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Chapter 5
Fellowship with God in Pain


17 CHAPTERS ON PROPHECY
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5.6  Signs of What Must Occur Quickly: To Reveal Jesus

5.6

Signs of What Must Occur Quickly: To Reveal Jesus

"The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show unto his servants, even the things which must shortly come to pass: and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John"

(Revelation 1:1, ASV).



Now is the time to ask God for for understanding... if you will not ask, you will not understand (James 4:2). 



(Pause for prayer)



(Pause for prayer)



If you do not hear and keep the entire depth of this first verse... you will be lost in the book of Revelation... as I was for over fifty years.


In this subchapter, I will reveal the singular theme of the book of Revelation: SIGNS OF WHAT MUST OCCUR QUICKLY: TO REVEAL JESUS.


First I will briefly explain my pathway to the singular theme of the book. Then I will reveal the singular theme of the book in four sections followed by five supplemental sections about the meaning of "quickly" and two outlines.


On this page you will see:

 

My Pathway to the Singular Theme


Singular Theme

  • Revelation of Jesus Christ
  • Revelation Through Signs
  • Multiple-Figurative, or Singular-Literal?
  • Signs of Events to Occur Quickly

 

What is Meant by "Quickly"?

  • Multiple Figurative View
  • Relative Perception of Quickly
  • How can 1000 Years be Quick?
  • Close Your Eyes and it Will Be
  • Departed Spirit Sleep

 

Two Outlines

  • Thematic Outline of the book of Revelation
  • Structural Outline of the book of Revelation



My Pathway to the Singular Theme

For decades I believed, as I was taught, that the prophecies in last 19 chapters in the book of Revelation, chapters 4-22, are in the future, that they have not yet happened. But, the book of Revelation stated that the prophecies were to be fulfilled quickly. It has been two-thousand years since the book was written. So, I concluded that my teachers were incorrect. All of those prophecies could not be in my future if they were to be fulfilled quickly for those who heard it in the first century. Then, for nearly a decade, I came to accept the historical view that the prophecies presented in chapters 4-18 had already occurred. But the rapture, which has not yet occurred, is presented in chapter 14. So, the historical view did not work either. Click here to see that the rapture occurs in Revelation 14. Since these views were inconsistent with scripture, I prayerfully digested the book of Revelation and came to understand it from what it expressly says about its self... instead of what others impute to it. 


Coming to understand two other doctrines was critical to resolving the alleged contradictions in the book of Revelation: 

  • Departed Spirit Sleep
  • What Jesus meant in Matthew 24:34 by "This generation will not pass away until all these things are accomplished" 


Links to Departed Spirit Sleep and an explanation of the Matthew 24:34 passage are at the bottom of this page.



Revelation of Jesus Christ

The singular theme of the book of Revelation is 


Signs of What Must Occur Quickly: To Reveal Jesus. 


First I will show, from the scriptures, that the purpose of the entire book is to reveal the person of Jesus Christ. The book reveals the person of Christ by his actions. 

  • "The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show unto his servants, even the things which must shortly come to pass: and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John" (Revelation 1:1, ASV).


In this first verse of the book of Revelation, we see that this revelation, or communication of hidden things, was given by GOD to Jesus Christ; that Christ gave it to his angel; that his angel signified it to JOHN, meaning that John received it by signs. Then John sent the signs to the seven angels of the seven CHURCHES (2:1,8,12,18; 3:1,7,14 ). The seven angels appear to have communicated the signs to the Holy Spirit because it is not the seven angels who communicate the signs to the seven churches. To the contrary, it is the Holy Spirit who communicates the signs to each of the seven churches (2:7,11,17,29;3:6,13,12). 


Thus we are shown avenues of communication in the spiritual realm. 


We find that the revelation came 

  • from GOD to Christ, 
  • from Christ to His angel, 
  • from His angel to John, 
  • from John to the seven angels, 
  • from the seven angels to the Holy Spirit 
  • from the Holy Spirit to the churches. 


So, the book seems therefore to be, the Revelation of God. 


But, that is not what verse said. The scripture said that the book is the Revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave to Jesus. Please read it again.

  • "The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show unto his servants, even the things which must shortly come to pass: and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John" (Revelation 1:1, ASV).

