In chapters 4 and 5 of Reve­la­tion, the focus shifts to a new and powerful story of God’s ongoing mission. This new section begins with John seeing “a door standing open in heaven.”

This picture surprises us because we know that an open door often extends an invitation to come in. This is an enticing opportunity because heaven is often considered a place of mysteries that we do not have access to. For the most part, it is God’s secret—at least from our day-to-day living in this life. But here Jesus opens heaven’s door. And in a voice like a trumpet, he welcomes us, saying, “Come up here.”

The invitation promises to reveal “what must take place after this.” But as John tells the story of walking through heaven’s open door, the future is not the first thing that catches his attention. Instead, he sees “a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it.”

Heaven’s open door has us standing before the throne of all thrones, from which everything in heaven and on earth is loved and cared for.

Still today, the Holy Spirit opens heaven’s door wide so that we can visualize this scene and let its story encourage us to live by faith in Jesus today.