Before Jerusalem Fell

Inadequate Views
Tb Tmporal Expectation of th Author 135
Unfortunately, however, many commentators do not see the issue
as being so apparent. Dispensationalist scholar John Walvoord understands
Revelation’s opening comment thus: “That which Daniel
declared would occur ‘in the latter days’ is here described as ‘shortly’
(Gr. en tadzei), that is, ‘quickly or suddenly coming to pass,’ indicating
a rapidity of execution after the beginning takes place. The idea is
not that the event may occur soon, but that when it does, it will be
sudden (cf Luke 18:8; Acts 12:7; 22:18; 25:4; Rem. 16:20). A similar
word, tacky, is translated ‘quickly’ seven times in Revelation.”3 Of
the Revelation 22 reference Walvoord notes: “The descriptive phrase
‘shortly be done’ literally translated is ‘what it is necessary to do
quickly.’ Here the noun is used. In verse 7, the adverb of the same
root is translated ‘quickly.’ The thought seems to be that when the
action comes, it will be sudden. Also it is to be regarded as impending
as if it is meant to be fulfilled at any time. In either case, it constitutes
a message of warning that those who believe should be alert. From
the stand-point of the agelong divine program, the events of the age
were impending even at the time John wrote this message though
some of them were thousands of years future.”4
Fellow premillennialist (though non-dispensationalist) scholar
Robert Mounce concurs with Walvoord’s main point: “John writes
3. John F. Walvoord, The Revelation ofJesus Christ (Chicago: Moody, 1966), p. 35. It
is terribly interesting that “the latter days” are said to have come already in the New
Testament era: Heb. 1:1,2, 9:26; 1 Cor. 10:11; Acts 2:16-17; 1 Pet. 1:20; 1 John 2:18.
What Daniel is commanded to “seal up” – because it looks into the distant future (Dan.
8:26) –John is commanded to “not seal up” because “the time is near” (Rev. 22:10). It
has been pointed out by several evangelical scholars that also contained in Daniel is an
important prophecy which seems to tie the close of the canon and all prophetic revelation
to the A.D. 70 destruction of the temple. Daniel 9:24, 26 reads: “Seventy weeks have
been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an
end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal
UP mum and propfu~, and to anoint the most holy place. . . . After the sixty-two weeks
the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to
come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end will come with a flood.” This
seventy weeks of years period is widely held among conservative scholars to reach to the
First Advent of Christ. The usefulness of this passage is enhanced by the fact that Christ
draws from it in His Olivet Discourse (cf Matt. 2415) which is clearly related to the
A.D. 70 destruction of the Temple (cl Matt. 241-2). This argument deserves greater
explication, but may lead us afield from our primary concern: Revelation.
4. Ibid., p. 333.