“The Time is at Hand”
Revelation 22:6-21
“And he said to me, ‘Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand.’” [Rev 22:10]
This is a message to the Church. These last verses in Rev 22, while they are for all to read; they are specifically directed to the Church. And notice, “Church” has not been mentioned since Chap 3. It is used again in these final words of Rev 22:16: “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches.” [Rev 22:16]. Notice the prophecy of Revelation is to be testified “in the churches.”
These final words in Revelation circle back to the Churches in Rev 2-3, with a final message, “the time is at hand,” and “I am coming quickly.” [Rev 22:6-7] Walvoord states that the thought in the original Greek is “when the action comes, it will be sudden.” The sense is not so much a brief time before these things come; but when they come, they will happen quickly.
We are currently in the dispensation of the Church, which is a “pause” between the 69th and 70th seven of Daniel 9. Jesus has come and fulfilled His work of redemption at the Cross of Calvary. The 69th seven is fulfilled. What awaits is the 70th seven, the last seven-year period known as the Tribulation that precedes Jesus’ Return. When does the 70th seven begin? At the Rapture of the Church. It is when the time of the Church ends. After the Church is Raptured, things will quickly move to the end. But until then we are to faithfully wait and be ready.
John wrote Revelation during the time of the Church [~95 A.D.] and wrote it to the Church. Revelation is to be testified “in the churches,” until the Church is Raptured.
That is why Revelation is important to read in the churches. It gives us understanding on the Final Chapter, how it is all going to unfold, even after the Church is Raptured.
Most importantly, it causes us to live in the here and now with a loose grip on the things of this world, and a tight grip on the eternal things of Christ.
Praise be to God for the Revelation of Jesus Christ; a blessing to those who read it, hear it, and keep those things which are written in it; “for the time is near.” [Rev 1:3]
