Heaven
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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.
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."
At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with Someone sitting on it.
And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.
In these two verses we have moved from earth to heaven, and from the then present to what is to come.
We have moved from Christ standing among the candlesticks (churches), to the Father on His eternal throne.
From this point on in the Book of Revelation, we are thrown ahead in time.
The question most Bible students ask is, "How far ahead?" Do we see in Revelation an unfolding of church history, as some have argued. Or are we seeing events associated with history's end?
Whichever position we take, the powerful images and terrible descriptions continue to remind us that our God is a flaming fire; a God whose righteousness and whose justice will surely strike terror in the hearts of those who reject Him.
The general framework for a futurist interpretation is provided in Rev. 1:19.
There John is told to write "what you have seen, what is now" (Rev. 2-3) and "what will take place later" (Rev. 4-21).
Lord God Almighty
Seated on a throne, in a blinding riot of color, is a figure. Lightning plays around Him, flashing on four angelic beings who praise Him day and night, saying: Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.
And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.
Just beyond this inner circle are 24 elders, who also worship.
They joyfully lay their crowns before the throne and say: You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things, and by Your will they were created and have their being.
Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
This first vision of God immediately focuses our attention on His holiness. He, the Eternal, the Creator, the Source of all being, is holy, holy, holy.
What we are about to see in the events of history to come is a revelation of the holiness of God.
That revelation of holiness does not repel those who know Him. Instead, it stimulates those who live in His presence to worship Him and give Him "glory, and honor and thanks"
And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,
A revelation of God's holiness will always lead those who know Him to praise and to purity.
But soon we will see an entirely different reaction from those who stand in rebellion against Him.
The Lamb
The figure on the throne is holding a book, a scroll that is sealed (locked) and cannot be opened. With John, we are heartbroken that no one can be found to open the book.
Somehow we sense that the scroll must be opened and read. Then one of the elders announces that there is One who "has triumphed" and can open the scroll and its seals.
"Then," John records, "I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders"
And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
The elders and four living creatures give the Lamb the same worship they offered to the Father (a clear identification of Jesus as God).
They break into a song of praise: You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because You were slain, and with Your blood You purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.
You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.
And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
The singers are now joined by millions of angels who praise the Lamb, saying:
Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!
Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
Finally, in antiphonal response, "Every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea" joins the choir:
To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, forever and ever!
And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.
And those around the throne echo: "Amen."
