The Basics of Bible - Herald of Hope

The Basics of Bible Prophecy
Introduction to the Book of the Revelation
The Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ is not difficult to
understand once we are aware of the God-given key to its
interpretation. That key is found in Rev 1:19, and it divides the
book into three parts. These parts identify past, present, and
future events, spanning the period from the early Church to
the new heaven and new earth.
The KEY verse reads as follows:
"Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things
which are, and the things which shall be hereafter"
(Rev.1:19).
The book is a revelation of "things (events) which must
shortly come to pass". In chapter one John sees a vision of the risen
Lord. In chapters 2 and 3 he writes seven letters to "the seven churches
which are in Asia" (Rev.1:4), communicating the Lord's commendation
and concern for their spiritual state. From chapter 4 to chapter 22 we
have a description of those events which are future to the Church
Age, beginning with the words:
"Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be
hereafter"(Rev.4:1).
The past event is the vision of the Lord which John saw on the Isle of
Patmos.
The present describes the Churches of Asia existing in John's day, but
could be typical of any individual Church throughout history. They
are also a picture of the historical progress of the Church from
Pentecost down to the Rapture, when the Church Age will be complete.
The future events are those which are future to the Church Age, and
include the Rapture of the Church followed by the Great Tribulation,
and then the return of Jesus Christ to the earth, the establishment of
His millennial kingdom, the second resurrection, and the eternal new
heaven and new earth.
Thus we have the key to the interpretation of the book. God has
divided it in the following manner:
Things
which
thou
hast
seen
Ch. 1
Things
which are
Chs. 2 & 3
Things
which shall be hereafter
142
Chs. 4 thro' 22