After a thorough and prayerful study of the book it becomes clear that the book of Revelation is a revelation of the person of Jesus Christ. It reveals Him through His actions much like a boxer is revealed as he boxes and a runner is revealed as he runs. God wrote the play book to reveal the person of Jesus Christ, through the actions of Jesus Christ, as Jesus Christ rips the kingdoms of the world from Satan's grasp and gives them to His servants, who will rule forever through Him (Daniel 7:27, Revelation 22:3-5). God gave this play book to Christ and called it THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST, because Jesus is the one whom it reveals. In His first coming He was revealed as savior of the world. In the book of Revelation, He is revealed as judge and king.


If you lived in the days of Alexander the Great and saw him in the market place, you would know what he looked like, and that is all. He would not be revealed to you by that experience. But Alexander the Great would be revealed to you if you saw him fight and kill with the sword as a young soldier, raise an army and train it as a general and lead it across Asia and Africa, through hardship after hardship, through victory after victory, as a conqueror. Then, after you saw what he did, he would have been revealed to you.


Some years ago, I came into the presence of a woman. She told me that a very large young man had been strangling her... that an old man came upon the scene and beat the large young man unconscious with his fists. There was a lot of blood. The old man was my father. He was sixty-seven years old and recovering from open heart surgery at the time. The woman was grateful to my father. Both the young man and the old man were revealed by their actions. The purpose of my father's violence was very different from Alexander the Great's. 


It is the same with any person. We are revealed by what we do. 


My earthly father was revealed in his actions when he delivered the woman as she was being strangled. 


Our Lord Christ will be revealed in His actions when He  delivers the children of God in Revelation 14:14-20 as they are being slaughtered by the beast (666) in Revelation 13:1-14:13. In Revelation 14:14-20 we see the rapture of God's children and bloody Armageddon.


"Since it is a righteous thing with God to repay affliction to those who afflict you, 7 and to give relief to you who are afflicted with us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, 8 punishing those who don't know God, and to those who don't obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus, 9 who will pay the penalty: eternal destruction from the face of the Lord and from the glory of his might, 10 when he comes in that day to be glorified in his saints..." (2 Thessalonians 1:6-10).

It will not be a pretty sight. From the point of view of the woman who was delivered by my father as she was being strangled, the ugliness of her attacker lying in a pool of blood did not detract from her joy at being rescued. To the contrary, she was full of joy and appreciation to the one who delivered her. But, let us return to Revelation 1:1...


"The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show unto his servants, even the things which must shortly come to pass: and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John" (Revelation 1:1, ASV).


Now, I will divide this first verse into its three parts. Please prayerfully consider:


  • "This is the Revelation of Jesus Christ," 
  • "which God gave him to show unto his servants, even the things which must shortly come to pass,"
  • "and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant, John" (Revelation 1:1, ASV)

The book of Revelation is so complicated, with so many participants and so many working parts, signs and symbols that, even after forty readings it is difficult to digest. I know from experience.


In chapter 1 we see Jesus presented as the author of the book. Chapters 2 - 20 are rigidly organized in seven messages, seven seals, seven trumpets and seven bowls... and all of these sevens come by or through Jesus... Then chapters 21 and 22 describe life in the eternal state with Jesus.  Yes, Jesus is at the center of the entire book... the book is the revelation of Jesus Christ.


Chapter 1 describes the appearance of Jesus as so terrifying that John collapses as if dead (1:12-17). Chapters 2-3 contain seven messages from Jesus to seven churches, promising blessings to those who overcome. In chapters 4-5, it is Jesus in the throne room who will break the seven seals on the scroll to bring about the relief and judgement which is described in chapters 6-20. Chapters 21-22 reveal  the New Jerusalem, the city of the children of God, as the bride of Christ in the eternal state of Heaven. The entire book of Revelation reveals Jesus.


So, the content of the book of Revelation indicates that the book reveals Jesus Christ. And you have now been prepared to see that He is revealed through "the things which must shortly come to pass" (1:1).


Now that we see that the book is THE REVELATION OF THE PERSON OF JESUS CHRIST, we will focus on the middle portion of verse one. I will repeat the first verse for your prayerful consideration:


  • "This is the Revelation of Jesus Christ,"
  • "which God gave him to show unto his servants, even the things which must shortly come to pass,"
  • "and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant, John" (Revelation 1:1, ASV)

The first bullet shows that the book is a revelation of Jesus. The second bullet shows that Jesus is revealed through "things which must shortly come to pass" (events). Jesus is revealed through events. The passage does not say that these things are in the distant future, to occur thousands of years later. God said "the things which must shortly come to pass". I quoted the ASV. The ESV, NASB, NIV, KJV AND NKJV respectively say "must soon take place", "must soon take place", "must soon take place", "must shortly come to pass" and "must shortly take place". 


