Popular images reveal Heaven to be a final destination of tranquility and peace, almost a boring place, to where we go when we die, a glorious retirement home far, far away.
John the Revelator had a much different vision of Heaven; he “looked, and, behold, a door was open in Heaven.”—Rev 4:1
John walks us through Heaven’s door by writing of fantastic images, which are far from serene and placid.
The Throne Room of God is a war room, from where the Lamb that was Slain strategizes against the Dragon (the Devil). The City of God, the New Jerusalem, is engaged in a great struggle with the City of Man, Babylon. Angels are battling with demons. Twenty-four elders of the faith are teaming with strange beasts and mighty angels.
The ages old struggle between good and evil is vividly portrayed by John as he reveals from a heavenly perspective the warfare between the Church and the World. Sometimes the Church has the upper hand and other times the World is reigning. John describes the grand struggle from Jesus Death and Resurrection to his glorious and triumphant return–and beyond.
Three times in The Revelation we hear this phrase applied to the Almighty – “Who was, and is, and is to come.” As God is the God of the past, the present and the future, so John describes with vivid symbols mysterious and frightening events that have happened, that are happening and that will happen in Heaven and on Earth over a span of millenniums.
Join us in our study from the Smock living room at 7 AM, June 19, for an unveiling of Heaven. Why wait until death, when John offers us a tour de force of the heavenly kingdom now!
The spiritual realm is all around us. We are encompassed by a great cloud of witness; they are not afar off. This study is an opportunity to have the eyes of your understanding opened.
Paul gives us the key to entering into this open door in Heaven, “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.”—Col 3:1-2.
