Author: Charlie Garrett

Saturday, 24 October 2020

Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. Revelation 4:2

The revelation now completes its transition from the earthly inspection of the churches to a heavenly scene. John was called up through the open door, and he is now seeing the things “which must take place after this” (4:1), meaning the church age.

In order to see the unfolding of the redemptive narrative, John is taken to see a heavenly vision and the splendor and glory that is found there. Although different in content and location (heaven), it is not unlike visions of the prophets of old, such as Isaiah, Ezekiel, and so on. Much symbolism will be used, but in this symbolism, we are to find Jesus. As this is the Revelation of Jesus Christ, it is He who is being unveiled. Keeping that in mind, the vision will make complete sense.

To begin his description, John begins with, “Immediately I was in the Spirit.” The Greek more literally reads, “Immediately I became in the Spirit.” Although it doesn’t say that he was caught up into heaven, the implication is that it was so. If he saw an open door in heaven, and the voice says, “Come up here,” and now he is beholding heaven, the inference is obvious – he has been translated to heaven. This is not unlike what Paul says happened to him –

“It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord: ² I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a one was caught up to the third heaven. ³ And I know such a man—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— ⁴ how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.” 2 Corinthians 12:1-4

To understand the term “in the Spirit,” refer to verse 1:10. There is no article before “Spirit,” and so it may or may not be the Holy Spirit that is being referred to, although that is the general assumption. However, Paul says that he did not know whether he was in the body or not. John may be aware of the fact that he is not in his physical body, and thus “in the spirit,” meaning his own spirit without his physical body. Being dogmatic is unwise. Whatever his state, the vision that he beholds is to be the point of focus.

What is important to understand, however, is that the church (as an independent body) – which has been the central focus of Jesus’ words for the past many verses – is not referred to again until Chapter 19. From an earthly perspective, it is Israel and judgment upon an unrepentant world that is referred to. Scenes from heaven or heavenly messengers will be interspersed throughout those coming chapters as well.

Once John notes that he is “in the Spirit,” he next says, “and behold, a throne set in heaven.” A throne symbolizes kingly authority and power. As this throne is in heaven, it is referring to the place of all rule and authority. Understanding this, it says, “and One sat on the throne.” The vision is of Jesus – the incarnation of Yehovah. This is explained in verse 3:9 –

“To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.”

Again, and as He Himself said in Matthew 28:18, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” This is confirmed elsewhere as well. In Acts, Peter cites the 110^th Psalm and ascribes it to Jesus –

“For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself:
‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at My right hand,
³⁵ Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.”’
³⁶ “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” Acts 2:34-36

As God is Spirit and does not have parts, and thus He cannot be seen (1 John 4:12, and etc.), this is referring to the incarnate Lord, Jesus. To “sit at the right hand” of Yehovah means to sit in the position of power and authority. These, and other, examples from Scripture identify Jesus as the One being referred to. Each vision, or even differently described beings within a vision, will often reveal a different aspect of Jesus. This is the revelation, or unveiling, of Him. God is presenting Himself to us in a manner that we can understand. And that manner is through the Person of Jesus Christ.

Life application: John says he was immediately translated to heaven. How quickly is “immediately”? Paul explains the rapture’s speed in 1 Corinthians –

“Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— ⁵² in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” 1 Corinthians 15:51, 52 

The human eye blinks in about 300 milliseconds and a person can blink almost 5 times in a single second. When the Lord calls His church home, it will be over before anyone knew it occurred. Concerning the rapture, the opened door will be unavailable to those left behind. Instead, all those who were not taken will enter the tribulation period. As soon as the church departs, it will be in the presence of God and beholding His throne.

