suffering will go unrewarded, (4) we will be able to experience loss sinlessly, (5) your greater reward will be part of my joy, and (6) we will have increased capacity for joy in God. Piper thinks through the issues thoroughly, biblically, and critically.
Timing and Implications
Piper also answers the question of the timing of Christ's return. He proves that Jesus did not teach that he would return within one generation, and he goes on to show that it is safe to say that the second coming is potentially near. Piper reveals why he believes there is a second coming of Christ, and that “the pretribulational position cannot offer compelling support for the view that the New Testament teaches an any-moment return of Jesus.” According to 2 Thess. 2:3, the man of lawlessness must come before Christ’s appearing.
The last section of the book is intensely practical, with applications to the fact that Christ commands us to watch, be awake, be alert, be ready, and take heed. I was most challenged to see that we must continue doing our earthly work faithfully, and that it becomes increasingly more important for Christians to meet together and go to church as we see the day drawing near. We continue to pray for missions and for Christ to come as a consummation of his Kingdom.
Enter Into Joy
Personal fellowship with our Savior is something we can all anticipate. It will be joyous like a wedding feast. We will enter into the joy of our master. I can’t help but love and long for his appearing.
I received a media copy of Come, Lord Jesus and this is my honest review.
Glory and Love
Piper begins his book by showcasing the glory of the second coming of Christ. He ties it to our hearts and how we are to love his appearing (2 Timothy 4:6-8). This is a careful and worshipful work.
I was most thrilled to read in Chapter 5 about the grace that will be brought to us at the revelation of Christ. When Christ comes, it will be terrifying. He brings condemnation for those who have rebelled against him. But for those who are his, he brings grace. His heart disposition towards us is love. After I read this, I couldn’t help but worship, and I was inspired to work harder for the Kingdom as we wait for his return.
Physical and Spiritual Perfection
I was most moved to read in Chapter 7, where Piper speaks on how we will be perfected at Christ’s second coming. While I tend to stress the physical aspects of being perfected, Piper helped me anticipate the spiritual aspects of perfection. “Both physical resurrection and spiritual transformation are essential for God’s ultimate purposes to be fulfilled. His people must undergo both bodily and moral perfecting.”
As always, I appreciate Piper for tackling difficult questions. In Chapter 11, he answers how we can rejoice in the hope of our diverse rewards at the appearing of Christ: (1) We will have no condemnation, (2) every good will be rewarded, (3) no faithful suffering will go unrewarded, (4) we will be able to experience loss sinlessly, (5) your greater reward will be part of my joy, and (6) we will have increased capacity for joy in God. Piper thinks through the issues thoroughly, biblically, and critically.
Timing and Implications
Piper also answers the question of the timing of Christ's return. He proves that Jesus did not teach that he would return within one generation, and he goes on to show that it is safe to say that the second coming is potentially near. Piper reveals why he believes there is a second coming of Christ, and that “the pretribulational position cannot offer compelling support for the view that the New Testament teaches an any-moment return of Jesus.” According to 2 Thess. 2:3, the man of lawlessness must come before Christ’s appearing.
The last section of the book is intensely practical, with applications to the fact that Christ commands us to watch, be awake, be alert, be ready, and take heed. I was most challenged to see that we must continue doing our earthly work faithfully, and that it becomes increasingly more important for Christians to meet together and go to church as we see the day drawing near. We continue to pray for missions and for Christ to come as a consummation of his Kingdom.
Enter Into Joy
Personal fellowship with our Savior is something we can all anticipate. It will be joyous like a wedding feast. We will enter into the joy of our master. I can’t help but love and long for his appearing.
I received a media copy of Come, Lord Jesus and this is my honest review.