I will repeat the first verse again for your prayerful consideration:

  • "This is the Revelation of Jesus Christ,"
  • "which God gave him to show unto his servants, even the things which must shortly come to pass,"
  • "and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant, John" (Revelation 1:1, ASV)


The first bullet shows that the book is a revelation of Jesus. The second bullet shows that Jesus is revealed through events which shall shortly come to pass. The third bullet shows that the events which reveal Jesus Christ were signified through the angel of Jesus. Signified means that they were made known by a SIGNS. So, the third bullet explains that the Jesus is revealed through events which are communicated through SIGNS. 


As you continue to read, you will see that the singular theme of the book is:


Signs of What Must Occur Quickly: To Reveal Jesus.


Only as you keep that truth will you be prepared to hear the book properly and therefore be fully blessed by hearing it as God intended. If you read it and walk away with confusion, you did not receive what God intended (1 Corinthians 14:33). 


Now I will show in greater depth, that God is communicating this revelation through SIGNS.



Revelation Through Signs

  • "The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show unto his servants, even the things which must shortly come to pass: and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John" (Revelation 1:1, ASV).


The word "signified" is a translation of the Greek word semaino. Instead of "signified" some modern translations have rendered semaino as "made known".  The three literal translations I use render semaino as "signified", "signify" and "by signs" (Green, Young and Rotherham, respectively). The word means to give a sign. NASB shows "signified" as an alternate translation. Semaino is the word found in the Greek text referred to as the majority texts, as well as the Greek text underlying the NIV, NASB and KJV.


The following Bibles all translate semaino as "signified": King James Version, American Standard Version, Holman Christian Standard Bible, Common English Translation (Public Domain), Wycliffe, Douay-Rheims, NKJV, AKJV, KJ21, DLNT, EHV, JUB and MEV.


The translation "made known" is not wrong. But, it does conceal part of what God said and can lead to great misunderstanding as it did me for fifty years. It is helpful to know that Jesus has been "made known" through various future events by the use of SIGNS. For example, the great red dragon in 12:4 is a SIGN, representing Satan (12:9). The beast represented by the number 666 doesn't really have seven heads (13:1). The seven headed beast is a SIGN. The book of Revelation is FULL OF SIGNS. We must "learn not to think beyond the things which are written" (1 Corinthians 4:6, subchapter 1.5). We should not take as literal, what God has expressly stated is figurative... as SIGNS. 


Here is Rotherham's translation:

  • "The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to him, to point out unto his servants the things which must needs come to pass with speed, - and he shewed them by signs..." (Revelation 1:1).


So, it is clear that the book of Revelation communicates future events figuratively, by SIGNS... SIGNS of events real events, but SIGNS. And these events and signs reveal Jesus Christ. 



Multiple-Figurative, or Singular-Literal?

I have been taught to take the seven bowl judgements in the book of Revelation literally. The seven bowls of plagues in the book of Revelation are called the bowl judgements. The first four bowl judgements from Revelation 16:1-9 are summarized below. In John's vision, he saw four angels pour out four bowls of wrath with the following results:

Bowl 1: Malignant sores on those who had the mark of the beast. 

Bowl 2: Everything in the sea died. 

Bowl 3: The rivers and springs turned to blood. 

Bowl 4: Man was scorched by fire from the sun.


Are these literal plagues or symbolic? If they are to be taken literally:

  • People literally had a mark of the beast.
  • Those who had the mark got malignant sores.
  • Everything in the sea died.
  • The rivers and springs turned to blood.
  • Fire from the sun burned men.


I presented them in the past tense. But, I have been taught that those events are literal events and believed in a future literal fulfilment of them. But a verse within the book of Revelation, near the very end of the book, has changed my mind. 


Jesus said: "I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book, if anyone adds to them, may God add to him the plagues which are written in this book" (Revelation 22:18).


Note the words "may God add to him the plagues". It didn't say that God would add these plagues to the entire world.


I had been asking God to help me interpret the book of Revelation for some time. I awakened one morning with this thought:

If the plagues are literal plagues, then every time anyone added to the words of Revelation in the last 2000 years, the following had to occur: 

Bowl 1: Malignant sores on those who had the mark of the beast. 

Bowl 2: Everything in the sea died. 

Bowl 3: The rivers and springs turned to blood. 

Bowl 4: Man was scorched by fire from the sun.