As noted above, the One sitting on the throne is Jesus. God doesn’t have parts and cannot be seen; He is Spirit. It is Jesus who forever reveals God the Father to us, and this will always be the case. Every physical manifestation of God that is presented is seen through the Person of Jesus Christ. This is important to understand because there will be many views of the heavenly throne room and many participants interacting with this throne – and each is God manifesting Himself through the Person of Jesus. Although this isn’t something we can fully grasp, He is the One we are seeing in each instance. There is a day ahead when the church will be called home. The question we need to evaluate personally is, “Am I ready for that day?” Be wise and call on Jesus now. For those who do, heaven awaits.

Heavenly Father, we have friends and family who haven’t yet called on You. We pray that You will send hints and opportunities to them to open their eyes. We pray that Your love for them in the giving of Christ Jesus will be revealed to them before the trumpet sounds and the church is taken. Terrible times are ahead for those who fail to come to You through faith in Him, and we pray the right decision will be made by them before that time comes. Amen.

Friday, 23 October 2020

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 fourth chapter of Revelation corresponds to the fourth letter of the Hebrew aleph-bet. The fourth letter, dalet, signifies a door. Here in verse 4:1, a door is mentioned. The marvelous structure of the corresponding letters/chapters is beautifully continued in this. Also, this verse marks the major dividing line given back in verse 1:19 –

“Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this.”

John begins this verse with, “After these things.” The words “these things” correspond to the “things which are,” meaning the church age. Its specific contents ended with the previous verse.

The “things which will take place after this” details the tribulation period, the millennial reign of Christ, and the new order of things when there are a new heavens and a new earth. The contents of those things begin immediately after this verse. Therefore, verse 4:1 is a transition verse between “the things which are” and “the things which will take place after this.”

Understanding this, John says, “I looked.” The Greek indicates, “I saw.” He is not redirecting his attention. Rather, a new part of the vision is coming into focus, as if watching a TV and a new scene begins. His attention is refocused on a new scene following the previous one of Christ walking among the churches and evaluating them. That has now faded into the past, but the book is the Revelation of Jesus Christ. His eyes are going from the work of Christ in the church age to the next phase of His work. Christ is still the focus. Understanding this, John says, “and behold, a door standing open in heaven.”

The symbolism is still Christ. The “door standing open in heaven” is Jesus. For this, we go back to Revelation 3:8 which says, “See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it.” Also, as He said in John 10 –

“Then Jesus said to them again, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. ⁸ All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. ⁹ I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.’” John 10:7-9

It is the same door (gate – the words mean the same thing in both the Hebrew and the Greek) that is seen in Genesis 32 –

Then he dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.
¹³ And behold, the Lord stood above it and said: “I am the Lord God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and your descendants. ¹⁴ Also your descendants shall be as the dust of the earth; you shall spread abroad to the west and the east, to the north and the south; and in you and in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed. ¹⁵ Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you.”
¹⁶ Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.” ¹⁷ And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!” Genesis 32:12-17

Everything about Jacob’s vision pictured Christ (refer to the Superior Word sermon on this Genesis passage to understand this), including the gate (door). Christ is the opened door that John beholds. Jesus spoke of this scene in John 1:51, confirming it is so. Understanding this typology, John next says, “And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me.”

The word “was” is misleading, and it should not be inserted here. It should simply read, “And the first voice which I heard, like a trumpet, speaking with me.” It takes the reader back to Revelation 1:10. The voice is that of Christ Jesus. He now speaks again in this newly revealed vision, saying, “Come up here.”

The words are speaking to John, who is now in a transitional phase from the church age vision to a new vision. The next clause will show this. For now, the comparable passage of Scripture to understand what John is seeing is from 1 Thessalonians 4 –

“For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. ¹⁶ For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. ¹⁸ Therefore comfort one another with these words.” 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18

For those who deny a literal rapture, what John is seeing now is, obviously, dismissed as such. However, the context is clear. John is being presented as the viewer of the redemptive panorama. As such, what he sees is what has occurred, is occurring, and will occur. As this verse transitions between two major scenes, what is occurring in this verse is what the Bible reveals for those who are to later participate in those same events.

