Behind The Door In Heaven

by Micky Galloway

In the last few weeks Chris and I have been writing articles about various “doors” discussed in the Scriptures. In our last study of the book of Revelation, we noted what John saw. “After these things I saw, and behold, a door opened in heaven, and the first voice that I heard, (a voice) as of a trumpet speaking with me, one saying, Come up hither, and I will show thee the things which must come to pass hereafter” (Revelation 4:1). This glorious vision of the reigning God (and the redeeming Lamb that follows in the next chapter), should thrill our hearts as we consider how the heavenly hosts consider Him worthy of praise, honor, and glory. Note a few in Scripture who were privileged to see behind that door.

Isaiah saw the glory of God. “In the year that king Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and his train filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is Jehovah of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, Jehovah of hosts” (Isaiah 6:1-5). The time was critical. Uzziah, king of Judah, who had brought so many reforms to the country and had introduced an era of prosperity and peace is dead. Three years before, Jeroboam II, king of Israel had died. Under Jeroboam and Uzziah the boundaries had been extended and commerce and agriculture flourished. Furthermore, the two nations were at peace. After the death of these kings, anarchy increased and so did the power of their enemy, Assyria. Isaiah faced a weak and decaying Judah. Isaiah looked into this dark storm for the people of God and saw the glory of the Almighty God, the sinfulness and “undone” condition of man, and the forgiveness extended by God (verses 6-7). After God permitted Isaiah to glimpse into the very nature and being of God who cries for a messenger, Isaiah promptly responds, “Here am I; send me” (verse 8). Does our present age have any greater need than the preaching of the gospel, that men may know their sin and look to Him for forgiveness? This should be the consistent attitude of God’s people today! When was the last time you remember having and acting with such readiness/eagerness to serve the Lord?

Ezekiel saw the glory of God. “Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth (month), in the fifth (day) of the month, as I was among the captives by the river Chebar, that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God. In the fifth (day) of the month, which was the fifth year of king Jehoiachin’s captivity, the word of Jehovah came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of Jehovah was there upon him” (Ezekiel 1:1-3). Ezekiel was thirty years old when these visions came to him. As a priest, a Levite (verse 3; cf. Numbers 4:3), this was a critical time for Ezekiel. He was about 25 when taken into Babylonian captivity. Ezekiel would not be able to serve in the temple because he is among the 10,000 mighty men of Jerusalem who have been taken captive (II Kings 24:10-16). Many similarities are found with the image of God that Ezekiel saw and that presented in Revelation 4:6-11. During this time of trouble, persecution, trial, and captivity; Ezekiel looked into the storm and saw the power and majesty of the Almighty God. We too, should be filled with awe, reverence, and submission to God during such times. He is in control.

Stephen saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at His right hand. The seventy grave Jewish rabbis who were presiding over the Sanhedrin court left their seats and joined the violent mob of Jews who were gnashing their teeth and pelting Stephen with stones. “But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, and said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God” (Acts 7:55-56). “And they stoned Stephen, calling upon (the Lord), and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep” (Acts 7:59-60). During this dark hour, Stephen’s words were indelibly impressed on the minds of those present, forever providing consolation; especially one young man named “Saul.” After witnessing the scene of Stephen’s triumphant death without fear of that beyond the grave, he could never forget (cf. I Timothy 1:1-13). Paul (Saul) could press onward (Philippians 3:13), even amid bitter trials, knowing the Lord would sustain him even in the hour of death. As the brethren warned Paul of trials awaiting him in Jerusalem, he replied, “What do ye, weeping and breaking my heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 21:13). We, like Stephen, should have such confidence! Paul expressed, “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed to us-ward” (Romans 8:18).

The apostle Paul was taken up into the third heaven where he saw, “visions and revelations of the Lord” and heard “unspeakable words.” “And I know such a man (whether in the body, or apart from the body, I know not; God knoweth), how that he was caught up into Paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter” (II Corinthians 12:3-4). Paul had listed some of the trials he had suffered (cf. II Corinthians 11:23ff). We do not know where on the time line of Paul’s life these visions and revelations occurred. Yet, we do know where these occurred. It was not where birds fly and clouds wander. It was not in the expanse that includes the sun, moon, and stars. It was somewhere outside the limitations of these to “paradise” (verse 4), the abode of God. Isaiah, Ezekiel, and John had no reservation about disclosing what they had seen and heard. But Paul speaks with ambiguity, not naming himself in the text, does not know in what state he arrived in Paradise, nor does he describe what he saw or heard. Paul would not glory in the exalted privilege granted to him. “On behalf of such a one will I glory: but on mine own behalf I will not glory, save in (my) weaknesses … Wherefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong” (II Corinthians 12:5-10). Paul had already declared that one is to glory “in the Lord,” not in “unwise” self-praise and self-commendation (cf. II Corinthians 10:12, 17-18).

None of us have seen the glorious things of Isaiah, Ezekiel, John, or Paul. Yet, I want go to heaven. How about you? Paul expressed his desire, “Being therefore always of good courage, and knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord (for we walk by faith, not by sight); we are of good courage, I say, and are willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be at home with the Lord. Wherefore also we make it our aim, whether at home or absent, to be well-pleasing unto him” (II Corinthians 5:1-9). Paul wanted to go home. But either way, his aim was to please the Lord. Is that your aim?