Revelation 1:19 Meaning: The Three Things John Must Write
Write therefore the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will happen hereafter.
Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;
Write therefore the things which thou sawest, and the things which are, and the things which shall come to pass hereafter;
`Write the things that thou hast seen, and the things that are, and the things that are about to come after these things;
Write therefore what thou hast seen, and the things that are, and the things that are about to be after these.
Meaning in one sentence
Revelation 1:19 gives the book's three-part structure: past vision of Christ, present church conditions, and future events. See what each means.
Context
John has just seen the risen Christ in glorious vision, feet of burnished brass, voice like many waters, face like the sun. The sight leaves him collapsed, dead with fear. But Christ touches him and speaks: “Don’t be afraid. I am the first and the last, the Living One.” Then comes this command. The “therefore” carries all that weight. Because Christ lives and holds the keys of death, John is to write. Not just one part, but three: the vision he has seen, the present state of the churches, and the events that will unfold after these things. This verse outlines the entire book that follows.
Key Words
The Greek word for “write” (grapson) is a command, not a suggestion. John is to set down faithfully what he has witnessed. The word for “have seen” (eides) means more than glancing, it means perceiving with understanding. John saw Christ, and he grasped something eternal. The phrase “will happen hereafter” uses a verb (mellei genesthai) that carries a sense of something already in motion, about to take place. This is not a distant future but a future that is beginning. Together these three tenses, past, present, imminent future, show that nothing escapes Christ’s concern. Every part of history belongs to the story He is telling.
How Christians Read This Verse
Most Christian readers agree that these three phrases outline the book of Revelation. The things seen (chapter 1), the things that are (chapters 2, 3, the letters to the seven churches), and the things that will happen hereafter (chapters 4, 22). Some commentators, like Henry Alford, suggest that “the things which are” could be translated “what they signify”, the symbolic meaning of the vision. The majority view, represented by Barnes and Gill, takes it as the present state of the churches. Both readings seek to honor the text. The verse binds together past encounter, present reality, and future hope.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers think the three categories refer only to John’s personal life, his past memories, current situation, and future plans. In fact, the verse is the outline of the entire book. John is writing a prophecy for all the churches, not a private journal. The “things which are” specifically refer to the seven churches of Asia, and the “things which will happen hereafter” begin with the throne room vision of chapter 4.
Living This Out
This week, you may not be writing a vision, but you are living one. Take a moment to consider: what has Christ shown you in the past? What is your present situation, honest and unvarnished? And what do you trust Him for in the future? The verse asks you to hold all three together. Don’t let the present troubles erase what you have seen of Christ, and don’t let the future worry silence your witness today.
Main takeaway: Christ commands John to write the full story, past encounter, present church life, and future hope, because all of it belongs to His plan.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
John saw Jesus shining bright and heard a loud voice like a trumpet. Jesus told him to write down everything he saw and everything that would happen. We can trust Jesus to show us what we need to know.
For ages 9, 12
Revelation 1:19 is like a table of contents for the whole book. John is told to write three things: what he already saw (the vision of Jesus), what is happening now (the conditions in the churches), and what will happen in the future (the rest of the visions). This helps us see that God cares about the past, the present, and the future. Nothing is left out.
Questions People Ask
What does “things which are” refer to in Revelation 1:19?
Most commentators understand it as the current condition of the seven churches in Asia, described in Revelation chapters 2 and 3. John is to describe their strengths, struggles, and what Christ says to each one.
What are the three categories in Revelation 1:19?
The three categories are: the things John has seen (the vision of Christ in chapter 1), the things that are (the present state of the churches in chapters 2, 3), and the things that will happen hereafter (the future events from chapter 4 onward).
Does Revelation 1:19 outline the whole book of Revelation?
Yes, many Bible teachers see verse 19 as the book’s basic structure. The vision of Christ (chapter 1), the letters to the churches (chapters 2, 3), and the prophetic visions that follow (chapters 4, 22) all correspond to the three parts John is commanded to write.
What does “hereafter” mean in Revelation 1:19?
The Greek phrase is “meta tauta,” meaning “after these things.” It points to events that will occur after the present time of the churches. The visions beginning in chapter 4 start with the same phrase, showing continuity.
Why is John told to write in Revelation 1:19?
John is told to write because the vision is not just for him, it is for the seven churches and for all who would read it. The command comes with Christ’s authority, who has just declared that He is the Living One who holds the keys of death and Hades.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study