Things Which Shortly Came To Pass Revelation 22:6-12

All right. Good morning, everyone. Welcome to All Things Fulfilled. I'm William Bell, and we're looking forward to another study in the Book of Revelation. We're winding down very quickly. The end is shortly to come to pass, but that's basically what we're going to be talking about this morning, and that is the timing of the events of the Book of Revelation, a point that is just totally sometimes disregarded because of people's preconceived opinions about these things and when they suppose they will take place. So let's go ahead and get into the subject. Much of this is going to be familiar to those of you who understand the meaning of the Book of Revelation, but I can tell you, you can't repeat these things too much because there are many people who either have not heard them or heard them explained in this way, or there's just something that they might hear. I happen to be going through some videos that were done in the past. As a matter of fact, I saw a comment on one of them from 2022, and actually the video was kind of messed up. The camera clarity was not good, but yet there was a person who had made a comment on about seven days ago and had actually changed their view on something very fundamental, and it was really important to see, but that just lets you know that these things need to be repeated, just like the Apostle said he would not be negligent to remind them of those things, though they knew the truth. And so, both Peter and Paul understood the importance of reminding them of things that they had heard before, they were assured of, and to ensure that those things would continue to be present. And so, we have no problem with doing that, and it just reminds me that there are times when you need to go back and even repeat some of the other things, bring them up to date, maybe because some of your positions or your understanding, you have a bit more clarity on them and can say them a little bit better than you did the first time. Those of you who are present online, I am still having this difficulty with being able to see your comments live, and that's a great disadvantage to me because there are times when there are things that you say and comments that you make that are very important to the message at hand, and sometimes I want to get those comments in the lesson in real time. So, I'm still going to work on that with Facebook to see if I can find out why it's taking place, and when I can get it resolved, then hopefully we can be on the same time. But just know that I know that you are present, and I go back and check those comments, and I'll try to insert whatever I can at the time in my replies. But we're looking at Revelation 22, and starting in verse 6, and then going through verse 12, and we'll kind of maybe touch some verses, skip a little bit, but maybe by this time next week, we'll get them all in in this particular section. It just depends on how much and how the time flows as we're going. But we're going to look at this concept of the time being drawn near, the time was shortly to come to pass, etc., relative to the events of the book of Revelation. So, let's take a look at the text. It says, Now, this is summing up everything that we have looked at in the book of Revelation. Everything that's contained within this prophecy, within the apocalypse, he's summing up in these words that he's giving in these verses to tell us about the time frame in which they would occur. So, the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to show his servants the things which must shortly take place. Now, I, John, saw and heard these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things. Then he said to me, See that you do not do that, for I am your fellow servant and of your brethren, the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God. And he said to me, Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand. He who is unjust, let him be unjust still. He who is filthy, let him be filthy still. And he who is righteous, let him be righteous still. And he who is holy, let him be holy still. And behold, I am coming quickly, and my reward is with me to give everyone according to his work. That should really seal the deal right there. You just have to read the passages and then accept them for what they say. But we'll give a little bit of commentary on them as we go. Now, first of all, he says these are the words of the Lord God of the holy prophets. The book of Revelation continues the message from the prophets. This is totally in line with what Jesus said in John 5 and verse 39. Search the scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life, and they are they which testify of me. Same thing in Matthew 5 verses 17 and 18. Do not think that I have come to destroy the law or the prophets. I did not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For sure do I say to you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot and one tittle will in no wise or in any wise pass from the law till all is fulfilled. So Jesus' words were all about the fulfilling of the words of the prophets. That's what his entire ministry was about. Even at the close of his ministry in Luke chapter 24, he's told the apostles, these are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you. That all things which are written in the law of Moses and in the Psalms and in the prophets must be fulfilled concerning me. And he went on to say that the Christ must suffer and must rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance and remission of sin should be preached in his name among all nations beginning at Jerusalem. So there he is during his ministry and after his resurrection and before his ascension reminding the apostles that these are the words of the prophets that have to be fulfilled. And so we are not to engage in any type of speculative newspaper exegesis, getting our understanding from current events that are happening in the world. They're all rooted in what has been written in the law and in the prophets. And the apostles said the same thing, particularly the apostle Paul, for example, he says that he said no other things than those which were found in the law and in the prophets. So that has to be our guideline in understanding the meaning of the book of Revelation, because it draws very heavily on the Old Testament scriptures on the