Following up on the Greek word "mello" ("being about to"), here are a number of verses where the word is used to mean imminence; something
about to happen:
- But Jesus answered, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?" They *said to Him, "We are able." Matthew 20:22 (NASB)
- And a centurion's slave, who was highly regarded by him, was sick and about to die. Luke 7:2 (NASB)
- And behold, two men were talking with Him; and they were Moses and Elijah, who, appearing in glory, were speaking of His departure which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Luke 9:30-31 (NASB)
- So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree in order to see Him, for He was about to pass through that way. Luke 19:4 (NASB)
- So Pilate said to them, "Take Him yourselves, and judge Him according to your law." The Jews said to him, "We are not permitted to put anyone to death," to fulfill the word of Jesus which He spoke, signifying by what kind of death He was about to die. John 18:31-32 (NASB)
- When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he began asking to receive alms. Acts 3:3 (NASB)
- On the very night when Herod was about to bring him forward, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and guards in front of the door were watching over the prison. Acts 12:6 (NASB)
- But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, "If it were a matter of wrong or of vicious crime, O Jews, it would be reasonable for me to put up with you; Acts 18:14 (NASB)
- And there he spent three months, and when a plot was formed against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia. Acts 20:3 (NASB)
There are many, many more examples of this word's usage, but here's the point I want to make about the false teaching of Futurism and why it's so difficult to overcome even with the truth. Look at the following two verses from the following translations, where this word "mello" is also used, and notice how the translators did not apply the interpretation of it consistently. Notice also how their inconsistent translation of this word changes the meaning of the verse significantly:
having a hope in God, which these men cherish themselves, that
there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.
Acts 24:15 (NASB)
And I have a hope in God, which these men themselves also accept, that there is
going to be a resurrection, both of the righteous and the unrighteous.
Acts 24:15 (HCSB)
And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there
shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.
Acts 24:15 (KJV)
I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there
will be a resurrection of
the dead, both of
the just and
the unjust.
Acts 24:15 (NKJV)
having hope toward God, which these also themselves look for, that there
shall be a resurrection both of the just and unjust.
Acts 24:15 (ASV)
Now, look at the same verse again from Young's Literal Translation:
having hope toward God, which they themselves also wait for,
that there is
about to be a rising again of the dead, both of righteous and unrighteous;
Acts 24:15 (YLT)
Translators from King James to the present have purposely mistranslated this word "mello" to mean something other than what it means in every other use of the word in the New Testament!
These translators have also mistranslated "mello" here!
I charge
thee in the sight of God, and of Christ Jesus, who
shall judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom:
2 Timothy 4:1 (ASV)
I solemnly charge
you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who
is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom:
2 Timothy 4:1 (NASB)
I charge
thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who
shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
2 Timothy 4:1 (KJV)
I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who
is going to judge the living and the dead, and because of His appearing and His kingdom:
2 Timothy 4:1 (HCSB)
Now, look at this verse from Young's Literal!
I do fully testify, then, before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ,
who is about to judge living and dead at his manifestation and his reign--
2 Timothy 4:1 (YLT)
Again, look at the way translators translated the word "mello" in the first series of verses I provided (from the gospels and Acts), then look at the way they translated this word in Acts 24:15 and 2Timothy 4:1!!! THEIR MISTRANSLATION CHANGES THE WHOLE MEANING OF THESE VERSES!!!
Only Young's Literal is consistent with his translation of the word "mello" in every case where it is used!
This is clearly a case where a mistranslation of a single word changes the entire meaning of a verse and, for that reason, allows error to persist in the understanding of what the apostles were trying to convey!
I wonder how many other verses have been so mishandled by translators? This really does make me quite angry, because it explains why it feels like I had been lied to in church all these years about Christ's second coming! This is the kind of thing that gives the Bible a bad name and - quite frankly - I can't blame non-Christians for believing it's full of lies, myths and fairy tales: I just exposed one!
Shame on those who are not intellectually honest enough to allow the Bible to speak for itself and let the chips fall where they may!