These plagues were to be directed against the one who added to the words of the book of Revelation. If the bowl judgements are to be taken literally, I would expect this person to experience malignant sores from bowl 1, death of all sea life in his area from bowl 2, rivers and springs in his area turning to blood from bowl 3 and being scorched with fire from heaven through bowl 4. If the bowl judgements are taken literally, then these things would have taken place every time anyone added to the words of the book of Revelation over the last 2000 years. 


I have no reason to believe that this has happened literally.


Because scripture tells us that man is very disobedient, one should expect that many, over the last 2000 years, have disobeyed this prohibition against adding to the words of the book of Revelation. With many violations over the last two millennium, this verse means that the plagues have already occurred, as least in a localized fashion. They came to pass every time anyone added to the words of the book of Revelation. And they will come to pass in the future every time anyone adds to the words of the book of Revelation. This means that there is not one single fulfillment of each plague. It means that there are multiple fulfillments. It means they must be taken figuratively since they have not taken place literally. It means that they can take place, from time to time, based on the conduct of men.


If the bowl plagues are symbolic instead of literal, I see no contradiction between 22:18, any other scripture or history. How can Revelation 22:18 be reconciled with a singular and literal interpretation of the Bowl judgements? I don't believe that it can. Without a reconciliation I had to rethink the book.


How do we understand these plagues symbolically? They are symbolic of severe tribulation, dire circumstances. Look at them:

  • Bowl 1: Malignant sores on those who had the mark of the beast. 
  • Bowl 2: Everything in the sea died. 
  • Bowl 3: The rivers and springs turned to blood. 
  • Bowl 4: Man was scorched by fire from the sun.


If we understand them to be symbolic of severe tribulation and dire circumstances, then the plagues have clearly occurred more than once in the last 2000 years. Dire circumstances occur in every generation. They occur constantly for some people. 


If we understand the plagues to be symbolic of severe tribulation and dire circumstances, the difficulty of Revelation 22:18 is resolved.


The plagues are showing us symbolically how Jesus Christ is overcoming Satan's persecutions of Christians in our days, in the days before our days and in the days of the future. Preterists and partial preterists believe that there were singular events in the past which have already fulfilled most of the prophecies of the book of Revelation. I pray that God will reveal their misunderstandings to them so they will see that there are multiple fulfillments in all of our lives. Futurists believe that the vast majority of the prophecies are to be taken literally as singular events in our future. I pray that God will reveal to them that there have been multiple fulfillments of the signs. I also pray that God will reveal to you and me, the errors in our views and conduct.


The bowl judgements must all be considered as symbolic rather than literal. And since the bowl judgements and trumpet judgements occur as pairs, with the same object of wrath, the trumpet judgements must also be considered as symbolic rather than literal. The trumpet and bowl judgements are symbolic of real events, like the rapture, martyrdom and Armageddon. But, they are not literal. For example, Revelation 14:14-16 is symbolic of the rapture. Christ will not literally hack the Christians with a sharp sickle. He will take us into the age which follows the resurrection, the millennial kingdom. (For more on this age click here and read the sections titled, "What is the Last Day" and "When is the Last Day" in subchapter 5.5.) The language about the harvest is symbolic, not literal.


Conclusion: Multiple-Figurative

I see the prophecies of the book of Revelation as being multiple-figurative... being figurative prophecies, fulfilled in multiple fulfillments through real events, events which have been occurring from the time the book of Revelation was written to the present day. Christ has come many times and will continue to do so until the great crescendo of His comings at the rapture and Armageddon. The prophecies do not merely represent themes of truth. They are fulfilled by real events in the lives of people, angels and fallen angels. I do not see that the prophecies are singular-figurative or singular-literal unless something in the text requires that understanding. 


However, some events have singular fulfillment, but the singular fulfillment is experienced many times throughout history... so that the single fulfillment is experienced "quickly". Consider for example: the rapture (14:14-16), Armageddon (14:17-20; 19:17-21), assignment of the beast to the lake of fire (19:20) and the binding of Satan during the 1000 year reign of Christ (20:1-10). History, plus the content and context of these events leads me to believe that they will occur only once (in the future) so that they are fulfilled singularly. But the Christian who closed his eyes to enter the sleep of death in 120 AD, will, when his eyes are opened at what we call the second coming, see all of those events as if they came in the twinkling of an eye, immediately after the death of his body in 120 AD. Christians who died in 500 AD, 1500 AD, 2000 AD and 2500 AD will have the same experience. All of those singular, yet to be fulfilled events will be experienced quickly in their perspective. The sections below, including one titled, "Departed Spirit Sleep" will lead you into greater detail and proof of this from many, many, many scriptures.


