The Revelation of Jesus Christ has been forever memorialized in discussions regarding end times prophecy. Bible teachers refer to this Revelation as a book written specifically for the “end of time” or the “end of the age” even referring to it as “the apocalypse”. This way of thinking has in effect made the entire book of Revelation equivalent to nothing more than a book written for “the end of the world”.
The book begins by stating this Revelation was sent “to show unto his servants’ things which must shortly come to pass” (Revelation 1:1), which to some would indicate the events taking place in this book only occur after a specific point in time. However, we can know with certainty there exists a much greater truth being revealed in these scriptures. Revelation is not referring to the end of time alone. It is referring to all time; from beginning to end, and into eternity – all at once.
Though the book of Revelation does indeed speak of several very mysterious end times events, it is not an “end times” book any more than Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, or Zechariah are specifically written for the end times. Many of the Old Testament prophets spoke of the exact same scenarios taking place in the book of Revelation. Since this is the case, why do we not also refer to books written by Old Testament prophets as “end times” books? The fact is, each of these prophetic books have much more to teach us than mere end times prophecies, including the Revelation of Jesus Christ.
“I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending…” (Revelation 1:8; emphasis in bold mine throughout this chapter).
And again, in verse eleven Christ instructs John; “I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last; and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia” (Revelation 1:11).
Not only does the book of Revelation show us a great deal about the history of our planet and the spiritual significance of what is taking place on our planet, it also offers the reader a glimpse into the nature of a completely separate and yet spiritually linked eternal realm absent from space and time. The Revelation of Jesus Christ has obscured space and time as we know it.
There is absolutely no way for the Revelation of Jesus Christ to be read from start to finish the same way we read, for instance, the four Gospels start to finish. The events explained in the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John (similar to Samuel, Kings and Chronicles in the Old Testament) are chronological in order and had all taken place in the physical realm of space and time. These visions in the book of Revelation did not (Revelation 1:10; 4:1-2). Here exists the reason why this Revelation of Jesus Christ is so much different than any of the paralleled books in the New Testament. Similar to writings from various Old Testament prophets, this Revelation John was told to write down and “send it unto the seven churches” is quite literally a glimpse into eternity.
Ask yourself, how could the apostle John have written a linear account of events to something he witnessed in a vision taking place in the eternal heavenly realms? If Revelation were a book written about events which will only occur in the “end of time” on planet earth, why are there so many recorded events present in this Revelation which are now, and even at the time the book of Revelation was written, known to us as ancient history?
It is made clear to the reader in chapter one that what they are reading is in reference to things that were, things that are, and things that will shortly come to pass – past, present, and future.
“Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be here-after;” (Revelation 1:19).
“Write therefore the things which thou sawest, and the things which are, and the things which shall come to pass hereafter;” (Revelation 1:19; ASV)
“Therefore write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after these things.” (Revelation 1:19; NAS)
The Greek word “and” (G2532; kai) highlighted above is “a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so, then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words” [1].
This same word kai was translated from Greek to English in other areas of the New Testament as; also, both, likewise, even, as well as other words of conjunction. The word kai in this passage was not a word that was inserted into the various versions of the English bible hundreds of years after-the-fact as often is the case when translating the Greek texts into English. Often times, words such as; are, of, the, and, etc. were inserted into the English bible but were not present in the original Greek and Hebrew manuscripts. The translators introduced new words in order to draw out the context of a passage of scripture that may have not been obvious to a reader who only has the ability to understand and read the English language. The word kai in Revelation 1:19 is not one of them. The word kai does exist in the original Greek manuscripts. The word “and” (kai) in this passage is very important.
This passage states, “Write the things which thou hast seen,” (referring to events in the past-tense) “and (kai) the things which are,” (referring to events in the present-tense at the period of time John received this Revelation) “and (kai) the things which shall be here-after;” (referring to events in the future-tense; prophecy)” (Revelation 1:19; emphasis mine throughout).
The word kai in this passage shows us a clear distinction between that which was seen (past-tense), that which is seen (present-tense) and that which will be seen (future-tense).
The book of Revelation offers the reader a glimpse from an eternity perspective as well as shows us the past, present, and future of our existence on this planet; all at the same “time”.
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Now think about this… could it be that subconsciously, this is why mankind is often so fascinated with time-travel? The angels are capable of time travel (traveling from eternity into space-time wherever and whenever is needed to fulfill the will of God), mankind is not. Mankind is bound by space and time – stuck in a linear format. The physical universe exists in a finite encapsulation; the angels and the eternal realms from which they enter our realm exist in the infinite, eternal will of God. When angels enter the physical realm to do God’s bidding, which happens on many occasions throughout the bible, they are literally traveling through time. Time travel does exist. God and his angels have been time-traveling since the beginning of creation!
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And much, much more.
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