- Jun 8, 2013
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I think you are reading that text as if there was an "ONLY" included in it: John was to write ONLY of the hereafter. Of course God did not include an only: He could have told John two events of the future, and then completed the book with recipes for manna - and he would not have disobeyed this verse. In other words, God left Himself the option of including some history.Most of Revelation (from Ch. 4 on) is future.
Revelation 1:19 Write the things which thou hast seen (Ch. 1), and the things which are (Ch. 2-3), and the things which shall be hereafter; (Ch 4-22)
Since John experienced his heavenly exposure to future Revelation events as they occurred on earth, and returned and penned them about 95 AD, Christ was long gone from his earthly ministry by then.
Of course, many disagree about the timing of the writing of Revelation; and about much of Revelation actually.
About this particular part of the vision: chapters 4 & 5: John wanted to introduce John (and then in turn us) the the BOOK: which would be what would get Satan kicked off his usurped throne as god of this world. In other words, the book is VERY IMPORTANT and a very big part of Revelation. God then chose to start where the book was still in the hand of the Father. Of necessity then, God had to back up and show John some history. These two chapters show us that Jesus got the book into His hands as soon as He ascended - so around 32 AD.
This passage tells us a story that shows timing and the movement of time. First, a throne room where it seems Jesus was absent - when we would expect Him to be at the right hand of the Father. Then a throne room where the Holy Spirit was there (as the 7 spirits of God) when we would expect Him to be sent down. Then finally a search for one worthy to open the book, but a search that ended in failure. All these are clues to show us TIMING. Finally in chapter John got to see the very moment Jesus ascended and sent the Holy Spirit down. This to me is God showing us TIMING.
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