Revelation 4:1 – “After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.”  NKJV

This passage has been used as a proof text often but I want to take something of a different approach in considering the “door standing open in heaven” in conjunction with John’s vision and revelation.  I want to expand it and examine what it means when there is an “open heaven”.  In the Bible, there are a number of references to an “open heaven” and I would like to briefly ask you to consider some of them with me.

In Genesis 28:13 we find Jacob falling asleep with a stone as his pillow where he had an incredibly vivid dream seeing a “ladder” come down from heaven and angels ascending and descending on it. God was at the top of the ladder.  In Ezekiel 1:26 we are introduced to the Radiant Being (God) who appeared in the midst of the four living creatures and the fire of God.  The prophet saw God’s glory manifested in a most powerful manner.  In Matthew 3:16, we see the Holy Spirit descend on Jesus and the voice of the Father declare, “This is My Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”  In Acts 7:54, we see Stephen filled with the Holy Spirit and saw Jesus standing at the right hand of the Father.  In Acts 9:5, Saul of Tarsus had his encounter that transformed his life as Paul the apostle.  In Acts 10, Peter had his vision of an open heaven and the great sheet lowering bringing him a new revelation.  Here in Revelation 4, we have the “open door” and the command to “come up here…” 

The thread that seems to be visible in each of those encounters was that God became more real to those having the experiences each time.  Something mighty transpired when God opened the doors or portals of heaven and revealed Himself to man.  Joel prophesied that in the Last Days God would “pour out” His Spirit on all flesh and His sons and daughters would prophesy with the old having dreams and the young seeing visions.  In that time, He would do mighty exploits.  With that in mind, I pray for God to give us an “open heaven” today and transform our world with His saving and miraculous power.  I ask that He bring to bear on the hearts of humanity the righteousness of God arresting our paths so that we are drawn back to Him and that David’s prayer become a reality in our world.  God “create in us a clean heart, renew in each heart rightness of spirit, and grant us the visitation of the Holy Spirit.”

May the Lord guard and guide you as you go through this wonderful day in Him.  Abundant Blessing is my prayer for each one.