Introduction: One of the great proofs of man’s sinfulness, and of the tragic effects of sin upon man’s faculties (our minds, our hearts, our wills), is that heaven reveals an INTENSE REVERENTIAL joy in realities that men have little interest in. When a scene in heaven reveals things that seem mundane to men here on earth, you can be sure that the problem is with men here on earth. What we see in this scene is symbolic. John saw these things, but what he saw was revealed to him in a vision that was meant to communicate truths in a way that would be memorable and fitted to his (and our) capacities. What he saw has to do with what will follow the age we are living in. Remember the outline given to John at the very beginning of this revelation. ESV Revelation 1:19 Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this. The things he initially saw. The things that have to do with the present. The things that belong to a time that follows. John saw the glorified Christ. John was given letters for the 7 churches existing in Asia that were addressed by that glorified Christ. Messages meant to instruct the churches throughout the history of the church. And now he sees what will take place after the church age. This is the 3rd and final section of this book. IT IS HIGHLY INSTRUCTIVE, THAT AS CHRIST REVEALS WHAT BELONGS TO THE WRAPPING UP OF ALL THINGS THAT WE HAVE KNOWN IN THIS AGE, WE BEGIN IN HEAVEN. I. JOHN’S TRANSPORT TO HEAVEN (vs.1-2) A. THE CHRONOLOGY John says, “after these things.” After the messages for the seven churches. B. THE DOOR He sees a door standing open in heaven. This was startling to him (behold). C. THE VOICE He hears a voice. It is a familiar voice. It is the first voice, the earlier voice, that he had heard. ESV Revelation 1:10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet 11 saying, "Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea." 12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, 15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength. 17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, "Fear not, I am the first and the last, 18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. It was like a trumpet. Loud, clear, arresting. D. THE COMMAND “Come up here.” This is a command for John to be transported in the sense of the vision that he will receive. E. THE PURPOSE “and I will show you what must take place after these things.” F. THE RESULT “Immediately I was in the Spirit and behold, a throne was standing in heaven.” That is, even though his body is still on Patmos, John is transported (in a spiritual state capable of receiving these visions) to heaven. II. JOHN’S VIEW OF HEAVEN (vs. 2-11) What does John see? A. THE THRONE The first thing he sees is the throne of God. Now, God is Spirit. He’s not sitting on a piece of furniture. But John sees a throne because that throne represents and symbolizes GOD’S MAJESTY, STRENGTH, AND SOVEREIGNTY.