Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later. Revelation 1:19 NIV
To understand the book of Revelation requires that one understands the scope that is covered by the revelation given John the apostle; and to do so requires that the verse under study be studied closely. In this verse lies what I call the key to unlocking the entire book. So what is the scope that is covered by the book? The apostle was instructed to write what he had seen; what is now; and what will take place later.
What you have seen: At the time when John was given the command to write what he had seen, the only thing he had seen was the vision of the glorified Christ in His divine majesty. Of this, he was commanded to write.
What is now: Next, he was to write "what was now." In the days when he wrote, "What is now " was the church as it existed. These were represented by the seven churches in Asia; these were the subjects he wrote about in chapters two and three. The seven churches constituted what is addressed as "What is now."
But "What is now" is not limited to those seven churches in Asia that existed in the days of John, they include all the churches through out the church age. This is the church age period of the book of Revelation. It is interesting to note that nothing is said of the church after the third chapter of the book. Another thing of note is how each of the letters to the seven churches ends: "He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." If the letters were meant to serve only the respective seven churches directly being addressed, it would have been most appropriate to say 'what the Spirit says to the church'.
What will take place later: The third thing that John was to write is "What will take place later." These is the subject of the rest of the book. One interesting thing to note in the rest of the chapters covered in this scope of the book is that there is no mention of the church anymore. This is because the things that pertained to the church age were dealt with in chapters two and three. The rest of the book deals with events in heaven as they affected the earth. This is the time of the revelation of God’s wrath upon the earth.
The import of this period is to warn the inhabitants of the earth that a time is approaching when God will visit the earth to judge all who rejected His offer of salvation in Christ Jesus. The only safety for man is to be found in Christ before these series of terrible events begin. Just before these events begin to unfold, what is called the rapture of the church will take place. This is the blessed hope of those who believe.
Revelation 1:19 can be described as the summary of the entire book of Revelation, and knowing this helps to make the book easier to understand. Unlike what many people think, the book of Revelation is an open book that can be understood.
Toni
To understand the book of Revelation requires that one understands the scope that is covered by the revelation given John the apostle; and to do so requires that the verse under study be studied closely. In this verse lies what I call the key to unlocking the entire book. So what is the scope that is covered by the book? The apostle was instructed to write what he had seen; what is now; and what will take place later.
What you have seen: At the time when John was given the command to write what he had seen, the only thing he had seen was the vision of the glorified Christ in His divine majesty. Of this, he was commanded to write.
What is now: Next, he was to write "what was now." In the days when he wrote, "What is now " was the church as it existed. These were represented by the seven churches in Asia; these were the subjects he wrote about in chapters two and three. The seven churches constituted what is addressed as "What is now."
But "What is now" is not limited to those seven churches in Asia that existed in the days of John, they include all the churches through out the church age. This is the church age period of the book of Revelation. It is interesting to note that nothing is said of the church after the third chapter of the book. Another thing of note is how each of the letters to the seven churches ends: "He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." If the letters were meant to serve only the respective seven churches directly being addressed, it would have been most appropriate to say 'what the Spirit says to the church'.
What will take place later: The third thing that John was to write is "What will take place later." These is the subject of the rest of the book. One interesting thing to note in the rest of the chapters covered in this scope of the book is that there is no mention of the church anymore. This is because the things that pertained to the church age were dealt with in chapters two and three. The rest of the book deals with events in heaven as they affected the earth. This is the time of the revelation of God’s wrath upon the earth.
The import of this period is to warn the inhabitants of the earth that a time is approaching when God will visit the earth to judge all who rejected His offer of salvation in Christ Jesus. The only safety for man is to be found in Christ before these series of terrible events begin. Just before these events begin to unfold, what is called the rapture of the church will take place. This is the blessed hope of those who believe.
Revelation 1:19 can be described as the summary of the entire book of Revelation, and knowing this helps to make the book easier to understand. Unlike what many people think, the book of Revelation is an open book that can be understood.
Toni
