Introduction

† One of the most overlooked words in Bible prophecy is the word Until. It marks a limit, an endpoint, or a time when something would change.

† Jesus and the apostles repeatedly used Until to describe events that were approaching in their own generation, not thousands of years later.

† When every New Testament "Until" is studied in its context, they all point to the same covenant transition, the passing of the Old Covenant and the full establishment of the New Covenant, culminating in the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70.

Matthew 5:18

For truly I say to you, Until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke of a letter shall pass from the Law, Until all is accomplished!

† Jesus gave two "Until" statements in the same verse. The Law remained in force Until heaven and earth passed away and Until all things written were fulfilled.

† The "heaven and earth" of this passage refers to the covenant world of Israel, not the physical universe. (Isaiah 51:15-16; Hebrews 12:26-28)

† Hebrews later declares the Old Covenant was becoming obsolete and ready to disappear, showing that this fulfillment occurred in the first century. (Hebrews 8:13)

Matthew 10:23

But whenever they persecute you in one city, flee to the next; for truly I say to you, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel Until the Son of Man comes.

† Jesus limited this promise to the cities of Israel, not the entire world.

† The coming of the Son of Man here was His covenant coming in judgment against Jerusalem. (Matthew 24:30; Luke 21:20-22)

† This "Until" had to occur before the disciples finished going through Israel's cities, proving a first-century fulfillment.

Matthew 23:39

For I say to you, from now on you will not see Me Until you say, 'Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord!'

† Jesus was speaking directly to Jerusalem's leaders who had rejected Him.

† Their opportunity ended with the destruction of their city and temple. (Matthew 23:37-38)

† This was not a promise to a future generation but a warning to the generation standing before Him. (Matthew 24:34)

Matthew 24:34

Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away Until all these things take place.

† This is one of the clearest time statements in the New Testament.

† "All these things" includes everything Jesus had just described, including the great tribulation, His coming in judgment, and the destruction of the temple.

† Jesus didn't leave the fulfillment open-ended. He placed it within the lifetime of His own generation.

Luke 21:32

Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away Until all things take place.

† Luke records the same prophecy as Matthew and uses the identical "Until" time limitation.

† Jesus again places every event within the lifetime of His own generation.

† Matthew and Luke together remove any possibility of extending these events thousands of years into the future. (Matthew 24:34; Luke 21:20-22)

Luke 21:24

and they will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles Until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

† Jerusalem would remain under Gentile domination Until God's covenant purpose for the Gentiles reached fulfillment.

† Paul identifies this same event as the fullness of the Gentiles coming in. (Romans 11:25)

† The destruction of Jerusalem marked the completion of that covenant transition.

Romans 11:25

For I do not want you, brothers and sisters, to be uninformed of this mystery-so that you will not be wise in your own estimation-that a partial hardening has happened to Israel Until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in;

† Israel's partial hardening was temporary.

† The mystery Paul revealed was reaching its completion during the first-century transition into the New Covenant.

† This "Until" belongs to the same covenant timeline as Luke 21:24.

Acts 3:21

whom heaven must receive Until the period of restoration of all things, about which God spoke by the mouths of His holy prophets from ancient times.

† Jesus remained in heaven Until the restoration spoken by the prophets reached its fulfillment.

† Peter preached that these events were unfolding in his own generation and called Israel to repent before judgment came. (Acts 3:22-26)

† This restoration was the completion of God's covenant promises through Christ, not the restoration of national Israel.

1 Corinthians 11:26

For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death Until He comes.

† The Lord's Supper proclaimed Christ's death Until His coming.

† Paul expected that coming during the lifetime of his readers. (1 Corinthians 7:29-31)

† The covenant coming of Christ brought the complete establishment of the New Covenant order.

1 Corinthians 15:25

For He must reign Until He has put all His enemies under His feet.

† Christ began reigning at His ascension.

† His reign continued Until every covenant enemy had been placed under His feet.