This way of viewing the book of Revelation may depart from what has been taught in the last century. It departs from what I have been taught. But, I believe that these views avoid the gross contradictions between what I have been taught and the infallible, inerrant, all powerful, indestructible and living word of God.


What I just wrote may have made some of you very angry. Take your thoughts to God in prayer. Ask God to correct my misunderstandings as well as yours. I have many times experienced anger at teachings which contradicted what I thought God's word said. After twenty or thirty years, many of my beliefs changed, after much prayerful meditation on scripture, through long nights and much suffering. Please prayerfully consider the book of Revelation as I have presented. If you believe that I have contradicted God's word, please contact me through the discussion page link at the top right of this page. 


Multiple Fulfillment

I have one more thing to say about multiple fulfillment. Jesus explicitly stated that prophecy may have multiple fulfillments. 


Here is an Old Testament prophecy: God said, "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of Yahweh comes (Malachi 4:5). Then, over 400 years later, roughly 33 AD, at the transfiguration of Jesus in Matthew 17:1-13 we see these words, "His disciples asked him, saying, "Then why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?" 11 Jesus answered them, "Elijah indeed comes first, and will restore all things; 12 but I tell you that Elijah has come already, and they didn't recognize him, but did to him whatever they wanted to. Even so the Son of Man will also suffer by them." 13 Then the disciples understood that he spoke to them of John the Baptizer" (Matthew 17:10-13).


But, even John the Baptizer didn't know that he was Elijah (John 1:6-23, especially 19-21).


John the Baptizer had already been killed by king Herod when Jesus said that John was Elijah. So, at the time Jesus spoke these words, in roughly 33 AD, Elijah "has come already" through John the Baptizer and "will restore all things". "Has come" is in the past tense. "Will restore" is in the future tense. The great and terrible day of the Lord had not occurred at that time, and Elisha was to come again before the great and terrible day of the Lord to "restore all things". So, we have a clear example of multiple fulfillment of prophecy, over a long period of time. 


That concludes this section on multiple-figurative fulfillment.


Next, I will show that God has clearly stated that the events prophesied in the book of Revelation will occur quickly.  



Signs of Events to Occur Quickly

  • "The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show unto his servants, even the things which must shortly come to pass: and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John; who bare witness of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, even of all things that he saw" (Revelation 1:1-2, ASV).


The singular theme of the book of Revelation is SIGNS OF WHAT MUST OCCUR QUICKLY: TO REVEAL JESUS. 


The prophesy that the events prophesied will occur quickly is repeated throughout the book of Revelation:

  • "This is the Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things which must happen soon" (Revelation 1:1a).
  • "Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and keep the things that are written in it, for the time is at hand" (Revelation 1:3).
  • "... repent and do the first works; or else I am coming to you swiftly, and will move your lamp stand out of its place, unless you repent" (Revelation 2:5b).
  • "Repent therefore, or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of my mouth" (Revelation 2:16).
  • "I am coming quickly! Hold firmly that which you have, so that no one takes your crown" (Revelation 3:11). 
  • "The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe comes quickly" (Revelation 11:14).
  • "The Lord God of the spirits of the prophets sent his angel (1:1) to show to his bondservants the things which must happen soon" (Revelation 22:6b).
  • "Behold, I come quickly. Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book" (Revelation 22:7).
  • "He said to me, "Don't seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand" (Revelation 22:10).
  • "Behold, I come quickly. My reward is with me, to repay to each man according to his work" (Revelation 22:12).
  • "He who testifies these things says, "Yes, I come quickly" (Revelation 22:20).

 

A quick occurrence is indicated eleven times in the book. Six of those promises of a quick event were limited to the immediate context of those particular verses. But the first two and last five of the eleven pertain to the entire book. 


I will remind you of the singular theme of the book of Revelation:


SIGNS OF WHAT MUST OCCUR QUICKLY: TO REVEAL JESUS. 


Now, you have seen that quickly occurring events are prophesied in the book of Revelation. But what is meant by quickly?



