AFTER THIS I LOOKED, AND, BEHOLD, A DOOR WAS OPENED IN HEAVEN- Revelation 4

Chesswood Baptist Church

Where Everybody is Somebody

Pastor Howard Daniel, Jr.

4357 US Hwy 59 South

P.O. Box 343

Livingston, Texas 77351

936-327-8870

MINISTRY OF THE WORD

AFTER THIS I LOOKED, AND, BEHOLD,

A DOOR WAS OPENED IN HEAVEN

PASTOR HOWARD DANIEL, JR.

SUNDAY MORNING, APRIL 3, 2016

SCRIPTURE READING: REVELATION 4: 1-3

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.

1.	BACKGROUND
	a.	Please refer to the February 28, 2016 Evening Message for the Background

2.	INTRODUCTION
	a.	We have looked extensively at Seven Churches in Asia Minor reflecting Church history from Pentecost to the Rapture. Looking at the Church of Thyatira, Sardis and Philadelphia and Laodicea we can clearly see local Churches of today.
	b.	We must keep in mind that God has laid out a division in the Book of Revelation. It is three fold. Revelation 1:19, *Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;*
	c.	We have looked at the things which John had seen in Chapter 1. The Glorified Christ is revealed through the Seven Spirits of God, and the Seven Titles which set forth His credentials.
	d.	We have just concluded Chapter 2 and 3 which speaks to the Church Age. We go from the Church of Ephesus the Apostolic Church to the Apostate Church that came into focus as we draw close to the end of the age.
	e.	There are several striking things that we must keep in mind as we discuss the events of Chapter 4. It is evident that we are now dealing with the third division of this marvelous book-“the things which shall be hereafter.”
	f.	Up until this point the church has been mentioned at least 19 times. In Chapter 4-22, we find the Church is not mentioned one single time.
	g.	The question would arise, “what has happened to the Church?” God promised the Church of Philadelphia that because they had kept His Word He would keep them from the hour of temptation that shall come upon all the Earth. This speaks of the Great Tribulation Period which is a judgment for Israel.
	h.	As we proceed we see a definite shift. Previous actions that were looked at in the Book of Revelation takes place upon the Earth. Reflected in Verse 1 of Chapter 4 the scene is now in Heaven.
	i.	This revelation was given to John on the Isle of Patmos. Christ said of His own, that they were not of this world. He will in fact take his own out of this world at the Rapture. John 17:16, They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Revelation 22:16, I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
	j.	As the scene shifts to Heaven, the Church has been raptured. Some would say that rapture is not in the Bible, but “caught up” is in the Bible. There is no question, God tells us in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, 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: 17: 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.
	k.	1 Corinthians 15:51-52, Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, *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. At this point all born again believer who are in Christ will get a Glorified body.
	l.	As we begin Chapter 4 we find the Church enters the door that is open in Heaven. The Church did not open the door. The door was already open. John 10:9, I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
	m.	We must remember the Church is composed of born again believers. Let me be perfectly clear about this, this does not have anything to do with certain demonization. I know there is error that says “we are the Church because of our name.”
	n.	I do not believe that everyone will go in any Church. I do believe that there are some born again believers in every Church. I used the previous study on the Seven Churches to come to my conclusion. The Church is a called out body.
	o.	We find as we look closely there was 24 elders and they were representative of the Church in Heaven. The Church is referred to as “the Bride of Christ.” It is referred to as the Church and it will be referred to in Heaven as “The Bride of Christ.”
	p.	I have previously stated “The Church will not go through the Tribulation Period.” My remarks were limited to the Church of Philadelphia and not the Apostate Church of Laodicea which 2 Timothy 3:5, Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. Revelation 3:1, And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.
	q.	The true Church is is the one where the members individually has accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as Personal Saviour. As we look ahead to Chapter 6 that there were some provisions and God made some promises. The promises He made will be fulfilled and He will deliver judgment. Our Salvation is based solely on God’s unconditional promise. We must remember than an unconditional promise depends only on the one who is making that promise. Therefore I would conclude that our Salvation is strictly God’s business. It has nothing to do with our “good” or “bad” that we are.
	r.	We do find terminology in: Revelation 7:17, For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
	s.	This “lamb” is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ who will not only take away the sin of the world but He will also judge the quick and the dead. Meaning there will be a “Great White Throne Judgement” for unbelievers and the “Judgment Seat of Christ” where every believer will be required to attend.
	t.	As we open Chapter 4 we find as we return to our verse by verse study that it is very vivid, 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.
	u.	I said before that the Church did not open this door but it was already open in Heaven.
	v.	Adam plunged the whole human race into sin. The Lord Jesus Christ is our mediator and buys us back. 1 Corinthians 15:22, For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. We must keep this in mind as we study the rest of this particular Chapter.
	x.	With this introduction, let’s begin our verse by verse study