April 17, 2023
‘Come, Lord Jesus’ isn’t a dense & detailed commentary on the book of Revelation. While there are differing views (futurist, historicist, idealist, & preterist) & stances (pre/post tribulation rapture, etc.) regarding the book of Revelation, I think Piper NAILED IT by focusing primarily on how we can LOVE the Lord’s appearing given the glorious events we know will take place at Jesus’ return. He covers ultimate realities associated with the second appearing of Christ — blamelessness, perfection, glorification, and repayment/rewards, as well as what this means for us now — alertness, patience, gentleness, and faithfulness. Piper’s approach and ultimate aim focuses on the spiritual affection of the heart: a Christ-enthralled love which involves desiring, longing, and hoping for his presence and glorification.
There were a lot of good nuggets throughout this book, but my favorite (mainly because it relates to my favorite verse) was:
“Remarkably, just as progressive transformation happens in this life by ‘beholding the glory of the Lord’ (especially in his gospel, 2 Cor. 3:18, 4:4-6), so also instantaneous transformation will happen when we behold God in the coming of his Son, Jesus Christ”. (p.101)
There were a lot of good nuggets throughout this book, but my favorite (mainly because it relates to my favorite verse) was:
“Remarkably, just as progressive transformation happens in this life by ‘beholding the glory of the Lord’ (especially in his gospel, 2 Cor. 3:18, 4:4-6), so also instantaneous transformation will happen when we behold God in the coming of his Son, Jesus Christ”. (p.101)
April 11, 2023
I came into this reading thinking it would be primarily about the book of Revelation. Although it alludes to it plenty, Piper really draws most of the content from 2 Thessalonians. I am glad to have read this. It was a refreshing look at the second coming. It does not focus on the date guessing and judgement that a typical end time study would, rather, Piper really does what he set out to do. Piper wonderfully walks us through the New Testament’s teachings regarding the second coming and why/how that leads us to long for Christ’s return.
December 27, 2025
I am looking forward to Jesus's second coming more after this book and that to me is a great success from it!
Piper's enthusiasm always rubs off and I'm so glad I read this book (recommended to me by Phil Lowman)
I do think there are some bits that could have been cut out and feel a bit disjointed from the overall aim of the book however I very much enjoyed it!! Will revisit again!
Piper's enthusiasm always rubs off and I'm so glad I read this book (recommended to me by Phil Lowman)
I do think there are some bits that could have been cut out and feel a bit disjointed from the overall aim of the book however I very much enjoyed it!! Will revisit again!
February 18, 2023
Vintage Piper. Careful exegesis in the service of godly affections—in this case, not just understanding, but loving Christ’s appearing. Highly recommended for all Christians, including pastors who are teaching on Matthew 24 or 1-2 Thessalonians.
August 17, 2024
I tried. It took me almost a year, and I couldn’t finish this. It’s not the content necessarily, as I love this topic and think it’s an important discussion. But the writing is so circular and hard to follow. 🤷🏻♀️ I couldn’t make myself finish. Maybe I’ll come back to it eventually.
May 14, 2023
Encouraging to my faith in maybe a different way than it was written to be.
January 1, 2026
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Piper does such a great job of taking you through passages and ideas and showing how great God is.
June 4, 2023
For me the first half was 2.5 and the second half was a 3.5. He spent a lot of time addressing questions & reservation that I just don’t have in the beginning and it felt tedious. But it picked up later and I certainly got value from it.
August 14, 2023
Are you tired or confused or fed up with resources predicting or debating on the time and date of Christ's return. Pick up this book. It is the best book which tells us how we should live in light of Christ's return.
May 23, 2024
“The Heart of the matter” was pointed out very well. Some may say a bit too often, which I would agree with in that sense that it could’ve been done a little bit more elegantly. Other than the style of writing, great book with an even greater topic.
January 2, 2023
Come, Lord Jesus, Meditations on the second coming of Christ, is an in-depth study of end-times theology focusing primarily on developing a love for Christ's return.
John Piper begins by laying out his purpose for writing this book: to instil or inspire a love for the second coming of Christ, and to clarify why this love is so important. In the following chapters he presents his interpretations and conclusions, often presented as questions followed by detailed answers with many quotes from the Scriptures that inform his interpretation.
The book isn't an easy read for many reasons. The writing, though clear, includes a lot of explanations in parentheses, many Biblical quotes, and words in Greek. It's not a book that a reader will get through quickly; it's a study book.
