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Revelation 4:1 begins, “After these things.” This is exactly the phrase that is used in Revelation 4:19, giving the outline. It refers to a specific time, namely, after the church age. So, after the church age, John says, “I looked and behold a door standing open in heaven.” This reminds us of three very important things. First, Jesus Christ is the door and identifies Himself as such (John 10:7). What kind of a door is He? He’s an open door to heaven. Second, Jesus Christ opened the door. We see that in Luke 23:45, where He cries out in the agony of separation from the Father and says, “the veil in the temple was rent from top to bottom,” signifying that the way into God’s presence is now open. The veil symbolized the fact that there was a barrier between God and man which was removed on the cross. Finally, the “door” reminds us that He has opened to us a door for evangelism. Remember, with the Church of Philadelphia, He said that He “would open for them a door that no one could close (Revelation 3:8).” You also see the apostle Paul in 1st Corinthians 6:9 asking the Corinthians to pray for him because he said, “a great door for effective service has been opened to me and there are many, many adversaries.” So, the open door is significant because it all centers around the finished work and victory of Jesus Christ on the cross.
Revelation 4:1 says, “I saw a door open in heaven.” I should point out to you that the verb here is perfect. The door opened in the perfect hands, and means it opened in the past, with the result that it remains opened in the present. Jesus Christ opened the door in the past through the work of the cross, and it remains open to the present time. When John saw the door standing open in heaven, he “heard the first voice that he had heard.” The first voice that he heard was the voice of the Lord Jesus Christ. So, he’s hearing the voice of our Lord speaking with him like the sound of a trumpet. This voice, like the sound of a trumpet, gives him a command, and the command is “COME UP HERE.” Now, it’s significant that at the end of the section dealing with church history, John should hear the command, “Come up here,” and he hears it in a voice of a trumpet. You’ll remember in 1st Thessalonians 4:13-18, we are told that “The Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with a voice of the archangel and the trumpet of God, the dead in Christ will rise first, and then we are alive and remain will be caught up together in the clouds, and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” Also, in 1st Corinthians 15:51-58, the Apostle Paul talks about how, “we shall all be changed in a moment. In the twinkling of an eye at the last trumpet.” That trumpet, I believe, is the very voice that John hears in Revelation 4:1. And what that voice says, what is said there. When the rapture of the church takes place, believers are going to hear the voice of the Lord Jesus Christ in the same manner. You might just read through John Chapter 5, because in His explanation of the resurrection, the Lord Jesus Christ said, “the hour is coming, and now is when those who are in the grave will hear his voice and they shall arise.” So, I believe that the voice that brings the dead in Christ from the ground and catches up those who are living is the very voice that we hear right here. What this portrays in verse one is the rapture of the church. Let me just point out again that while the term “church” and “churches” has been used 19 times in the Revelation Chapters one to three. You will not see the word “church” occur again until Revelation 22:16. Not until God’s plan is finished. Not until we’re in the eternal state is the church mentioned again. What we find in the interim is symbolic language in Revelation Chapters 4 and 5 in heaven. In Revelation Chapter 6 through 19, the section dealing with the tribulation period, the emphasis is all on Israel. Why? Because that’s annual 70th week. We looked at that last time. That’s the time when God is finishing His work in the nation of Israel.
“After these things” is used twice in Revelation 4:1. This is emphasis and very Hebrew. It’s a very Hebrew thing to speak something twice for the purpose of emphasis and to display perfection.
Believers are going to hear the voice of the Lord Jesus Christ. A voice that brings the dead in Christ from the ground and catches up those who are living. This is the very voice that we will hear, “COME UP HERE.”

Gene Cunningham - May 23, 2000

Living Sacrifice 03

Passover (Exo 12:5) using an unblemished male lamb a year old is a picture of our Lord (Joh 1:29). Blood on the door (Exo 12:7) had to be applied to provide deliverence. In the roasting and eating of the flesh(Exo 12:8), it's a picture of believing in Christ (Joh 6:53-58). Unleavened bread symobolically is the sinless saviour. We need to remember (2Pe 1:9). Passover now looks back as a memorial; deliverence by blood and power. Lord's Table supercedes the passover and it will be at the initiation of the kingdom of the Father (Luk 22:16).



"I urge you" (Rom 12:1) presents redeeming time having a sense of urgency (Ecc 3:1-8) not haste. Man is primarily arrogant; affliction drives us to humility. David being pursued in dessert is good example. Time is a rare commodity. Haste violates time and pays the highest price. What God does is at His own pace. Spiritual maturity takes time and dedication. Serenity and tranquility belongs to those with wisdom who understand God's pace for them.  God cannot be rushed; Jesus illustrates this. Job 5:23-27 illustrates the pace of wisdom: "you will be in league with the stones of the field". Hebrew idiom for being in sync with the Creator and creation. Stones can be a great blessing or great obstacle at different times. Pharisees stumbled over the Cornerstone. Christ is "the Rock of our Salvation" but also "a Rock of offense" or "Cornerstone" or "stumbling stone". In nature there can be no hurray. Farmers have to wait. It takes patience. In our plans we work toward a goal and expect results in time, but must be subject to faith; God has alloted that time period specifically for a purpose (Ecc 3:2) -- realizing that means redeeming the time. God's harvest (taking a loved one home) should a time of rejoicing (Job 5:26). Anxiety is the "partner" of haste. Our expectations must align with God's. "The time is short" (1Co 7:29); we should not be distracted in devotion to the Lord (Mat 6:33-34). God has given to us sufficient Grace to handle today (2Co 12:9). We need to know how to manage time (Jam 4:13, Rom 9:4-5). Jews wasted 2000 years with the convenants and law and priesthood and ended in destruction (Luk 21:32). Realize God has a Will for time, place, duration, and motive - prove God's Will by being in sync (Jam 4:13-15, 2Pe 1:9). We cannot ignore the brevity of life, and God's purpose for us. "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desire of your heart" (Psa 37:4). We must delight ourselves in Him -- submerge our plans, goals, and objectives in Him. 



Scripture References: Luke 21:32, John 1:29, Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, Romans 9:4-5, Exodus 12:5, Romans 12:1, James 4:13, Luke 22:16, Matthew 6:33-34, John 6:53-58, Job 5:26, Psalms 37:4, Exodus 12:8, Ecclesiastes 3:2, James 4:13-15, Exodus 12:7, Job 5:23-27

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From Series: "Living Sacrifice (1995)"

Romans 12 and specifically Rom 12:1-2 is a pivot point between the doctrinal section and application of the book. This series methodically uses this passage to outline aspects or doctrines of the christian life -- God's provision and our prospect. Our lives can be acceptable to God if we progress on the path He intends. Living Sacrifice presents 12 doctrines: (1) redeeming time; (2) standing (positional truth); (3) self-presentation - availability; (4) approval; (5) service; (6) provision; (7) spiritual warfare; (8) conformity; (9) spiritual advance; (10) renewal; (11) divine guidance; (12) abundant life.

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