A Little While

Copyright © 2007 by William H. Bell, Jr., All Rights Reserved

In John chapters 14 through 17, we have the message Jesus imparted to his disciples during the evening of the Passover just before his betrayal and crucifixion. Chapter 13 records that Judas had left the meeting to betray Jesus (v. 30).

The burden of the message Jesus had for his disciples was his departure from the world and his subsequent return. He begins this message in chapter 14, continuing through chapter 16.

Jesus informs the disciples that he would go away, prepare a place, return and then receive the disciples into the prepared place.

Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. (John 14:3)

It is the opinion of some that Jesus' promise to go away and return involved an interval that has lasted for centuries and still counting. However, Jesus was very careful in his message, if we read far enough, to express the imminence of his return. He is careful - the message of his return is one of comfort and not of despair and hopelessness.

The Little While

A little while longer and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you will live also. (John 16:19).

Here we have Jesus' indication of the time between his going away and return. It would be a little while, after which brief time, these same disciples would live to see him.

Interestingly, Jesus says that the world will see him no more. We discuss the meaning of this concept a little later. That Jesus is focused on the time of his return is evident in the following verse.

At that day you will know that I am in My Father and you in Me, and I in you (v. 20).

In other words, Jesus says that “in that day” the disciples would know that Jesus was in them, meaning that they were in fellowship with him and approved by him and thus in the mansions that he prepared.

This was the hope Jesus gave the disciples in his going away. Paul speaks of it as the “hope of glory”, i.e. to have Christ dwelling within man.

To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. (Col. 1:27)

Next, Jesus identifies those to whom he would make his presence known and therefore receive into the Father's house.

He who has my commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him. (John 14:21)

The disciples listened to this message. Thus far they'd heard three important facts. (1) That Jesus would return to the Father for “a little while” (2) That during this little while the world would see him no more (3) That after this little while, in the day of his return, he would manifest himself to his disciples.

Having heard this message, the curiosity of the disciples becomes unbearable. They wanted more details, more specifics on the subject. So, Judas, the Lord's half brother, speaks up and inquires for a more detailed explanation.

Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world? (v. 22)

What an excellent question? What an acknowledgement of attentiveness to the Lord's message? Judas shows that he captured the essence of Jesus' message and went straight to the heart of what Jesus was telling them.

He wanted to know, how could the Lord manifest himself to us [disciples or believers] and not to the world [unbelievers]? Keep in mind, the subject here is not that of judgment or punishment, but of reward and blessing in the presence of the Father, -- in the mansions prepared by Christ.

How is it possible for Jesus to appear or be manifested (revealed) only to his disciples at his coming? One thing is for certain. Physically speaking, this is not possible. One cannot be physical and appear to some but not others. If unbelievers had walked in the room with Jesus and his disciples they would have seen him just as Judas and the others were seeing him.

However, in the spiritual realm, only those who believe can truly see the things of God. Thus we get a glimpse of the nature of Jesus' return. Note the following examples.

God is Spirit. No one has seen God at anytime. To see God, he must be revealed by some other means. Thus, Jesus Christ, revealed the Father.

The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him. (John 1:18).

Jesus' intimate relationship with the Father allowed him to reveal him so that we (believers) could “see” God.

Hence, Jesus told Phillip when he asked, “show us the Father”. Jesus said if you have seen me, you have seen the Father (John 14:8, 9). In other words, that's how the Divine Spirit of the Father was revealed, not by looking with one's eyeballs into his face, but by seeing that which manifested him.

Moreover, Jesus' declaration that he would return to the Father and be manifested in the Spirit as the Father, further testified to his divinity as the Son of God. In other words, as God, and in the form of God, he had to be revealed the same as God. That is, not by seeing him physically, but by seeing that which manifested him.

Jesus' promise was that he would only manifest or revealed his true identity as God's Son to the disciples. The unbelieving world would not grasp the message, thus would not see him at his return.

In like manner, Jesus explained this same concept in discussing the kingdom of God.

Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (John 3:3)

The kingdom cannot be seen by those who are not born again. Why? It is spiritual, not physical.

Thus, only believers can truly see it. The kingdom is manifested not to those in the world, but to those who believe in God.

How Jesus Receives Them Into The Mansions of God

At his return, Jesus promised that he and the Father would come and make “our home” with him. Jesus and the Father would extend the prepared mansions to the believer. For those who would not obey, this promise is made void.

Understandng the Little While

A little while, and you will not see me; and again a little while, and you will see me, because I go to my Father. Then some of His disciples said among themselves, “What is this that he says to us, A little while, and you will not see me; and again a little while, and you will see me; and, because I go to the Father. (John 16:16-18)

First, Jesus explains something very important. He gives the same reason for how the disciples would not see him as that for how they would see him. What is this? He said it is because he goes to his Father.

We explained earlier that going to the Father meant that Jesus was returning to the glory he had with the Father before the world was, (John 17:5), before he became flesh and blood as man. (See John 1:1, 2, 14; Phil. 2:6).

Therefore, if Jesus returned to the glory of his Father he would not any longer be in the form of man, but in the form of God. Secondly, if he goes to be with his Father, he demonstrates that he is God's son, and thus his coming or return in a little while, would reveal that he was with the Father, in the glory of the Father, and in so doing, confirm that he was in the disciples who believed on him. See also 1 Thess. 1:10 (This paragraph is important and should be reread until understood).

