1. Introduction
Revelation 4 begins with Jesus’ enthronement, set in the same historical period addressed in the letters to the seven churches of Asia in Chapters 2 and 3. Like Chapter 12, it is not a futuristic prophecy but a retrospective vision spanning from the time before Jesus’ ascension into heaven to roughly three and a half years afterwards, encompassing Stephen’s martyrdom and the opening of the seven seals. It also emphasises the Father’s promise: the sending of the Holy Spirit to earth.
2. A Door in Heaven is Open
A. The Door is Already Open
The first verse states:
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.”
Revelation 4:1
The door stands open; the text does not say it was opened specifically to allow John to enter. As we proceed through this lesson, we will see that it takes place between Jesus’ death and resurrection, and His ascension and coronation. This moment foreshadows the future enthronement of Jesus.
The Greek word translated as “after” is *meta*, which appears twice in this verse. However, when we examine its usage in the rest of the New Testament, it is four times more likely to mean “with.” Moreover, it does not always carry a strictly subsequent or chronological sense. We could therefore rewrite the phrase as:
At the same time as 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 around this time.
Revelation 4:1
B. Jesus Has Not Entered the Throne Room
When we consider this chapter, there are two very important points to keep in mind. First, there is only ONE seated on the throne.
Immediately, I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne.
Revelation 4:2
Jesus has not yet come to sit at the right hand of the Father, nor is He yet present in the throne room. Therefore, this scene must take place before His ascension, forty days after His death and resurrection, preceding the moment Jesus receives enthronement.
And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
Revelation 4:5
And the Spirit of God had not yet descended to earth, placing this event before Pentecost in 30 CE as well.
C. No One Worthy to Take the Scrolls
And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals.
Revelation 5:1
Chapter Five opens by reaffirming that there is still only One on the throne.
Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?” And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it. So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it.
Revelation 5:2-4
No one can take the scrolls in this verse because it occurs before Jesus’ coronation, the enthronement is yet to arrive.
3. Jesus’ Enthronement
Verse 5 indicates that Jesus has now entered the Throne Room, marking the actual Jesus enthronement described in Revelation.
But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.”
Revelation 5:5
A. The Holy Spirit is Sent to Earth
After Jesus’ enthronement, He sends the Holy Spirit to earth as He promised.
Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne,
Acts 1:4
The next verse must take place after the day of Pentecost, because the seven Spirits of God have now been sent to earth: this is a significant effect of the heavenly enthronement Jesus receives.
And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth.
Revelation 5:6
However, it is important to remember that the Spirit of God is present not only on earth but also in heaven. John teaches us that when he wrote Revelation, the Spirit was in heaven as well.
Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne,
Revelation 1:4
The Spirit of God is present in both heaven and on earth and is able to give you the mind of Christ, as well as intercede for you. In verse 6, we also see Jesus standing, which places this scene before or at the time of Stephen’s martyrdom and the beginning of the seven seals in the next lesson. Clearly, the enthronement of Jesus establishes the significance of these events.
© Use by Permission Awakening Impact Ministries / Dr Neville Westerbeek van Eerten D.Miss, BVSc. 2026
