INSTRUCTION GIVEN TO THE SEER JOHN

The Instruction is Then Given to the Seer John

Vs. 19 "Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;"

 

He is Instructed to Write the Vision of Christ

"Write the things which thou hast seen."

This is the opening vision of Christ and the way He will appear throughout the remainder of the book. He is in the midst of His seven churches as the Godman, holding in His right hand the seven stars of these seven churches, both controlling and protecting them. He is in the midst of His churches, the object of their adoring gaze and the illumination for their walk through the world.

"Write therefore." This word is omitted in the A.V. although included in the R.V. and Greek text. It carries one back to verse 11 where John is commanded to write what he sees, and now therefore commanded to write what he has seen as recorded in verses 12-16.

Bullinger, Alford, and Moses Stuart translate 19:

"Write therefore what things thou sawest and what they are (mean), even what things are about to happen hereafter." Alford and Stuart make chapters 2-19 to refer to the Church. Bullinger makes these chapters refer to Israel. This explains why they translate as they do.

He is Instructed to Write the Things Which Are
"And the things which are." These things are embodied in the letters to the seven churches comprising chapters 2 and 3.

Whereas the vision of Christ is that which belongs to the past, the things which are has to do with the present. These are not seen but are described in the letters. These seven churches were in existence when John was writing. They were historical churches in the province of Asia in Western Asia Minor. They were not all the churches even of that vicinity. So it is evident that they were selected for some special reason, doubtless, because they were typical of all others. There is reason to believe that they become typical of churches through­out the entire Church age. This is especially evident because the next division points to the future which comes after these things.

He is Instructed to Write the Vision of Things Which Shall be After These Things

"And the things which shall be hereafter."

Literally this reads, "And the things which shall be after these things." This must of necessity refer to the future after the churches have run their course. This begins with chapter 4:1 and runs through 22:5. There is a definite verbal connection between 1:19 and 4:1. The first phrase of 4:1 and the last is the phrase of verse 19.

"after these things" (meta tauta). This surely is not accidental. Hence we may conclude:

This period begins with the rapture into the heavens (4:10). Then follows:
The introductory vision in heaven (4:3-5:14).
The tribulation period (6:1-19:21).
The millennium (20).
The eternal state (21:1-22:5).