Revelation 4 -- The Rapture Of The Church

1 After this I looked, It is crucial to know what “after this” is referring to. That last three chapters have been talking about Jesus walking in the midst of the seven golden lampstands, it has all been about the seven churches. So then “after this” is “after the church age”. In the first three chapters John refers to the church over 20 times but will not mention the church again until chapter 19 when they are coming out of heaven with the Lord. We are told repeatedly “behold I come quickly” and in this chapter John says “I looked”. Don’t blink or you will miss it. and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: This is a clear reference to Isaiah 26 “open ye the gate” and to Psalm 118 “open the gate of righteousness”. Isaiah 26 is read every year at the festival of trumpets and Jesus quoted Psalm 118 saying we wouldn’t see Him again until we said “blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord”. This opened door in heaven is a reference to those verses.