Despite being downplayed, belittled, or dismissed by those who do not accept the premise of a pre-tribulation rapture (or any rapture at all), this is exactly what is being conveyed by the Lord to John (and thus to us). The church age is ended. The Door stands open in heaven, and John is instructed to “Come up here,” meaning to heaven. Along with that, the Lord says, “and I will show you things which must take place after this.”

John will next behold what comes after the church age, and after the rapture. The view goes from John on the earth viewing earthly things to John in heaven viewing both heavenly and earthly things. Of those earthly things, they are those that unfold particularly during the seven years of tribulation on earth.

It is a seven-year period granted to Israel in Daniel’s vision of the seventy weeks (meaning seventy periods of seven-years) found in Daniel 9:24-27. There are seven years remaining to be fulfilled. The next major section of Revelation will deal with those seven years where Israel is the focus of the narrative.

Life application: By faith in Christ, we are granted access into heaven. Belief in the gospel is rewarded with eternal salvation. When a person calls on Jesus, he is sealed with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13, 14) and this is irrevocable.

Someday, the Lord will then call His church home and the world will face judgment for rejecting Him. Whether you believe in the rapture or not is irrelevant. It is what the Bible teaches. There is no other way to properly interpret these verses than in their literal sense.

If you are a saved believer in Jesus Christ and you have been taught that there is no such thing as the rapture, then the only difference between you and believers who do accept this doctrine is that you will be more surprised at Jesus’ coming.

Those who are waiting for this day are those who have the blessed assurance of God who doesn’t lie and doesn’t make things up to confuse His people. As Paul states so well in 2 Timothy 4:8 – “Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”

Yes, Lord, we love the thought of Your appearing and of the day when the great call for us to rise to You at the rapture comes. It is our blessed hope, our most joyful thought, our heartfelt prayer, and the desire of our heart. To be with You! Oh, to see Your face and rejoice in the glory of Your presence for eternity is the most precious gift of all! We wait anxiously for that day. Amen.

Thursday, 22 October 2020

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Revelation 3:22

The Lord now provides His final words to those at Laodicea, and – indeed – to all the churches He has addressed in chapters 2 and 3. He again uses the same formula as with all the other churches, beginning with, “He who has an ear, let him hear.”

One last time, He is calling to attention something of the highest importance. To “hear” means more than just sound entering into the ears. It calls for heeding what is conveyed. Both attention and obedience are to be applied to what is heard. Thus, He is calling out, “Heed what you have heard, be attentive to it, and be obedient in your attention.” But more, He again states, “what the Spirit says.”

This isn’t just a call to remember what was heard in order to write it down. Rather, it is what the Spirit, who is the member of the Godhead who inspires Scripture, was speaking through Christ. There is One God displayed in three members of the Godhead. Each works in accord with the other to reveal God’s intentions, purposes, and word. In this case, it is what the Spirit says, “to the churches.”

As noted in 2:7, these words could be taken in one of two ways: 1) everything said to all the churches, or 2) everything said to each church. In other words, the first option is that the Spirit is conveying one message to all the churches combined – every person in every church should heed everything that is said in all seven letters. Or, He is conveying a message to Ephesus, one to Thyatira, one to Sardis, and so on. Each church is to pay heed to what is said to it.

The answer is that all people (He who hears) are to listen to everything that is said to all the churches. There are seven letters to individual churches, but the message to each church is to be heard by all people. The repetition to each church is to call to attention its own issues, but all people in all churches are to know what the status of all churches is. Thus, they can fully know what is pleasing, what is displeasing, and what the promises of overcoming are.

In this, it is evident that the seven letters address specific problems within each church, but they are problems that can be expected to arise in any church at any time in all of history. Thus, the seven letters to these seven churches are, together, an all-inclusive list to be heeded by all bodies of believers throughout the church age. No specific church or denomination can be singled out as being represented by one of these seven churches.