prophets. And so when the text says that the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to show them these things, he's reminding them that these things are rooted and grounded in the law and the prophets. And of course, Peter said the same thing. When you look in Acts chapter three and the verse is 22, this text says, for Moses truly said, and he was responding particularly and speaking particularly of the time of the restoration of all things, which had been spoken by the mouth of all the prophets since the age began. So once again, the apostles are reiterating this point. And Peter said, for Moses truly said to the fathers, the Lord, your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brethren. Him shall you hear in all things, whatever he says to you. And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people. And yes, and all the prophets from Samuel and those who follow after as many as have spoken have also foretold of these days. Now that again, sets the timeframe for the fulfillment of the words of the prophets, because here we are with Peter in the first century saying that all the prophets had foretold of these days. In other words, the last days in which they were already participating in the first century. And therefore the last days are not to be ascribed to our day and time because those events were fulfilled by the time the city and the temple fell in AD 70. Now, again, Peter spoke about these words in first Peter chapter one. And this is interesting because we are not to see these events of the time of the end fulfilled in any prior period. We do have those out there who are saying that, you know, the new covenant was fulfilled in the time of Jeremiah or, you know, in the time of second temple Judaism. Well, if that was the apostles didn't know it, and neither did the prophets know that that is what was taking place because in first Peter chapter one verses 10 through 12, the text says of this salvation, the prophets have inquired and searched carefully who prophesied of the grace that would come to you. Now this is Peter writing to the first century audience that those things would come to them. And, you know, Jesus even made the statement. He says many prophets and wise men wanted to see the things that you see, but did not see them. They did not see these events being fulfilled in their day and time. So Peter is just reiterating what he had been taught by the Lord. I believe that's in Matthew chapter 13, but nevertheless in verse 11, he says they were searching what and what manner of time the spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when he testified beforehand, notice the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow, follow what? Follow the sufferings. Now, did Jesus suffer during the time of Jeremiah? I don't think so. He didn't even come during the time of Jeremiah. As far as the incarnation was concerned, we read about that in the new Testament. And that was pre announced by John who came to prepare the way before him, who was by the way, a last days prophet, according to Malachi chapter four verse five, where he says he would send Elijah the prophet before that great and terrible day of the Lord. So Malachi four verses four and five, he speaks about that. And we see that being fulfilled in Matthew chapter 17, as Jesus spoke to them when they understood that he was speaking about John the Baptist. Again, you can see in Luke one 16 and seven as well. So these events that pertain to the last days and the fulfillment of what's in the book of Revelation, according to the prophets were those things that the prophets were looking forward to about the suffering of Christ. And then following his suffering, it was the glories that would follow the sufferings. And that's what Peter is saying. And so he says to them, it was revealed that not to themselves, but to us again, that's the first century saints with that word us to us, they were ministering the thing. So the apostle, excuse me, the prophets of old were ministering the things for the people of the first century in terms of their fulfillment of these prophecies. He says, which now have been reported to you through those who preach the gospel to you by the Holy spirit, which was sent in the last days, Joel two 28 through 32 and acts two 16 through 20. This is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel things, which angels desire to look into. And hence Peter told him to gird up the loins of your mind and be sober and hope to the end for those things that were about to be unveiled to them. Same word used for the apocalypse or revelation that we see in the book of revelation. So he was talking about the fulfillment of their hope. Then we see in revelation chapter 10 and verse seven, another text that focuses on old Testament prophecy that was being fulfilled in the book of revelation. It says, and swore by him who lives forever. Now this is a quote from Deuteronomy chapter 32 and verse 40, but the text says in revelation 10 and verses six and seven and swore by him who lives forever, who created heaven and the things that are in it and the earth and the things that are in it and the sea and the things that are in it, that there should be delay no longer. So as you see, John, speaking of the things which would shortly come to pass, he says that there should be delay no longer. So we can't listen to the people who tell us that, you know, God is delaying these things. There were the scoffers who came in the first century saying, where is the promise of his coming as if there would be a delay. And, you know, Jesus talked about that when he spoke about, you know, there were those who would come saying the Lord delays his coming, but he says there is no more delay. And that quote is from Deuteronomy chapter 32 verse 40, where he says, where I raise my hand to heaven and say, as I live forever, but it's also quoted in Daniel chapter 12. And when it's quoted in Daniel 12, it particularly gives us some timeframe and time parameters in which these events would take place. And by the way, especially when we speak about that, and we'll say something about it just very shortly, but I want you to keep that in mind that, you know, we're looking in Daniel 12 as well, but he says, if I wet my glittering sword and my hand takes hold on judgment, I will render vengeance to my enemies and repay those who hate