Multiple-Figurative

As we saw above in the section titled, "Multiple-Figurative, or Singular-Literal?", the trumpet and bowl prophesies may have multiple fulfillments. These multiple fulfillments may occur in the lives of people, angels, fallen angels and countries, through real events, across the centuries. Christians have been persecuted since the crucifixion of Christ to the present day. Rome, Nazi Germany, Stalinist Russia, Communist China and many others are examples. Desperate circumstances of people in those countries who persecuted Christians could have been fulfillments of the prophecies of the book of Revelation... prophecies made against those who persecute God's people. 


Even though the book of Revelation was written a little before 70 AD in my opinion, the prophecies did predict what was coming soon for those Christians in 70 AD and Christians in every generation since that time.


In the Multiple-Figurative view, trumpet and bowl prophecies may have multiple fulfilments, unless multiple-fulfilment is precluded by the context. So, a prophecy may be fulfilled in every year, decade or century. 


Prophecies that would violate the many promises of quick fulfilment in a singular fulfillment view will not violate those promises of quick fulfilment in the Multiple-Figurative view.


For example: a singular-literal view requires all of the sea life to die. That hasn't happened. So it was not fulfilled quickly.  The Multiple-Figurative view sees that event figuratively, symbolic of severe tribulation and dire circumstances. Well, in that view, the prophecy has been fulfilled many times... and therefore fulfilled quickly in every generation since the book of Revelation was written.


So, in the Multiple-Figurative view of the book of Revelation, there is no contradiction with the many scriptures in the book of Revelation which prophesy a quick fulfillment of the prophecies which were written in the first century. For example

  • "This is the Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things which must happen soon" (Revelation 1:1a).
  • "Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and keep the things that are written in it, for the time is at hand" (Revelation 1:3).
  • "... repent and do the first works; or else I am coming to you swiftly, and will move your lamp stand out of its place, unless you repent" (Revelation 2:5b).
  • "The Lord God of the spirits of the prophets sent his angel (1:1) to show to his bondservants the things which must happen soon" (Revelation 22:6b).

The futurist view, which holds that all of the prophecies after chapter 3 and before chapter 20 have not been fulfilled in the last 2000 years and are yet to be fulfilled in our future, results in a clear contradiction with the above scriptures. The view sets aside the word of God and replaces it with a tradition of man. I tradition which I believed out of ignorance until recently. 



Relative Perception of "Quickly"

How much time can an event take to be considered to have happened quickly? 


Well, a 15 minute lunch would be a quick meal. A four hour flight from New York City to London would be a quick trip. To complete an engineering degree at a top university in 2 years would be a quick study. To conquer the entire world in thirty years would be a quick conquest.  To totally eradicate the belief system in one of the worlds major religions in three generations would be a quick cultural transformation. Christianity originated in about 2000 BC in Genesis 15:6 when it was written of Abraham  "He believed in Yahweh, who credited it to him for righteousness". Hinduism began around 1500 BC. Buddhism at roughly 500 BC and Islam in 1400 AD. Having become so entrenched over many centuries, a total eradication of any of them in three generations would be surprising.


So, "quick" is a relative term when comparing one event to another. It is relative to the immensity of the obstacles which must be overcome to complete the event. 


"Quick" is also relative to the person. To solve a calculous problem for John may mean two minutes. For another it may mean two hours.


If you are having fun while you wait... time passes quickly.  So "quick" is also a relative term that refers to how it feels.


In the twinkle of an eye:

So, if you went to bed hungry, hoping for food in the morning, would morning come quickly or slowly? It depends. It depends on how well you sleep. And it depends on how quickly you receive food in the morning. If you lie down, close your eyes... and the next thing you know is that your eyes are open and breakfast is served... then the time passed quickly. It passed "in the twinkle of an eye"... just like 1 Corinthians 15:52 says it will be at the resurrection.


Remember that phrase "in the twinkling of an eye".



How Can 1000 Years Be Quick?

In Revelation 20, we are told that Satan will be bound for 1000 years so "that he shall deceive the nations no more" (vs 1-3). Martyrs for Christ will come to life and reign with Christ for this 1000 years (v 4), followed by the release of Satan and a final war (vs 7-10), then the judgement (11-15), followed by the New Jerusalem coming down from Heaven (chapter 21). Then the bondservants of Christ will see His face (v 22:4) and "reign forever and ever" (v 22:5) in the New Jerusalem (21:1-22:5). The 1000 year period is called the millennial reign of Christ. But, remember the verses I quoted above which speak of "things which must happen soon" for "the time is at hand" (Revelation 22:6, 10). Three verses in chapter 22 stated "I come quickly" (Revelation 22:7,12,20).