I believe that any Bible student, whether formal or informal, will appreciate Piper's thoroughness in this book, whether they agree with all of his conclusions or not.
I received a complimentary ARC from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
John Piper begins by laying out his purpose for writing this book: to instil or inspire a love for the second coming of Christ, and to clarify why this love is so important. In the following chapters he presents his interpretations and conclusions, often presented as questions followed by detailed answers with many quotes from the Scriptures that inform his interpretation.
The book isn't an easy read for many reasons. The writing, though clear, includes a lot of explanations in parentheses, many Biblical quotes, and words in Greek. It's not a book that a reader will get through quickly; it's a study book.
I believe that any Bible student, whether formal or informal, will appreciate Piper's thoroughness in this book, whether they agree with all of his conclusions or not.
I received a complimentary ARC from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
February 23, 2023
"Come Lord Jesus" by John Piper - Doesn't make me love His coming, it makes me afraid. Since Piper believes Christians will go through and experience all of the Great Tribulation, that means we can expect to either starve to death or be murdered, both of which doesn't make me "love the Lord's coming." At the Great Tribulation those who reject the Mark of the Beast will not be able to buy or sell - so we'll starve.; and those who refuse to worship the Anti-Christ will be killed. These scenarios don't make me long for His coming. If there is no pre-Trib Rapture, as Piper contends, then that is the fate of all Christians. Being in God's presence will be wonderful, just Pipers view of how we get there is scary. He conveniently makes no mention of the Battle of Armageddon and all of the Judgements of Rev. that will be poured out. Piper says the Great Trib is to purify the Christian. I'm still hoping for a pre-Trib Rapture.
January 28, 2023
First sentence: The aim of this book is to help you love the second coming of Jesus Christ. The contents and title were inspired partly by the biblical prayers "Come, Lord Jesus!" (Revelation 22:20) and "Our Lord, come! (1 Corinthians 16:22). But mainly the book was inspired by the heart affection beneath these prayers which Paul expressed in 2 Timothy 4:8: There is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing. A crown of righteousness is promised to those who love the second coming of Christ. We pray for his appearing, because we love his appearing.
Come, Lord Jesus is a weighty book. Perhaps I have misunderstood the word 'meditation' for most of my life--possible, for sure. I was expecting meaty devotions themed around the second coming, end times, last days, final judgment, heaven, new heaven and earth. I was not expecting a scholarly work packed--stuffed--with footnotes. I wasn't expecting Greek, Greek, and more Greek. There is a LOT for readers to unpack. This is no 5-minute-rice theology.
The theme is right on target. I would say it covers--end times, signs of the the last days, final judgment, tribulation, second coming, rapture, new heaven and earth, etc. It spans the teachings of the New Testament (New Testament authors). It seeks to reconcile the teachings of Jesus and Paul, to name an example.
I would say it challenges readers from the start. It asks much. And that's not a bad thing. To read without engaging this one would be a disservice. It asks you to think, to consider, to ponder, to wrestle with your own views and traditions. It holds the Bible in highest esteem. It lays out the Bible for you--chapter and verse. It unpacks all the angles. Piper has his views, but he is 'showing his work' if you will and not asking you to take his word for it on blind faith.
I found it thought-provoking. Even when I wanted to stop thinking about it, I couldn't. The end times, like it or not, can make you squirm a bit, be a bit uncomfortable. There are some subjects where I tend to be a little like Scarlett O'Hara, I'll think about that tomorrow. For me, the end times is that subject I'm always pushing to tomorrow. I think because it is so easy to get confused and stay confused. Perhaps because it is a subject that can feel extra-heated. Sometimes people have very STRONG feelings on what they think will happen, how it all unfolds. Trigger warning: Piper doesn't hold to a separate rapture of believers occurring pre-tribulation (or mid-tribulation for that matter). He believes in ONE second coming--the verses that speak of believers meeting him in the air is the same second coming where he's coming to judge the world.