me. That's Deuteronomy, but in Daniel 12, he says, then I heard the man clothed in linen who was above the waters of the river when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven. You see how he's quoting that text from Deuteronomy 32 verses 40 and 41. He says, and swore by him who lives forever, that it should be for a time, times and half a time when the power of the holy people shall be completely shattered. So he's speaking about the time when Jerusalem would be destroyed, when the power of the holy people would be completely shattered. He says, all these things shall be finished. So the message of the book of Revelation would be about the fulfillment of the words of the prophets, but that's the time when the power of the holy people would be shattered, that all those things would be fulfilled. And, you know, you can look in Revelation 11 and verse two, that where John was told to measure the temple and the altar and the things therein, but he says the court, which is without the city leave out for it is given to the Gentiles and they shall tread it under foot for 40 and two months. Well, 40 and two months is 1,260 days. It is also a time, times and half a time. In other words, three and a half years for the time of the siege upon Jerusalem. So you can see how all these things are falling within that same framework of the message of the book of Revelation that talks about the fall of the great city. And he says, therefore, all these things would be finished. But in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, which was the last trumpet, when he is about to sound the mystery of God would be finished as he declared to his servants, the prophets. So all of this is the fulfillment of the words of the prophets. Now the verse also repeats the opening message of the apocalypse when he speaks about this message that was sent by his angel to his servants to show them the things which must shortly take place. The revelation, this is verse one, and really, you know, the opening of the book of Revelation should set the tone for how it is to be interpreted. How do you go to the book of Revelation, read verse one, and then talk about things that are all the way up into our present? You know, it just really boggles the mind to even think about that. But so many traditions have been taught and so many people are looking at, for example, even what's going on in the world today with Iran and Israel and the United States, thinking that, you know, we're living in the time of the battle of Armageddon. But none of that is related to the things that were shortly to come to pass within the first century. And so he says, the revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to him to show his servants things which must shortly take place. And he sent and signified it by his angel to his servant, John. So that message is given in the beginning of the book, but it's also given in the end to reiterate it. So to open and to close the book within these brackets, if you please, within this, it's kind of a pericope of everything that was said and inclusio, if you please, of all the things contained within those statements, that statement in verse one, and that we see here in 22.6, that these were the things which must shortly come to pass. There are even terms within the message of the book of Revelation to the epistles, excuse me, the letters to the churches, well, they would be short epistles to the churches, but in the letters to the churches in chapters two and three, as well as in the middle of the book, as it relates to chapter 12, it again talks about things that were about to take place, things that were shortly to be done, and there would be time no longer, et cetera. All through the book, this emphasis on this short period of time, the word shortly in the book of Revelation means in a short space of time, and the prefix in means that it was going to come to pass quickly. So in other words, it's going to take place quickly. We've already given the basic timeframe for these events. They were not going to be stretched over centuries. And when they would happen, it would be over a short space of time, but would be quickly. Now, some people, you know, try to separate those two concepts from that phrase in Takei, but they need to go together. So it's not just whenever they start, they're going to happen quickly. You know, I remember Don Preston oftentimes giving the illustration about, you know, a fire in the house and the calling the fire department and they say, we'll be there quickly. And they take forever till the house burns down. But when they decide to, you know, jump in that truck and turn that siren on and rolled, you know, screeching down the street, they're really going to come quickly. No, that's not what it meant. It meant that once they received that call, they were coming in a short period of time, and they were going to really peel some rubber to get there in order to put that fire out. So we have to see both aspects of that point. Then in verse seven, where he says, behold, I am coming quickly. Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book. So another repeat from chapter one, because it says who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ to all things that he saw. Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy. And that's another important point to emphasize concerning the book of Revelation is that this is not, you know, tons of prophecies stretched out over time happening at different ages along the way from the first century. This is one single prophecy. It is the revelation, the unveiling of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is about showing Jesus coming or manifesting him in his deity. That's what was hidden from those who lived in the time of his ministry. And while he was on earth and the reason that they wanted to kill him, because they say you make yourself to be equal with God, John chapter five. And they said, but you are just a mere man. So that was hidden from them and not because it hadn't been revealed. He gave them tons of evidence to recognize that even the miracles. And he told them in John 10, he says, if you don't believe me, believe the works that I'm doing. And Nicodemus acknowledged that he said, no man can do these things, which you do, except God, you know, has sent him. But the unbelieving Jews of the time didn't want to believe