THE GLORIFIED STATE Devotion 21 of 25 "To show unto his servants the things which must shortly take place." NOT CONFINED TO TIME The word "shortly" is not confined to time, although it is sometimes used in that sense. However, in every Apostolic use where time is the obvious point, doctrine is NOT the point. Always, it was a matter of personal desire or preference (1 Cor 4:19; Phil 2:19,24; 1 Tim 3:14; 2 Tim 4:19; Heb 13:23; 3 John 14). Peter used the word "shortly" when referring to a special revelation concerning his death (2 Pet 1:14). Tomorrow:
This is the second time the Lord has made this point. The first verse of chapter one affirmed, "The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto His servants things which must SHORTLY come to pass . . . " Again, note the use of the word "servants" is again used in our text. That is a term that is by no means confined to a specific area of the world or period of time.
At this point, men rush into the arena of thought, bringing their language expertise and lifeless theology. Fastening upon the expression "shortly take place," they conclude God is speaking in the language of time. Thus they teach the destruction of Jerusalem is the point of time in reference, and that Jesus is speaking of things to occur during the latter part of the first century in the lifetime of the first readers of the Revelation.
By so teaching, these people have robbed the saints of God, depriving them of food for hope and sustenance for the soul. If some imagine such people are sincere, we emphatically deny this to be the case – at least in the sense Scripture uses the word "sincere" (Phil 1:10; 1 Pet 2:2). Their doctrine has betrayed the corruption that is in their hearts. They are neither honest nor good that teach the saints the glorious things we have just read have already taken place. Lest I appear to be speaking too strongly on this matter, allow me to refresh your mind about the staggering immensity of what has been revealed. Because of the sheer magnitude of the Revelation, I will limit myself to the section covered in 21:10-22:6.
1. The devil, the beast, and the false prophet were cast into the lake of fire (20:10).
2. The earth and the heaven have fled away from the face of the One seated upon the throne, and no place is found for them (20:11).
3. The dead, small and great, are brought to stand before God (20:12a).
4. The book of life is opened (20:12b).
5. The dead are judged out of those things written in the books, and in accordance with their works (20:12c).
6. The sea gives up its dead, and they are all judged according to their works (20:13).
7. Death and hades gives up the dead that are in them (20:14).
8. Whoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire (20:15).
9. The new heaven and the new earth appear (21:1a).
10. The first heaven and the first earth are passed away (21:1b).
11. The glorified saints are seen coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband (21:2).
12. The tabernacle of God is with men, and He Himself dwells with them (21:3).
13. God wipes away all tears from their eyes (21:4a).
14. There is no more death (21:4b).
15. There is no more sorrow (21:4c).
16. There is no more crying (21:4d).
17. There is no more pain (21:4e).
18. The former things are passed away (21:4f).
19. All things are made new (21:5).
20. John is given a vision of the bride, the Lamb's wife (21:9-10).
21. The glorified bride has the glory of God (21:11-21).
22. The Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the Temple (21:22).
23. There is no need of the sun or the moon, the glory of God and the Lamb shed light everywhere (21:23).
24. The nations of the saved and the earth bring all of their glory (21:24,26).
25. The gates are never again shut (21:25a).
26. There is no night (21:25b).
27. Nothing defiling, or that works an abomination, or makes a lie, enters (21:27a).
28. Everyone whose names are written in the book of life enter (21:27b).
29. A pure river of water of life flows without hindrance or contamination (22:1).
30. The tree of life flourishes with an abundance of consistent and continual fruit (22:2a).
31. The nations are healed (22:2b).
32. There is no more curse (22:3a).
33. The throne of God and the Lamb are with the people (22:3b).
34. God's servants serve Him (22:3c).
35. God's servants see His face (22:4a).
36. God's name is written upon the foreheads of His servants (22:4b).
37. There shall be no night there (22:5a).
38. There is no need of the sun or the moon (22:5b).
39. The Lord God gives light to His servants (22:5c).
40. God's servants reign forever and ever (22:5d).
There are FORTY marvelous things that are said to be happening "shortly." What soul is there foolish enough to try and wrest these from the hands of the people of God? Who is ignorant enough to say these all occurred in the first century? To attempt such things requires a prodigious imagination, a deceived mind, and a hard heart. We will not give such people the benefit of being honest, good, or sincere. If Hymaneus and Philetus overthrew the faith of some by saying the resurrection was past already (2 Tim 2:18), what can be said of those who teach these FORTY things have passed?
I have taken the time to briefly elucidate on this heretical view because of the gravity of our text. These words were sent by God through an angel to "show His servants the things which must shortly be done." In all of those promises, nothing was held out that could possibly be limited by time or geography. They were all universal promises that spanned the ages. This is not provincial language, and must not be treated as such.
However, when we are told, "And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly," (Romans 16:20) and "For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry" (Hebrews 10:37), and "the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to show unto his servants the things which must shortly be done" (Revelation 22:6), time is not the frame of reference. Faith is being addressed, not the flesh.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, free me from thoughts that gravitate to time.