4:1-3
1 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.”
2 At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it.
3 And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne.
Apostle John transports between heaven earth and records what was told and saw in his visions.
Chapter 3 concludes the period of grace with the church age coming to an end.
The last of the seven churches, Laodicea represents the present church worldwide.
Church of Christ suffered many persecutions but remained strong throughout the ages.
No one could destroy it on the contrary it grew to be what we see it today.
One day church age will end in rapture of the believers and what is left on earth will be subjected to wrath of God never experienced before.
Before the Rapture takes place and the Tribulations begin, John is given a glimpse of Heaven where Father God, Almighty God is seated on HIS throne.
4th chapter describes the throne in heaven and its surroundings.
An open door was an invitation for John to step into another realm no human can travel with a physical body.
Author Jeff Lasseigne speaks three doors in 3rdand 4th chapters of Revelation.
Lord’s letter to Church in Philadelphia, Lord Jesus says “I have an open door and no one can shut it”.
Jeff says this is ‘the door of evangelism and the Gospel’.
Yes no one can shut this door as long as the Lord keeps it open.
In HIS letter to Laodicea Lord Jesus is standing outside the closed door and knocks.
Jeff says the second door is ‘the door of repentance and response’.
Lord is still standing outside of those closed doors of hearts of unbelievers and knocking for them to repent and respond.
For Jeff, the third door is ‘the open door’ which leads into the very presence of God.
Scripture records only 2 people were transported to heaven in spirit.
Apostle Paul was asked not tell or write about what he saw in heaven.
Apostle John was asked to tell and write about all that he saw in heaven.
According to Jeff we have three heavens:
The FIRST HEAVEN is the one right above the planet earth which we can see and understand as the atmosphere.
The SECOND HEAVEN is the one with the Solar systems, galaxies and stars.
The THIRD HEAVEN is realm that is beyond these two heavens.
The third heaven is the throne of God and the dwelling place of Almighty God.
A throne in human terms always defines sovereignty, authority, and control.
God the Father who sits on the throne is an ALMIGHTY SOVEREIGN GOD.
What John is doing here is to tell the Christians under intense persecution to know that God is in control of their lives and everything.
Verse 3 And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne.
His human words fail to describe who was on the throne.
No human can describe how God looks like.
So he compares with what is known to us through colors and imagery.
Almighty God is sitting on the throne in heaven always with authority and power.
HE always keeps HIS promises beginning with Adam to the last believer on earth before the tribulation period.
The terrible wrath of God will unleash on the unbelievers after the rapture of the believers.
The ONE sits on the throne in heaven always HIS promises to this day.