I can honestly say that I've never asked myself the question do I [actively] love the second coming of Christ. Passively sure I think many Christians fall into that camp. But actively--desiring, longing, hoping, loving--that's a BIG, bold statement. Piper, especially at the beginning and perhaps again towards the end, makes the argument that "the test of our love for the Christ who HAS appeared is our longing for the Christ who WILL appear." He argues that it is our LOVE for his appearing that enables us to ENDURE through anything/everything. It is our LOVE for his appearing, so Piper claims Paul writes, that protects our hearts and minds from loving this world too much, from becoming too entangled with worldly-world influences. It is our LOVE for his appearing that will encourage and promote holy living--sanctification. It is our LOVE for his appearing that will keep us gathering together as believers and encouraging one another.
Piper further writes that it isn't enough to love certain things about his second coming [loving the gifts more than the giver] but our love for the second coming needs to fit into Christ's purpose for coming again. Here Piper does what Piper does best--talk about GLORY and delighting in the GLORY of the Lord. (Christian hedonism is Piper's default mode.) Here in this one it does make sense though.
He writes, "Absolutely crucial to God's ultimate purpose in the second coming is not only that the glory of Christ be revealed, but that it be loved. Rightly loved."
I am glad I read this one. It may be worth revisiting again. For being a book about the end of times or "day of the Lord" it covers SO much theological territory.
One of my favorite quotes:
Our hope is that the joy we have tasted in this life (1 Peter 2:3) will be given an injection of supernatural capacity beyond imagination. This is what Jesus prayed for. This is what will happen. God will pour his own love for Christ into us. We will enjoy Christ with the very enjoyment of God. It is true that our joy in Jesus even now is a work of God--God the Holy Spirit. Our joy in God and his Son is owing to the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives, creating the capacity to delight in God and Christ (Romans 14:17; 15:13; 1 Thessalonians 1:6)... Jesus promises that he will go further: he will make God known in new and unimagined ways, with the result that God's own love for the Son will become more fully our own love for the Son, so that we will be able to enjoy Christ with the purity and intensity we ought. We will not be lamed by our present worldliness and remaining corruptions, and by the constrains of a fallen body.
Come, Lord Jesus is a weighty book. Perhaps I have misunderstood the word 'meditation' for most of my life--possible, for sure. I was expecting meaty devotions themed around the second coming, end times, last days, final judgment, heaven, new heaven and earth. I was not expecting a scholarly work packed--stuffed--with footnotes. I wasn't expecting Greek, Greek, and more Greek. There is a LOT for readers to unpack. This is no 5-minute-rice theology.
The theme is right on target. I would say it covers--end times, signs of the the last days, final judgment, tribulation, second coming, rapture, new heaven and earth, etc. It spans the teachings of the New Testament (New Testament authors). It seeks to reconcile the teachings of Jesus and Paul, to name an example.
I would say it challenges readers from the start. It asks much. And that's not a bad thing. To read without engaging this one would be a disservice. It asks you to think, to consider, to ponder, to wrestle with your own views and traditions. It holds the Bible in highest esteem. It lays out the Bible for you--chapter and verse. It unpacks all the angles. Piper has his views, but he is 'showing his work' if you will and not asking you to take his word for it on blind faith.
I found it thought-provoking. Even when I wanted to stop thinking about it, I couldn't. The end times, like it or not, can make you squirm a bit, be a bit uncomfortable. There are some subjects where I tend to be a little like Scarlett O'Hara, I'll think about that tomorrow. For me, the end times is that subject I'm always pushing to tomorrow. I think because it is so easy to get confused and stay confused. Perhaps because it is a subject that can feel extra-heated. Sometimes people have very STRONG feelings on what they think will happen, how it all unfolds. Trigger warning: Piper doesn't hold to a separate rapture of believers occurring pre-tribulation (or mid-tribulation for that matter). He believes in ONE second coming--the verses that speak of believers meeting him in the air is the same second coming where he's coming to judge the world.
