Another View

Excerpt from - Daniel and the Revelation by Uriah Smith

Page 407

Revelation Chapter 4

Before the Throne of God

Verse 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 show thee things which must be hereafter.

In the first three chapters, John presented the vision he had of the Son of man. He described His majestic person, and recorded the words which He uttered with a voice as the sound of many waters. A NEW scene and a NEW vision now open before us.

The expression "after this" does not denote that what is recorded in Revelation 4 and onward was to take place after the fulfillment of everything recorded in the three preceding chapters. It means ONLY that after the prophet had seen and heard what is there recorded, he had the new view which he now introduces.

"A Door Was Opened in Heaven."--

Let it be noticed that John says, "A door was opened in heaven," NOT into heaven.

This expression reads literally in the Greek, "Behold, a door open in heaven." It was not an opening of heaven itself before the mind of John, as in the case of Stephen (Acts 7: 56), but some place in heaven was open before him, and he was permitted to behold what was taking place WITHIN. That what John saw open was the HEAVENLY SANCTUARY, will plainly appear from other parts of the book.

"Things Which Must Be Hereafter."--Compare this with Revelation 1: 1. The great object of the Revelation seems to be the presentation of future events which will inform, edify, and comfort the church.

Rev 1:1  The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John

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When we are stressing something important about to take place, do we often stress it by talking about it more than once and sometimes when we talk about it more than once we talk about it in different ways, all towards the same end. This is truth! We don't lie when we tell our tale in a different way, we encourage a deeper understanding by relaying it in a new way. Our Savior throughout the book of Revelation will do this. We are being shown TRUTH, and our Savior really wants us to know the truth. Our Savior wishes to give us EVERY opportunity possible to know Him, to know Love, real love.

By His grace may we learn! Bless us LORD, bless us!

We would know all that You would have us know!

All in Your love!

Now and forever, amen!