The American Wisdom Series

Presents
Pamphlet 1843 Rev. kc 11-1

An Open Door in Heaven!

In the first 3 chapters of Revelation we "saw" what is happening on EARTH and in the seven churches on the day of Lord, the first day of the Millennium, a time even yet future.

Now we are going to "see" what is happening in HEAVEN at that same time. We are going to actually see the throne of Almighty God and what is transpiring beyond the veil that separates the two dimensions, flesh and spirit, "behind the scenes" so to speak.

John will be describing as best he can the things which he sees, once again painting a PICTURE in our minds using symbols and vivid imagery.

What a privilege and an honor it must have been for this one, John, to be used as the instrument who would see and record for his fellow servants the "things that must shortly come to pass" (Rev. 1:1).

Rev. 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.
"Behold, a door was opened in heaven" should immediately remind us of the words which Christ spoke to the church of Philadelphia in chapter 3 verse 8, "behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it:".

So here it is, an Open Door in Heaven.
Let us put our "ears" on and open our "eyes" and enter in with our brother John.

Notice that the first voice John hears in heaven was the same first voice he heard on earth, as of a trumpet, which, by the way, even in the Old Testament is connected with War and the Day of the Lord (Zeph 1:14-16).

Here is a reminder of what John heard on earth:

Rev. 1:10
I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,
Also, because of what some in the churches below would be teaching concerning the extremely dangerous and false doctrine of the "any moment rapture theory", it is important to note that it was John who was told to "come up hither". The structure of the English language will permit no others, and the churches won't be mentioned again until chapter 22.
Rev. 4:2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and One sat on the throne.
Wow, here we go! John saw a throne in heaven and Someone was sitting on it. Guess who!
[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.
Notice that He who sat on the throne was likened unto beautiful, translucent gemstones, the significance of which we'll discuss shortly.

For now, just see the picture

Now also visualize in your mind's eye a beautiful rainbow glowing about the throne with its magnificent prisms of light beaming forth. You are "seeing" the "shekinah glory" of Almighty God.

Got the PICTURE so far? Now keep this scene in your mind as we read about another servant of God who ALSO SAW His throne, when God Himself paid Ezekiel a visit in His vehicle, with His throne aboard (read the entirety of Chapter 1 of Ezekiel in your own Bible.) Then read Pamphlets #1193, #1204, and  #1187.

Ezekiel 1:26-28
And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it.
Notice the same description of gemlike translucency.
[27] And I saw as the colour of amber, as the appearance of fire round about within it, from the appearance of his loins even upward, and from the appearance of his loins even downward, I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about.
Have you ever read Hebrews 12:29? It reads,  "For our God is a consuming fire."I guess that's why every description of Him from the "Burning Bush" on depict Him that way, eh?
[28] As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake.
And the same "bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain", i.e. the rainbow, His "shekinah glory, glowed brightly round about the throne. We could substitute this verse 28 for Rev. 4:3 that we just read because it is exactly the same description. There is nothing new under the sun.

To study the Bible is the noblest of all pursuits; to understand it, the highest of all goals.
We pray that with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, you accomplish both.


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