THE EVENTS IN REVELATIONS ARE PASSED US AND NOT IN OUR FUTURE:
“The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John, (Revelation 1:1 NASB)
John in writing this last book of the bible emphasized the truth of imminence of events in a variety of ways through language. He carefully varies the manner of his expressions as if to avoid any potential confusion on the matter. The Greek word translated “soon” in Revelation 1:1 is from the Greek word tachos.
According to Arndt and Gingich Lexicon, tachos is used in the LXX and certain non-canonical writings to mean speed, quickness, swiftness, haste. John uses the same word in Revelation 2:16; 3:11; 22:6,7,12,20.
John also uses the Greek word eggus:
Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near. (Revelation 1:3 NASB)
John also uses the Greek word eggus:
Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near. (Revelation 1:3 NASB)
Which is translated here as “near” it is also used in Revelation 22:10. This term speaks of temporal nearness and John uses it to bracket the book. The third Greek word is mello; it is translated “about to”’ in Revelation 1:19 & 3:10.
“Therefore write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after these things. (Revelation 1:19 NASB)
“Therefore write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after these things. (Revelation 1:19 NASB)
The phrase, “the things which will take place after these things” is literally “the things which are about to occur” and in 3:10, “which shall come upon all the world” is literally “is about to come upon the whole world [oikoumene].”
If we apply the principle of audience relevance, what would the original readers have thought when they read this? John strategically places these words at the introduction and conclusion of the book. John was telling the seven churches to expect these things at any moment.
REVELATION: ALL THINGS BEING MADE NEW
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THE WRATH OF GOD IS BEHIND US
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