Revelation 1:19: “Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this.”

August 25th, 2022 by Pastor Ed in devotional

If the reader will accept the simple idea that the majority of the Book of Revelation is still yet in the future, then Jesus’ opening statement to John becomes the key, the road map or outline, to the entire book. Jesus says there are 3 sets of things John is to write about:

1) “things which you have seen,” the description of what John had just observed in the vision Jesus gave him in chapter 1;

2) “things which are,” the things in the present age that John was then living, concerning the seven churches located in Asia Minor;

3) “things which will take place after this,” future things that had not yet taken place.

John, who had walked with Jesus on earth for more than 3 years, was startled by the vision of Jesus in His majesty and power. When John heard Jesus’ voice and turned to Him, he said, “His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters;” (Rev. 1:14–15). On earth, as the God-man, Jesus, He had no external physical attributes that suggested His eternal royalty. That is because He set aside His crown for a short time to become human in order to die for our sins.

There is a humorous and helpful illustration from British history about not being able to recognize someone without their royal crown. Lady Diana Cooper was a prominent member of the British noble society, and in later life she had poor eyesight. It is said she was at a party and fell into easy conversation with another woman. She didn’t recognize the woman she was talking with, but the woman seemed to know her. After looking closer, she saw that it was Queen Elizabeth. Cooper immediately curtsied and said, “Ma’am, Oh, Ma’am, I’m sorry, ma’am. I didn’t recognize you without your crown!”¹ Exactly! Jesus walked the earth without His crown and was almost completely unrecognized. However, He is coming soon in all His Glory and will rule and reign on planet earth.

“LORD, because we are weak and You are strong, we ask for You to help us walk Your path this day, in Jesus’ name.”

¹Today in the Word (April 3, 1992).