REVELATION 1:1c, PART 9
It’s as if Christ now stands at the very door of our world, ready to enter at any moment.
When we stopped for our extended tour through the beginning of Matthew 24, we were working on the phrase “things which must shortly come to pass,” so let’s continue:
“We must carefully note that not only does John declare the events of his book near, but in those nearness declarations, he relates the purpose of his writing the book and applies that purpose to his first century audience. Revelation 1:1 informs the original recipients that he is writing about ‘the things which must shortly take place.’ One would think that if he is writing about ‘the things which must shortly take place,’ this would involve his very theme. It would be strikingly odd if John were to declare temporal nearness for the very purpose of his writing, then give a theme which reached thousands of years beyond his day. After all, does he not declare the nearness of ‘the time’ as reason why his first century readers must read, hear, and ‘heed the things which are written in it’ (Rev. 1:3)? Why would he urge them to heed the things written if his thematic purpose lies untold centuries in the future?”
As we’ve seen before, and will see again in this post, en tachei is more likely translated as ‘quickly’ rather than ‘soon.’ The statement: “[John] relates the purpose of his writing the book and applies that purpose to his first century audience” is the author’s interpretation, not what is actually said in Revelation. The author goes on to say: “does he not declare the nearness of ‘the time’ as reason why his first century readers must read, hear, and ‘heed the things which are written in it’” as if he’s quoting Revelation, but he’s really sneaking in the words “his first century readers” which are decidedly not in Revelation. It really isn’t even implied.
“So then, just four verses before John states the theme of Revelation, he declares the events near and applies them to his original audience…”
Not.
“As noted previously, John is ministering to a persecuted minority. God’s concern with those suffering for the faith in the first century is a major, recurring theme running throughout Revelation. Surely, he is not telling these persecuted saints that the time is near, that they must heed that which he is writing, that God is concerned with their persecution — but He will avenge you thousands of years in the future!” [from THE BOOK OF REVELATION MADE EASY: YOU CAN UNDERSTAND BIBLE PROPHECY, by Kenneth L. Gentry, 1999]
Gentry is a well-known preterist. He brooks no discussion and often makes fun of those who have a different interpretation. As for his little joke about the persecuted saints of the first century having to wait 2,000 years for vengeance, remember this:
9When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been killed because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained; 10and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who live on earth?” (Revelation 6:9,10; NASB)
Most people seem to think that these souls are those who were killed during the Tribulation; but it doesn’t say that. It seems that these are the souls of all the martyrs killed since Christ walked the earth, and they have, indeed, been waiting for thousands of years…in heaven where there is no time. Have you thought about why this would be the fifth seal? I mean, the other seals were about wars, death, earthquakes, etc. This seal is foretelling a big uptick in martyrdom; remember, they are told to wait until the full number of martyrs is complete: in other words, all the martyrs have a special place in heaven, and they will all be gathered there as God brings His wrath to the earth.
“The content of the revelation is ‘what must soon take place,’ which forms an inclusio with a similar phrase at the end of 1:3: ‘the time is near.’ Just as there is a spatial point of view (an above and below point of view), there is a temporal point of view (a ‘soon’ and a ‘not-yet’ point of view) in Revelation. The ‘soon’ perspective is that Jesus is coming again, evil will be destroyed, and a new heaven and new earth will be created. The ‘not-yet’ point of view, which is interspersed throughout the Apocalypse, is that the end is delayed.” [from THE REVELATION OF JOHN: A NARRATIVE COMMENTARY, by James L. Resseguie, 2009]
It sounds like Resseguie is trying to bridge the futurist view with that of the preterists; but to do that he says that “the end is delayed.” This is like saying God made a mistake, or God changed His mind. The end is not delayed; it’s happening right on cue.
“The Greek phrase translated ‘soon’ or ‘quickly’ in Revelation 1:1 is en tachei [1722, 5034]. The same phrase is used in Luke 18:8 in reference to the judgment of God and in Romans 16:20 to describe the future destruction of Satan.
I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man comes, shall he find faith on the earth? (Luke 18:8; KJV)
I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8; NASB)
I tell you that he will see to it that justice is done for them ! Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, then will he find faith on earth?” (Luke 18:8; Lexham English Bible 2012)
And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. (Romans 16:20; KJV)
The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you. (Romans 16:20; NASB)
The God of peace will quickly crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you. (Romans 16:20; New English Translation 2017)
“The other common Greek term for impending fulfillment is found in Revelation 1:3, where the Greek word engys [1451] appears, meaning ‘near.’ These two terms, en tachei and engys, communicate that the fulfillment of future events could begin at any moment. It’s as if Christ now stands at the very door of our world, ready to enter at any moment. Our response should not be to expect the return of Christ at a particular time, but to be ready for His return no matter when it occurs.” [from INSIGHTS ON REVELATION, by Chuck Swindoll, 2014]
I’m not sure how Swindoll sees the Rapture, but I definitely see it happening before the Second Coming. Nevertheless, I generally agree with his quote.
