Time Limitation Set by the (pre-A.D. 70) Book of Revelation

Below is the second of multiple excerpts of commentary on the Book of Revelation from The Parousia, the late 19th-century masterpiece on the Second Coming by James Stuart Russell: 

"LIMITATION OF TIME IN THE APOCALYPSE [BOOK OF REVELATION]. 

"This [time limit] is not a mere conjecture, it is certified by the express statements of the book [Revelation 1:1, 1:3, 1:7, 1:19, 3:11, 16:15, 22:6, 22:7, 22:10, 22:12, 22:20]. If there be one thing which more than any other is explicitly and repeatedly affirmed in the Apocalypse it is the nearness of the events which it predicts. This is stated, and reiterated again and again, in the beginning, the middle, and the end. We are warned that ‘the time is at hand;’ ‘These things must shortly come to pass,’ ‘Behold, I come quickly;’ ‘Surely I come quickly.’ Yet, in the face of these express and oft-repeated declarations [further confirmed by the Synoptic Gospels at Matt. 10:23, 16:28, 23:36, 24:34; Mark 9:1, 13:30, 14:62; Luke 9:27, 21:32, 22:69], most interpreters have felt at liberty to ignore the limitations of time altogether, and to roam at will over ages and centuries, regarding the book as a syllabus of church history, an almanac of politico-ecclesiastical events for all Christendom to the end of time. This has been a fatal and inexcusable blunder. To neglect the obvious and clear definition of the time so constantly thrust on the attention of the reader by the book itself is to stumble on the very threshold. Accordingly this inattention has vitiated [impaired] by far the greatest number of apocalyptic interpretations. It may truly be said that the key has all the while hung by the door, plainly visible to every one who had eyes to see; yet men have tried to pick the lock, or force the door, or climb up some other way, rather than avail themselves of so simple and ready a way of admission as to use the key made and provided for them."

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[The pre-A.D. 70 date of the Book of Revelation will be discussed in subsequent excerpts.]

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Synoptic verses cited above:

Matt 10:23 [to the disciples] “...truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.”

Matt 16:28 [to the disciples] “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.” (Parallels at Mark 9:1 and Luke 9:27)

Matt 23:36 [to the disciples in reference to judgment of the scribes and Pharisees]: "Truly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation."

Matt 24:34 [to the disciples] “Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.” (Parallels at Mark 13:30 and Luke 21:32)

Matt 26:64 [to Caiaphas the high priest and the Sanhedrin] “...you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” (Parallels at Mark 14:62 and Luke 22:69)

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