A Trip to Heaven, Part 1 (Revelation 4:1–3)

The provided text, drawn from John MacArthur’s exposition of Revelation 4:1–3, focuses on establishing the authority of John’s genuine vision of heaven by contrasting it with sensational, self-proclaimed “trips to heaven,” and then detailing the transcendental sight of God’s sovereign Throne.

I. Debunking False Claims of Visits to Heaven

MacArthur begins by critiquing popular modern accounts of people who claim to have visited heaven, noting these accounts are often bizarre, fanciful, absurd, and potentially blasphemous.

1. Dr. Percy Collett (1982): Collett claimed he was transported to heaven for five and a half days. He alleged that he was commanded to utter the things he saw, unlike Paul, who was not allowed to speak of them (2 Corinthians 12). Collett’s peculiar sightings included perfect animals (dogs that don’t bark, no need for plumbing), a “Pity Department” where aborted and severely retarded babies are trained before going to God’s throne, a “Record Room” retaining “idle words” spoken by Christians, a “Garment Room,” and a “Holy Ghost elevator”. He also claimed to have conversed with the soul bodies of two girls killed in a California car accident on his way back to earth.
2. Roberts Liardon (1972): Liardon claimed an extensive tour of heaven as an eight-year-old, guided by Jesus. He described Jesus as 5’11” to 6 feet tall with sandy brown hair. Liardon recounted seeing “storage houses” near the Throne Room filled with unclaimed body parts (arms, fingers, shelves of eyes—green, brown, blue) meant for “saints and sinners alike”. He claimed Jesus told him this building “should be emptied every single day” by faith. Liardon also described having a water fight with Jesus in a branch of the River of Life, and hearing Jesus laugh at jokes. After being ordained to ministry by Jesus in heaven, Liardon claimed his third encounter was mundane: Jesus sat beside him on the couch while he was watching Laverne and Shirley on television, commanding him to study the lives of “His generals” before clicking off the TV. MacArthur concludes that Liardon’s account is “utterly inconceivable” and “bizarre to the point of silliness”.
3. Dr. Richard Eby: Eby claimed to have died after falling off a balcony, experienced paradise, and returned.

In contrast, the Apostle John was taken to heaven and commanded to write everything he saw in a book.

II. John’s Genuine Vision: The Authority of the Throne (Revelation 4:1–3)

John’s vision in Revelation 4 is his second great vision. It is a personal, transcendent visit to the divine Throne Room.

Chronological Placement

The vision is framed by the phrase “After these things”.

1. John’s Chronology: John uses the phrase to say that this new vision occurred after his previous experience in Chapters 1–3 (seeing Christ ministering to His churches and receiving the seven letters).
2. God’s Chronology: The voice tells John, “I will show you what must take place after these things“. This marks a crucial transition point from the church age (“the things which are” in Chapters 2 and 3) to “the things which shall take place after these things”—the period of future judgment and eternal state described in Chapters 4–22.
3. The Church’s Absence: From Revelation 4:1 onward, the Church is never mentioned. This supports the implication that the Church has already been delivered from the coming “hour of testing” (the Tribulation). John’s personal summons, “Come up here,” is for the purpose of revelation, not a picture of the Rapture of the Church for glorification.

The Summons and the Throne

John sees a door standing open in heaven. Unlike the closed door of the earthly church (Revelation 3:20) which shut Christ out, the heavenly door is open to John.

1. The Voice: John hears a voice like the sound of a trumpet. This authoritative, commanding voice is identified as Jesus Christ, the same voice John heard in Chapter 1.
2. The Command: The voice commands: “Come up here and I will show you what must take place after these things”. John was immediately lifted “in the Spirit,” entering a transcendent state to perceive spiritual reality.
3. The Central Theme: The first thing John sees is a Throne standing in heaven. The word throne is used thirteen times in Chapter 4, underscoring its centrality. The throne is not merely furniture but the seat of universal sovereignty.
4. Location: The throne is located in a Temple, not a palace, signifying that God is not only a sovereign King but Holy God who is to be worshipped.
5. Immovability: The throne is described as standing (fixed, set, and permanent). This detail reassures the reader that even as future history brings “horrors and trauma,” God has not lost control.

The Appearance of the Sovereign

The one sitting on the throne is God Himself, in the posture of reigning. He is described in terms of magnificent light, color, and fire:

1. Jasper Stone: Symbolizes crystal-clear brilliance, like a flawless diamond, reflecting the beauty and glory of God.
2. Sardius: A blood-red ruby stone, representing the blazing, fiery wrath and fury of God’s character.
3. Covenant Footnote: The jasper and sardius were the first and last stones on the High Priest’s breastplate, potentially signifying God’s enduring covenant relationship with Israel (Reuben and Benjamin), confirming that even the coming judgments will not consume His covenant people.

Around the Throne: The Rainbow of Faithfulness

Encircling the blazing throne was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald in appearance.

• The rainbow is the sign of God’s covenant faithfulness (Genesis 9:13) that He will never again destroy the world by water.
• The coolness of the green emerald hue surrounding the fiery red wrath of the throne demonstrates that judgment never overrules promise. God’s wrath is contained by His faithful mercy.

The overall purpose of this vision is to warn the world of the “terror of the Lord” and the impending judgment, urging people to seek salvation in Christ.