The Time is at Hand

[Achilles6129]

"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." Rev. 1:3 (NASB)

"And he *said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near." Rev. 22:10 (NASB)

Here's a word study on the word "near," along with an outline of the rest of the Biblical usage:

Greek Lexicon :: G1451 (NASB)

These statements are very difficult to comprehend since they were written over 1,900 years ago and present a major mystery for the Biblical interpreter. What do we make of them? Is Revelation a false prophecy? Or is the historicist view of Revelation correct? Or, possibly, is God's definition of "time" different from ours? There are other statements in Revelation which appear to support the ones made at the beginning and end:

"And he said to me, “These words are faithful and true”; and the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent His angel to show to His bond-servants the things which must soon take place." Rev. 22:6 (NASB)

"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," Rev. 1:1 (NASB)

The words "soon" and "near" form a double-inclusion around the beginning and end of the book of Revelation, as though to say that this is absolutely true beyond any doubt. Here's a word study on the word "soon" with Biblical usage:

Greek Lexicon :: G5034 (NASB)

It's a mystery. Thoughts?

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

Luke 21:31 and Revelation 1:3 and 22:10 both use the exact form of the greek word #1451.

Luke 21:31
Thus also ye whenever ye may be seeing these-things becoming
ye are knowing that NIGH/egguV <1451> is the Kingdom of the God.

Revelation 1:3
Blessed the one reading, and the ones hearing, the Words of this Prophecy and the keepings in it having been Written,
for the Time is NIGH/egguV<1451>.

Revelation 22:10
And he is saying to me "no thou should be sealing the Words of the Prophecy of the Scroll, this.
That the Time is NIGH/egguV <1451>

1451. eggus from a primary verb agcho (to squeeze or throttle; akin to the base of 43); near (literally or figuratively, of place or time):--from , at hand, near, nigh (at hand, unto), ready.

1452. egguteron neuter of the comparative of 1451; nearer:--nearer.
1448. eggizo from 1451; to make near, i.e. (reflexively) approach:--approach, be at hand, come (draw) near, be (come, draw) nigh.

http://www.christianforums.com/t7357375-3/#post51296888
Luke 21:31 Kingdom of God comes


.

 

[Achilles6129]

Yes I noticed that in the word studies I posted. Very interesting.

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

Yes I noticed that in the word studies I posted. Very interesting.

I just decided to show the greek rendering. Good study btw

These 2 verses also appear to say that the "parousia" of the Lord was nigh at hand, they just use a different form of #1451...

1 Peter 4:7
Of all-things yet the End has-neared/hggiken <1448> (5758);
be sane then, and be sober into the prayers,

James 5:8
be patient! and stand-fast! the hearts of ye,
that the Parousia <3952> of the Lord has-neared/hggiken <1448>(5758)

1448. eggizo from 1451; to make near, i.e. (reflexively) approach:--approach, be at hand, come (draw) near, be (come, draw) nigh.




.

 

[AnticipateHisComing]

Apparently the Book of Revelation wants us to think that the time of us seeing Jesus is near. It is under 100 years for most. It would be silly for scripture to say Jesus was coming on Dec 21, 2012. A specific date would cause the Church to be lax until the time was near; so God wants us to think the time is always near.

Also the message in the book is timeless. The Church is constantly under attack by Satan. Tribulations are in every generation.

The message is the same as in Jesus' parable of the ten virgins.
Matthew 25:13 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

 

[sdowney717]

Obadiah 1:15 “For the day of the Lord upon all the nations is near; As you have done, it shall be done to you; Your reprisal shall return upon your own head.

Zephaniah 1:14 The great day of the Lord is near; It is near and hastens quickly. The noise of the day of the Lord is bitter; There the mighty men shall cry out.

Yes the DAY of the Lord is near, soon to take place.
This message is consistent from long before the NT was written.

Peter tells us a 1000 years is like a day to God. So from the time Revelations was written, to God is only 2 days past by. In heaven time is not felt like it is down here.

 

[Edial]

Yes, 1451 means "near", as in distance.

5034 means suddenly, quickly.

So the time is near meaning is, Christ's armies are standing at a certain distance (1451) away and waiting for a signal to attack.
Once the signal is given the attack will commence suddenly and quickly (5034).