For example, it is popular to ascribe the failings of a particular church to the RCC and say, “This letter is speaking of Roman Catholicism.” This is an improper way of viewing these seven letters. The Roman Catholic Church has had (and continues to have) all kinds of error in its history. Such error within the RCC can be identified in the problems of any given church within these seven letters. It, and any other denomination or body, is to take heed to what is said to all seven of these churches and to ensure that the failings of that church (or the notes of commendation) are to be identified and responded to accordingly.

This concept is stated articulately enough by the Pulpit Commentary –

“The seven messages were not merely separate admonitions addressed only to each particular Church, but all the epistles were meant for all the seven Churches, and, after them, for the universal Church. Each Church had an especial failing brought more emphatically before it; but still the seven warnings are one whole, for the edification of all. As it behooves the individual Christian to avoid and repent of all sin, and yet to fix his attention on the cure of some besetting sin to which he is peculiarly liable, so these messages, though intended to be read by all, and heeded by all, place vividly before each Church its besetting sin, which more particularly requires attention. And as the sins to be avoided are to be avoided by all, so the separate rewards arc promised to all who overcome. They are, therefore, not really distinct rewards, but rather different phases and views of one great whole, which shall be enjoyed in its entirety by those who have struggled victoriously with the trials and temptations of the world.”

Life application: If you have been carefully following the words of Jesus as given to us in these seven precious letters, and if you have taken to heart the messages He has given us, then you should be fully prepared to know when you or your church is diverting from His admonitions, and you should have an understanding of how to handle such a diversion.

Jesus is not the cosmic pushover that people portray Him as. He is the Prince of Peace, but He is also the God who avenges His people, the Judge of sin, and the One who will someday return to weed out all wickedness and unrighteousness. Jesus is speaking this one last time to “He who has an ear,” and when we listen and take heed, we will receive all of the wondrous promises given to the one who overcomes.

Thank You Lord Jesus for the wonderful promises You have given to those who have trusted in You alone for their salvation. Thank You for the wisdom You have given us in Your word which is meant to guide us, correct us, and lead us to You. And, Lord, give us the wise understanding to follow Your directions there all the days of our lives. Amen.

Wednesday, 21 October 2020

To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. Revelation 3:21

Jesus now pronounces the final benefit for those who overcome. Again, to overcome simply means to be saved through the gospel of Jesus Christ. When one believes in the Son, he overcomes, and salvation is granted. That person is sealed with the Holy Spirit as a promise of future redemption. To get the full picture of what it means to overcome, please refer to the commentary on Revelation 2:7.

Churches do not overcome. Rather, the people who comprise the church do. Concerning those who overcome, Jesus says to them, “I will grant to sit with Me on My throne.”

Rather than “on,” the Greek reads “in my throne.” In this, there is a closeness to Christ that is expressed in this general way. Jesus’ words in John 17:20, 21 further reveal this closeness when He said, “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; ²¹ that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.”

To sit in the throne speaks of this unity that Jesus prayed to the Father for. In this, He is not speaking of a literal throne. God does not have parts; He is Spirit. He is speaking of the position of power and authority which He possesses. That power and authority is derived from God. Christ earned the right to that authority through the completion of His work (Matthew 28:18). Christ then shares that with those who overcome. This was spoken of by Paul in Romans –

“The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, ¹⁷ and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.” Romans 8:16, 17

Being “joint heirs with Christ” signifies exactly what Jesus is referring to now. This will be a heavenly rule that will last for all eternity. Again, Paul states this in Ephesians –

“But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, ⁵ even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), ⁶ and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, ⁷ that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2:4-7                    

This is promised to all who believe in the Son. In this, they overcome and participate in what He has earned the right to. As He says, “as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” Again, the word should be translated “in.” It says, “in His throne.” Christ sits in the throne of His Father, having accomplished the work He was sent to do. And in having done nothing to earn it, but through an act of grace from God, those who believe in the Son are granted the opportunity to participate in that glorious position for all eternity. Thank God for Jesus Christ.

