The Revelation of Jesus Christ - The Herald

sentence, may all be ultimately delivered, set free from the dominion of sin and death,
delivered into the full liberty of the sons of God--righteousness and life everlasting.--Rom.
8:21."
In view of all this St. John was instructed: "Write therefore
the things thou sawest, even those which are, and the things which are about to transpire
after these." (Verse 19.) This is undoubtedly a better translation of the original text than
that of the Common Version, and it makes clear the division or plan of the whole book of
Revelation:
1. "Write therefore the things thou sawest, even those which are, and
2. "The things which are about to transpire after these."
The first evidently refers to the vision of Christ walking amongst the lampstands; the
significance of the lampstands, and the messages to the Churches, are contained in the first
three chapters. The second refers to the things that are about to transpire after this-symbolized
in the prophetic visions from chapter 6 to the end of the book.
Interpreting the words as rendered in the Common Version, Mr. Barnes has very ably
explained them as signifying the division of the book into three parts:
"1. Write the things which thou hast seen. An account of the vision which thou hast had.
"2. And the things that are. Give an account of those things which thou hast seen as
designed to represent the condition of the seven Churches. He had seen not only the
Savior, but he had seen seven lampstands, and seven stars in the hand of the Savior, and
he is now commanded to record the meaning of these symbols as referring to things then
actually existing in the seven Churches. This interpretation is demanded by verse 20.
"3. And the things which shall be hereafter. The Greek phrase rendered hereafter, means
'after these things,' that is, he was to make a correct representation of the things which then
were, and then to record what would occur 'after these things': to wit, of the images,
symbols, and truths, which would be disclosed to him after what he had already seen. The
expression refers to future times. He does not say for how long a time; but the revelations
which were to be made referred to events which were to occur beyond those which were
then taking place. Nothing can be argued from the use of this language in regard to the
length of time embraced in the Revelation--whether it extended only for a few years, or
whether it embraced all coming time. The more natural interpretation, however, would