“A Look into Heaven”
By
Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr.
OPENING: - If you have ever seen a movie or television program more than likely you saw it because you see the previews of it before hand. A preview is an inspection or viewing of something before it is bought or becomes generally known and available. It is a sneak peak of what it to come. The purpose of a preview is to cause excitement and desire to experience for yourself the entire thing, rather that is a movie, a show, or a computer program etc.
My wife and I love to cruise and before we go on the cruise, I will look at YouTube videos to get a preview of what certain places have to offer. I search out the secret off the tourist path places to find the excitement and experiences that others have had. What this does is causes me to really become excited about where we are going and causes me to countdown the time until we are there.
Well, the book of Revelation is a preview of Heaven and things to come. In Revelation chapters 1-3 John, who represents the church, has a vision while he is exiled on the Isle of Patmos. This is a very significant point that we must not miss. John is exiled on the Isle of Patmos, he is in the world but not of the world, he is separated from the world. We are in the world but are not of the world, we are separated, sanctified, set apart unto God. John 17:11 &14-16 says, “And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one as we are one. I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world”.
WATCH THIS: - So, Revelation 1-3 deals with the church age being here on earth, that’s us right now. In chapter 4 there is a shift, things change and the church, represented by John is in Heaven now having been Raptured, Harpazo, Caught Up, snatched away, Gathered unto Him. Chapter 4 we are drawn to Heaven where we shall See God seated on the throne, and we shall Hear the sounds of Heaven, and experience the Sensations of Heaven. Paul said in 2 Corinthians 12 heard unspeakable words which could not be uttered but in Revelation 4 we get to see, hear and feel everything – this is just a Preview!
So, let’s Look into Heaven – A Preview
PRAYER: -
SCRIPTURE: - Revelation 4:1-11.
TEXT: - Revelation 4:1-3 says, “After this I looked, and behold a door was open in heaven: and the first voice 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. 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 jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald”.
Verse 1 says, “After this I looked, and behold a door was open in heaven”. After what, after writing to the 7 churches of Revelation, after dealing with the Church Age, prophetically at the end of the church here on earth – After this. I looked and behold a door was open in heaven, remember when a door is mentioned in scripture it prophetically is dealing with the rapture of the church, the coming together of the church and Jesus Christ. Behold I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me Revelation 3:20. That’s the coming together of man and God.
Before I go any further let me say this Heaven is opened only twice in the Book of Revelation the 1st time is here to receive John, who represents the church into Heaven Revelation 4:1 and the 2nd time in Revelation 19:11 when Jesus and His saints come out of heaven to war against the nations better known as the Battle of Armageddon.
John looked and saw a door open in heaven and the first voice 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. WATCH THIS:- the first voice I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me:- He didn’t say it was like many thundering’s, he didn’t say it was like many rivers, he said it was like a trumpet 1 Thessalonians 4:16 says, “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”. What John hears is the Rapture call, this was not and is not just a vision but an actual event. Other prophets like Daniel, Isaiah, and Ezekiel had visions of Heaven but John actually is taken up into Heaven into the Throne room of God. John hears the voice of the Lord talking to him and He says Come up hither. We know without a doubt according to 1 Thessalonians 4:16 we shall hear His voice and I truly believe we will hear Him saying Come up hither, for sure He will say Come just like He told Peter when Peter asked if it be Him bid him to come and Jesus said come. Just like when He called Lazarus from the grave, He said Lazarus come forth, when He called John, He said Come up hither, it will be the same for us in the Rapture.
WATCH THIS: - Jesus finished dealing with the churches in chapters 2&3, then after dealing with the church on earth Jesus calls John up to heaven, “Harpazo” catching him away with the voice that sounded like a trumpet. We must understand the timing of this, this all happens before the great wrath that will happen in chapter 6 this is Pre-Tribulation. From this point on John is looking from heaven upon earth from this point on.
and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. I will let you see, give you a preview of what Heaven is like and what is to come. John is now seeing into the future after the church is Raptured the things to come deal with the Tribulation period, the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, the Messianic Kingdom, the Tribulation Period, Christ Millennial Reign, the New Jerusalem, the White Throne Judgment and Eternity.
