A DOOR INTO HEAVEN: WHAT TAKES PLACE NOW AND HEREAFTER

An exposition of Revelation 4 & 5.

“After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, ‘Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.’” (Rev.4:1)

We do not see heaven. How can we be certain of it? In the present, we access the physical world with our eyes and ears. It takes special devices to see and hear wireless images and sounds. The revolution in communication technology in our lifetime is astounding and magical. The Bible tells us that there is yet another dimension different from the physical world. It is the heavenly or celestial world. But it is as real, if not more so, than this world. When earthly life seems all that there is, and when circumstances and all that is happening to threaten our wellbeing appear to overwhelm us, we need to realize that God is on the throne and that one day this world will pass away and there will be a new heaven and a new earth in the kingdom to come.

Surrounding the throne are the twenty four elders, representing the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve apostles, the people of faith from the old and new covenants. Their dresses of white and crowns of gold remind us that they have been redeemed and have conquered evil.

In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures who are all-seeing, and represent all of God’s creation: the noblest (the lion), the strongest (the ox), the wisest (the human), and the swiftest (the eagle). All of nature worships the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come: the eternal one. All the people of faith worship him who lives forever. They lay their own crowns before the throne and acknowledge the worth of God to receive glory and honor and power, because God created all things. All creation has its being by the will of God.

The inference is that if anyone claimed to usurp the position of God, such as a power-hungry political leader, or scientific expert, would be crazy, for only God is worthy of being worshipped. Also, if someone denied being created, and rejected that their being was contingent on God’s will, would be seeing life from a purely human, rather than a heavenly point of view. Their perspective is severely limited. They would be spiritually shortsighted.

In a recent survey of the spirituality of people outside the church the respondents acknowledged a sense of awe about the universe. Even those who found it hard to believe in a personal God felt that the universe was designed, perhaps guided, maybe planned, but probably not controlled. People’s understanding was self-confessedly insufficient, profoundly human-centered and often hesitant. Whichever stance one took, it still took one’s breath away and at least encouraged spiritual contemplation, even if it didn’t bring one to the point of believing in a personal God.

A sense of awe about creation can lead to worship of God because it is an acknowledgement that we are not the center of the universe, and that all creation, by virtue of its existence, worships God all the time, whether we are aware of it or not. It is only human beings, who are given individual consciences, who must choose by faith whether or not they will worship their creator. All the rest of creation automatically worships their Creator by fulfilling God’s purpose for them.

What then is the significance of Jesus Christ in this? John goes on to see a scroll in the hand of God which no one in heaven and on earth and under the earth can open or read. The scroll contains the destiny of the world. John is told that there is one, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, the Messiah, who has triumphed over death and evil, and is worthy to open the scroll of God’s plan. John sees a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain. The Lion reveals his power in his self-sacrificial love on the Cross: true power is the power of unselfish love. He has seven horns and seven eyes denoting that he has complete power and that he sees and knows all things. It is Jesus who is given the authority, through his death and resurrection, to fulfill the purpose of God for the history of the world. No matter what seems to be happening on earth; no matter how dark the times may be; the purposes of God are being fulfilled by the Lamb of God through his followers. Knowing this brings peace and courage to those who are struggling in their lives and are beset with fears, doubts and uncertainties.

Jesus is revealed through his sacrificial death on the Cross, as ransoming men and women from the clutches of evil for God and transforming them into a royal priesthood of believers. They are purchased from every race and language and people and nation to serve God. It is a glorious work of redemption that will result in a new empire of heaven for all believers. Such knowledge of salvation and future fulfillment strengthens us and motivates us to further worship, witness and serve.

The believer looks through the door into heaven and hears “the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand.” In other words, innumerable, countless, infinite. If numbers count then God and his people have the host of heaven on their side.

“They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they sang:

‘Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,

to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength

and honor and glory and praise.’”

Then John tells us that

“I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing:

‘To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb

be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!’

The four living creatures said, ‘Amen,’ and the elders fell down and worshipped.”

What they do, we are meant to do also. We enter into this worship by how we live our lives. “Therefore I urge you, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your everyday, ordinary life and place it before God as an offering – this is your spiritual act of worship.” (Romans 12:1)