I have a thought on “engys” or “eggus” [#1451]. It does mean near, close, nearby, nearer, at hand, but it also means ready. None of the translations use “ready” as the word for Revelation 1:3; but it seems to me that if the word “near” or “close” were used in the sense of “ready,” it would help with understanding that while everything is ready, it hasn’t happened yet.
There is another way to look at this idea. Most of the translations have some variation of this:
Blessed is the one who reads, and those who hear the words of the prophecy and keep the things which are written in it; for the time is near. (Revelation 1:3; NASB)
However, the Hebrew version of Revelation is different. This is from a manuscript found in 1806 in one of the synagogues of the Black Jews of Cochin, India by the Rev. Claudius Buchanan (information from archivesearch.lib.cam.ac.uk; for information on the “Black Jews” go to britannica.com/topic/Cochin-Jews, en.wickipedia.org/wiki/Cochin_Jews, and jewishvirtuallibrary.org/india-virtual-jewish-history-tour. FYI, there are also “Black Jews” in southern Africa, a tribe called the Lemba, which have been proven to have ~50% Semitic Y-chromosomes, see pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8900243/). This manuscript, and a lot more of them from southern India, are housed in the Cambridge University Library in England. They are only just now being translated and studied. First of all, the title is different; it’s translated as “These are the Confidential Counsels.” “Sodot” is the word translated as “Confidential Counsels.” Interestingly, it could also read: “These are the Secrets.” In this Hebrew version, Revelation 1:3 is translated:
Blessed is he who reads, and those who hear this prophecy and establish that which is written. (Revelation 1:3; THE HEBREW REVELATION, JAMES AND JUDE, by Justin and Michael J. Van Rensburg, 2022) (www.HebrewGospels.com )
You can see that the whole difficult line is not there.
I also want to make a short comment about this being found in India. I’ve often heard that there was evidence of at least one of the Apostles going as far as India, but this is the first time I’ve run into any of this evidence. It’s interesting that it was a Jewish synagogue, and that Christian writings were found in among the Jewish texts. The University Library website does not speculate on the age of the manuscript, and neither does the author of the book I cited. There are pictures of the script in the book, and, being somewhat familiar with Sanskrit lettering, I have to say that the writing looks very much like someone who knows Sanskrit or Hindi writing Hebrew. One of the sources about the Black Jews states that a number of Jews went to India after 70 A.D. It’s possible that the Christian documents came with them, rather than by an Apostle.
“John begins by describing his vision as a revelation which God gave him to show His servants things which must soon take place. The roots of this verse are in Dan. 2:28-30, 45-47, where in the Greek translations of the OT the verb ‘revealed’ appears five times, the verb ‘show’ (‘signify,’ ‘communicate,’ Greek sēmainō [only in OG]) twice and the phrase ‘what must come to pass’ three times.
28However, there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will take place in the latter days. This was your dream and the visions in your mind while on your bed. 29As for you, O king, while on your bed your thoughts turned to what would take place in the future; and He who reveals secrets has made known to you what will take place. 30But as for me, this secret has not been revealed to me for any wisdom residing in me more than in any other living person, but for the purpose of making the interpretation known to the king, and that you may understand the thoughts of your mind…45Just as you saw that a stone was broken off from the mountain without hands, and that it crushed the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold, the great God has made known to the king what will take place in the future; so the dream is certain and its interpretation is trustworthy.” 46Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face and paid humble respect to Daniel, and gave orders to present him an offering and incense. 47The king responded to Daniel and said, “Your God truly is a God of gods and a Lord of kings and a revealer of secrets, since you have been able to reveal this secret.” (Daniel 2:28-30, 45-47; NASB)
“The key to the significance of these allusions to Daniel is that Daniel is speaking there of the kingdom of God which will come to pass in the latter days. But what Daniel explicitly states will come to pass ‘in the latter days’ John rewords: these events will take place quickly or soon. These words do not connote the speedy manner in which the Daniel prophecy is to be fulfilled, nor the mere possibility that it could be fulfilled at any time, but the definite, imminent time of fulfillment, which likely has already begun in the present. What Daniel expected to occur in the last days, John is announcing as imminent, or beginning to occur now. The change of phraseology implies that the final tribulation, defeat of evil, and establishment of the kingdom, which Daniel expected to occur distantly in ‘the latter days,’ John expects to begin in his own generation — and, indeed, it has already started to happen (for the idea of tribulation preceding the divine kingdom see Daniel 7, which is a parallel prophecy to Daniel 2). The focus of ‘quickness’ and ‘nearness’ in vv. 1-3 is primarily on the inauguration of prophetic fulfillment and its ongoing aspect rather than nearness of consummate fulfillment (the return of the Lord), though the latter thought is secondarily present.” [from REVELATION: A SHORTER COMMENTARY, by Gregory K. Beale, 2015]
Beale speaks of the time being “imminent,” yet he doesn’t bring up the doctrine of “imminence;” I would think that would be an important point to make.