Verse 2 says, “And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne”. John says immediately, this is a quick, rapid, fast period of time, 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 says, “Behold I shew you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall be changed, 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”. And immediately - in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye the Greek word “atomos” is used for moment it is the smallest amount of time possible, it is where were get the word Atom from which is the smallest particle. When the Rapture happens it will be quick, there will not be time to get ready before you can blink your eye it will have happened and only those that were ready will be caught up to meet him in the air.
I was in the spirit: Now John was already in the spirit Revelation 1:10 states that, but this is another level of the spirit, this is going from glory to glory a deeper experience of the spirit a double portion of spirit.
behold: - pay close attention because what is about to come is extraordinary.
a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. The 1st thing John sees is a throne, the symbol of sovereign reign and rule and God, the King of kings, the King of Heaven and Earth sitting on the throne. Notice John didn’t see 3 sitting on a throne or thrones he saw one the fulness of the godhead, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit all wrapped up in the One God the expressed image of God Jesus Christ. Jesus is not God the Son, but embodies all of God, including the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and that is what John sees when he enters heaven and what we shall see also. The 1st thing we shall see is God sitting on the throne. The fact that He is sitting is indicative that the work has been completed. When Steven was stoned in Acts 7:55 the Bible says, “But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God”. There was still work that needed to be completed, but when John arrives in Heaven, he sees one sitting on the throne, the work had been completed.
Verse 3 says, “And he that sat was to look upon like jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald”. Jasper is a transparent or translucent color of clear crystal probably like a diamond. Revelation 21:11 says, “Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal”. Sarine (Sardis) is blood-red or the ruby. The two colors together represent the glory and sacrifice of God.
Also, there is another meaning of the colors and the order that they are mentioned. Exodus 28:17-21 says, “And thou shalt set in it settings of stones, even four rows of stones: the first row shall be sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle: this shall be the first row. And the second row shall be an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond. And the third row a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst. And the forth row a beryl, and an onyx, and a jasper: they shall be set in gold in their inclosings. And the stones shall be with the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names, like the engravings of a signet; everyone with his name shall they be according to the twelve tribes”. This is describing the breastplate that the high priest wore. However, when John sees the throne and God sitting on the throne, he describes what he sees and says Jasper and Sardine (sardius) on the breast plate the High Priest wore Sardius was the 1st stone in the breastplate, which represented Reuben (Behold I have a son) the first born son of Israel (Jacob) and Jasper was the last stone representing Benjamin (Son of my right hand) the last son of Jacob. What John sees is Jasper and Sardius indicating the last shall be first and the first shall be last.
and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald”. Understand rainbows are full circles, we only see half of the rainbow because of the curvature of the earth but a rainbow is a full circle, it is infinite, has no beginning or end. John describes a rainbow round about the throne and the color of it is emerald (green). The full circle rainbow round about the throne points to the eternal nature of God the one on the throne who has neither a beginning nor an ending. If we go back to the breastplate of the high priest, we see the second row the 1st stone is the emerald stone. The emerald stone represented Levi which is the priestly tribe; therefore the throne circled roundabout with an emerald rainbow indicates that this heavenly throne is the throne of the King and Priest connecting the two offices in the One person Christ just as the Bible says in Zechariah 6:12-13 “And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the Lord of host, saying, Behold the man whose name is THE BRANCH (all caps); and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord: Even he shall build the temple of the Lord; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be priest upon his throne; and the counsel of peace shall between them both”.
Verse 4 says, “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”. Now there have been many discussions and debates about who these four-twenty (24) elders and this is what I believe and scriptures to support this belief. 1st and foremost there are 24 if we divide this in two, we 12 & 12 representing the 12 tribes of Israel and the 12 apostles and these 24 represent the church as a whole, the Old Testament, the ecclesia, the church in the wilderness, and the New Testament church, the body of Christ, you and me.
