Revelation 1:19

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

This is John's commission to write the vision for the benefit of the seven churches, and for all generations. Of course, the three things mentioned which John was to write have often been understood as an outline of the book, the things which he saw referring to Revelation 1, the things which are pertaining to Revelation 2 and Revelation 3, and the things that shall be "hereafter" referring to the balance of the prophecy. However, we agree with Smith who said, "This classification does not help much in interpretation."[52] Furthermore, he pointed out that the word "hereafter" is used eight other times in Revelation 4:1; 7:1; 7:9; 9:12; 15:5; 18:1; 19:1; 20:3! It is very difficult to reconcile this repeated use of "hereafter" with the theory that everything in the book was fulfilled "shortly" after it was written. Erdman also objected strongly to the "popular view" that this verse gives us a three-fold outline of Revelation.[53] Caird also thought that, "It is better to take the words "things which thou sawest" to mean the whole of John's vision."[54] It is the view of this interpreter that in each of the cycles covered by the prophecy there are things past, present, and future in all of them. For example, the judgment, mentioned over and over again, is a future event; and it is mentioned no less than seven times, each mention of it coming in a different section of the book.

[52] Wilbur M. Smith, Wycliffe Bible Commentary, New Testament (Chicago: Moody Press, 1971), p. 1059.

[53] Charles R. Erdman, The Revelation of John (Philadelphia: The Westminster Press, 1936), p. 42.

[54] G. R. Caird, op. cit., p. 26.