So, Revelation 20 speaks of a resurrection of martyrs and a 1000 year reign, during which Satan can not "deceive the nations", followed by a final war and the great judgement. Chapter 21 reveals the New Jerusalem and 22:4 states that Christ's bondservants will see His face and reign from there (22:5). But 22:6, the very next verse, speaks of "things which must happen soon". 

  • "These words are faithful and true. The Lord God of the spirits of the prophets sent his angel to show to his bondservants the things which must happen soon" (Revelation 22:6).


Even if the millennial kingdom began the day after the book of Revelation was delivered... the prophesied judgement, New Jerusalem and reigning with Christ in the New Jerusalem was still over 1000 years away. Why would God have said that an event which the prophecy placed at least 1000 years away was something "which must happen soon"? I am praying as I write, asking our Lord for explanations. 


Let me repeat: 22:4-5 states that Christ's bondservants will see His face and reign from the New Jerusalem. But 22:6, the very next verse, speaks of "things which must happen soon". Reigning from the New Jerusalem in 22:5 had to be at least 1000 years away when He wrote "things which must happen soon". 


The New Jerusalem had to be at least 1000 years away when He said "things which must happen soon". 


The great judgement had to be at least 1000 years away when He said "things which must happen soon". 


How can this be?



Close Your Eyes and it will Be

In the twinkle of an eye:

I will repeat a previous example because it is pertinent. If you went to bed hungry, hoping for food in the morning, would morning come quickly or slowly? It depends. It depends on how well you sleep. And it depends on how quickly you receive food in the morning. If you lie down, close your eyes... and the next thing you know is that your eyes are open and breakfast is served... then the time passed quickly. It passed "in the twinkle of an eye"... just like 1 Corinthians 15:52 says it will be at the resurrection. Any Christian over the last 2000 years who closed his eyes in physical death and slept as Jesus said (Luke 8:40-56), to awaken in the future to the judgement and New Jerusalem, face to face with Christ, would say that it happened quickly. He closed his eyes in death and awakened to Paradise.


One might call this soul sleep or departed spirit sleep. 



Departed Spirit Sleep

According to scripture, after the body dies, the body decays. But the spirit enters into a state which Moses, Jesus and the apostles routinely and repeatedly called "sleep". The soul sleeps. In this way, thousands of years could pass "quickly". Click here to read an in depth study of this doctrine, from the scriptures. 


In the section above titled, "How Can 1000 Years be Quick?", we saw that the prophesied judgement, the New Jerusalem and reigning with Christ in the New Jerusalem was still over 1000 years away when the book of Revelation was written. Well, if a young woman heard the words of the book of Revelation in 68 AD, lived fifty years and closed her eyes in death, to open them to the rapture at the second coming (the beginning of the 1000 year reign of Christ), the prophecies came true "in the twinkle of an eye"... just like 1 Corinthians 15:52 said (as I presented in the previous section).


So, after this theoretical woman heard the book of Revelation, fifty years passed, she closed her eyes in death, in departed spirit sleep, to open her eyes to the fulfillment of the prophecies... Is fifty years a short period? The singular theme of the book of Revelation is, "signs of what must occur quickly: to reveal Jesus". 


In the eternal perspective that we have from scripture, yes. I will show you, from the scriptures. Hebrews 12:9-10 is comparing the discipline of our Heavenly Father it to the discipline of our earthly fathers. It said,


"Furthermore, we had the fathers of our flesh to chasten us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of spirits, and live? For they indeed, for a few days, punished us as seemed good to them; but he for our profit, that we may be partakers of his holiness" (Hebrews 12:9-10).


The English words "few days" are a literal translation of the Greek text, oligos hemeras.  Oligos means few, little or small. Hemeras means days. Hence, they are translated in the WEB as "a few days". Many translations see oligos hemeras as a figure of speech for "a short time" and therefore render oligos hemeras as "a short time". Well, in the eternal perspective, the years of discipline from our earthly fathers is like a few days. It is a short time. An eternal perspective is the perspective of God, scripture and mature Christians. 


If ten or fifteen years of fatherly discipline is regarded as a short time, then to wait fifty years to open ones eyes to the rapture may also be considered a short time... in the eternal perspective. As I wrote before, an eternal perspective is the perspective of God, scripture and mature Christians. 


Some say that 1000 years in God's sight is like a day (Psalm 90:4). It is, for God. But not for us. The book of Revelation was written "to show to his servants the things which must happen soon" (Revelation 1:1). The intent appears to indicate "soon" to those humans who read or hear the book. I can see that fifty years may be consistent with "happen soon" in an eternal perspective for us humans.  2000 plus years does not seem consistent to me.


