Before Jerusalem Fell
by Kenneth L. Gentry by Kenneth L. Gentry
The Temporal Expectation of the Author 139 ing for the end within the circles in which the writer lived — not an expectation that will happen at some unknown point X in time (just to repeat this), but one in the immediate present. 14 It would seem that only an interpretive a priori against the translation of the noted lexicographers and modern translations could account for the views of the commentators cited above. T/z.e Matter of the “Sitz im Leben” The deducible internal sitz im Leben (“situation in life”) of the recipients of Revelation also demands the maintenance of the preponderate scholarly lexical and translational consensus. John writes to seven contemporary historical churches (Rev. 1:11 ) facing very real serious, repeated, and intensi@ing threats (Rev. 2-3). He speaks of his own present enduring of “the tribulation” with them (Rev. 1:9). He notes with concern the expectant cry from the altar: “How long, O Lord?” (Rev. 6:10). Walvoord’s view – that when Jesus eventually comes He will come with great rapidity — would have offered no consolation to these persecuted saints. To interpret this passage to mean that some two or three thousand years in the future Jesus will come with great rapidity would be a mockery of their historical circumstances. Surely “this [/v +yEz] is the hinge and staple of the book. When the advent of Jesus is hailed as a relie~ it is no consolation to say that the relief will come suddenly; sudden or not, it must come soon (v. 7), if it is to be of any service.”’5 Mounce’s second possibility – i.e., of the event’s certainty of occurrence — has little to commend it. After all, the certainty of Revelation’s eventuation is well-taken care of by the expression M yev.5u19czz (“must occur”). A simple future tense (“will occur”) would have served well enough to insure the satisfaction of certainty. If certainty of eventuation was all that was being urged, why repeatedly employ the use of a term – in addition to 6st ysv.beaz ! — that could generate false expectations? Such a question becomes all the more crucial in light of the other similar word groups employed, as will be shown shortly. 14. Kurt Aland, A Htstop of Chr-i.stianiQ, vol. 1: From th Beginnings to the Threshold of the R@-matian, trans. James L. Schaaf (Philadelphia: Fortress, 1985), p. 88. 15. James Moffatt, Tb Revelation of St. John ttu Divim, in W. R. Nicoll, cd., Englishman’s Greek Te@ammt, vol. 5 (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, rep. 1980), p. 335.
140 BEFORE JERUSALEM FELL Mounce’s third possibility (endorsed by Swete, Morris, Hoeksema, Vincent, and others) is just as implausible, and falters on the same grounds. What mockery of anguished pain and mental suffering to write to persecuted saints: “Help is on the way in God’s time – which may be a couple of thousand years or more away. ” Swete even observed that “the Coming is postponed indefinitely, though the old watchword, ‘160ti ~pxopal zafi, still rings in our ears. ” 16 Such would be a “be thou warm and filled” comfort of little help to these churches. We will not deal as lengthily with the following two groups in that most of the arguments for the former group readily apply to the remaining ones. Nevertheless, to demonstrate the variation and repetition of the theme, it is necessary to at least proffer a brief survey of them. Verses Using the ‘Eyytiq Word Group Revelation 1:3 Messed 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 mar. Revelation 22:10 And he said to me, “DO not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is mar.” All translations consulted on these verses concurred in either the translation “at hand” or “near.” 17 The crucial word in these passages is 4yy@ (pronounced “engus”), which is an adverb of time formed from two words: ,4v (“in, at”) and yuiov (“limb, hand”). Hence the meaning is literally “at hand.” The Arndt and Gingrich Lextion offers one word, “near,” as the meaning. 18 Thayer expands on the idea of the word: “of Time; concerning things imminent and soon to come to pass.” 19 He lists Revelation 1:3 and 22:10 in his series of examples. The word is used frequently of chronologically near events, such as approaching summer (Matt. 24:32), the Passover (Matt. 26: 18; John 2:13; 11:55), the Feast of Tabernacles (John 7:2), etc. 16. Swete, Revelation, p. W. 17. See the translations consulted above. 18. Amdt and Gingrich, Lxicon, p. 213. 19. Thayer, Lexkon, p. 164.
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140 BEFORE JERUSALEM FELL<br />
Mounce’s third possibility (endorsed by Swete, Morris, Hoeksema,<br />
Vincent, and others) is just as implausible, and falters on the same<br />
grounds. What mockery of anguished pain and mental suffering to<br />
write to persecuted saints: “Help is on the way in God’s time – which<br />
may be a couple of thousand years or more away. ” Swete even<br />
observed that “the Coming is postponed indefinitely, though the old<br />
watchword, ‘160ti ~pxopal zafi, still rings in our ears. ” 16 Such<br />
would be a “be thou warm and filled” comfort of little help to these<br />
churches.<br />
We will not deal as lengthily with the following two groups in<br />
that most of the arguments for the former group readily apply to the<br />
remaining ones. Nevertheless, to demonstrate the variation and repetition<br />
of the theme, it is necessary to at least proffer a brief survey of<br />
them.<br />
Verses Using the ‘Eyytiq Word Group<br />
Revelation 1:3<br />
Messed is he who reads and those who hear the words of’ the prophecy,<br />
and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is mar.<br />
Revelation 22:10<br />
And he said to me, “DO not seal up the words of the prophecy of this<br />
book, for the time is mar.”<br />
All translations consulted on these verses concurred in either the<br />
translation “at hand” or “near.” 17 The crucial word in these passages<br />
is 4yy@ (pronounced “engus”), which is an adverb of time formed<br />
from two words: ,4v (“in, at”) and yuiov (“limb, hand”). Hence the<br />
meaning is literally “at hand.” The Arndt and Gingrich Lextion offers<br />
one word, “near,” as the meaning. 18 Thayer expands on the idea of<br />
the word: “of Time; concerning things imminent and soon to come<br />
to pass.” 19 He lists Revelation 1:3 and 22:10 in his series of examples.<br />
The word is used frequently of chronologically near events, such as<br />
approaching summer (Matt. 24:32), the Passover (Matt. 26: 18; John<br />
2:13; 11:55), the Feast of Tabernacles (John 7:2), etc.<br />
16. Swete, Revelation, p. W.<br />
17. See the translations consulted above.<br />
18. Amdt and Gingrich, Lxicon, p. 213.<br />
19. Thayer, Lexkon, p. 164.
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