01.3. Part 1.—The Things Which John Saw (Chapter 1:9-20.)

Part 1.—The Things Which John Saw (Rev 1:9-20)

“Write therefore the things which thou sawest, and the things which are, and the things which shall come to pass after these things.” (Rev 1:19.) The Revelation is divided by our Lord Himself into three parts. The first division proper begins at Rev 1:9 of the first chapter. John, who was a prisoner on the island of Patmos for the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ, was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day. This is the only time the expression, “the Lord’s Day” is found in the Bible. There should be no doubt, however, as to its meaning, for from the earliest times of the Church this term was applied to the first day of the week, on account of the resurrection of our Lord on that day. The testimony of those living in John’s time and thereafter in unbroken line is unanimous on this subject. What John means by being “in the Spirit" is probably similar to Paul’s meaning in 2Co 12:2-4, where he speaks of one—“a man in Christ,” meaning himself (Rev 1:7) — being caught up into Paradise, whether in the body or out of the body he could not tell. While in this state John heard a voice like a trumpet saying: “What thou seest, write in a book and send it to the seven churches.” The apostle turned toward the voice and there burst upon his vision such a sight that he was immediately stricken to the earth. It was Jesus, his beloved Lord, but O, what a change! Once before John had seen Him in a transfigured state, but that was not like this. This was Jesus in all His glory, even the glory which He had with the Father before the world was. He appeared in the glorious apparel of the Great High Priest and around and about Him were seven golden lampstands representing the churches. It is an apt symbol, for the churches are in the world to shine as lights, holding forth the word of life. There is undoubted reference here to the golden lampstand in the Tabernacle, which was a figure of Christ and the Church which is His body. The difference is that here the type is of the separate outward visible churches, as they appear in the world in the sphere of testimony.

There is an immense difference between the Church and the churches. The Church consists of all believers from Pentecost (Acts 2:1-47) to the Rapture (1Th 4:1-18) They are members of His body, all baptized by the one Spirit into the one body. The churches include all who profess His name. The Church is always indivisible and ever energized by the life of Him Who is its Head. The churches are split into a thousand fragments and are often energized by the activities of the flesh. The Church is the habitation of God by the Spirit. The churches are in many instances apostate from Christ and separate from God. The glorified Lord had in His right hand seven stars, which, He explained, typified the angels (i. e., messengers) of the churches; and as judgment must begin at the House of God, out of His mouth proceeded a sharp two-edged sword (See 1Pe 4:17, Heb 4:12; John 12:48), and His countenance was as the sun shineth in His strength. John was prostrated by the vision, until the Lord Jesus laid His right hand upon him, renewing his strength. “Fear not,” He said, and these words must have had a familiar sound in John’s ears. “Fear not; I am the First and the Last and the Living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive for evermore, and I have the keys of Death and of Hades. Write therefore the things which thou sawest, and the things which are, and the things which shall come to pass after these things.” This verse (Rev. 1:19) is the key to The Revelation. In this threefold analysis we shall find the clearest possible outline of the structural plan of the book, as follows:

First—“The things which thou sawest.” This refers to John’s vision of the Son of Man walking among the golden lampstands, given in Rev 1:1-20.

Second—“The things which are,” This section includes the second and third chapters, as indicated by Rev 1:20 : “The things which are”—that is, the present things, the things of the present dispensation—“are seven churches.” In the seven letters to the Asiatic churches our Lord seems to have given in advance a historic preview—a prophetic fore view—of the earthly career of the churches, from John’s time to the end of the age.

Third—“The things which shall come to pass after these things.” This is the final section, taking in the remainder of the book, chapters 4 to 22. In this last main division we have the story of what shall transpire at the end of the present course of things—that is, after the wind-up of “the things which are,”