I also would recommend using a BibleHub site tools.
The lexicon and dictionaries are somehow better and fuller.
Strong's Greek: 1451. ????? (eggus) -- near (in place or time)

 

[Biblicist]

[FONT=&quot]As for 'near' I wouldn't be too fussed with this as the Book of Revelations had it's beginning with John's prophecies to the seven churches who were then in Asia Minor (modern day Turkey), so Revelations certainly has its 'near' component starting with a bang with John's admonitions to the churches of his time. Revelations has its end with the return of the Lord[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT][FONT=&quot]
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[FONT=&quot].................................................................[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]For those who want a bit of lexical information:-[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot][BibleWorks 9]
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Thayer's Greek Lexicon:[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]1537 [/FONT]evggu,j :
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
evggu,j[FONT=&quot], adverb (from [/FONT]evn [FONT=&quot]and [/FONT]guion [FONT=&quot](limb, hand), at hand; (but rather allied with [/FONT]a;gci[FONT=&quot], [/FONT]a;gcw[FONT=&quot], anxious, anguish, etc.; see Curtius sec. 166; Vanicek, p. 22)) (from Homer down), the Septuagint for [/FONT]bArq'[FONT=&quot]; near;[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]1. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]of place and position; a. properly: absolutely, John 19:42 (cf. also 20 G L T Tr WH (but see below)); with the genitive (Matthiae, sec. 339, 1, p. 812; Winer's Grammar, 195 (183); (471 (439); Buttmann, sec. 132, 24)), Luke 19:11; John 3:23; 6:19,23; 11:18,54; 19:20 (Rec., but see above); Acts 1:12; with the dative (Matthiae, sec. 386, 6; Kühner, sec. 423, 13; (Jelf, sec. 592, 2)), Acts 9:38; 27:8. b. tropically; [/FONT]oi` evggu,j[FONT=&quot], those who are near of access to God, i. e. Jews, and [/FONT]oi` makra,n[FONT=&quot], those who are alien from the true God and the blessings of the theocracy, i. e. Gentiles: Eph. 2:17 (cf. Isa. 57:19); [/FONT]evggu,j gi,nesqai[FONT=&quot], to be brought near, namely, to the blessings of the kingdom of God, Eph. 2:13 (so with the rabbis not infrequently to make nigh is equivalent to to make a proselyte, cf. Wetstein at the passage cited; (Schottgen, Horae etc. i., 761f; Valck. Schol. 1:363)); [/FONT]evggu,j sou to, r`h/ma evstin[FONT=&quot], near thee, i. e. at hand, already, as it were, in thy mind, Rom. 10:8 from Deut. 30:14 (cf. Buttmann, sec. 129, 11; Winer's Grammar, 465 (434)).[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]2. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]of Time; concerning things imminent and soon to come to pass: Matt. 24:32; 26:18; Mark 13:28; Luke 21:30,31; John 2:13; 6:4; 7:2; 11:55; Rev. 1:3; 22:10; of the near advent of persons: [/FONT]o` ku,rioj evggu,j[FONT=&quot], of Christ's return from heaven, Phil. 4:5 (in another sense, of God in Ps. 144:18 (Ps. 145:18); with the addition [/FONT]evpi, qu,raij[FONT=&quot], at the door, Matt. 24:33; Mark 13:29; [/FONT]evggu,j kata,raj[FONT=&quot], near to being cursed, Heb. 6:8; [/FONT]avfanismou/[FONT=&quot], soon to vanish, Heb. 8:13.* [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Friberg Lexicon:[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]7537 [/FONT][FONT=&quot]&#7952;&#947;&#947;&#8059;&#962; [/FONT][FONT=&quot]adverb; (1) of space near, close to (JN 3.23); absolutely close by, near at hand, neighboring (JN 19.42); (2) of time near, imminent, close (MT 26.18); (3) figuratively, of close or intimate relationship near, close to (EP 2.17); (4) comparative [/FONT][FONT=&quot]&#7952;&#947;&#947;&#8059;&#964;&#949;&#961;&#959;&#957; [/FONT][FONT=&quot]nearer [/FONT][FONT=&quot](RO 13.11); superlative [/FONT][FONT=&quot]&#7956;&#947;&#947;&#953;&#963;&#964;&#945; [/FONT][FONT=&quot]nearest, closest [/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Louw-Nida Lexicon:[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]83.26 [/FONT][FONT=&quot]&#7952;&#947;&#947;&#8059;&#962;[/FONT][FONT=&quot]: a position relatively close to another position - 'near, nearby.' [/FONT][FONT=&quot]&#7952;&#957; &#913;&#7984;&#957;&#8060;&#957; &#7952;&#947;&#947;&#8058;&#962; &#964;&#959;&#8166; &#931;&#945;&#955;&#949;&#8055;&#956; [/FONT][FONT=&quot]'in Aenon near Salem' Jn 3.23[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]LSJ Lexicon (Abridged):[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]12218 [/FONT][FONT=&quot]&#7952;&#947;&#947;&#8059;&#962; [/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]&#7952;&#947;&#947;&#8059;&#962; [/FONT][FONT=&quot][&#965;[/FONT][FONT=&quot]²[/FONT][FONT=&quot]][/FONT][FONT=&quot], Adv.: Comp. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]&#7952;&#947;&#947;&#965;&#964;&#8051;&#961;&#969;[/FONT][FONT=&quot], Sup. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]&#7952;&#947;&#947;&#965;&#964;&#8049;&#964;&#969; [/FONT][FONT=&quot]or [/FONT][FONT=&quot]-&#8059;&#964;&#945;&#964;&#945;[/FONT][FONT=&quot]; also [/FONT][FONT=&quot]&#7956;&#947;&#947;&#953;[/FONT][FONT=&quot]¯[/FONT][FONT=&quot]&#959;&#957;, &#7956;&#947;&#947;&#953;&#963;&#964;&#945;[/FONT][FONT=&quot]:[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]I. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]of Place, near, nigh, at hand, Hom.; c. gen. hard by, near to, Id., Soph.; also c. dat., Eur.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]II. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]of Time, nigh at hand, Hom., Xen.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]III. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]of Numbers, etc., nearly, Thuc., Xen.; [/FONT][FONT=&quot]&#959;&#8016;&#948;&#8125; &#7952;&#947;&#947;&#8059;&#962; [/FONT][FONT=&quot]i.e. not by a great deal, nothing like it, Plat., Dem.; [/FONT][FONT=&quot]&#7952;&#947;&#947;&#8058;&#962; &#964;&#959;&#8166; &#964;&#949;&#952;&#957;&#8049;&#957;&#945;&#953; [/FONT][FONT=&quot]very nearly [/FONT][FONT=&quot]dead, Plat.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]I.V. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]of Relationship, akin to, Aesch., Plat. (From the same Root as [/FONT][FONT=&quot]&#7940;&#947;&#967;&#953;[/FONT][FONT=&quot], cf. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]&#7940;&#947;&#967;&#953;&#963;&#964;&#959;&#962;[/FONT][FONT=&quot], [/FONT][FONT=&quot]&#7956;&#947;&#947;&#953;&#963;&#964;&#959;&#962;[/FONT][FONT=&quot].) [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]