I can honestly say that I've never asked myself the question do I [actively] love the second coming of Christ. Passively sure I think many Christians fall into that camp. But actively--desiring, longing, hoping, loving--that's a BIG, bold statement. Piper, especially at the beginning and perhaps again towards the end, makes the argument that "the test of our love for the Christ who HAS appeared is our longing for the Christ who WILL appear." He argues that it is our LOVE for his appearing that enables us to ENDURE through anything/everything. It is our LOVE for his appearing, so Piper claims Paul writes, that protects our hearts and minds from loving this world too much, from becoming too entangled with worldly-world influences. It is our LOVE for his appearing that will encourage and promote holy living--sanctification. It is our LOVE for his appearing that will keep us gathering together as believers and encouraging one another.
Piper further writes that it isn't enough to love certain things about his second coming [loving the gifts more than the giver] but our love for the second coming needs to fit into Christ's purpose for coming again. Here Piper does what Piper does best--talk about GLORY and delighting in the GLORY of the Lord. (Christian hedonism is Piper's default mode.) Here in this one it does make sense though.
He writes, "Absolutely crucial to God's ultimate purpose in the second coming is not only that the glory of Christ be revealed, but that it be loved. Rightly loved."
I am glad I read this one. It may be worth revisiting again. For being a book about the end of times or "day of the Lord" it covers SO much theological territory.
One of my favorite quotes:
Our hope is that the joy we have tasted in this life (1 Peter 2:3) will be given an injection of supernatural capacity beyond imagination. This is what Jesus prayed for. This is what will happen. God will pour his own love for Christ into us. We will enjoy Christ with the very enjoyment of God. It is true that our joy in Jesus even now is a work of God--God the Holy Spirit. Our joy in God and his Son is owing to the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives, creating the capacity to delight in God and Christ (Romans 14:17; 15:13; 1 Thessalonians 1:6)... Jesus promises that he will go further: he will make God known in new and unimagined ways, with the result that God's own love for the Son will become more fully our own love for the Son, so that we will be able to enjoy Christ with the purity and intensity we ought. We will not be lamed by our present worldliness and remaining corruptions, and by the constrains of a fallen body.
March 27, 2024
The book is written from a post tribulation point of view. He holds to premillennialism but believes there is no imminent return of Christ. He connects 1 Thessalonians 4 with the second coming and not the rapture. He has some good arguments but in my opinion not persuasive.
April 29, 2023
Part 1: Reasons to Love Christ’s Appearing ***
Part 2: The Time of His Appearing **
Part 3: How then Shall We Live? ****
Part 2: The Time of His Appearing **
Part 3: How then Shall We Live? ****
December 30, 2023
I have taken my winter break to veg from much of my regular reading, almost as if on sabbatical from critical thinking. It took me much longer to read this book than for ever should have.
Editorially, the paper weight is really heavy and I might have appreciated something a little lighter. Crossway puts these really heavy paper weights on some of their more devotional theology selections, almost as if anticipating heavy use and reuse. I think I would have appreciated a thinner paperweight for this particular work. However, the book maintained Crossway's hallmark of a beautiful, easy-to-read typeface and an ideal font size. Compared to some of Piper’s more renowned works, the length of this book made it more approachable, and his writing style remained academically rich yet accessible to a lay audience. Piper’s writing makes systematics and bib theo approachable to a lay audience.
The book is divided into three parts. Part one offers 12 reasons Christian’s ought to love the return of Christ. This section of the book was by far the most useful and devotional part of the book. I can see this section alone becoming a staple for small groups studying the second coming. The first section of the book read almost conversationally. Piper brings up big topics and immediately puts the cookies on the bottom shelf by explaining himself in easy to understand language.
The second section was by far the most academic. Piper uses the section to poke holes in some of the major eschatological frameworks of American evangelicalism. He also takes the section to present and defend a post-trib return, historic pre-mil position. He also somehow uses the section to defend some of the eschatological parts of his signature Christian hedonism hermeneutic. Piper shows his hand in being a lowercase “r” reformed baptist.
