Words and Context

 

 

If I say cricket

What comes to mind?

Can you tell exactly what I mean

At this time?

 

I am sure you cannot

Though you may guess

So do not bother to argue

Let it rest.

 

It could be the game

Or it could be the insect.

Whatever you feel it is

Just do not bet.

 

Stand-alone words

Are simply that

And will leave us guessing;

That’s a fact.

 

But let me add ‘game’

And the meaning jumps out

And for Caribbean people

There is no doubt.

 

On the playing field

Might be a cricket

But it surely won’t be the game,

Just the insect.

 

 

Similarly in the Bible

Words have context

And we should not ignore this

To establish a pretext.

 

Let us look at a few

Bible words and phrases

And see how these in their context

Pinpoint times and stages.

 

Shortly come to pass

Sounds familiar?

You will find it once

In the Holy Scripture.

 

Revelation 1 verse 1

Turn there with me,

Must shortly come to pass

Is as explicit as can be.

 

Revelation 22 verse 6

Must shortly be done,

Two thousand years in the future?

No, not this one.

 

Shortly is straightforward

Check its context,

Do not be led astray

By somebody’s pretext.

 

This one I really like

And you’ll like it too,

And the time draweth near:

A really close-up view.

 

Take heed

That ye be not deceived,

It has already been fulfilled;

You should believe.

 

 

Quickly here is not fast

But in short time,

Behold I come quickly;

There’s no time to lime.

 

To lime is a Bajan saying

Meaning to cool out

But something is soon to occur

Thus, quickly stands out.

 

Behold I come quickly:

In Revelation 22,

Three times it is therein stated

And near is in view.

 

So likewise, ye,

When ye shall see these things

Know it is near,

Even at the doors.

 

 

Matthew 24 verse 33

And Mark 13 verse 29:

When ye shall see these things

It is high time.

 

High time is another one

Meaning near at hand,

Both phrases are in the Bible;

Upon the Word, I stand.

 

It is high time

To awake out of sleep

Was written to first century folk

Not now as we speak.

 

See Romans 13 verse 11

Quoting the apostle Paul:

“For now, is our salvation nearer,”
Was his urgent call.

 

He was speaking of then

Instead of in our time

But we are traditionally bent

In our own mind.

 

 

I also will keep thee

From the hour of temptation:

A word to 1^st Century believers

Regarding the tribulation.

 

Little children

It is the last time,

There were many antichrists;

Bear this in mind.

 

1John 2 verse 18

Hear the apostle John,

Last time is here listed twice:

Hence, it’s another one.

 

This generation shall not pass

Till all be fulfilled,

Is Luke chapter 2 verse 32
To be fulfilled still?

 

 

Till heaven and earth pass;

Notice the word ‘till’,

Nothing in the law will change

Till all be fulfilled.

 

The word of Jesus

In Mark chapter 5 verse 18

Does to my mind surely anticipate

A change of scene.

 

Matthew 24:3

Tell us,

When shall these things be

And the sign of thy coming,

And the end of the world?

 

The end of the age

As before prearranged,

Switching from the old to the new:

A covenantal change.

 

To a better covenant

In so many ways

And all now we are living it

Ever since those days.

 

Dare to accept the Word

Above the traditions of men,

These prophecies were all fulfilled

Back then.

 

 

Context is everything

Don’t you forget,

Bible words and or phrases

Are in context set.

 

Stewart Russell © January 29, 2025