Basically he seems to be saying that it doesn’t matter how en tachei is translated, because all it’s implying is that the beginning of the fulfillment of prophecy has started and is “ongoing.” While I don’t disagree that there is an aspect of “ongoingness” to this, I don’t think that this aspect makes the translation of en tachei irrelevant. I still think that en tachei describes how things will happen at the fulfillment of the prophecies.
“Something that is not quite right. Let us read that verse again. God says that the prophecy is about ‘things that must soon take place’. Excuse me? The book of Revelation, as we have seen describes the destruction of the earth in the most frightening and blood-curdling of terms and here we are two-thousand years later having not seen any of those events fulfilled. What is going on? These things that God says MUST take place "soon" have not occurred.
“Can this expression be a mistake? Could the phrase ‘soon’ mean something else? In the English language ‘soon’ has the following meanings: ‘Within a short period after this or that time, event, etc.; before long, in the near future, at an early date; promptly or quickly; readily or willingly; in a short period of time; before the time specified is much advanced; immediately, at once, forthwith; sooner instead of later.’
“From the view of the English language, there can be no mistake what ‘soon’ means. Besides, in the same chapter, which also happens to be the last of the book, the author makes it quite clear what he means. In verse 12 he quotes Jesus as saying, ‘Look, I am coming soon!’ and in verse 20 he repeats this again. ‘He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.’ In fact, if we look at the words of the Apocalypse again, we find that from the very start, the author declares that the events of his prophesy must ‘soon take place.’ (Revelation 1:1)”
Unfortunately for this author, Jesus was not speaking in English. Parsing out English when trying to understand Scriptures is way down on the list of things you can do to understand a passage better.
"The scriptures I have quoted are from the New International Version of the Bible. In nearly all other English translations of the Bible, the word ‘soon’ is rendered ‘quickly’. This is because the Greek word used is ‘tachu’ and ‘soon’ and ‘quickly’ are interchangeable. Strong's Exhaustive Concordance describes the word ‘tachu’ as, ‘Neuter singular of tachus (as adverb); shortly, i.e. Without delay, soon, or (by surprise) suddenly, or (by implication, of ease) readily - lightly, quickly. Thus, ‘soon’ and ‘quickly’ are exchangeable and mean the same thing: ‘in a short period of time; before the time specified is much advanced; immediately, at once.’”
It’s good that the author finally looks at the Greek, but he seems to have an odd idea about translating, and, seems willing to bend English to his purpose. “Soon” and “quickly” are not exactly “interchangeable.” Are they interchangeable in English? Not really. We see them both as about time, and the first says we can expect something in the very near future; the second says we can either expect something in the very near future or, depending on the context, we take it out of the realm of time, and can expect that when it happens, it will happen with speed. For example, we could say “The volcano is going to erupt soon,” or we could say “The volcano is going to erupt quickly.” These two sentences are not saying the same thing. If it’s going to erupt soon, then we better get out of the way as fast as possible. If it’s going to erupt quickly, then we better plan for a fast retreat when the time comes. “Soon” tells us when the volcano will erupt; “quickly” tells us how it will erupt.
So what does all this say about the Greek word? It doesn’t say that we can use either word in a translation because they mean exactly the same thing. How does the translator know which word to use? By the context of the sentence and the passage and similar passages, etc. Let’s take Jesus’ words from Revelation 22: “Yes, I am coming soon.” vs “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Our context for this phrase is Revelation: all kinds of bad events are going to happen, mankind will be under wrath, and the earth is going to essentially be destroyed. We say to ourselves, well, there’s all this bad stuff, but that doesn’t tell me which word is right. But wait a minute, has any of this stuff happened yet? Has anything happened that was bad enough that we could suppose Revelation is a symbol for it? I would say no on both counts. That means it hasn’t happened yet, it’s still in the future. “Soon” doesn’t really fit. But let’s look at Revelation again: In v. 19, Jesus is seen coming on a white horse, with an army, “treading the wine press of the fierce wrath of God…and the beast was seized…” This sounds like it could be pretty sudden, or “quick.” Jesus isn’t sneaking up on those meeting at Armageddon. He isn’t sending a wire ahead so everyone is prepared. He has given some signs so His followers will know what’s going to happen, but those at Armageddon probably won’t know. He will arrive quickly. The skies will open, and He will be there. Quickly works for me, how about you?