We know they are not angelic beings because they are called elders and elder is a term used for leaders in the church. Titus 1:5 says, “To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour. For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set-in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee”. Also, the elders have never been seen or mentioned as being in heaven before. Remember Isaiah, Daniel and Ezekiel had visions of heaven and neither ever mentioned the elders before but after the Rapture, after Revelation 4:1-2 then we hear of the elders – so the elders don’t appear in heaven until after the rapture happens. Then there is the position of these elders, they are seated upon seats angels are never mentioned as sitting in heaven. Sitting in heaven is a promise given to the overcomer in Revelation 3:21 “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne”. Finally, what these elders have on lets us know that they are not angelic beings. They are clothed in white raiment which is the righteousness of God the white raiment speaks of being redeemed and purified. This was a promise to the church of Sardis in Revelation 3:4 “Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy”. As well has what they have on their heads crowns of gold, these crowns are given to those who have overcome, they are wearing the Crown of Life Revelation 2:10, the Incorruptible Crown 1 Corinthians 9:24-25, the Crown of Rejoicing 1 Thessalonians 2:19, the Crown of Righteousness 2 Timothy 4:8, and the Crown of Glory 1 Peter 5:4 angelic beings are never mentioned as wearing a crown.
So, I believe that these 24 elders represent the entire church Old and New Testament coming together in heaven round the Throne of God.
Verses 5 & 6 says, “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. And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.”
Here we see, hear, and experience some wonderful sensations of heaven. Out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices. This represents the power of God who sits upon the throne. I am sure you have experienced a severe thunderstorm in your life, not just a little boom here and there, but a thunderstorm that causes everything around you to shake, lightning that makes the midnight sky look like it is high noon, and the whistling wind sounds like it is actually screaming and talking to you. I remember when my wife and I first moved to Florida and went through are 2nd hurricane, the 1st one was not that bad, but the 2nd one the thunder shock everything around us, the lightning was so fierce and rapid that it seemed like it was early afternoon when it was actually late at night and the wind blew so fierce unlike a sound we had ever heard before. We were in our home scared and panicking because this was a new experience for us. I remember telling my wife if we live through this, we will evacuate the next time because this is no joke we were expecting the palm tree outside our window to come through it at any time. This is what John is describing here the Awesome Power of God.
Then it goes on to say and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. This is the Full Spirit of God, the complete spirit of God. Romans 8:23 says, “And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit…”. The firstfruits of the spirit is only part of the spirit, the earnest portion of the spirit, we only have a portion of the spirit now. Ephesians 1:13-14 says, “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory”. The earnest is a portion of the promise but when we get to heaven, we will experience the fulness of His spirit, the fulness of joy, the fulness of His goodness, the fulness of God that is the seven spirits of God, the complete fulness of His Glory and Majesty.
The Spirit of God are:-
1) The Spirit of the Lord
2) The Spirit of wisdom
3) The Spirit of understanding
4) The Spirit of counsel
5) The Spirit of power
6) The Spirit of knowledge
7) The Spirit of the fear of the Lord
And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: This is the Peace of God yes, we seen the awesome power of God and experience the fulness of His Spirit, but here we experience the perfect peace of God. A sea of glass like unto crystal. As you know my wife and I love to cruise and there is nothing like cruising when the seas are like glass. The wind is not blowing, the waves are not rumbling, there are not white caps in the ocean, just the reflection of the clouds and sun on the smooth ocean. It is truly peaceful, relaxing, calming, soothing and utmost enjoyable. Here John lets us know that there is peace in heaven before the throne of God, in this world there is trouble, Isaiah 17:12 says, “Woe to the multitude of many people, which make a noise like the noise of the seas; and to the rushing of nations, that make a rushing like the rushing of mighty waters”. That’s not peaceful but before the throne is a calmness like we never experienced before, there is no fear, no panic, no stress just a sea of glass perfectly still and perfect peace a peace that passeth all understanding.
