8. WHAT MUST SHORTLY BE DONE? (2) VINDICATE THE PROPHETS

8. WHAT MUST SHORTLY BE DONE? (2) VINDICATE THE PROPHETS

Revelation 1.1 states that the message to "His Servants" is about "Things which must shortly come to pass." The word must indicates that it is morally necessary. It was morally necessary that God vindicate the Prophets and their messages, including Jesus.

(2) To Vindicate the Old Testament Prophets

            In all Bible prophecy, there is the immediate literal fulfillment that proves the inspiration of the prophet. Then there is the general reference, or universal principle that is involved because God does not change, because He is no respecter of person, and because His Word is eternal. Then there is the eschatological reference which involves the ultimate end of the fulfillment.

            Many years before, God had spoken through Jeremiah, (chapter 25), to serve up the wine cup of wrath first to Jerusalem, then to all the nations of the earth. Some of these nations are called by name, while others are grouped in large headings, or, as in verse 26: "All the kings of the north, far and near...and all the kingdoms of the world, which are upon the face of the earth.

            Note that the immediate fulfillment of judgment upon Jerusalem, as foretold by Jeremiah, was the destruction of the city followed by a seventy-year Babylonian captivity.  This was literally fulfilled.[1]

            After the nations are called by name, (Jeremiah 25), it is said: "...the king of Sheshach shall drink the cup of wrath after them," (v. 26).  Sheshach is a code name, or cipher, for symbolic Babylon; that is, any city that fills the same role as Babylon did in that day.[2]  For example, Babylon had "served themselves" of God's people: They had slain them, made them captives and had otherwise persecuted them. Babylon had worshiped and served idols and indulged in astrology and had infected Israel and Judah with this sin. The term Sheshach represents the pattern, symbol, or name, of all who do these sins, (the general reference or universal principle involved). So in Jeremiah's prophecy the pattern was set by which the whole world would be judged. That is, the universal principle was declared and demonstrated.  Verse 29 states: 

For lo I begin to bring evil on the City which is called by my name, and should you be utterly unpunished?  Ye shall not be unpunished: for I will call for a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, saith the Lord of hosts.[3]

            The destruction of Jerusalem in Jeremiah's day was the beginning of the pattern of God's wrath poured out upon a people who have had the full revelation knowledge of Him and have turned from Him. By the time of Christ, Jerusalem had moved into this role of symbolic or Mystery Babylon. She had served herself of God's people, the Christians, (the true Israel), and had worshiped idols of Mammon and of military power. She had even rejected and crucified the Christ.[4]  So it became morally imperative that God's vengeance for His saints and His wrath against sin be fulfilled. The book of Revelation declares that "the time has come” and it "must shortly come to pass".

This lesson is taken from the book Revelation in Context, pages 77-78. Revelation in Context is available at Amazon.com  or XulonPress.com or locally at the Living Word Bookstore in Shawnee, Oklahoma. Free downloads are available at www.revelationincontext.sermon.net. 

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[1] See 2 Kings 24:1-25:30; 2 Chronicles 36:15-21; Dan.1:1-2; 9:1-19. 

[2] The immediate reference is the literal Babylon; however, the general reference applies to any city that fills the role of Babylon.  It can therefore refer to the literal Jerusalem when she has fallen into the same spiritual conditions that afflicted ancient Babylon.  See also Jeremiah 51:11, where another cipher or code name, (leb qamai), is used for Babylon.

[3] The word here translated earth is the same word translated elsewhere as land.  Therefore it would be equally accurate to translate "all the land," or "all the earth."  Indeed, it is most accurate to see that the judgment upon "all the land" of Palestine was only the immediate, literal reference and serves as a pattern or example of the ultimate fulfillment upon "all the earth."

[4] Josephus records that there was an "oracle ... (which) foretold that this city (Jerusalem) should be then taken when somebody shall begin the slaughter of his own countrymen!" (Wars 6.2.1).  The crucifixion of Christ began this slaughter.