A Door Standing Open in Heaven

Revelation 4:1-5:14

Key Verse 4:1

After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this."

This passage esp. the key verse, particularly the word "open" (in the title "a door standing open") indicates that the way of salvation (the purpose of which is to worship God the Father fully) still remains open. For those who are not accepting this offer, only a dreadful judgment is in order.

Notice that chapter 4 talks about salvation whereas chapter 5 talks about judgment. 

Note No. 1: the expression "must take place" is different from "will take place", for it emphasizes God's commitment to restoring the purpose of creation that is, the worship of God by all creation, whereas “will take place” seems to be devoid of God’s will.

Note No. 2: worship of the Lord is the supreme purpose of man, for it alone is the source of infinite satisfaction, because that is the way man is designed to be, that is to say that man was made in the image of God. 

1. Read verse 1. What does "this" in "After this" refer to? When did John first hear a voice speaking to him? (Rev 1:10) 

** "This" refers us back to the vision described in the previous chapters, particularly the words of the Lord Jesus addressed to the seven churches.

** It was when he was incarcerated in a prison at Patmos as a prisoner who came to be in chains for preaching the gospel of Jesus.

2. Read verses 2-3. Who is that "someone" seated on a throne? (4:8;11) What appearance did he have? 

** God the Father who does not have a body like the one we are wearing. 

** V. 3 (indicating his glory) Note: the rainbow reminds us of his promise (of grace) given to Noah. Gen 8:13

3. Read verse 4. Who are the "twenty four elders"? (Rev 3:20-22) How are they dressed? What do they wear on their heads? What does verse 4 suggest about them?

** They are the ones who overcame the enemies (like himself, the world, and the devil) all by faith in Jesus Christ. 

** In white.  This color indicates that they are made righteous through the blood of Jesus Christ.

** Crowns of gold

** They are made righteous in the Lord and were made children of God, with royal characters, such as being kind to enemies who persecute them, or keeping them pure like a virgin bride despite the corruption of the world. 

4. Read verse 5. What does this passage indicate about the one seated on the throne? 

** 5a - the manifestation of his power

** 5b - the essence (or substance) of his power, i.e., seven spirits of God

5. Read verses 6-11. Verse 8 records what the four living creatures say day and night, and verse 11 describes what the elders say in worship of the one on the throne. What do their words tell us about the one seated on the throne? Why do they lay their crowns before him during the worship? 

** He is holy. He is the Lord Almighty. He is the Creator. He sustains our existence. 

** It is because they became what they became not because of their own merits but because of God's grace and mercy. 

6. Read Revelation 5:1-14. What is the scroll referring to? (6:1-3,5,7,9,12; 8:1 et seq.) Why is it that he alone is worthy to open it? (5,6,9,10,12,13) Who is he (the Lamb)? 

** God's wrath and anger against all who reject God's way of salvation (that is, Jesus Christ) and persist in their rebellion to the end. 

** He did all he could to save people, so for those who still reject his offer and rebel, he can now judge them, punishing them for their rejection of the Lamb. 

** Jesus Christ

7. Verses 7-14 describe the worship of the Lamb. Who participates in this worship? With what words of praise? 

** The angelic beings including the four living creatures, and the twenty four elders. 

** Words of praise are slightly different, because angelic beings do not talk about the blood of Jesus, but the elders talk about it because they sinned and yet Jesus bought them with his blood sacrifice. But the angelic beings do not talk about redemption but just God's holiness and his glory in general; they do not know what it is to sin, repent, and be saved. 

The end