Part three transitions into a practical theology on how Christians should respond to the second coming. It urges the Church to be prepared, vigilant, patient, compassionate, invested in the local church, and committed to praying for the great commission.
Overall I liked the work, although I disagreed with much of Piper’s eschatological vision. I think Piper is able to deliver well researched, historically rich, and well articulated theology in a non-oppressive manner that could appeal to audiences that aren’t reading Greek commentaries on the eschatological passages. This work has a place on any theology shelf and I’m glad I read it. This work might serve more as a reference for me going forward, I am glad I read as a single corpus at least once.
Editorially, the paper weight is really heavy and I might have appreciated something a little lighter. Crossway puts these really heavy paper weights on some of their more devotional theology selections, almost as if anticipating heavy use and reuse. I think I would have appreciated a thinner paperweight for this particular work. However, the book maintained Crossway's hallmark of a beautiful, easy-to-read typeface and an ideal font size. Compared to some of Piper’s more renowned works, the length of this book made it more approachable, and his writing style remained academically rich yet accessible to a lay audience. Piper’s writing makes systematics and bib theo approachable to a lay audience.
The book is divided into three parts. Part one offers 12 reasons Christian’s ought to love the return of Christ. This section of the book was by far the most useful and devotional part of the book. I can see this section alone becoming a staple for small groups studying the second coming. The first section of the book read almost conversationally. Piper brings up big topics and immediately puts the cookies on the bottom shelf by explaining himself in easy to understand language.
The second section was by far the most academic. Piper uses the section to poke holes in some of the major eschatological frameworks of American evangelicalism. He also takes the section to present and defend a post-trib return, historic pre-mil position. He also somehow uses the section to defend some of the eschatological parts of his signature Christian hedonism hermeneutic. Piper shows his hand in being a lowercase “r” reformed baptist.
Part three transitions into a practical theology on how Christians should respond to the second coming. It urges the Church to be prepared, vigilant, patient, compassionate, invested in the local church, and committed to praying for the great commission.
Overall I liked the work, although I disagreed with much of Piper’s eschatological vision. I think Piper is able to deliver well researched, historically rich, and well articulated theology in a non-oppressive manner that could appeal to audiences that aren’t reading Greek commentaries on the eschatological passages. This work has a place on any theology shelf and I’m glad I read it. This work might serve more as a reference for me going forward, I am glad I read as a single corpus at least once.
February 20, 2023
I really wanted to like John Piper's look at the second coming of Christ--and did! The book did not disappoint in its treatment of, unbelievably enough, and underemphasized topic (dumb Left Behind-esque works notwithstanding). Taking as his key verse 2 Timothy 4:8 and Paul's reference to those who love the appearing of Christ, Piper sets out to instill such a love in his readers.
He covers the gamut of the second coming--judgment, rewards, rapture (or not), timing, and so on and so forth. The exegesis is solid, careful, as is to be expected. Piper is a premillennialist, but he doesn't really get into Revelation 20 or what he thinks will occur after the second coming (after all, that's not in the scope of this work). Perhaps most surprising (or frustrating) is that Piper does not think Jesus' return could happen at any moment. His reading of the man of lawlessness in Thessalonians leads him to surmise that the return is at least a few years from now. In other words, Piper believes a few more things must happen before Christ can return. Although he does hold out hope that it could still happen in his lifetime.
I disagree with Piper and believe it could happen right this moment, but the disagreement did not detract too significantly from my reading of the book. Other disagreements are minor. I put more of the Olivet Discourse in the "fulfilled in AD 70" bucket while he puts more in the "yet to be fulfilled" bucket, but we agree that there's plenty of both in Christ's words there.
In any case, this book is helpful. Don't let the "meditations" in the subtitle fool you. This is serious work with plenty of argumentation. It should encourage you in your (frequent, I hope) prayer "Come, Lord Jesus!"