Without the doctrine of departed spirit sleep, I have seen no acceptable reconciliation between: 

1) The prophecy in the first century of a quick fulfillment of prophecies in the book of Revelation and 

2) The unfulfillment after 2000 years of the prophecies of the rapture and the 1000 year reign of Christ.




Thematic Outline of the Book of Revelation

A) Singular Theme: SIGNS OF WHAT MUST OCCUR QUICKLY: TO REVEAL JESUS (1:1)


B) Signs, Communication Corridor and Blessing (Revelation 1:1b-4a)


C) Attributes of Jesus (Revelation  1:4b-8)


D) Appearance of Jesus (Revelation 1:9-20)


E) Jesus' Messages to 7 Churches (Revelation 2:1-3:22)


F) Signs of Jesus Sealed in the Throne Room (Revelation 4:1-5:1)


G) Only Jesus Can Reveal the Signs (Revelation 5:2-14)


H) Events Revealing Jesus by Signs (Revelation 6:1-20:15)


I) The Eternal Bride of Christ: The New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:1-22:5)


J) Jesus is Coming: Blessing and Warning (Revelation 22:6-21)


Yes, the entire book is about revealing Jesus.  


The singular theme of the book of Revelation is... SIGNS OF WHAT MUST OCCUR QUICKLY: TO REVEAL JESUS



Do Not Ignore the Singular Theme

The singular theme of the book is established in the very first sentence:

  • "The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show unto his servants, even the things which must shortly come to pass: and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John" (Revelation 1:1, ASV).


The singular theme of the book of Revelation is...


Signs of What Must Occur Quickly: To Reveal Christ.

  • Signs
  • Occur Quickly
  • Reveal Christ


Many theologies of the book of Revelation ignore all three of the tenets of the single theme of the book of Revelation:  



Structural Outline of the Book of Revelation

The book quickly and clearly establishes that it is RIGIDLY organized. It is primarily organized in sevens and threes. After seven messages to seven churches, there are seven seals, seven trumpets and seven bowls, presented in that order... seals, trumpets and then bowls. Seven thunders are also mentioned but the contents of the seven thunders are not revealed. 


There are three signs "in heaven": a woman, a great red dragon and seven angels with seven plagues (the seven bowl judgements).The first two signs "in heaven" are in the seventh trumpet. The third sign "in heaven" is the seven bowl judgements.  There are three woes. Each woe is associated with the fifth, sixth and seventh trumpet blasts, respectively.


The seven trumpets, seven bowls and seven thunders are in the seventh seal. So, we have three sevens in the seventh of seven. God revealed the book primarily in sevens and threes. If you will not see the book as a book of sevens and threes, you will not understand the book.


Structural Outline:

The Revelation of Jesus Christ

1) Salutation (1:1-8)

2) Messages to the Seven Churches (1:9–3:22) 

3) John in the Throne Room (Chapter 4)

4) Scroll with Seven Seals(Chapter 5)

5) Six Seals: Apocalyptic Overview* (Chapters 6,7)

6) Seventh Seal: Apocalyptic Detail (8:1-20:15)

Seven Paired Judgements: Trumpets and Bowls

Introductions: TR (8:1-6), B(15:1-8)
1st: TR 8:7, B 16:1-2, Earth
2nd: TR 8:8-9, B 16:3, Sea
3rd:  TR 8:10-11, B 16:4-7, Rivers, Springs 
4th:  TR 8;12-13, Bowl 16:8-9, Sun
5th:  TR 9:1-12, B 16:10-11, Beast's Throne
6th:  TR 9:13-11:14*, B 16:12-16, Euphrates
7th:  TR 11:15-14:20, B 16:17-20:15, Air

7) New Jerusalem 21:1–22:5 

8) I am coming: blessing and warning 22:6–21 


* The seven thunders are revealed to John in 10:3-4, in the sixth trumpet. But John is instructed to not write them, so they are withheld from us.




What Does the Book of Revelation Mean?

As you click the arrow at the top right of this page, you will see...


God Bless!

Jim Phillips



More Information

I have prayed that our Lord will give you an open mind to prayerfully consider what the scriptures have said regarding end times. Please prayerfully consider the following chapters. 


Additional Help on the Book of Revelation



"Therefore also be ready, for in an hour that you don't expect, the Son of Man will come."

Matthew 24:44

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