After these things I discerned, and behold, a door standing in the heaven, and the first voice that I heard as a trumpet, speaking with me, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you the necessary things to come to be after these things (Revelation 4:1).
The era of the Church on earth has concluded. All seven periods have been completed, and all who belong to Christ have been resurrected (1 Thessalonians 4:16–18). Each saint who belongs to the Church has gone through the Bema seat, emerging blameless and crowned with victor’s wreaths (1 Corinthians 3:11–15). The Church has become the bride and has been presented before the Father (1 Thessalonians 3:13).
The Tribulation Period has not yet commenced. According to the prophecy in Daniel, this period begins with the signing of a seven-year peace treaty by the man of lawlessness, also known as the beast of Daniel (Daniel 9:27).
In Revelation 4, John is brought into the third heaven to witness events following the rapture of the Church and preceding the Tribulation period. He observes a vision of a throne, with the One seated upon it appearing like jasper and sardius stone. Jasper is a multicolored precious stone, while sardius is a transparent, reddish stone similar to a ruby. An emerald rainbow encircles the throne (Revelation 4:2–3). The colors of jasper and sardius symbolize the glorified Christ on the throne in the third heaven, preparing for judgment. The rainbow signifies the covenant not to destroy the earth again with water (Genesis 9:11–14).
Surrounding the throne are twenty-four elders seated on twenty-four thrones (Revelation 4:4). These elders represent the Church’s ministry in Heaven following its resurrection. They are seated with Christ on His throne and wear victor’s wreaths (Revelation 3:21). Only members of the Church are promised this position and these specific rewards. As the bride of Christ, the Church assumes its role as a nation of priests, preparing to serve God during the Tribulation Period and the Millennial Kingdom according to their order (1 Peter 2:9).
On earth, Babylon the Great Harlot emerges, establishing a global ecumenical system that governs many nations (Revelation 17:1). Additionally, ten kings arise to revive the Roman Empire in Palestine and its surrounding regions (Revelation 17:12). These ten kings, together with the ecumenical system, facilitate the rise of the man of lawlessness (Revelation 17:3). Israel is called back to its land, and the man of lawlessness establishes a seven-year peace treaty to protect them (Deuteronomy 30:1–3; Daniel 9:27).
