Summary of "The King is Coming" by John Bevere
John Bevere’s book, "The King is Coming: Are You Living Ready for Jesus' Return?", is structured to move believers away from the "fear-based" or "speculative" eschatology that often dominates end-times discussions. Instead, Bevere focuses on readiness and devotion.
The book is organized similarly to his previous work, The Awe of God, featuring short, daily-reading-style chapters (designed to be read over 2 to 4 weeks). Each chapter concludes with the "5 P’s": Passage, Point, Ponder, Prayer, and Profession.
Below is a detailed summary of the core themes and progression of the book.
Part 1: The Divine Master Plan
In the opening chapters, Bevere addresses why he avoided the topic of the Second Coming for years—citing the sensationalism and division it often caused. He resets the foundation by showing that the return of Christ is the second most mentioned topic in the New Testament (appearing once every 30 verses).
The Problem of Indifference: Bevere argues that the greatest threat to the modern church isn't open rebellion, but "subtle indifference"—believing Jesus is coming while living as if He is not.
The Eternal Perspective: He emphasizes that the "Blessed Hope" (Titus 2:13) isn't just an escape hatch from a broken world; it is the ultimate goal of history. Understanding this should produce holy resolve rather than anxiety.
Part 2: The Heart of the Bride
Bevere uses the imagery of the Ancient Jewish Wedding to explain our relationship with the King. This is a recurring theme in his teaching to illustrate why Jesus' return is an event of joy for the prepared.
The Betrothal Period: We are currently in the "betrothal" phase. Just as a Jewish bridegroom would go away to prepare a place and then return unexpectedly, Jesus is doing the same.
A People Set Apart: The bride’s job is to stay "set apart" (holy) and not become "entangled" with the world. He contrasts the "wise virgins" with the "foolish" ones (Matthew 25), noting that the difference was their preparation and oil (intimacy with the Spirit).
Part 3: Signs and Seasons
While many books focus on when the King is coming, Bevere focuses on why the signs exist.
Global Shaking: He views the current moral confusion and global "shakings" as birth pains. These aren't meant to scare us but to signal that the "delivery" of the Kingdom is near.
Deception: A major warning in these chapters is against the "spirit of the age" and spiritual deception. He teaches that without a "love for the truth," people will be easily led astray by a version of Christianity that lacks the power of holiness.
Part 4: Living in Readiness
The final sections deal with the practical "how-to" of waiting. He explains that readiness is an active, not passive, state.
Stewardship of the Gifts: Drawing from the Parable of the Talents, Bevere explains that we will be judged by what we did with what we were given. Living "ready" means being busy with the King’s business.
Confidence vs. Shame: He makes a sobering point based on 1 John 2:28—that it is possible for a believer to be "ashamed" at Christ's appearing if they have lived a compromised life.
The Fear of the Lord: True readiness is rooted in the "Awe of God." This holy fear doesn't mean being afraid of God, but being afraid of being away from Him or displeasing Him.
The "Eternal Hold" Mindset
Conviction Over Convenience
In the kingdom of God, we are called to a "Long-term Hold" mindset. Just as an investor refuses to sell an asset because they know its true future value, we must refuse to sell out our convictions for temporary of worldly comfort and short term compromise.
True faith is the Law of Expectation in action. When the disciples failed to heal the boy in Matthew 17, it wasn't because God's power had dried up; it was because their expectation wavered. Like Abraham, who received a name change before he saw the promise of Isaac's birth manifest, we must hold our position with Persistent Faith.
We live in the "Already/Not Yet"—where the King has already won, but the full manifestation of that victory is still coming. To "sell out" is to settle for the Already (the temporary) and lose the Not Yet (the eternal reward). We do not lower our standards because the promise is delayed; we strengthen our "hold" and pray for God's kingdom to keep manifesting here and now, because the King is coming and we want Him to see that we have been faithful stewards of what He has given us.
Integrating the "5 P’s" Into Your Daily Routine
This structure allows you to process The King is Coming (or any scripture) while maintaining your spiritual discipline.
1. Passage (The Foundation)
Action: Read the specific chapter or scripture for the day.
Focus: Look for what it reveals about the character of the King and about your real identity that He has given you (which is usually not the identity that the world has given you).
Don’t just read for information; read for encounter.
2. Point (The Core Truth)
Action: Summarize the main takeaway in one sentence.
Focus: Identify the "Spirit of this Age" that God's truth is meant to combat.
(For example: "The point is that my readiness is fueled by my intimacy, not my activity.")
3. Ponder (The Law of Expectation)
Action: Meditate on how this truth applies to your current "Not Yet" circumstances.
Focus: Ask yourself: "Am I wavering in my expectation like the disciples in Matthew 17, or am I standing firm like Abraham?" Use this time to realign your perspective with eternal reality.
4. Prayer (The Intercession)
Action: Turn the "Point" into a conversation with God.
Focus: Ask for the "Awe of God" and the "Fear of the Lord" to be restored in your heart and in the Body of Christ.
Pray specifically for the strength to not "sell" your convictions today.
5. Profession (The Confession)
Action: Speak the truth out loud.
Focus: Faith comes by hearing. Make a declaration like: "I am a citizen of the Kingdom. I will not be moved by what I see, but by what is promised. I walk by faith and not by sight. My King is coming, and I am living ready."