As a review of the promises to those who overcome, and as a snapshot of the redemptive process which began in the Garden of Eden, one can look at the promises made to the faithful and see the progression which leads us from Eden to Heaven –

To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God. 2: 7 (Genesis – The Garden. Access to eternal life is restored).

He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death. 2:11 (Genesis – The Garden. The possibility of death is removed.)

To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it. 2:17 (Exodus – The wilderness. Christ is the true Manna which sustains God’s people for eternal life. With the new name, comes a new nature.)

And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations—
He shall rule them with a rod of iron;
They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’—
as I also have received from My Father; ²⁸ and I will give him the morning star. 2:27, 28 (Davidic Rule. Believers are granted rule in the eternal kingdom and are set as jewels in the diadem of Christ’s crown.)

He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. 3:5 (Atonement/Justification – believers are imputed Christ’s sinless nature and Christ our Advocate speaks on our behalf.)

He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name. 3:12 (The Temple – what the earthly temple pictured is realized in the promises of the New Jerusalem. Believers will share in Christ’s eternal nature.)

To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. 3:21 (Heavenly Rule – the Most Holy Place. Believers are granted joint-heir status in Christ’s position of power. Man lost his right to rule in the Garden; Christ restores this to humanity forever.)

Life application: The only way to overcome the power of the devil, and the world, he controls is by faith that Jesus is the Son of God. If one denies this, then he remains under the control of the devil. He will never participate in the glories to come. However, for those who call on Jesus by faith, we have the wonderful promises of glory made in Him.

In the earthly temple, there was no place to sit. The work of the priests was never done because sin continuously needed to be atoned for. But Hebrews 1:3 says that when Jesus had purged our sins, He “sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.” In other words, the work was finished and the “rest” which man was offered in Eden became available to all who trust in Him.

Hebrews 4:3 says that “we who have believed do enter that rest.” Jesus Christ promises us so very much if we will simply have faith in Him and His works. The glorious promise of reigning and resting with Him is the crown of the honors we will receive. Isaiah 11:10 says that the place of His rest will be glorious.

Zechariah then shows us that Christ is the fulfillment of both the priestly and kingly offices. He is a Priest on His throne. In this, “the counsel of peace shall be between them both” (Zechariah 6:13). Hallelujah and Amen, Christ has accomplished all that is necessary for our glorification. In accomplishing these things, He sat down! He is great, He is glorious, He is Jesus!

Lord Jesus, just to see Your face is enough for us. We long for that day with a burning desire. But You have promised us so many glories in addition to this. We are overwhelmed by the great grace and mercy You have lavished upon us, Your unworthy servants. Praises be to You for all eternity. Amen.

Tuesday, 20 October 2020

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. Revelation 3:20

Jesus is speaking to the church at Laodicea. He has had no commendation for them, but He has indirectly told them that He loves them. And more, they are not at the point of total rejection.  However, at some point that may come about if they fail to respond. With that in mind, He now says to them, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock.”

The tense of the verbs is perfect (have stood) and present (am knocking) – “Behold, I have stood at the door and am knocking.” Christ is using metaphor to convey a truth. There is a door which obstructs His entry. Being a door, it can be opened; it is not a wall. The door, however, requires someone else to open it. This is the implication of the words “and knock.” The Lord has placed Himself at the door, and He has been making His appeal continuously (am knocking).

This is clearly given to remind the reader of the words of the Song of Solomon –

“I sleep, but my heart is awake;
It is the voice of my beloved!
He knocks, saying,
‘Open for me, my sister, my love,
My dove, my perfect one;
For my head is covered with dew,
My locks with the drops of the night.’” Song of Solomon 5:2

Just as the king (Solomon) is at the door of the one he loves, knocking for entry, so is Christ the King, knocking at the door of those He loves. The word translated as knock means to rap on a door to gain admittance. It is used by Jesus in Matthew 7:7 –

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. ⁸ For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.”