3.	THREE POINTS TO THE MESSAGE
	a.	After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven:
		1.	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.
		2.	“After this I looked,”– means after the Church age is revealed in Chapters 2 and 3 and a picture of the Glorified Christ in Chapter 1.
		3.	The Church has been taken out with this invitation and we will see later on it says “Come up hither,” After John looks “a door was opened in heaven:” This door in Heaven is the door believers will walk through. The Authorized King James Version 1611, is very clear that the door was already open. Believers pass through this door in order to have complete and total salvation.
		4.	Jesus Christ is the only one who provides salvation on the basis of our belief. John 14:6, Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. Jesus also reminds us in John 10:9, I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. So we see clearly that the door opened in Heaven is the Lord Jesus Christ.
		5.	He is also the one who provided salvation for us as we believe the record that God has given of His Son. 1 John 5:11, And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
		6.	The only way to enter is by faith which must be placed in none other than Jesus Christ. Hebrews 11:6, But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
		7.	This establishes the fact that Heaven is a real place. Remember if Heaven is a real place then Hell is a real place. Heaven is a place prepared for believers, and Hell is a place for unbelievers.
		8.	We must not allow modern day terminology to add confusion as to whether these two exist or not. In many cases Hell is being changed to Hades and the grave.
		9.	It is being changed from the place of torment to the place of pain. There is a difference between torment and pain.
		10.	The Bible is clear that there is a Heaven to gain and a Hell to shun.
		11.	Notice that it says “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.”
		12.	This is a call to the true Church to meet Christ in the air. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, 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: *17:* 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.
		13.	This trumpet that is speaking is symbolic of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus’ voice is like a trumpet. This is the voice that Paul wrote about in Thessalonians.
		14.	For those who question whether there is a Rapture of the church or not it is extremely important to notice the words “come up hither.”
		15.	This means that John was invited to come up to Heaven. When Christ calls us in the air He invites us to come and only those who have reservations will be able to go at that time.
		16.	Our reservations depend on what we have done with Jesus Christ. If He is truly our Saviour then we have a ticket to go.
		17.	Notice how fast we go. 2 Corinthians 5:8, We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. Sometimes people question and say there is no rapture in the Bible. It speaks of “caught up” or “come up hither.”
		18.	After the church age is completed, John is invited to come up hither. Notice why he is invited. “I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.” The Lord takes the Church out. When this happens the Tribulation Period will start. One hundred forty four thousand Jewish missionaries will be commissioned to carry the Gospel to the world. Revelation 14:3-4, And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. 4: These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.

b.	And immediately I was in the spirit:
	1.	Revelation 4:2, *And immediately I was in the spirit:* and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.
	2.	“immediately” – means there was some urgency.
	3.	As soon as John sees the door was open he was able to hear the voice of the trumpet then the invitation was given to come up hither. Scripture is about to unfold the things which shall be hereafter.
	4.	The quickness of the immediate situation is given in 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.
	5.	“And immediately I was in the spirit:” – means these are spiritual things.
	6.	We have already been told to not dwell on temporal things. 2 Corinthians 4:18, While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
	7.	John is in the Spirit. This means the Holy Spirit is providing the illumination here. John 16:13, Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
	8.	The Holy Spirit comes to dwell in our heart in order to keep us from error. “a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.”
	9.	We are dealing with Heavenly things now. We have talked about the door being always opened and now we are directed to the throne in Heaven. The universal Sovereignty and the ruler-ship of God the Father, the Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit means He is the controller of everything.
	10.	The minute men and women can discover the fact that we don’t control anything, we own nothing and we have to depend on the Lord for our next breath, we would be a better people.
	11.	Jesus is referred to in many cases as the Word of God. He is indeed the Living Word that is sitting at the right hand of the Throne of God making intercessions for us. John 1:1-3 &14, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2: The same was in the beginning with God. 3: All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 14: And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. Hebrews 7:25, Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
	12.	The Lord is in His Holy Temple which is in Heaven.
	13.	His eyes behold the tears of men and women down through the years. Psalms 47:8, God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness. Psalms 97:2, Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne. Psalms 103:19, The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.
	14.	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. 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. *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. These verses give us a vivid picture of the Throne of God and Jesus sitting at His right hand.
	15.	Psalms 110:1, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. Hebrews 1:3, Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; Hebrews 12:2, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
	16.	Jesus Christ is involved in all the events that take place on the face of the earth and in Heaven as well.
	17.	The Throne of Grace has now become the Throne of Judgment.
	18.	This is another reason why the church has been taken out of the world. Immediately as believers, we go to the Judgment Seat of Christ to be judged for our stewardship. 2 Corinthians 5:10, For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
	19.	The judgment of unbelievers will not take place at this time; it will take place later on as they take their place at the Great White Throne Judgment not clothed in the righteousness of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Revelation 20:11, And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

