An Open Door in Heaven

Imagine the chance to have a glimpse into heaven for a moment. What a privilege! The Bible records several individuals who have had such an opportunity. Stephen looked up and beheld Christ at the right hand of God, while Paul was ‘caught up to the third heaven,’ though he wasn’t certain whether this was a vision or reality (Acts 7:55; 2 Corinthians 12:2). Both Enoch and Elijah were recorded to have been taken up to heaven bodily without seeing death (Genesis 5:24; 2 Kings 2:11).

John here, in vision, is raptured up to heaven to behold heavenly things. While this door represents a door into heaven, the following scenes reveal that it is also a door into the heavenly sanctuary, with God’s throne and the lamps of fire burning inside. Praise God—we have here a record that we, by faith, may also have a look at the workings of God in heaven while we are yet on the earth!

While prophecy mostly reveals to us events that will take place on the earth, the book of Revelation has a greater role in that it reveals to us the workings of Christ on our behalf in heaven. The curtain has been pulled back to give us a glimpse of Jesus caring for His church throughout history, and now the veil is once again being pulled back to bring to view more heavenly events for human eyes to behold. How comforting to know that heaven is not a place of inactivity, but rather, has been actively involved and interested in humanity since Creation.

The voice like a trumpet takes us back to Revelation 1:10, 11, where it is Christ, the Alpha and the Omega, who has a voice like a trumpet. His word can raise us up to heaven, raise the dead, and reveals things that shall come to pass that we might believe in Him (John 14:29).

Lord Jesus, thank You for being the “trumpet voice” that John heard, Lazarus heard, and which we can hear. Thank you for inviting us to heaven—and keep us ready for that great day!

For Further Study: Mark 1:10; John 10:7; Exodus 40:1–5

Key Bible Texts

After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. (Revelation 4:1 KJV)