The setting of the Book of Revelation changes starting in Chapter 4. This devotional reading looks at John’s second vision — his vision of Heaven.
Nuggets
- Chapters 4 and 5 contain John’s second vision — he saw Heaven itself.
- The open door is a welcoming visual because it is practical, but it can be difficult to assimilate when we try to put everything together.
Vision Man – which could have been God or could have been Jesus or Both – came down to present a vision to John. He did a little ice breaker first.
The message of God about Jesus through his angel to John all took place on Patmos where John was at the time. He started talking to seven Messianic congregations with whom John was very familiar.
Then it was time to get to the meat of the revelation. That meant a scenery change for the second vision.
Let's Put It into Context
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Devotions in the Opening the Door of Heaven series
An Open Door to Heaven
“After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! …” (Rev. 4: 1 ESV)
Chapters 4 and 5 contain John’s second vision. He saw Heaven itself.
After This
I like how Revelation 4: 1 started out with “After this …” (Rev. 4: 1 ESV). Maybe you don’t have the same problem I do, but I often question whether John wrote this in a linear timeline or if God showed Him bits and pieces but not in chronological order.
But then, that is why there are preterists, historicists, futurists, and redemptive-historical-idealists. There is no consensus about the timeline.
I grew up thinking Revelation was chronological. I thought John recorded it in the order it was presented to him and in the order it is going to happen.
I don’t think anymore that this is going to be the order everything happens. I think the Book of Revelation circles around what will happen. I am not totally convinced John was told every last little thing and what he was told is in strict order.
I know Jesus said that only God knows the date and time things will happen. “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only” (Mt. 24: 36 ESV).
My humble opinion is that we aren’t supposed to know the exact how, either. We’re supposed to know enough to question but not figure it all out.
Isn’t the how just as important as the when?
But then Hughes brought up another good point. We saw John describe some things in the first three chapters.
- The churches are the lampstands.
- The stars are the angels of the churches – possibly what we term pastors.
Are those just earthly designations? Are they recognized as such in Heaven?
Resource
It is possible that John was using language he knew to describe something he could not describe. He was not trying to make it symbolic. He was trying to make it practical.
A Door Standing Open
The open door is a welcoming visual because it is practical, but it is difficult to assimilate when we try to put everything together.
Let’s look at some ways that Heaven has been described.
- “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters” (Gen. 1: 1-2 ESV).
- “And God made the expanse and separated the waters that were under the expanse from the waters that were above the expanse. And it was so. And God called the expanse Heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, the second day” (Gen. 1: 7-8 ESV).
- “And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us” (Lk. 16: 26 ESV).
Heaven, earth, and hell have been separated. The Hebrews believed in the Firmament, the space between the Heaven and earth. The visual of a great chasm leads us to believe there is a really, really long distance between them.
Jacob saw the access point as a ladder (Gen. 28: 12). John saw it as a door.
Different? Maybe not.
Jacob just saw the steps leading up to a semi-open door. Angels were ascending and descending.
Jacob didn’t see into Heaven as John did. All he saw was the path to get there.
John got an open door — and step through it.
We can’t think that John just glanced over and saw the door to Heaven. Just as Jesus had to open the minds of the men on the road to Emmaus to the meaning of the Scriptures (Lk. 24: 45), God had to open John’s eyes to see the door to Heaven.
I think we should be humbled by the fact that God was throwing the door open wide.
In a way, it is an open invitation. All who believe will be allowed to one day walk through that open door.
Yes, it might be days or years down the road for some. But all who ask Jesus to be their Savior and Redeemer will be allowed to walk through that open door to Heaven.
Hughes thought John used symbols to explain what he saw. Whether he was talking in code so the Romans wouldn’t understand or just doing his best to describe with his vocabulary the indescribable, we can’t miss this.
What John described was real. Heaven is real.
If we were wanting to use symbols, wouldn’t a door be a good symbol for salvation?
We can only enter Heaven by accepting the gift of salvation. It becomes our only door to forgiveness and purity. It becomes our only door to God.
Spurgeon had an interesting reminder. He wrote, “A door is opened in heaven whenever we are elevated by the help of God’s Spirit to high thoughts of the glory of God.”
Resource
We open the doors to Heaven through our prayers in the Holy Spirit. When we sense His presence, grace, and mercy, we are brought to the threshold of Heaven.
We throw the door open wide when we actually study what God’s Word says, not just read it. Doors open and light bulbs come on when we finally understand with clarity who Jesus is.
True worship opens doors for us. When we are performing what we were made to do – praise Sovereign God – we are closer to where God wants us to be.
Herbert made a connection for us. Where is Satan’s throne in comparison to God’s throne?
Resource
We just talked about that. The Messianic congregation at Pergamum was told, “I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is …” (Rev. 2: 13 ESV). Philadelphia was home to a synagogue of Satan (Rev. 3: 9).
Satan is ruler of this world. God is inviting us to enter through the door to His paradise.
The contrast is great. The Messianic congregations were riddled with poverty, persecution, natural disasters and a whole slew of other earthly trials.
Heaven is filled with splendor and majesty. It is pure.
That pure life is occurring now in Heaven while we are experiencing the trials of this life. It isn’t some fairy tale out of a musty old book. It is a living, breathing place where eternity has already started for some.
But look at it this way. The time on earth is in the now. The time in Heaven is in the now and in the future.
It wasn’t that God was going to show John a typical day in the neighborhood. John was going to get to see what would happen 2000+ years down the road.
God knows what is going to happen in the future. This is true for every Tom, Sally, and Elaine. It is true for every country. It is true for every church.
God knows all and opens the door for us to rest in His knowledge.
Making the Connections
Do you ever wish God and Heaven were visible instead of invisible? Ooo, baby. I am sure we all have.
Herbert made an excellent point. He wrote,
“If heaven were not invisible, if God sometimes appeared, the chief trial of our [present] life would be removed, and we should have perfect assurance instead of wavering faith. Our life, in fact, would cease to be the discipline which it is at present. His wisdom appoints that we walk by faith, not by sight; no wonder, then, that all the arrangements of our life are in keeping with this purpose.”
Resource
We gain by not having sight. We don’t need discipline when what we have put our trust in is right there.
Discipline makes us stronger.
How Do We Apply This?
- Remain godly to earn more of God’s favor.
- Look to God for grace and knowledge, and we won’t be disappointed.
Resource
Father God. We are humbled that You have opened the door to Heaven so that we may step through in faith. You want us to have access to You. The only way we can do that is through believing that Jesus is our Savior and Redeemer. Help us to walk through that door – now and at the time You call us home. Amen.
What do you think?
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