Revelation 4:1-2
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Revelation 4:1-2
When we come into chapter 4 of Revelation, we are coming into a new environment. No longer is the Lord addressing the concerns of the churches, in fact, the word church doesn’t appear again until the end of the book. But now, we are seeing the word of God focus on the hereafter.
We haven’t enter this portion of scripture yet, in the world. This is what is to come. Some people want to say that we are living through the tribulation period, or they may say we are in the reign of Christ. But I would say they are all wrong.
It is evident, that these things described in Revelation have not as of yet been fulfilled. And that what makes them so intriguing. The literal future, here right before our eyes. Now, this is not some fanciful made-up story, this is the literal truth that is going to happen. And brethren, it might happen during our lifetime.
The world is prime and ready for what lies ahead. So many things have changed in this world since my birth. It is a different place than what it was 40 years ago, and I know for some of you it has changed even more than that. And it continues to change and move away from God. The hearts of man have tried to be independent of God, and because of this disobedience, we see a world that goes through the most horrific time, ever.
We are living in the last days brothers and sisters. Someone might come and ask you, how do you know we are living in the last day? And all we have to say is this, Daniel 12:4 “In the last days, knowledge shall increase, and men shall rush to and fro.” Have you ever seen such an advancement in technology? Have you seen some of the medical successes and accomplishments that doctors are able to do now? Even as the scripture says, we are all over the place. Did you ever think about boarding a plane and in less than a day, be on the other side of the world? We get in our cars and drive 200 miles in a day, it use to be people only were able to make it a few miles in a day. We are rushing to and fro.
So, when we enter in to Revelation 4, it is fascinating to learn what is going to happen in the end times. With that being said, lets read the first 3 verses.
Verse 1
“After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven”
· As John transitions away from speaking to the seven churches, his focus is now on heaven. Something has caught his eye, and now he is fixated on it.
· Now, we must understand that the heaven that John is speaking about here is not the blue sky above us. This may be understood as the first heaven. Nor is John referring to outer space, the outer realm that is the realm for the sun, moon, and stars, known as the second heaven. John is beholding the heaven beyond them all, the heaven that is the place of God, the third heaven.
· 2 Corinthians 12:2 “I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth); such an one caught up to the third heaven.”
· The door that is open to John is position in this third heaven, notice how the text refers to this door, as it is described “was opened”. Now it is easy to get the impression that when John was looking up, that all of a sudden this door opened up in the sky. But if we look at it in that context, we miss exactly what it is saying. In fact, the original language brings clarity to this door.
· The door that we read about here is not opening before John’s eyes, it is already open. A better way for us to render this reading, would be the door was standing open.
· The door wasn’t even closed when John saw it before his eyes. So, this means that the door has been opened, and someone had to open it.
· John 10:9 “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and go in and out, and find pasture.”
· When we leave our homes, we close the door, but when we are at home, we open our doors. Because someone is there. Listen, someone is there in heaven, this door has been left open by the one who came through it. That being Jesus Christ. When Jesus entered into heaven, after ascending to it at the beginning of Acts, he didn’t close it. He left it open, and it will be that same door we will enter into heaven by.
“And the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me”
· John is there on the isle of Patmos, as this was occurring, and as he sees the door, he hears a voice. Think about some aspects of this voice as it is talking to John.
· It is a Perceptible sound; it is described in comparison as a trumpet.
o The trumpet that is referenced in the scripture as an instrument of gathering, warning, and celebration. Its dominant sound gave the cry to the Israelites of when it was time to worship. It speaks to us by its sounds, and instructs us what we are to do.
o For example, a type of the trumpet is the bugle, used mainly in the military, when the bugle sounds, it indicated the routine of the camp. Fascinating to know, the bugle was used to relay instructions from officers to soldiers during battle.
o We are in a battle today, just as John was during his day. The commander sends the orders, and what perfect way to hear from our Lord, as he cries out to us from heaven.
o In a battle the sound must be perceptible, that it can be understood.
· It is also a powerful sound!
o There is a lot of noise in this world, but when this voice speaks, it is heard, and it is a powerful sound. Now, this also became quite fascinating, that when you think of an orchestra, what stands out to be the loudest instrument?
o If we focus on just the instruments within a standard orchestra, there are two front-runners: the trumpet and the trombone.
More often than not, the trumpet is the easiest to hear despite hitting a lower decibel range than the trombone. This is due both to the harsh nature of the sound, and the player’s ability to manipulate loudness. In a performance, the trumpet ranges between 80 and 110 decibels.
The trombone, however, peaks at around 115 decibels. Surprisingly, the clarinet is much the same, peaking at about 114 decibels. Just because the trombone hits a higher decibel, we cannot hear it over the trumpet.
· It is a personal sound.
o John makes mention here, that this voice was talking with him. Now there is completely understandable answer to this.
o And the answer can be seen earlier on in the Gospel. In John 11:43 “And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.”
o Now why did the Lord use Lazarus name, well if he had not been personal and specific, everyone that was dead would have come back to life.
o If the Lord had not directed this voice specifically to John, the rapture would have occurred at that very moment.
“Which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.”
· The voice that is distinguishable and powerful, has spoken with a clear message, for John. And it is here we find what that message is. Come up hither. Or to put it more plainly. Come up here.
· Now, last week, we had a study on the rapture, and I believe that in the order of events, that the church will be raptured out between what we read in chapters 3 and chapters 4. However, this verse is not the doctrinal verse that gives us this belief.
· It will be in like manner, but the Lord will not be directing his call for us to come up to just one individual, but it will be all of His children.
· What we read here with John is what we call an appetizer. Here is an example, with John, and one day it will be similar for the church.
· Now the Lord is calling John up with a purpose, and the purpose for John is to see the things which are to come. God wants John to see what is to come from His perspective. The events that are to come are harsh upon the world, and one might see God as being cruel. But these events are understood, when we see it from God’s perspective.
· Sin must be dealt with, and it is the rebellion of man’s heart that causes this destruction and judgment to come upon man.
Verse 2
“And immediately I was in the spirit:”
· Notice that when the voice has called to John, there is an immediate response.
· The voice of the Lord is not one to ignore. His call removes the barrier between Jesus and John. John is separated from his body and his spirit is now taken to the third heaven.
· This phrase again serves as a reminder of how it will be when the rapture occurs. An immediate action. There will be no slow drug out process, when the Lord calls, there will be a response.
“And, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.”
· John is transported beyond space and time, he is brought not to the pearly gates, he did not have to greet St. Peter, but John is ushered into the incredibly special and holy place, the throne room.
· Now thrones are associated with rulers, kings, those in authority. This is the throne of thrones. Notice, that this is a singular reference, there are no other thrones in heaven.
· This throne can only be understood as the throne of God. And John says, there was one who sat on the throne. Now who is this that is sitting on the throne? For most, the quick answer would be to say it was Jesus, but that is not correct. We must remember that God is a triune being. He is made of three parts; we call it the trinity.
· The throne is the seat of God the Father. We will know this in clarity, when Christ comes later in this book to receive the scroll from the one seated on the throne.
· Now the throne will be referenced throughout the book or Revelation, so we need to have a good understanding of it. When we see God seated on the throne, this emphasizes His ultimate rule and control of all that transpires in the book. Even the final manifestation of evil is dependent upon permission being granted from the Father. God’s throne is prominent throughout the book and indicates His ultimate role as judge.
· Now it is important to realize, this is not symbolism that is taking place here. This is not some vision that John is having, this isn’t some immaterial spiritual revelation, this is a real material place.