Revelation 1:19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;
To consider this verse from a practical standpoint, we have the guidance of what Christ expects from us to be a representative of Him. We are to make known what we see. Our vision is the pivotal element of our work. What are we seeing? Both from reality and prophetically.
What is God showing us by His Spirit? John was told to write the things He saw. He could have written about the Island he was on. He could have written about how he was wrongly sent to that Island. But He wrote about seeing Jesus on that Island. Regardless of where you are or what circumstance you find yourself in, you can see Jesus if you’re looking for Him. We need people who see Jesus to declare it and make it known to the world. We need to see how God works through the situations we encounter daily. We need to see Jesus.
Next, John was told to write the things which are. This is what the world debates now. This is what no one can agree on today. The simple truth. What is reality? What condition are things in now? Unfortunately, the view of the secular world characterizes our time differently than how things are. There are no political perspectives that line up with scripture. I have yet to hear a politician running for office describing our times as Paul did in 2Timothy 3:1-5 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. Although we do not hear the secular world describe our times like this, this passage describes the things that are. Why are we afraid to tell the truth about the things which are? Satan has targeted this message in such a way as to make it culturally unacceptable. What the world is preaching as utopia is described in the Bible as wicked. For such a time as this may God send us preachers that are not afraid to preach the truth. At the same time, we pray that preachers don’t preach about hell like they want everybody to go there. We need the truth as it is given to people as they are.
Then John was told to write the things that shall be hereafter. We have a mandate from God to tell people what is ahead. We are instructed to tell people of the coming of our Lord. We also have an obligation to warn people to flee from the wrath that is to come. The message is wonderful to those who have trusted Christ as their Savior. The message to those who know Jesus is one of grace and mercy. Our message to those who know Jesus is filled with the presence and power of Christ. But the message to those who reject cannot be covered up with eloquent words. It is a message of torment, wrath, and eternal death. There are many more practicalities in this passage, but we cannot forsake the literal meaning of this verse.
There is breath and life in every verse in the bible. You can never exhaust everything the Holy Spirit can give you in any verse. The literal application, as well as the practical application of this verse, can lead us to a greater understanding of many things. First, we can see all three tenses of time involved in this verse. Write the things which thou hast seen in the past tense. Write the things which are in the present tense and the things which shall be hereafter in the future tense. This does more than give us a natural outline of the book; it also shows that our Lord is also God over time, as has already been talked about in statements such as “which was and is and is to come.” If you and I could ever step out of time into eternity with our vision, we could see our circumstances and victories in God’s perspective as they are. Because He is Lord over time, we can understand why God told Moses to tell them “I am” sent you in His conversation with Moses in the Old Testament. For indeed, the Father is a present-tense God. He is always there. Jesus, in His earthly ministry, many times presented Himself as the present tense Lord. For example, He said, I AM the door. I AM the way. Repeatedly, Jesus uses the phrase I AM.
From a literal standpoint and a doctrinal standpoint, this verse is important. Many who hold to a pre-tribulation rapture of the Church's view of end times point to this verse for support. John was told to write the things he saw. Chapter 1 of Revelation records John's glorious vision when he saw Christ. Next, John was told to write the things which are. The things that contain the age of the Church. Chapters 2 and 3 give us information on the age of the Church. 7 Churches are talked about that were literal churches in Asia during that time. They also represent what I believe is the history of the Church from its conception until its catching away. Next, John was told to write the things which shall be hereafter. The question should be asked, after what? The natural answer is after the age of the Church. From a pre-tribulation rapture standpoint, this verse fits that narrative. Whether your view is the pre-tribulation rapture, mid-tribulation rapture, or even post-tribulation rapture, these events recorded concerning the history of the Church and the events after the Church are of great practical concern to us in the present tense. These events, even in our future, have a great effect on us today. However, for the sake of understanding, this verse gives us a natural outline of how to follow this great book of Revelation.
As we continue in our study of the book of Revelation, we will understand that the real question is not when the rapture occurs but rather when the tribulation begins. I do believe personally in a pre-tribulation rapture. I believe the tribulation is a full 7-year period time. However, I also believe that we may need to evaluate by comparing scripture to scripture when this 7-year period begins. What we will embark on in our study of chapters 2 and 3 are the many elements that the Church in its entirety faces concerning the battles of warfare that come against us. Also, our victories and promises are given by the Lord Jesus to those who faithfully serve Him. We need to know what is coming against the Church in these days and how to prepare for it. That is what follows in the next two chapters of this book.
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