Verses 6b – 11 says, “and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created”.
John saw four beasts - living creatures, between the throne and the circle of the elders, standing between God and the people. They do not, like the angels, fulfil the purposes of God in relation to men; they are distinct from the angels Revelation 5:11. These beasts, seem to signify the true ministers of God, because of their place between God and the people. Then there is the description given, denoting wisdom, courage, diligence, and discretion. They represent the ideal pattern of the true relation of creation to its God.
The lion and the calf (ox) are symbols of power and strength; man and the eagle are symbols of wisdom and freedom. They are the ultimate, angelic, true praise team.
Four beasts (living creatures) full of eyes – When we compare Ezekiel 1:4-14 & 10:20-22 we see the creatures are Cherubim the angelic beings surrounding the throne of God. Lucifer was once one of these angelic beings Ezekiel 28:14. Their multitude of eyes indicate that these living creatures are not blind instruments or robots, they have understanding and a greater insight and perception than any man.
And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. The safest way to describe the four beasts is to say they represent all of animate creation in its utmost excellence and intelligence. The Lion is the mightiest of wild animals, the ox (calf) the strongest of domesticated animals, the eagle is king of flying animals and man is highest of all creation on earth.
And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever. The 6 wings unlike when they are described in Ezekiel 2 to cover their face, 2 to cover their feet, and 2 to fly, they don’t here cover anything, nothing is hidden for this is the Revelation of Jesus Christ, they move constantly and swiftly. They do not rest day of night saying Holy, Holy, Holy. God’s Holy nature and character is declared and emphasized with a 3 times repetition. It is the only attribute of God that is repeated 3 times. In Hebrew a double repetition adds emphasis like verily verily but a 3 times repetition designates a superlative, which is the highest quality unparalleled, and preeminent degree of praise.
Lord God Almighty from the Greek indicating the One who has His hand on everything.
which was, and is, and is to come. This indicates God’s eternal Being and translates the meaning behind the name Yahweh.
Verses 9-11 And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
When the living creatures (Beasts) give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth forever and ever WATCH THIS: - the four and twenty elders, the church, the body of Christ, all of us that have been Raptured, “Harpazo”, Caught Up fall down (lay prostrate, bow down) before Him and worship Him that liveth forever and ever. I have been and I know you have been in services where we have been drunk in the spirit, we worshipped God to the fullest, but it doesn’t compare to the worship we will do in Heaven.
and cast their crowns before the throne, Casting the crowns is an act of the declaration of worship and praise and a symbol of absolute authority saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
Our Worship states that God is worthy to receive glory for what He has done and who He is. Only God could have created everything by His will and word, only God could have stepped out onto nothing and created everything that is. Because of God we live move and have our being. He is worthy of all praise.
CLOSING: - In my closing when we look at Revelation 4 and think about Heaven the song plays in my spirit When we all get to heaven what a day of rejoicing that will be. When we all see Jesus, we’ll sing and shout the victory. Let us then be true and faithful. Trusting serving every day Just one glimpse of Him in glory will the toils of life repay. Onward to the prize before us! Soon His beauty we’ll behold; Soon the pearly gates will open We shall tread the streets of gold. When we all get to heaven what a day of rejoicing that will be. When we all see Jesus, we’ll sing and shout the victory.
C.H. Surgeon once said “Because the 24 elders represent all the people of God, the worship, the crown, the robes, the heart of these 24 elders belongs to us also. There is a throne in heaven that no one can occupy but you, and there is a crown in heaven that no other head can wear but yours, and there is a part in the eternal song that no voice can ever compass but yours, and there is a glory to God that would be wanting if you did not come to render it, and there is a part of infinite majesty and glory that would never be reflected unless you should reflect it”.
So, let’s make sure that we all make it to Heaven.
Revelation 4 just gives us a preview of what is to come. Just like the movie preview shows just some of the movie and causes us to desire to see the whole thing Revelation 4 is just a preview that causes us to desire to get to Heaven.
Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr.