† The last covenant enemy, death under the Old Covenant order, was abolished with the completion of redemption. (Hebrews 2:14-15; Revelation 20:13-14)

Hebrews 10:12-13

but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time onward Until His enemies are made a footstool for His feet.

† Christ wasn't waiting to begin reigning, He was already seated on the throne.

† The expectation was the complete defeat of His covenant enemies.

† Hebrews repeatedly says these events were about to occur. (Hebrews 8:13; Hebrews 10:37)

Acts 2:34-35

For it was not David who ascended into heaven, but he himself says:

'The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”'

† Peter declared this Psalm was already being fulfilled through Christ's exaltation.

† Christ was already reigning from heaven while His covenant enemies were being brought to judgment.

† This agrees perfectly with Paul's teaching that Christ reigns Until every enemy has been subdued. (1 Corinthians 15:25)

Revelation 6:11

And a white robe was given to each of them; and they were told that they were to rest for a little while longer, Until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers and sisters who were to be killed even as they had been, was completed also.

† The martyrs were told to wait only a little time.

† Revelation begins and ends by declaring its events were about to happen. (Revelation 1:1-3; Revelation 22:6, 10)

† Their vindication came in the judgment upon Jerusalem, where the prophets and saints had been slain. (Revelation 18:20-24)

Revelation 22:10

And he said to me, Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near.

† The waiting period for the martyrs was short because Revelation repeatedly says its fulfillment was near.

† The command not to seal the prophecy stands in direct contrast with Daniel, whose fulfillment was still far away. (Daniel 12:4)

† The "Until" of Revelation 6 could not extend for thousands of years when Revelation itself says the time was at hand.

Historical References

† Josephus, Wars of the Jews, Book 6, Chapters 3-5 records the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple exactly as Jesus foretold.

† Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History, Book 3, Chapter 5 records the flight of the Christians from Jerusalem before its destruction.

† Tacitus, Histories, Book 5 records the Roman siege and destruction of Jerusalem.

How It Applies To Us Today

† We don't live waiting for prophecy to be fulfilled, we live because it has been fulfilled.

† Our confidence rests in a Savior who kept every time statement exactly as He promised.

† Every New Testament "Until" reminds us that God's promises are trustworthy and His covenant is complete.

Q & A Appendix

Q: Did any New Testament "Until" point thousands of years into our future?

A: No. Every "Until" is connected to first-century covenant events that Jesus and the apostles declared were near. (Matthew 24:34; Revelation 1:1-3)

Q: Why is the word "Until" so important?

A: Because it establishes a definite ending point. Once the condition was fulfilled, the temporary arrangement ended and the New Covenant stood complete. (Hebrews 8:13; Hebrews 10:37)

Q: Is Christ still waiting to reign?

A: No. Christ reigns now. The New Testament says He reigned Until His covenant enemies were placed under His feet. (1 Corinthians 15:25; Hebrews 10:12-13)

Q: Why are there so many "Until" statements in the New Testament?

A: Because God was marking the end of the Old Covenant age. Every "Until" pointed to a coming fulfillment, and once those events occurred, the temporary covenant gave way to the everlasting New Covenant. (Matthew 5:18; Hebrews 8:13; Hebrews 10:37)

† This is the fulfilled perspective we proclaim at Fulfilled Prophecies. †

© Fulfilled Prophecies - Dan Maines.

Source Index

† Matthew 5:18; Matthew 10:23; Matthew 23:39; Matthew 24:34; Luke 21:24; Luke 21:32; Acts 2:34-35; Acts 3:21; Romans 11:25; 1 Corinthians 11:26; 1 Corinthians 15:25; Hebrews 10:12-13; Revelation 6:11; Revelation 22:10

† Josephus, Wars of the Jews, Book 6, Chapters 3-5; Tacitus, Histories, Book 5; Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History, Book 3, Chapter 5