End Time Series: Digging Deeper - Lesson 1
Revelation 22 Listen: Audio By Rev. Marjorie Kummrow
I just finished the series of “The Gospel in the Stars,” which was a prophetic look at the birth, death, and victorious return of King Jesus. The emphasis was on the defeat of the Lord’s arch-enemy, the devil. The stars tell the story of Jesus’ return to the earth and the rescue of his people from the hand of Hydra the snake, known to us as Satan, whom Jesus will do away with forever.
I am beginning a new series, based on the same subject, the victorious return of our Lord, Jesus the Messiah. We will be “Digging Deeper” with “end time” scriptures and hopefully, explaining many misunderstood scriptures. The very first end-time scripture is found in Genesis, the first book of the Bible. Throughout the text, we have one scripture after another that gives us glimpses as to what to expect in these last days. Rather than start at the beginning, I have chosen to start this study with the very last thing that Jesus said to John in the final book of the Bible, the Book of Revelation. We are going to dig into, “Surely I come quickly.”
Rev 22:20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
If you have a red-letter Bible, you know that the red letters are marking the words of Jesus. In this case, HE said, Surely, I come quickly. A little earlier in the same chapter, HE said the same thing. Verse 7 says this:
Rev 22:7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
There is quite a bit to unpack in these 17 words. We must always refer to the original language to interpret scripture correctly. Many have given up hope that the Lord is returning because it has been over 2,000 years since the Lord spoke these words. What if returning quickly encompasses more than what meets the eye?
The Greek and Hebrew language can have many meanings for the same word. When that is the case, the word is understood by the context in which it is used. Since this is the case, let’s deal with the context of this scripture, first. The Book of Revelation begins with the Revelation of Jesus Christ as He appears to John His disciple. Then deals with The Church and its disappearance and with John himself viewing in the Spirit the glorious throne room of God. Then proceeds to inform the reader of the rise of the anti-Christ, and predicts famine and earthquakes, war, and how great the wrath of God will be displayed upon the earth toward the wicked, during the “Great 7-year Tribulation.”
The book outlines all the events that are to take place, including the grace and love of God for appointing 144,000 Jewish evangelists to present the “gospel of Yeshua/Jesus” to those who have been left behind and are not included in the rapture of The Church, Jew and Gentile alike. Nevertheless, during this great harvest of souls, there will be hell on earth, as hail, meteor showers, earthquakes, and fires, destroy a third of the planet. Every demonic power of hell will be released on earth and suffering unlike anything human beings have ever endured, outside of hell, will manifest. Everything is outlined in detail as to what will happen to those who have either taken the gospel lightly or have rejected God and His Son altogether. The text also outlines those who continue to commit grievous sin and refuse to allow the Savior to change them, as being left for damnation. This then is the context, “all these things must take place.”
Next, I want to take a look at the Greek word that has been translated into English as “quickly.” It is the word, “tachu,” and comes from the word, “taxy.” Taxy does not mean in a very short time or immediately. Rather, it means “without any delay.” In every other place where the word tachu is translated quickly, the context justifies the English word quickly or without any further delay. The context, however in Revelation includes the entire book predicting the things that must happen before the end of time. With this in mind let’s take another look at this final chapter and Jesus’ words.
Rev 22:7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
If I may, I want to translate and amplify this scripture to the best of my knowledge as I understand it to say:
My Interpretation: Pay attention to what I am about to say! When all of these things that I have told John to write down for you in this book happen at the end of days, then I will come quickly, because there will be no more delay, and all will be accomplished for my return to this earth. Blessed are they that watch for and believe the prophecies that are written in the Book of Revelation.
Then John closes the Book of Revelation with the same parting words:
Rev 22:20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
So, you see, there is much that still has to take place before the end of days and the victorious return of the Lord! My decision to start at the end of the book is because Jesus’ last words are so very important. His parting words are where we start. HE said He is returning, HE even told us when. He told us that knowing these things would bring a blessing to our lives. Conversely, it is implied that not knowing will bring a curse. Therefore, to be doubly blessed, understanding the prophecies of the end times is paramount, Jesus told us so in His parting words. One cannot fully understand the Book of Revelation where Jesus revealed all that is to take place, without digging throughout the entire Bible, because the Bible interprets itself. This is what we will be doing during this new series, “Digging Deeper.”
The Book of Revelation is fascinating! It is the only book of the Bible that promises a blessing at the beginning of the book if you read it, and another blessing at the end of the book, if you watch for or keep and believe that which the Lord showed to John and told him to write down for us.
According to scripture, many things must take place before the return of Christ to this earth. However, there is nothing that must take place before the snatching away of true believers to meet Jesus in the air, where He will be waiting for us in the clouds. This will be the topic of our next dig.
Thessalonians 4:16-18 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.