The Little While and the Time of Suffering and Persecution

They said therefore, what is this that He says, A little while we do not know [margin, understand] what he is saying? Now Jesus knew that they desired to ask Him, and He said to them, are you inquiring among yourselves about what I said, A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while and you will see Me? (John 16:19)

Jesus now fills in the gap for the little while time frame that he has mentioned. He foretold that the disciples who were then present, would experience weeping, lamenting or sorrow during this “little while” time frame. He says that the world would rejoice while the disciples were being persecuted. However, he does not leave them without hope. He tells the disciples that their sorrow would be turned into joy after in a little while, that is, at the end of this time called “a little while”.

Jesus' coming would put an end to their sorrow, trials and persecution.

Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you. (16:22) Note again the next verse which alludes to the little while of “that day”.

Peter's Little While Confirms the Words of Christ

Next he says they were kept through faith for the salvation ready (prepared) to be revealed in the last time. The word prepared from the same Greek word as that used by Jesus in John 14:2 when he spoke of going to “prepare” a place.

Notice that Peter says this salvation was prepared to be revealed in the last time, i.e. the last days. He identifies the last days as the time in which Jesus was put to death, meaning the closing days of the Jewish age in the first century. (See 1 Peter 1:20, Heb. 1:2; 9:26).

In the verse which follows, verse 6, Peter records that the disciples were experiencing the very persecution, trials and sufferings that Jesus had foretold would characterize the little while time between his absence and return.

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials. (1Pet 1:6)

Peter says that believers in his day were rejoicing in the hope of the prepared inheritance they would receive at Jesus' return. However, at that present time, they were “suffering”. Note again, though now for a little while you have been grieved by various trials. Here are the identical words Christ spoke to them. They are suffering, but it would only last for a little while.

The suffering would end at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

That the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (1Pet 1:7)

Compare Romans 8:17, 18. Here Peter speaks of Jesus making himself known to the disciples. See above on the comments for John 14:19; 16:17.

Note also, that Peter says that during this time of suffering, they did not see him.

Whom having not seen you love, though now you do not see him, yet believing. (1Pet 1:8)

Remember, during the little while time frame, Jesus said, they would not see him because he went to his Father?

However what would they receive? They would receive the “prepared salvation”, the saving of their souls at the revelation of Christ, (1 Peter 1:9-13).

How Much Time Remained Before Entering The Father's House

For yet a little while, and he who is coming will come and will not tarry. (Heb. 10:37)

These words were spoken about 6 or 7 years before the fall of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. The Greek is a very strong rendering. It is hosan, hosan, micron, meaning, in a very, very, little while, Jesus would return.

Observe that these words of Jesus' imminent return are spoken after mention is made of his work as High Priest in preparing the tabernacle or dwelling place of God. It was the work of the high priest to prepare the place or the tabernacle beforehand.

This preparatory work was necessary before sins could be forgiven, and typified or foreshadowed the work of Christ as our High Priest who entered heaven to prepare the heavenly tabernacle so that we could be received into it with the Father (Heb. 9:6-24). The end result of this preparation would be salvation at the second coming of Christ (Heb. 9:28).

The heavenly tabernacle is called the Holiest, meaning the Most Holy Place, or the house of God (Heb. 10:19, 21), over which he as our High Priest presides. This is the place where only the Father dwelt within the veil, (Heb. 6:19, 20) until Jesus prepared a place for believers.

Thus he calls upon believers to draw near with full assurance to enter the Most Holy place, in a little while for they could see the day approaching (Heb. 10:25) for Jesus' return.

The disciples had come to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, which is called the church of the firstborn ones, (Heb. 2:22, 23). The church is called the house of God, 1 Tim. 3:15. In fact, they were already in process of receiving the kingdom, (Heb. 12:28).

In the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ the message is said to be at hand and shortly to come to pass. This means that the time for the revealing of Jesus had come. Some of the disciples were asking, Lord, how much longer, before you avenge our blood for the persecutions and suffering?

They were told to rest for just a little while longer.

And they cried with a loud voice, saying, how long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth? Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed. (Rev. 6:10, 11)

The enemies of God were filling up their cup of iniquity. When it was complete, Christ would come and take vengeance. It all would happen in a little while. After God has avenged his apostles and prophets, (Rev. 18:20) and Babylon the harlot (earthly Jerusalem) is judged (Rev. 19:2) God announces that the time for the marriage has come and the bride is ready or prepared, (Rev. 19:7, 8).

Finally, John writes, then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, behold the tabernacle is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. (Rev. 22:2, 3)

The Father's house, New Jerusalem, is no longer reserved in heaven, but has come down out of heaven. It is the prepared place, the city of the living God. It was then called the bride, but is now the wife of the Lord. It is the church of Christ. It is the place God prepared for his people to dwell with him forevermore.

And the Spirit and the bride say, Come! And let him who hears say, Come! And Let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires let him take the water of life freely. (Rev. 22:17)

If you are a believer, you should be able to see Jesus in all his glory. If not, reread and restudy this lesson along with the Scriptures and perhaps His return will be more fully revealed to you. Adsense Code for Lastdays Eschatology