Today, I'd like to simply look at the first verse of chapter 4.
After these things I looked and behold a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying "Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this"
The "after these things" is no doubt a reference to the things of chapters 2-3, which comprise 7 letters from Jesus to 7 actual churches that existed in John's day. These letters are also believed by many to comprise the entire age of the church, from the early church to the last days church.
So, the after these things may indeed be referencing the church age, and what is recorded for us in chapter 4, would be the things that will happen after the church age, or at the end of the church age. This is a very commonly held view by many very respected Bible commentators and scholars.
John tells us that "I looked and behold a door standing open in heaven" This is what he saw. A door that was open in heaven. He could see in past the door, looking into heaven itself.
Then, he says, "And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me" Later he will tell us what else he heard, but right off the bat, he heard this first voice. We don't know whose voice it was, only that it was a voice, and that it sounded like a trumpet speaking to him.
"Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this" So, John was being invited as it were to come up into heaven itself, to be shown the things which would take place after the church age.
Some things to consider........
1. After is a word meaning, hereafter, or with, that is, with this comes something later, or afterwards. And, we know from the Bible of course that there is something after this life, and the Bible calls it the "hereafter" It's the the after part, it's what comes after this life.
See Proverbs 23:18 for an encouraging promise about the next life.
2. We are blessed to have the Bible to tell us what is coming after the things of this life.
That is essentially what the Book of Revelation is about. God unveils for us, through Jesus Christ, His plans for the next life, and more specifically, the plans He has for the very end of the worlds existence as we know it.
3. John was enabled to see this door that was open and that was in heaven. An open door in heaven. Not only is heaven a real place, but there is a door now to heaven. That door is Jesus Christ Himself. John 10:9 "I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture"
4. John heard a voice speaking to him, it was like a trumpet, very distinct and easily heard.
The Word of God the Bible is the voice of God as it were. It is very clear, very easy to be heard, and there is God's message to us in the Bible.
5. The invitation to John, was to "Come up here ......." How glorious, how wonderful to have this invitation. It's an invitation that has been extended to many of you who are reading this devotional today. You may have accepted the invitation already, that is, you have come to Christ the door, and are now saved, and you are on your way to heaven someday. Or you may be considering what you have heard. I pray you will accept Jesus Christ
6. There are things which must take place after this. God does have a plan, and He will see to it, that His plan does take place. You can count on it. God has promised it to you. What a blessing to know that God does have a plan for us for the future.
Blessings to you.
Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia
