“The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him TO SHOW HIS SERVANTS—THINGS WHICH MUST SHORTLY (en, denoting a fixed position in time.) TAKE PLACE…” (Rev. 1:1) Remember, “…beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord ONE DAY IS AS A THOUSAND YEARS…” (2 Pet. 3:8). I think what Peter is trying to get us to understand is when God’s word speaks of events that will take place, from our perspective, it may be a great amount of time before it happens but IF THE WORD OF GOD SAYS IT, IT WILL HAPPEN!
The next few chapters speak of the dispensation of the Church, represented by the “seven churches which are in Asia” (Rev. 1:11) then something very excited happens to John, he experiences a type of being “caught up”! “After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And THE FIRST VOICE WHICH I HEARD was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, “COME UP HERE, and I will show you things which must take place after this.” IMMEDIATELY I WAS IN THE SPIRIT; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne.” (Rev. 4:1-2) “Behold, I tell you a mystery: IN A MOMENT (immediately), in the twinkling of an eye…the dead will be raised…and we shall be changed.” (1 Corin. 15:51-52) “…the Lord Himself will descend from heaven WITH A SHOUT (the first voice which I heard)…And the dead in Christ will rise first…we who are alive and remain shall be CAUGHT UP TOGETHER with them…to meet the Lord in the air…” (1 Thess. 4:16-17)
This is what is so wonderful, while the wrath of God is being poured out we’ll be with, “…Jesus who DELIVERS US FROM THE WRATH TO COME…For GOD DID NOT APPOINT US TO WRATH…” (1 Thess. 1:10, 5:9)
So what must we do? …KEEP YOURSELVES IN THE LOVE OF GOD…(Jude 1:21)
-Bill Stockham