We read in today’s text that God gave the Lord Jesus this revelation in order that He might show His servants. When we think of this, we are reminded that, as His servants, you and I are to serve intelligently in line with the purposes of God for His beloved Son. There are three things to remember concerning this prophetic revelation:

First, it is God’s word and should not be neglected, for “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16–17).

Second, it is the testimony of Jesus Christ. John was very concerned for the testimony of Jesus Christ (Rev. 1:2, 9; 12:17), “For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (19:10). The testimony of Jesus Christ is that this once humble Man is now exalted, and God will see to it “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2:10–11).

Third, these things John saw must shortly take place.

These verses enforce for us the divine authority and origin of the vision that John is about to receive. In the book of Revelation there are nearly 300 references to the Old Testament, quoting from almost every book except Ruth, Ecclesiastes, and Haggai. The Father gave this revelation to the Son and the Son shared it with us—it is for us to look into!