From 1:1 to 1:20 the Seer is on the earth, looking at the vision of Christ. From 2:1 to 3:22 he is on the earth listening and writing about the church-age. From 4:1 through 7: he is in the spirit viewing heaven and all the church-age with the 5 seals opening while the church-age is happening. From 8: through the end of Revelation he is looking at the vision and observing and recording things happening in heaven and on earth. (Scofield:Page 1331; introductory commentary to Revelation, and Mine)
All of the events move toward one consummation, the bringing in of the covenanted kingdom of God. The revelation to John is prophecy, from God, signified by His angel, and the seven Spirits which are before His throne, to John to be delivered to the seven churches. (Scofield:Page 1330; introductory commentary to Revelation, and Mine)
Most people agree the command to John to, ‘Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and things which shall be hereafter;’ are clearly identified by the presentation of events described. I. Things which, ‘thou has seen’, i.e. the Patmos vision 1:1-20. II. Things present, ‘the things which are,’ i.e. things then existing—obviously the churches……. ‘things which shall be hereafter’, lit. ‘after these.’ i.e. after the church period ends. 4:1-22:21.’, there are many explanations which seem to confuse the saints and causes some disagreements. (Scofield:Page 1330; introductory commentary to Revelation. With some changes by me)
There are Parenthetical passages, seven churches, seven seals, seven trumpets, seven vials (bowls), two witnesses, four alleluias, 3 woes….and concurrent passages. ‘Looking backward and forward they sum up results accomplished, and speak of results yet to come as if they had already come.’ (Scofield:Page 1330; introductory commentary to Revelation; 1996; and Mine)
The Parenthetical passages and verses of prophecy in the Old Testament are a precedent for arranging the verses of Revelation in this way. For example: You find Genesis 2 is a Parenthetical to Genesis 1. You find a prophecy of Christ in Isaiah 9:6; [For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.], which seems out of context when you are reading that chapter, yet there it is.
Note: I have used different versions on the ‘Blue Letter Bible’ web page to copy and paste into this book. I have not identified which version I used, but usually the versions used are KJV, NKJV, ESV, J.B. Philips and sometimes Darby. (http://www.blueletterbible.org/) Christ’s words are in red. My own words are in Green. The text following the verse is what I choose to point out in that verse. The scriptures following that text are verses about that subject. Curiosity! I want to know what Christ and heaven look like. I desire to know what it will be like. ‘For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.’ Rom 8:22
Rev 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants-things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John, Rev 22:6
His angel
Rev 22:6 And he said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place.”