what he presented to them, claiming that he did those miracles by the Prince of demons. And so he had to ask him, well, then if I do them by the Prince of devils, by whom do your children cast them out? And therefore told them that they were their own judges and witnesses that they were, you know, misjudging him and demonstrating that they themselves were the sons of Satan. But nevertheless, he had given testimony and John 20 says, truly many other signs did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book, but these are written that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the son of God, and that believing you might have life through his name. So the evidence was there, but in the book of revelation, this is primarily what's being revealed. And it is through the events that he describes in the revelation that are revealing him in his deity, just like in Romans one, you know, the things that are seen reveal the invisible God. And here is Jesus being revealed. You can also see first Timothy chapter six, 14 through 16, because it is the manifestation of the epiphany or the epiphany of his parousia, the revealing of a hidden divinity. And that's what the book of revelation is all about. And it's therefore one single prophecy with just, you know, several parts of it. But he says, for the time is near, the time is drawn near. Now, this is interesting as well, because, you know, it mentions that term at hand, and that's so very important. Can you imagine, and I'm sure you can, because you hear it all the time, those of you who are, you know, aware that there are those who want to keep trying to choke us with futurism. You know, they're trying to shove that down the throats of those who understand scripture, and they will tell you things like the term at hand is elastic. I remember a preacher in the church of Christ by the name of Wayne Jackson, he's passed on now, and he wrote against the teaching of Christ coming in 70 AD, fulfilling these things that we see in the book of Revelation, on the term at hand. And remember, these things come from the prophets, right? We've already established that. Well, the term at hand is used in Deuteronomy chapter 32, I think it's around verse 35, but it speaks about things which would be at hand. And let me go over there and read that for you. And he wrote an article and argued that at hand can stretch for 1500 years, trying to deny the eminence of that term, meaning something that would soon occur. And I didn't get anywhere near close to what I had anticipated in this lesson, which just means that, you know, I'll continue it on next week. But when you go to Deuteronomy 32, and verse 34, a passage that Peter uses in his teachings on the end of the cosmos, the judgment that he's drawing directly from Deuteronomy 32, but it says, is this not laid up in store with me, sealed up among my treasures. Vengeance is mine, and recompense. Therefore, their foot shall slip in due time, for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things to come hasten upon them. It's another word used in 2 Peter 3. But nevertheless, notice he says, the things are at hand. And Jackson used this to say, well, you see, it was Moses wrote about this 1500 years before the time of the New Testament, before the Gospels, before the book of Revelation, before the epistles, all of which use the term at hand, saying that at hand is elastic. And I remember the phrase that he used, he used and spoke of either, I think the title of the article was, the elasticity of time prophecy, the elasticity of time prophecy. And I rephrased it, I recoined the term and I called it rubber band exegesis. You can just take your rubber band and just stretch it as far as you want to stretch it. But you see, that's not what the scripture says. Moses was speaking of things that would come to pass in the last days. He was talking about things, not that we're going to transpire in the time of Moses. Moses looked all the way down to Israel's end. He says, I will tell you what your end will be because he was at the beginning of Israel's history, focusing on the end. So what he meant was in the time of the end, those things would be at hand. So that rubber band just snapped right back into Jackson's face and, you know, kind of popped him and stung him because he had misunderstood the prophecy. Now let's give you another reason why he did, why he misunderstood that. And this is what some people are saying today. Now, Moses wrote Deuteronomy and the book of Numbers. So in Numbers, we have a statement around Numbers 24. And I think it's around verse 17. Yes, 24 and 17. And again, Moses is talking about the last days. We go back to verse 14. It says, and now indeed, I'm going to my people, come, I will advise you what this people will do to your people. See, this is Balaam talking to Balak. He says, I will advise you what this people will do to your people when? In the latter days, in the last days. So he took up his oracle and said, the utterance of the son of Beor and the utterance of the man whose eyes are open, the utterance of him who hears the words of God and has the knowledge of the most high, who sees the vision of the Almighty, who falls down with eyes wide open. Now watch this. I see him, but not now. He's talking about the Messiah. I see him, but not now. I behold him, but not near. He's not at hand at the time that the oracle was given. So how do you have Moses saying that he is at hand at the time Moses wrote in Deuteronomy 32 and verse 35, and then here in Numbers, the same Moses writing to the same people saying that Christ was not near. And you ask the question, if at hand means not near, what does not at hand mean? You see, it just falls flat, just blows up or explodes right in their faces when we talk about these things. Well, that's as far as we can get, but we're going to pick up on this and continue this section on next week. I hope that you got some benefit from it, and you can see how these things are unfolding relative to the time of the book of Revelation and the fulfillment of this prophecy of the unveiling of the deity of Christ, and that it will help you to understand how these things have been fulfilled. Once again, thank you for being present. Again, I will take a look at your comments, and we will talk about them in the time that follows. So, have a great morning, and we'll see you on next week.