Revelation 4:1Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

He says: "A door was opened in heaven."

John sees the prophecy of the New Testament and hears the voice saying to him: "Come up here."

When an open door is indicated, it is evident that it had previously been closed to men.

This was sufficiently and fully explained when Christ in the flesh ascended into heaven to the Father.

As for the voice he heard, this proves beyond all doubt to the obstinate that He Who came is the very same One Who spoke through the prophets.

For John was of the circumcision, and the whole people, hearing the prophecy of the Old Testament, had been instructed by this voice.

The former voice that he heard said to him, "Come up here." This is Jesus Christ, Whom he had seen a little earlier, like the Son of Man, in the midst of the seven lampstands (Rev 1:13).

The opening of the door signifies the disclosure of the hidden mysteries of the Spirit. The trumpet signifies the mighty voice of the One who reveals. By the words "Come up here," the listener is commanded to detach himself completely from earthly thoughts and turn toward heavenly things.

This is the voice of the preacher: "Lift up your voice like a trumpet" (Isa 58:1).

Ascent takes place when someone, either compelled or made worthy, despises the world and ascends to the Church.

Thus he ascends from the valley of weeping to the summit of this dignity.

Here we read: "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, and He will teach us His ways" (Isa 2:3).

The faithful are also called to ascend to heaven. That is, they are commanded to desire and understand not earthly things, but heavenly things.

For when an untrained man learns in the Church how Christ suffered, rose, and ascended to the Father, he is spiritually nurtured and taught by these words.

After the Lord Jesus desired that we open the doors of our heart, He at the same time opens the doors of heaven.

By this He shows that He will always open heaven to the one who opens his heart to Him.

He also shows that a time will later come when the human heart will be opened, and all will hear the voice of God calling to judgment.

The throne of God seen by the holy Apostle John is God's repose in His saints. For He rests in His saints as upon a throne.

He compares the appearance of the One sitting with precious stones, jasper and sardius, most beautiful in color and worth.

By their earthly perfections he wishes to express the heavenly perfections of the Lord: His immutability, eternity, might, and glory.

The rainbow around the throne, like an emerald in appearance, recalls God's covenant with man and depicts His reconciliation with him.

"After these things I saw." Until now John has depicted the present state of the churches of Asia Minor, and together with them the state of the Universal Church. Now he begins to describe her future state, but in the form of a historical narrative about what he saw. This is to show the unchangeableness of God's judgments concerning the Church and the world. The seer hears the former voice, that is, the voice of Christ, commanding him to ascend to heaven. In the spirit, in ecstasy, he is carried there, where God Himself sits upon the throne.