“Then”, among the most interesting of words, transcends time. We can say “Then, it happened.” It can also be said, “Then, it will happen.”
“Now”, on the other hand, is concerned with the present. “Nows” are the result of prior “thens” and determine future “thens”.
The Bible, Programming Logs to Catholic Fundamentalists, is very concerned with “then”.
It begins with the first “thens”, in Genesis, the beginning of the Old Programming Log. It tells us what was programmed, “then”. “(Then, it rained for forty days and nights.” Or, “(Then) the sea parted before the Israelites.”
Interspersed with the past “thens” are glimpses of future downloads in The Program. Those able to get those glimpses are called “prophets”. “(Then), a virgin will give birth”, “(Then) they shall look upon Him Whom they pierced.”
Just as Genesis is concerned with recording past downloads, Revelations is concerned with future downloads. “(Then) the beast will emerge.” “(Then) the seven trumpets will blow.)
Obviously, when John saw and heard these things, he was at a place where the future was as visible as the present.
We can only pray for a tiny bit of that enlightenment. “(Then) where will my soul go? Will my name (then) be found to have been written in the book of life?”
“Now” is disappearing with blinding speed. “Thens” are eternal.
“Then” is only an “e” and a “d” away from being “The end”.
