Season 5 Podcast 90 Book of Revelation Ch 4 A vs 1-4, “Taken up into Heaven.”

Season 5 Podcast 90 Book of Revelation Ch 4 A vs 1-4, “Taken up into Heaven.”

Many prophets of the Old Testament spoke of the last days, most notably perhaps were Ezekiel, Daniel, and Isaiah. None, however, even Isaiah, has equaled the modern attention given to the Apostle John, known as John the Revelator, as recorded in the Book of Revelation. During his imprisonment on the Isle of Patmos, John received a series of spectacular revelations regarding the Millennium or the period of time just before the Second Coming of Christ and even the end of the world. His imagery matched only, perhaps, by Isaiah, has inflamed many heated debates. It is impossible for Christians to even discuss end time without bringing up the revelations of John.  The vividness of John’s visions immediately captures one’s attention only to be followed by confusion of precisely what he meant. In this podcast we shall begin our discussion with Chapter Four of the Book of Revelation.

Revelation 4:1

“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 shew thee things which must be hereafter.”

We know the Lord communicates through visions, dreams, revelations, inspiration, the whispering of the Holy Ghost, answers to prayer, promptings of the spirit, impressions, feelings, thoughts, angels. I suppose each has his or her own unique experience in communicating with the Lord. Many seek revelation through prayer, fasting, meditation, and scripture study. I have heard many witnesses say that verses of scripture or even verses from sacred hymns came to their mind that directly answered a prayer or helped them deal with a problem. The Lord speaks to all of us in our own language.

A favorite verse of scripture regarding revelation is the following found in 1 Kings revealed to us by the experience of Elijah.

1 Kings 19: 11-12

“And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.”

I suppose the still small voice is the primary way the Lord communicates to his children here on earth. Perhaps the rarest is to receive a vision which like dreams may employ sight, sound, touch, taste, and feel. John was a visionary. He looked and he saw a door opened in heaven. He looked into heaven itself. The voice, which was the voice of the Lord Jesus, was like a trumpet. John was invited into heaven where, from that promontory, he would look down and see the future. 

This is not unique among prophets. The apostle Paul reports.

2 Corinthians 12:1-4

“It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.”

It was John’s special assignment to write about end time. If you recall one of the unique features of John is that he was allowed to tarry on earth until the Savior came again.  It is recorded in the Book of John.