 

[Biblicist]

Duplicate post.

 

[Biblicist]

Triplicate post - ugghh!!

 

[Achilles6129]

Obadiah 1:15 “For the day of the Lord upon all the nations is near; As you have done, it shall be done to you; Your reprisal shall return upon your own head.

Zephaniah 1:14 The great day of the Lord is near; It is near and hastens quickly. The noise of the day of the Lord is bitter; There the mighty men shall cry out.

Yes the DAY of the Lord is near, soon to take place.
This message is consistent from long before the NT was written.

Peter tells us a 1000 years is like a day to God. So from the time Revelations was written, to God is only 2 days past by. In heaven time is not felt like it is down here.

Interesting post.

 

[Achilles6129]

Yes, 1451 means "near", as in distance.

5034 means suddenly, quickly.

So the time is near meaning is, Christ's armies are standing at a certain distance (1451) away and waiting for a signal to attack.
Once the signal is given the attack will commence suddenly and quickly (5034).

I also would recommend using a BibleHub site tools.
The lexicon and dictionaries are somehow better and fuller.
Strong's Greek: 1451. ????? (eggus) -- near (in place or time)

Well no, I think the meaning is clear - it's talking about the imminence of Christ's return. I don't see any other explanation for the presence of these passages in Revelation. The question, then, is why they're there.

 

[Achilles6129]

[FONT=&quot]As for 'near' I wouldn't be too fussed with this as the Book of Revelations had it's beginning with John's prophecies to the seven churches who were then in Asia Minor (modern day Turkey), so Revelations certainly has its 'near' component starting with a bang with John's admonitions to the churches of his time. Revelations has its end with the return of the Lord

Hi,

Unfortunately that solution won't work. The context of the statements makes it clear that it's talking about Christ's return, not just the things that are to happen to the 7 churches (who I happen to believe represent the church throughout history).

 

[Jipsah]

It's a mystery. Thoughts?

If the words "soon" and "near" were supposed to mean only "soon" and "near" from God's perspective, then they necessarily mean nothing at all from ours. Assuming that the Revelation was meant to reveal something to humans and not to God, then it would have been nice if things had been couched in terms that humans could understand. Otherwise what was the point of the thing? If they words don't refer to our definitions, then they don't mean anything to us at all. In that case, why say them, and even reiterate them?

The "God's time" maneuver is simply intended to preserve some folks' eschatological doctrines intact, as was the "soon after some key event thousands of years in the future" interpretation. In short, it was designed to prevent SCripture from damaging a fondly held doctrine.

