We have a first-hand account of what heaven is like, and John wrote it down. God opened heaven by a door for John to see. Then the Lord took him up for a little while. We haven’t had that experience. Think of all the descriptions we have. John saw; we see by faith. So much down here can depress us, but knowing there is heaven can lift us up. We just have to know where to look and how to look.
Revelation 4: 1 “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. 2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. 3 And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. 4 And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold. Chapter 5: 9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. 11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; 12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. 13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. 14 And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.”
A peak through the door—we need the peak more than we think we need. We settle in our mind a picture of heaven and then put it on the shelf. We need to take a look at the promise of heaven. Even though we have citizenship there we don’t see it with our earthly eyes, but John did.
A door was opened and John saw what has always been there. We look at the sky and see only the atmosphere, but heaven is there. We live our life under heaven, and it’s always where it has always been. Even though it’s dark here the sun is still shining; as such, heaven is still there. The God who made the earth made the heaven. Some doubt it. If heaven is a fake, what’s around us is a fake. Just because we can’t see it doesn’t mean its not there. It’s there in our darkest night.
The voice of Jesus spoke and told John to come up. What an invitation! The place Jesus had taught him about was seen by the opening of a door. Jesus was going to show him what’s to come. Before that, the Lord let John look around, to see what currently is. This same door will open for us one day. Paul said Jesus would descend with the sound of the trumpet. John said the voice was as a trumpet talking to him.
The timing was right after the Lord told John about the seven churches that show the historical stages of the Age of Grace. Right at the end of the Laodicean church stage and before the coming of the Lord, John was called up. It’s a comfort to know that before the judgments of God we will be called up. Now we stand on the shores of our own Isle of Patmos. The same One who told John to come up will call us. The door will open wide enough for all of us. John accepted and what a sight he saw.
John described heaven. In verse 6 he saw a sea that looked like glass. We can’t comprehend it, but he saw the clear purity of heaven, so pure that its surface looked like glass. He saw a throne. There have been many thrones on this earth, but this was a real throne. It was higher than any other. It was not empty. None other than God himself sat on it. He’ll never give up his throne. No matter how strong the devil is he can’t move God. As Lucifer, he and a third part of the angels found out nothing is higher than God. He was really there. We’re in the fulfillment of what John literally saw. The same God John saw is God our Father.
In verse 3 we find out that heaven is colorful. Color belongs to God; they are beyond what we can perceive. Our eyes can detect only a few; heaven is far beyond that. He saw jasper, a clear stone reflecting the purity and holiness of God. We’re hardly ever in a place or position that doesn’t have sin, but here there is none. It is completely perfect. A sardine stone is red, a deep prominent red. By this John saw the justness and righteousness of God. A pure God is the righteous One. If any can judge, God can. He saw a rainbow in the fullness of a color like emerald. It was around the throne. Even in winter we see green. Some grass is still green. Pines, spruce, and fir trees are not seasonal; they stay green. Although other things look dead, there is life. Heaven is not seasonal. It will last forever. The color of life is everlasting.
When the vision was done, John wrote it down. He had a few more years to carry on, but he didn’t worry. He knew heaven would still be there and God would be on his throne. One day that same door that opened for John will open again. We can be part of that. We’ll learn a new song that we can sing forever—the final song. We can be there. Do not fear nor be dismayed. It is there. Heaven is surely worth it all.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 