He covers the gamut of the second coming--judgment, rewards, rapture (or not), timing, and so on and so forth. The exegesis is solid, careful, as is to be expected. Piper is a premillennialist, but he doesn't really get into Revelation 20 or what he thinks will occur after the second coming (after all, that's not in the scope of this work). Perhaps most surprising (or frustrating) is that Piper does not think Jesus' return could happen at any moment. His reading of the man of lawlessness in Thessalonians leads him to surmise that the return is at least a few years from now. In other words, Piper believes a few more things must happen before Christ can return. Although he does hold out hope that it could still happen in his lifetime.
I disagree with Piper and believe it could happen right this moment, but the disagreement did not detract too significantly from my reading of the book. Other disagreements are minor. I put more of the Olivet Discourse in the "fulfilled in AD 70" bucket while he puts more in the "yet to be fulfilled" bucket, but we agree that there's plenty of both in Christ's words there.
In any case, this book is helpful. Don't let the "meditations" in the subtitle fool you. This is serious work with plenty of argumentation. It should encourage you in your (frequent, I hope) prayer "Come, Lord Jesus!"
August 21, 2025
John Piper offers very thoughtful meditations on why we must love the appearing of Jesus. He offers meditations to have a "Christ-enthralled longing for his presence and glory." To that end, Piper has achieved his goal. He introduces the subject by the Demas text in 2Tim 4:6-10 showing the love for the world is the consequence of not loving the appearing of Jesus. Love for Jesus is the cure when you have a love for this world. Demas failed to finish his race, his fight, his ministry because he did not love the appearing of Jesus but loved the world.
Unfortunately, the wheels came off the bus in chapters 13-17 as Piper tried to remove urgency, suddenness, watchfulness of the Lords return at any moment. Piper did his best to erase the doctrine of Christ's imminent return by doing some uncharacteristically theological exegesis instead of grammatical historical exegesis. He was reading Ladd's historic premill/post-trib theology into the texts.
Despite my disagreement with Piper's schedule of the eschaton, I was blessed, challenged, and encouraged at his careful thoughts at Christ's return.
Even if you are post-trib, the arguments in this book are unoriginal for why Piper holds to his position. Much stems from Ladd's work in the gospel of the kingdom/the blessed hope. If you are pre-trib, futuristic pre-millennial, you will be let down by Piper's handling of the texts.
Unfortunately, the wheels came off the bus in chapters 13-17 as Piper tried to remove urgency, suddenness, watchfulness of the Lords return at any moment. Piper did his best to erase the doctrine of Christ's imminent return by doing some uncharacteristically theological exegesis instead of grammatical historical exegesis. He was reading Ladd's historic premill/post-trib theology into the texts.
Despite my disagreement with Piper's schedule of the eschaton, I was blessed, challenged, and encouraged at his careful thoughts at Christ's return.
Even if you are post-trib, the arguments in this book are unoriginal for why Piper holds to his position. Much stems from Ladd's work in the gospel of the kingdom/the blessed hope. If you are pre-trib, futuristic pre-millennial, you will be let down by Piper's handling of the texts.
February 9, 2023
The goal of this book is to help us love the second coming of Jesus Christ. Part one of this book gives 12 reasons to do so. It is deep and thought-provoking. It’s something that I want to read slowly and meditate on. There were things I had never considered before. I appreciated the explanation of Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness by Satan. The second part of the book talks about when Christ will return and the third part about how we should live in light of that.
One of my favorite parts was when it talked about the command to love God with ALL of our heart. “Even though we fall short of this destiny in this life, we will not fall short on that day. Christ is not returning to receive moderate marveling. On that day, when we see him, we will be changed so as to feel what we ought” (location 597). This was so hope-giving to me. It made me thankful and brought me to worship as did many parts of this book.
Thank you to Crossway for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. I’d highly recommend it. All opinions are my own.
One of my favorite parts was when it talked about the command to love God with ALL of our heart. “Even though we fall short of this destiny in this life, we will not fall short on that day. Christ is not returning to receive moderate marveling. On that day, when we see him, we will be changed so as to feel what we ought” (location 597). This was so hope-giving to me. It made me thankful and brought me to worship as did many parts of this book.
Thank you to Crossway for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. I’d highly recommend it. All opinions are my own.
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