“One would think that no stretch of the imagination can the phrases ‘I am coming soon [quickly]’ or ‘soon [quickly] take place’ mean being two-thousand years later. However, because the Book of Revelation has become entrenched in the theologies of various Christian sects such as Jehovah's Witnesses, have resorted to hocus pocus thinking to overcome this obvious obstacle to their christologies. So instead of reading the context in which the phrases are used, these sects resort to the idea that from a heavenly point of view, two-thousand years are like two days, hence the time is indeed short. This interpretation is based the words of Peter when he says ‘With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.’ (2 Peter 3:8)”
Like many preterists, the author is resorting to the use of insults here. If we don’t believe his view of things, then we are using “hocus pocus.” I am trying not to be insulting back at him. It’s difficult. I am not a fan of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, but they are not using witchcraft or other types of “hocus pocus” to explain their beliefs. They have chosen the context of 2 Peter with which to explain things; I don’t choose to do that, but they do. The author here implies that he has used context, yet the J.W.’s have used more context than he has. If you can’t see the difference between “soon” and “quickly,” then you lose any context that you try to show by listing Bible passages. The context evaporates because you've lost (or denied) the meaning of each passage.
“Such an interpretation is nonsense of course because the author of the Apocalypse, when seen in the context in which the phrases are written, is trying to encourage his readers that their struggles and persecutions are nearly over and soon they will be rewarded for their faith. ‘Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done’, he says. (Revelation 22:12)”
Again, if you can’t see the difference between “soon” and “quickly” then quoting “I am coming soon!” doesn’t provide the context you think it does. There is no specific reference to the first century struggles in Revelation after verse 3; so using “I am coming soon!” and similar verses to “prove” that the first century is really the topic, doesn’t work once you realize the difference between “soon” and “quickly;” all it does is create a loop of circular logic: Jesus is coming “soon”(in the first century) so it must be about the first century, and because it’s about the first century, Jesus is coming “soon” (in the first century).
“The Greek word ‘tachu’ is found in other parts of the New Testament and none of these even suggest that one has to wait two-thousand years for the events to happen that are described in those verses. Let me show what I mean. Here are a few of the verses in the Gospels where this word ‘tachu’ for ‘soon’ or ‘quickly’ is used. I am quoting from the English translation from the English Standard Version of the New Testament.
“Come to terms quickly [tachu] with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. (Matthew 5:25)
"Then go quickly [tachu] and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you. So they departed quickly [tachu] from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. (Matthew 28:7-8)
"But Jesus said, 'Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon [tachu] afterward to speak evil of me.'(Mark 9:39)
"The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, 'Go out quickly [tachu] into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’ (Luke 14:21)
“In the verses quoted above, although the Greek word ‘tachu’ refers to an unspecified length of time it is a short length of time. One can hardly equate these periods as being two-thousand years long, can one? That would be ridiculous. Besides, in the same chapter (22) the author of the Apocalypse further says: ‘Then he told me, Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this scroll, because the time is near.’ (Revelation 22:10)” [from THE APOCALYPSE DECEPTION: THE BOOK OF REVELATION IS NOT WHAT IT CLAIMS TO BE, by Fred A. Harding, 2016]
With a book title like this, one doesn’t expect that one will necessarily agree with the author. Harding is totally ignoring the argument that “tachu” (or “en tachei”) refers to how these things will happen, not when they will happen. He forgets that we are told specifically that we cannot know when they will happen, so why would Jesus give us a teasing “when” word?
“The things in this revelation ‘must quickly’ or will soon ‘take place.’ This phrase occurs seven times in Revelation and emphasizes imminence and expectancy. We must put this phrase in biblical and theological context. Hebrews 1:2 teaches we are now in ‘these last days.’ James 5:9 tells us, ‘The judge stands at the door.’ First John 2:18 affirms, “It is the last hour.’ Alan Johnson says,
“‘In eschatology and apocalyptic literature, the future is always viewed as imminent…The church in every age has always lived with the expectancy of the consummation of all things in its own day. “Imminent”describes an event that is “possible any day, impossible no day.” (Revelation 22)’” [from EXALTING JESUS IN REVELATION, by Daniel L. Akin, 2016]
1God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, 2in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom He also made the world. (Hebrews 1:1,2; NASB)
Do not complain, brothers and sisters, against one another, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door. (James 5:9; NASB)
18Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour…22Who is the liar except the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son. (1 John 2:18,22; NASB)
12Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to reward each one as his work deserves…20He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. (Revelation 22:12,20; NASB)
Akins also seems to be saying that “soon” or “quickly” are the same; but at least he alludes more directly to the doctrine of eminence.
As you may have noticed, I’m digging into other areas of Revelation more as they come up. Previously I was putting these issues off, but I’ve been thinking that we may run out of time at some point, and for several possible reasons, so I need to cram in as much as possible as soon as possible, so that is how we’ll proceed from now on.
We have a few more quotes from the 21st century before we leave this phrase.
A very good article, as only you can do