Then as I looked, I saw a door standing open in heaven, and the same voice I had heard before spoke to me like a trumpet blast. The voice said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after this.” And instantly I was in the Spirit, and I saw a throne in heaven and someone sitting on it. – Revelation 4:1-2
I found a wonderful truth in these first two verses of chapter four. John looked and saw a door standing open in heaven. A voice said, “Come up here…” and INSTANTLY he was in the Spirit. In the moment when John was seeking and God was calling, John was entered into the presence of God through the Spirit.
Two other verses comes to mind this morning as I soak in these two verses – a powerful truth spoken to Jesus during his sermon on the mount.
“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.” – Matthew 7:7-8
When John looked, he saw. There was an open door to the presence of God and all he had to do was look toward God to see the opportunity to enter into the glorious presence of His Creator. A door exists for us as well. Just as John looked toward God, we can seek God. We can respond to this access by “knocking” and the door will be open.
But that’s not all. We are not the only one knocking on the door to a place where we can commune with God. Just as we knock in hopes of entering into the presence of the God who loves us – just as we seek Him out – He also draws us to Himself by knocking on the door.
“Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. Those who are victorious will sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat with my Father on his throne.” – Revelation 3:20-21
Even when we are distracted by life and in a place where we are not seeking God, He faithfully stands at the door knocking. His voice continues to say, “Come.” When we turn our hearts toward God, we find Him. He is ready to share a meal with us – a symbol of friendship and fellowship. He draws us into a covenant relationship with Him. All we have to do is respond to His invitation.
When we look to God and hear His voice calling us, we can be brought into His presence through the Spirit. When this happens, we are able to see all that He wants to show us. For John, this “meal” shared together opened up the opportunity to see an incredible moment before the throne in heaven – to see the beauty of a God worthy of Heaven’s praise. Our minds feebly attempt to picture this heavenly moment and still it is beautiful.
It makes me wonder what kind of beauty God would like to reveal to us this morning. The door is open. Are we looking? Are we willing to let the Spirit instantly take us into God’s presence this morning so that He can show us what He longs to reveal?
The one sitting on the throne was as brilliant as gemstones – like jasper and carnelian. And the glow of an emerald circled his throne like a rainbow. Twenty-four thrones surrounded him, and twenty-four elders sat on them. They were all clothed in white and had gold crowns on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning and the rumble of thunder. And in front of the throne were seven torches with burning flames. This is the sevenfold Spirit of God. In front of the throne was a shiny sea of glass, sparkling like crystal.
In the center and around the throne were four living beings, each covered with eyes, front and back. The first of these living beings was like a lion; the second was like an ox; the third had a human face; and the fourth was like an eagle in flight. Each of these living beings had six wings, and their wings were covered all over with eyes, inside and out. Day after day and night after night they keep on saying,
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty – the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come.”
Whenever the living beings give glory and honor and thanks to the One sitting on the throne (the One who lives forever and ever), the twenty four elders fall down and worship the One sitting on the throne (the One who lives forever and ever). And they lay their crowns before the throne and say,
“You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power.
For you created all things, and they exit because you created what you pleased.” – Revelation 4:3-11