Write, therefore, what you have seen, namely, the things which are and the things which must happen after these things. Rev. 1:19
In verse 11 the angel told John to "write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches." The word for "see" in that verse is a present tense, indicating that John was already in vision and that the vision would continue for a time. Verse 19, on the other hand, has the instructed to "write what you have seen." The word for seeing is no longer in the present tense. This suggest that John received the whole vision between verse 10, when he went into the spirit, and verse 18, when he finished the narrative of his encounter with Jesus. By verse 19 the vision was over--it was time for the writing to begin.
According to verse 29, the content of Revelation fits into two categories: the things that are and the things that must happen after these things. Revelation 4:1 repeats the language of 1:19: "Come up here and I will show you what must take place after these things." Verse 29, then, seems to be a structuring device for the rest of the book. The first part of the vision involves the "things which are"--that is, the messages to the seven churches (Revelation 2 and 3). The rest of the vision focuses primarily on events that are future from John's perspective. But what good is it to the churches to learn about events beyond their day?
My wife and I recently flew from South Bend, Indiana, to New Zealand. It was an extremely complicated itinerary, involving three separate flights and a layover in Los Angeles. We left on Tuesday and arrived on Friday. Snowstorms in Chicago complicated matters greatly by causing the cancellation of a number of flights into and out of the city. As a result my wife and I ended up having to take different flights to Los Angeles. How did we manage to meet again there?
We were able to get together in Los Angeles because we knew something about the future. Because we were aware of our ultimate goal we were able to make the right decisions along the way. We knew that whatever our separate routes, United Airlines would hold our luggage at Los Angeles International Airport. As it turned out, I landed at a gate far from the terminal normally served by United Airlines. For a time I could find neither my wife nor my baggage. But she wisely waited at the United Baggage Office in Terminal 7. Eventually I found my way to her and our things. We might never have reunited if we had not both known where we were going.
Likewise, God tells us about the future so that we can get where we are going today. Each day is a piece of our itinerary toward God's purpose. With an eye on His Word we can find our way through the maze of life.
Thank you, Lord, for making Your ultimate purpose clear through Your Word. May my steps today keep me heading in the direction of Your ultimate purpose for me.
In verse 11 the angel told John to "write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches." The word for "see" in that verse is a present tense, indicating that John was already in vision and that the vision would continue for a time. Verse 19, on the other hand, has the instructed to "write what you have seen." The word for seeing is no longer in the present tense. This suggest that John received the whole vision between verse 10, when he went into the spirit, and verse 18, when he finished the narrative of his encounter with Jesus. By verse 19 the vision was over--it was time for the writing to begin.
According to verse 29, the content of Revelation fits into two categories: the things that are and the things that must happen after these things. Revelation 4:1 repeats the language of 1:19: "Come up here and I will show you what must take place after these things." Verse 29, then, seems to be a structuring device for the rest of the book. The first part of the vision involves the "things which are"--that is, the messages to the seven churches (Revelation 2 and 3). The rest of the vision focuses primarily on events that are future from John's perspective. But what good is it to the churches to learn about events beyond their day?
My wife and I recently flew from South Bend, Indiana, to New Zealand. It was an extremely complicated itinerary, involving three separate flights and a layover in Los Angeles. We left on Tuesday and arrived on Friday. Snowstorms in Chicago complicated matters greatly by causing the cancellation of a number of flights into and out of the city. As a result my wife and I ended up having to take different flights to Los Angeles. How did we manage to meet again there?
We were able to get together in Los Angeles because we knew something about the future. Because we were aware of our ultimate goal we were able to make the right decisions along the way. We knew that whatever our separate routes, United Airlines would hold our luggage at Los Angeles International Airport. As it turned out, I landed at a gate far from the terminal normally served by United Airlines. For a time I could find neither my wife nor my baggage. But she wisely waited at the United Baggage Office in Terminal 7. Eventually I found my way to her and our things. We might never have reunited if we had not both known where we were going.
Likewise, God tells us about the future so that we can get where we are going today. Each day is a piece of our itinerary toward God's purpose. With an eye on His Word we can find our way through the maze of life.
Thank you, Lord, for making Your ultimate purpose clear through Your Word. May my steps today keep me heading in the direction of Your ultimate purpose for me.
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