c.	And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone:
	1.	Revelation 4:3, *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. These are beautiful colors describing the precious stone which gives us a vivid picture of God and His throne. I have stated before that He is never to be photographed; He is too big for any photo that man would ever make or any picture man would ever paint. The sixty-six books of the King James Bible clearly show us a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ.
	2.	We cannot understand all the ways and the things of God. Isaiah 55:8, For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. This is the throne of the Triune God. God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.
	3.	Yes, the Bible does teach there is a trinity contrary to what men and women think. 1 John 5:7, For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
	4.	God uses the brilliant and brightness of precious stones and beautiful colors to describe the scene. Revelation 4:3, 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. If we analyze the Word of God we will find out that the jasper stone was the last stone identified in the breast plate of the high priest.
	5.	Exodus 28:20, And the fourth row a beryl, and an onyx, and a jasper: they shall be set in gold in their inclosings. It was the first in the foundation of New Jerusalem and also the first in the wall of Jerusalem.
	6.	Revelation 21:18-19, And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.19: And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;
	7.	This stone was a multi-colored stone. It had purple dominating. We would identify it with a diamond. It was in the breast plate of the high priest of Israel representing little Benjamin who Jacob called “The son of my right hand.”
	8.	Perhaps this might speak of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself as He ascended and took His place at the right hand of the Father.
	9.	Notice the Sardius stone is the sixth stone in the foundation of New Jerusalem. Revelation 21:20, The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. As we learn more about the sardius stone it is fiery red and represents the tribe of Reuben the first born of Jacob.
	10.	Christ is the Son of God; the first born from the dead. Also in Luke 2:7, And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
	11.	It is very damaging for us to allow men to tamper with the Word of God. This is not the one and only son, this is the firstborn son. Where there is a firstborn there is a second, which reflects the fact that Mary had other children.
	12.	God has said exactly what He wants to say and when we rightly divide the Word all Scripture will fit together; although it was written by forty different authors over a period of 1500 years.
	13.	“and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.” The emerald is a green shade of color. Ezekiel 1:28, 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.
	14.	After the judgment of the flood, the rainbow appeared to remind God’s people of the covenant that He would never destroy the earth again with a flood. Genesis 9:13-15, I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. 14: And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud: 15: 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.
	15.	Appearance of the rainbow before the judgment of the Tribulation Period is a reminder that a flood will not be used in this judgment. The green color is the color of the earth and is suggested in Habakkuk 3:2, O LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy.
	16.	The wrath of the great tribulation will take place on the earth. Notice the words of this prophet in wrath remember mercy.

4.	CONCLUSION
	a.	My sinner friend, if you don’t know Jesus as personal Saviour, none of this is possible for you.
	b.	Would you come to the side of the living Saviour today?
	c.	Regardless of the fact that we have projected ourselves into eternity, the present is we must come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ in this life.
	d.	If we don’t know Him, we will be subjected to the wrath of God.
	e.	The Bible says in Romans 3:23, For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
	f.	Romans 3:10, As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
	g.	Romans 10:9-10, That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10: For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
	h.	Matthew 11:28-29, Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29: Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
	i.	Would you come to the side of the living Saviour today and be saved.
	j.	Please stand.

AFTER THIS I LOOKED, AND, BEHOLD, A DOOR WAS OPENED IN HEAVEN- Revelation 4

Author: Daniel

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