A Look Into Heaven

A LOOK INTO HEAVEN

Revelation 4

I have decided to go a little different direction at this point.

As you know we don’t see the church after chapter 3 until later on again in Revelation.

I was going to do the Marriage Supper but that would put me out of line.

For there are going to be people who will get saved.

So I couldn’t do that until after things which are going down on Earth is over.

Thus bringing tonight a look into Heaven.

The key word to this chapter is Throne.

It is used 14 times just in this chapter.

It is used 37 times in the book of Revelation.

So I think it is safe to say it is a very important word.

You will notice that Revelation 4:1 brings us to the 3rd section of the book of revelation.

‘THE THINGS WHICH SHALL BE HEREAFTER”

1. THE SUMMONS FROM THE THRONE:

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.

This verse corresponds to the “RAPTURE” as described in 1 Thessalonians

4:13-18 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Notice the similarities between the rapture & Jon’s translation into Heaven.

A. The voice says

‘COME UP HITHER”

This may be the shout that is mentioned in I Thessalonians 4:16a For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel,

B. Both passages make reference to a trumpet.

See 1 Corinthians 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

C. John went to Heaven.

As all believers will at the time of the rapture.

D. Both passages take place immediately.

Preceding the Great Tribulation

Just a few things to thinkabout.

2. THE GLORY FROM THE THRONE:

You will find that chapters 4 & 5 go together.

They describe the scene in Heaven immediately after the Rapture.

You will also notice 3 members of the Trinity.

God the father sits upon the Throne in Revelation 4:2-3 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. 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.

The Holy Spirit is mentioned in Revelation 4:5 And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

Then we find the Lord Jesus in Revelation 5:6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.

Let’s notice the comparison of God to precious gems:

a. Jasper:

Clear = Showing purity

b. Sardine: Red = Sowing His wrath & Judgment

c. Emerald:

Green = Showing His Mercy & Grace

Notice the rainbow around the Throne.

Before I go into that let’s look back at Genesis 9:8-17 And God spake unto Noah, and to his sons with him, saying, And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you; And with every living creature that is with you, of the fowl, of the cattle, and of every beast of the earth with you; from all that go out of the ark, to every beast of the earth. And I will establish my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth. And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud: And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth. And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant, which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth.