Revelation 4-5 | The Most Important Image You Will Ever See

Is there an image, a picture, and understanding that would change everything in our lives? Jesus thought there was. He opened up heaven to let the Apostle John (and us) see this life-changing image.

After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things.” Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne was standing in heaven, and One sitting on the throne. (Revelation 4:1-2)

A DOOR STANDING OPEN IN HEAVEN

God is not hiding. He gave to John (and now, through John, He gives to us) the ability to walk right into the holy of holies to see the most important scene and gain the most essential perspective. He invites us to see what is behind this door. He opens it wide. It is there for all who long to see it.

I WILL SHOW YOU

God does not hide Himself or His revelation of the future from John nor us. Of all of God's amazing attributes, one of the most precious to me is His self-disclosure—His willingness to be seen, known, and understood. Here is an open door, but, even further, here is the Lord Jesus Christ aggressively revealing to us what is about to happen.

But it all comes from one source and one picture...

BEHOLD A THRONE...AND ONE SITTING ON THE THRONE

This one reality and one sentence explains everything and settles everything. There God is—always, eternally, constantly, perfectly, triumphantly. There are not two gods occupying this place, but One. He is seated, which is the sign of ultimate authority.

When we see this and realize that everything came from him (even our meager lives), everything belongs to Him (the earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof), everything is sovereignly overseen by Him, and everything worships before Him, it corrects our proud hearts and scattered minds.

This one vision explains it all and redeems it all.

Do you see Him there? Let this image burn your spiritual retina and leave an eternal picture. And remember, you are not on the throne … He is! Join in the one activity that heaven exists of eternally. In all you are doing, fall on your face and worship him all day long! It is the constant activity of heaven and should be the continual activity of our lives.

Father, help me to see You seated on the throne and let that vision drive everything in my life.