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

I never saw a response to these 2 posts I made earlier.

Luke 21:31 and Revelation 1:3 and 22:10 both use the exact form of the greek word #1451.

Luke 21:31
Thus also ye whenever ye may be seeing these-things becoming
ye are knowing that NIGH/egguV <1451> is the Kingdom of the God.

Revelation 1:3
Blessed the one reading, and the ones hearing, the Words of this Prophecy and the keepings in it having been Written,
for the Time is NIGH/egguV<1451>.

Revelation 22:10
And he is saying to me "no thou should be sealing the Words of the Prophecy of the Scroll, this.
That the Time is NIGH/egguV <1451>

1451. eggus from a primary verb agcho (to squeeze or throttle; akin to the base of 43); near (literally or figuratively, of place or time):--from , at hand, near, nigh (at hand, unto), ready.

1452. egguteron neuter of the comparative of 1451; nearer:--nearer.
1448. eggizo from 1451; to make near, i.e. (reflexively) approach:--approach, be at hand, come (draw) near, be (come, draw) nigh.

http://www.christianforums.com/t7357375-3/#post51296888
Luke 21:31 Kingdom of God comes


.

I just decided to show the greek rendering. Good study btw

These 2 verses also appear to say that the "parousia" of the Lord was nigh at hand, they just use a different form of #1451...

1 Peter 4:7
Of all-things yet the End has-neared/hggiken <1448> (5758);
be sane then, and be sober into the prayers,

James 5:8
be patient! and stand-fast! the hearts of ye,
that the Parousia <3952> of the Lord has-neared/hggiken <1448>(5758)

1448. eggizo from 1451; to make near, i.e. (reflexively) approach:--approach, be at hand, come (draw) near, be (come, draw) nigh.
.

 

[Achilles6129]

If the words "soon" and "near" were supposed to mean only "soon" and "near" from God's perspective, then they necessarily mean nothing at all from ours. Assuming that the Revelation was meant to reveal something to humans and not to God, then it would have been nice if things had been couched in terms that humans could understand. Otherwise what was the point of the thing? If they words don't refer to our definitions, then they don't mean anything to us at all. In that case, why say them, and even reiterate them?

The "God's time" maneuver is simply intended to preserve some folks' eschatological doctrines intact, as was the "soon after some key event thousands of years in the future" interpretation. In short, it was designed to prevent SCripture from damaging a fondly held doctrine.

Very interesting. But wouldn't you agree that many things in Scripture are, in fact, written from God's perspective? Aren't we meant to have some insight into God's perspective? A perfect example are the passages in the OT that someone quoted - they show the same type of imminence as Revelation:

"14
Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of [h]decision!
For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision." Joel 3:14 (NASB)

So I think we could absolutely claim that the imminence is based upon us being given a glimpse into God's idea of time. This is based upon the OT, not upon fondly held theological doctrines (though that may not be true for all).

 

[Achilles6129]

Hi LLOJ -

I would love to respond to your posts, I'm just unclear as to exactly what question you're asking.

 

[sdowney717]

I never saw a response to these 2 posts I made earlier.

8 You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

He has not yet returned as He said He would.

When Christ comes what did the angels say?


11 who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”

The Lord has not descended yet.
Have the dead in Christ risen first, have we been caught up to meet him in the air?
1 Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.

17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.

No, we are in what Peter says is the waiting time.

2 Peter 3
Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), 2 that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us,[a] the apostles of the Lord and Savior, 3 knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” 5 For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, 6 by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. 7 But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

The days will come when you will long to see one of the days of the son of man, but you will not see it. When He comes it will be sudden.

10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.[c]

Peter wrote this to the beloved elect, those who believe and those who will believe in the Christ of God. The ones who God is waiting patiently for to repent and believe are His very own elect, not those of the world who will never repent. Why would God wait for people to repent who He knows never will? This promise of His patience is for those who will obtain salvation.

As Apostle Paul teaches us about the longsuffering of God, in similar way to Peter. Peter talks of those vessels of mercy that God waits patiently for, while Paul tells us God endures longsuffering the vessels of wrath for the sake of the vessels of mercy.

22 What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 23 and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory, 24 even us whom He called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?

For some proof of relevance study the parable of the wheat and the tares which confirms what Paul and Peter wrote.

The Parable of the Wheat and the Tares
24 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; 25 but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. 26 But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. 27 So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ 28 He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ 29 But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.”’”


The Parable of the Tares Explained
36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field.”

37 He answered and said to them: “He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. 39 The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. 40 Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. 41 The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, 42 and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

 

[Achilles6129]

"The coming of the Lord" could also be a coming in judgment upon a person or church, not necessarily a physical second coming.