10 Eschatological “Untils” with Significance for the Future

Michael J. Vlach

The New Testament employs the term “until” in various contexts, some of which are eschatological, involving future events. Among these “eschatological untils,” some even signify a reversal of present circumstances.

In this document, we delve into ten examples where “until” in the New Testament reveals a transformative shift in the biblical narrative, offering a transition from one state of affairs to another. They also reveal that significant events and circumstances must occur beyond the time period of the New Testament writings.

Matthew 23:39  (Israel’s coming salvation)

For I say to you, from now on you will not see Me until [heos] you say, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”

Point: Messiah’s hidden presence from Israel will be replaced by His presence among them again when Israel embraces Jesus as Messiah. Since Jesus mentioned Israel’s house being left desolate in 23:38, this reversal of circumstances could have implications for the temple.

Context:  “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling. ³⁸ Behold, your house is being left to you desolate! ³⁹ For I say to you, from now on you will not see Me until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’”

Luke 13:35  (Israel’s coming salvation)

Behold, your house is left to you desolate; and I say to you, you will not see Me until [heos] the time comes when you say, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”

Point: Messiah’s hidden presence from Israel will be replaced by His presence among them again when Israel embraces Jesus as Messiah. Could also involve the reversal of Israel’s temple being desolate.  

Matthew 26:29  (Coming personal bodily fellowship with Disciples)

But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until [heos] that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.”

Point: In the coming Kingdom Jesus will once again drink the fruit of the vine in fellowship with His disciples. The Passover celebration will not be Jesus’ final meal with His disciples. 

Luke 22:16  (Coming personal bodily fellowship with Disciples)

for I say to you, I shall never again eat it until [heos] it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.

Point: In the coming Kingdom Jesus will once again fellowship and eat in celebration with His disciples.

Luke 22:18  (Coming personal bodily fellowship with Disciples)

for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until [heos] the kingdom of God comes.

Point: In the coming Kingdom Jesus will once again drink the fruit of the vine in fellowship and celebration with His disciples. 

Luke 21:24  (Restoration of Israel and Jerusalem)

and they will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled under foot by the Gentiles until [achri] the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. 

Point: Israel’s captivity to the nations and Jerusalem’s trampling by the Gentiles, i.e. “the times of the Gentiles,” will be reversed with the restoration of Israel and the capital city of Jerusalem. 

Acts 3:21  (Jesus’ personal presence in blessing for Israel)

whom heaven must receive until [achri] the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time.

Point: Israel’s Messiah, Jesus, is currently in Heaven, but when Israel believes in Jesus, God will send Jesus to Israel, and Jesus will restore everything as the OT prophets predicted. 

Context: [to men of Israel]: Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; ²⁰ and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, ²¹ whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time. 

Romans 11:25  (All Israel will be saved)

For I do not want you, brethren, 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 [achri] the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.

Point: The current partial hardening of Israel in which the majority of the nation is in unbelief will transition to a salvation of all Israel (Rom. 11:26). 

Context:

For I do not want you, brethren, 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; ²⁶ and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written,

“The Deliverer will come from Zion,
He will remove ungodliness from Jacob.”

2 Thessalonians 2:7 (The restraint of lawlessness will end so the man of lawlessness can do his works of lawlessness)

For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until [heos] he is taken out of the way. 

Point: Lawlessness is currently at work but a Restrainer has hindered the coming of a Man of Lawlessness. But the Man of Lawlessness will be revealed when the Restrainer removes His restraining ministry.

Context: “And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be revealed. ⁷ For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. ⁸ Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming;”

Revelation 20:3  (Satan allowed on the earth after the Millennium)

and he threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer, until [achri] the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time. 

Point: Satan, who has been incarcerated in prison, will be released for a short time to deceive people on the earth.

Implications of These Eschatological Untils

First, several of these eschatological “untils” concern the salvation and restoration of Israel and end of Gentile domination over Jerusalem.

Second, these cases point to significant future fulfillment of God’s purposes. These include the restoration of national Israel and Jerusalem. They also foretell a time after this present age when Jesus’ followers will enjoy celebrations including food and drink in the kingdom of God.

In sum, several eschatological “untils” in the New Testament unveil a profound progression in history when present predicaments are destined to be reversed upon the fulfillment of future eschatological events. These reversals usually involve the return of Jesus with subsequent blessings for Israel and Jesus’ followers. These examples not only offer insights into biblical prophecy but also inspire contemplation on the transformative power of God's ultimate plans for the restoration of all things.

NOTE 1: the two Greek terms for “until” below are achri and heos

NOTE 2: We have left the many quotations of Psalm 110 and its use of “until” for another day since that deserves its own extended treatment.

Ellicott’s Commentary: “Until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.—The thought expressed in this clause, that the punishment of Israel, and the desolation of Jerusalem were to have a limit, that there was one day to be a restoration of both, is noticeable as agreeing with the whole line of St. Paul’s thoughts in Romans 9-11, and being in all probability the germ of which those thoughts are the development. In Romans 11:25, “till the fulness of the Gentiles be come in,” we have a distinct echo of the words, “until the times (better, the seasons) of the Gentiles be fulfilled.”

Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible:  “until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled; that is, till the fulness of the Gentiles is brought in; until the Gospel is preached all over the world, and all God's elect are gathered in out of all nations; and then the Jews will be converted, and return to their own land, and rebuild and inhabit Jerusalem; but till that time, it will be as it has been, and still is possessed by Gentiles. The word "Gentiles", is left out in one of Beza's exemplars, and so it is likewise in the Persic version.”

(Scripture quotations taken from the NASB (New American Standard Bible) Copyright 1995)

For Michael's YouTube video on this topic see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7f5yBwZYhU