"The time is short" is one of the most important statements made by Paul regarding the nearness of Christ's second coming, and it is worthy of earnest study.
Paul, writing to the Romans, said; "Now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light" (Rom. 13:11, 12). We need to study carefully, because there is danger that owing to our zeal and desire to be impressive, we might attach a wrong interpretation and meaning, and thus give a wrong conclusion. Again, in his Epistle to the Corinthians, Paul said, "But this I say, brethren, the time is short" (1 Gor. 7:29).
From the Isle of Patmos, Christ, speaking to us through John the revelator, declared, "Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand" (Rev. 1:3).
What do these texts mean? Do they mean that after taking into consideration the fulfillment of the prophecies regarding the signs in these last days we can rightly use the experience of Noah before the Flood (Matt. 24:37-39; Luke 17:26, 27) as a basis for making a conclusion that, since Noah preached for 120 years and "as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man" (Luke 17: 26), we can conclude that by 1964-120 years since 1844 when we first began preaching the third angel's message—Jesus will come? We should remember that Jesus Himself said, "Of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only" (Matt. 24:36).
What then did Paul and John mean when they said that "the day is at hand," "the time is short," and "the time is at hand" The explanation to these statements is best found in The Great Controversy, where Ellen G. White gave us some clarifying statements. She wrote:
The great controversy between Christ and Satan, that has been carried forward for nearly six thousand years, is soon to close; and the wicked one redoubles his efforts to defeat the work of Christ in man's behalf, and to fasten souls in his snares—Page 518. (Italics supplied.)
The spirits deny the deity of Christ, and place even the Creator on a level with themselves. Thus under a new disguise the great rebel still carries on his warfare against God, begun in heaven, and for nearly six thousand years continued upon the earth.—Pages 552, 553. (Italics supplied.)
For six thousand years the great controversy has been in progress; the Son of God and His heavenly messengers have been in conflict with the power of the evil one, to warn, enlighten, and save the children of men. Now all have made their decision; the wicked have fully united with Satan in his warfare against God. The time has come for God to vindicate the authority of His downtrodden law.—Page 656. (Italics supplied.)
For six thousand years Satan's work of rebellion has "made the earth to tremble." He has "made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof." And he "opened not the house of his prisoners." For six thousand years his prison-house has received God's people, and he would have held them captive forever; but Christ has broken his bonds, and set the prisoners free.—Page 659. (Italics supplied.)
Satan's work of ruin is forever ended. For six thousand years he has wrought his will, filling the earth with woe, and causing grief throughout the universe. The whole creation has groaned and travailed together in pain. Now God's creatures are forever delivered from his presence and temptations. "The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet: they [the righteous] break forth into singing." And a shout of praise and triumph ascends from the whole loyal universe. "The voice of a great multitude," "as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings," is heard, saying: "Alleluia; for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth."
While the earth was wrapped in the fire of destruction, the righteous abode safely in the Holy City. Upon those that had part in the first resurrection, the second death had no power. While God is to the wicked a consuming fire, He is to His people both a sun and a shield.
"I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away." The fire that consumes the wicked purifies the earth. Every trace of the curse is swept away. No eternally burning hell will keep before the ransomed the fearful consequences of sin—Pages 673, 674. (Italics supplied.)
You will notice the statement "for six thousand years," which is a round figure within a period. Ellen G. White, in her visions, was made to understand that for six thousand years humanity will have to suffer under the hands of Satan, and then we, as Satan's captives, will be freed from his bondage by the fire of destruction. However, we do not know the exact date and day because that knowledge belongs to God alone.
As a chaplain I have seen patients suffering from the dreadful disease cancer. After an examination the doctor will sometimes say that the patient will live for only three to six months, or maybe a year or two. I always take notice of those remarks, and usually within that period the patient dies. But the fact is that the doctor could not tell definitely the exact month, day, hour, or minute when the patient would die. He simply says that the patient will live only for some time, and this statement is based on his examination and diagnosis of the disease. Likewise in the vision of Ellen G. White we are made to understand that our sufferings will be for six thousand years, this being based on the fulfillment of prophecy.
In the book The Desire of Ages we have these statements:
It would have been an almost infinite humiliation for the Son of God to take man's nature, even when Adam stood in his innocence in Eden. But Jesus accepted humanity when the race had been weakened by four thousand years of sin. Like every child of Adam He accepted the results of the working of the great law of heredity.—Page 49. (Italics supplied.)
For four thousand years the race had been decreasing in physical strength, in mental power, and in moral worth; and Christ took upon Him the infirmities of degenerate humanity. Only thus could He rescue man from the lowest depths of his degradation."—Page 117. (Italics supplied.)
From these statements Mrs. White wants us to understand that from Creation to the birth of Christ, when He took human form, was four thousand years. Because from Creation to the birth of Christ is 4,000 years, and the number of years from the birth of Christ to the present time is 1,963 years, including the present calendar year, we have a total of 5,963 years, which is only 27 years short of 6,000 years. However, I again repeat that we do not believe in time setting, because the Lord Himself made it plain that no man knoweth the exact time of His coming. But when we take into consideration the fast fulfilling of prophecy and the clearness of the vision given to Mrs. White that for six thousand years humanity would suffer, then the end come, we may safely say that truly "the day is at hand," "the time is short," and "the time is at hand." Considering also the statement of Paul, "For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth" (Rom. 9:28), we cannot help believing that His coming is indeed very near. He is even at the door. Yes, time is nearly finished.
