Revelation 1:19

Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;

Write {G1125} the things which {G3739} thou hast seen {G1492}, and {G2532} the things which {G3739} are {G1526}, and {G2532} the things which {G3739} shall {G3195} be {G1096} hereafter {G3326}{G5023};

So write down what you see, both what is now, and what will happen afterwards.

Therefore write down the things you have seen, and the things that are, and the things that will happen after this.

Write therefore the things which thou sawest, and the things which are, and the things which shall come to pass hereafter;

Commentary

Context of Revelation 1:19

Revelation 1:19 serves as a pivotal verse, providing the divine outline for the entire Book of Revelation. It immediately follows John's profound vision of the glorified Jesus Christ on the island of Patmos. This verse records a direct command from Christ Himself, instructing John, the human author, on how to structure the apocalyptic prophecy he is about to record. It acts as a divine table of contents, guiding both John's writing and the reader's understanding of the book's progression.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Mandate: The verse emphasizes that the content of Revelation is not John's own thoughts or interpretations but a direct, authoritative revelation from God, delivered by Jesus Christ. John is merely the faithful scribe recording what he is shown and told.
  • Structural Outline of Revelation: This verse provides the clearest interpretive key to the book's organization, dividing its vast content into three distinct chronological and thematic sections:
    • "the things which thou hast seen" (Revelation 1:12-18): This refers to the magnificent, awe-inspiring vision of the exalted Christ that John has just witnessed and described in the preceding verses.
    • "and the things which are" (Revelation Chapters 2-3): This section pertains to the present conditions and specific messages delivered to the seven literal churches in Asia Minor, which also serve as symbolic representations of the church throughout different ages.
    • "and the things which shall be hereafter" (Revelation Chapters 4-22): This vast portion of the book details future prophetic events, including the tribulation, various divine judgments, the second coming of Christ, the millennium, and the eternal state of the new heaven and new earth.
  • Prophetic Scope: The verse highlights the comprehensive nature of biblical prophecy, encompassing past visions, present realities, and future unfolding events, all revealed by God's sovereign plan.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "things which shall be hereafter" translates from the Greek phrase ha mellei genesthai meta tauta (ἃ μέλλει γενέσθαι μετὰ ταῦτα), which literally means "what is about to happen after these things." This emphasizes a clear sequence and a strong future orientation to the bulk of Revelation's prophecies, indicating events that will unfold subsequent to the time of John's vision and the contemporary church age. The Greek word for "write" (grapsai) is an imperative, underscoring the direct and authoritative command given to John by Christ.

Practical Application

For the modern reader, Revelation 1:19 offers immense clarity and reassurance. It confirms that the Book of Revelation is not a chaotic or random collection of visions, but a divinely organized message with a logical and intentional progression. Understanding this three-part structure helps believers to properly interpret the book, distinguishing between the initial vision, the historical and symbolic messages to the churches, and the future prophetic events. It encourages us to pay attention to God's warnings and promises for the present and to anticipate His sovereign plan for the future, which culminates in the promise of a new heaven and a new earth and Christ's ultimate victory.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Revelation 4:1

    ¶ After this I looked, and, behold, a door [was] opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard [was] as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.

  • Revelation 4:11

    Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

  • Revelation 1:11

    Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send [it] unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.

  • Revelation 2:3

    And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
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