The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him, to show to His servants what must soon take place....Rev. 1:1.
The text says that the events described in Revelation will "soon" take place. Where did the revelator come up with that? Would anyone in their right mind say 1,900 years is soon? What could he possibly mean? Some interpreters suggest that we must understand this "soon" from God's perspective rather than ours. After all, a day with the Lord is like 1,00 years (2 Peter 3:8)! In that sense the coming of Jesus has always been soon. To God the passage of 1,000 years is only a single grain in the infinite sands of time.
That answer may be useful, but it is not enough for most of us. After all, John did not write the book of Revelation for God's benefit, but rather, "to show his servants what must soon take place." When the angel came to Peter in prison (Acts 12:7, NIV), and said, "Quick, get up!" (the same Greek word as "soon" in Revelation 1:1), the angel certainly wasn't suggesting that Peter should snooze for another 1,900 years! What would the first readers of Revelation have made of this comment? Was Jesus (or John) mistaken here? How are we to make sense of this?
For one thing, such declaration seem to be a pattern with God. Even in Old Testament times you often receive the impression that God's great final act is just around the corner. When you get to the gospels, the sayings of Jesus don’t seem to suggest more than a few years or decades either. Scripture throughout presents the time until the end as short.
It is as if God knows that something in the human psyche goes wrong every time the future seems to lengthen. We may know in our heads that every moment could be our last, yet we live as though our personal history will continue for decades at the least. Portraying time as short meets a human need. It helps us to focus on the things that matter the most. It enables us to set the right priorities for whatever remains of our lives.
A student approached a rabbi and asked, "When should I get right with God?"
The rabbi replied, "The day before you die."
"But when am I going to die?" the student retorted.
The rabbi replied, "No one knows; therefore, the Scriptures say, 'Today, if you will hear His voice, harden not your hearts." One way or the other, things will take place soon. What counts is how we respond to that reality.
Lord, help me to live this day with the perspective of eternity. May I experience each moment and treat each person as if I am about to give a final accounting of my life.
The text says that the events described in Revelation will "soon" take place. Where did the revelator come up with that? Would anyone in their right mind say 1,900 years is soon? What could he possibly mean? Some interpreters suggest that we must understand this "soon" from God's perspective rather than ours. After all, a day with the Lord is like 1,00 years (2 Peter 3:8)! In that sense the coming of Jesus has always been soon. To God the passage of 1,000 years is only a single grain in the infinite sands of time.
That answer may be useful, but it is not enough for most of us. After all, John did not write the book of Revelation for God's benefit, but rather, "to show his servants what must soon take place." When the angel came to Peter in prison (Acts 12:7, NIV), and said, "Quick, get up!" (the same Greek word as "soon" in Revelation 1:1), the angel certainly wasn't suggesting that Peter should snooze for another 1,900 years! What would the first readers of Revelation have made of this comment? Was Jesus (or John) mistaken here? How are we to make sense of this?
For one thing, such declaration seem to be a pattern with God. Even in Old Testament times you often receive the impression that God's great final act is just around the corner. When you get to the gospels, the sayings of Jesus don’t seem to suggest more than a few years or decades either. Scripture throughout presents the time until the end as short.
It is as if God knows that something in the human psyche goes wrong every time the future seems to lengthen. We may know in our heads that every moment could be our last, yet we live as though our personal history will continue for decades at the least. Portraying time as short meets a human need. It helps us to focus on the things that matter the most. It enables us to set the right priorities for whatever remains of our lives.
A student approached a rabbi and asked, "When should I get right with God?"
The rabbi replied, "The day before you die."
"But when am I going to die?" the student retorted.
The rabbi replied, "No one knows; therefore, the Scriptures say, 'Today, if you will hear His voice, harden not your hearts." One way or the other, things will take place soon. What counts is how we respond to that reality.
Lord, help me to live this day with the perspective of eternity. May I experience each moment and treat each person as if I am about to give a final accounting of my life.
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