Rev 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 what they see, and make it known to the world. We need to see how God is working through the situations we find ourselves in every day. 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 the way 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 are not hearing the secular world describe our times like this, this passage describes the things which 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 a wicked and perverse generation. What the world is preaching as good, the Bible says is evil. Why do we not preach the truth anymore? 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 just 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. To those who have trusted Christ as their Savior, the message is wonderful. To those who know Jesus, the message is one of grace and mercy. Our message to those who know Jesus is filled with the presence and power of Christ. But the warning to those who reject cannot be covered up with eloquent words. It is a warning of torment, wrath, and eternal death. To tell the things that shall be hereafter is part of what God expects from us. May we be diligent to do the work that God has mandated for us all.
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