It is also seen twice in Acts 12 –

“And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a girl named Rhoda came to answer. ¹⁴ When she recognized Peter’s voice, because of her gladness she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter stood before the gate. ¹⁵ But they said to her, ‘You are beside yourself!’ Yet she kept insisting that it was so. So they said, ‘It is his angel.’
¹⁶ Now Peter continued knocking; and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. ¹⁷ But motioning to them with his hand to keep silent, he declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, ‘Go, tell these things to James and to the brethren.’ And he departed and went to another place.” Acts 12:13-17

Using this metaphor is purposeful. Elsewhere, Jesus said, “I am the door,” such as in John 10:9. The meaning of this is that He is the access point to heaven. The Greek word can mean either “gate” or “door,” and it corresponds to the Hebrew word translated as “gate” used, for example, in Genesis 28:17 –

“Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, ‘Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.’ ¹⁷ And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!’”

This was when Jacob had his vision of a ladder ascending to heaven where the “angels of God were ascending and descending on it.” Jesus then takes that account and ascribes it to Himself in John 1:52. Christ is the way to heaven, and He is the access point to heaven. And yet, in this verse in revelation, He is shown to be knocking on another door, petitioning the one inside to open it. In other words, man should be coming to Christ, who is the Door, and petitioning Him to allow access through Him into heaven, and yet Christ condescends to stand at the unbeliever’s door and petition him to allow Him in.

With this symbolism understood, He next says, “If anyone hears My voice and opens the door.” This tells us that, like the account in Acts, the person on the inside is not only given a rap to alert them that someone is outside, but they have then been explicitly told who is outside. Further, this is speaking to an individual as opposed to the entire church. While the church may be lost, the person can still be saved.

In other words, the Lord is using these metaphors to relay a truth. God wants fellowship with someone who has failed to come to Him. He initiates the action, alerting him that He is there, and He then identifies Himself so that there can be no doubt who He is. When the heart of the person is willing, he opens the door – meaning he allows the Lord in. The terminology is simple and explicit. Further, it shows the simplicity of the process. To open a door takes little effort. The action occurs and the fellowship is realized. Faith is the key.

When a favorable response is made, and the door is opened, the Lord then says, “I will come in to him and dine with him.” The words here (as well as elsewhere) clearly demonstrate that the Calvinistic doctrine of “irresistible grace” is false. God does not regenerate people in order to believe, causing them to believe, which then saves them. That is not only an illogical doctrine, it is unbiblical.

Rather, when the response is favorable and the door is opened, the Lord promises that He will dine with that person. The imagery here is that of close fellowship and intimacy. To dine with someone brings a state of closeness that is almost unmatched in human experience. To further bolster this, Jesus ends with, “and he with Me.”

In other words, this is not like what happened with Abraham in Genesis 18 –

“So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah and said, ‘Quickly, make ready three measures of fine meal; knead it and make cakes.’ ⁷ And Abraham ran to the herd, took a tender and good calf, gave it to a young man, and he hastened to prepare it. ⁸ So he took butter and milk and the calf which he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree as they ate.” Genesis 18:6-8

James 2:23 says –

“And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.’ And he was called the friend of God.”

The Genesis account of Abraham watching the Lord eat came long after the words cited by James occurred. And yet, despite being called the friend of God, he did not participate in the meal with the Lord. However, because of Christ, not only does the Lord dine with a person, but the person also dines with the Lord. The gospels describe such a meal, where those who dine recline, even leaning on one another –

“Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved.” John 13:23

In this, there is the idea of intimacy and fellowship that the Lord is conveying. It is something only possible with the Lord through receiving Christ, allowing Him into one’s heart. This verse in Revelation speaks beautifully of the transmission of the gospel to a dead church. Who will respond?

Although it is fashionable to belittle those who say, “Christ is knocking on the door of your heart,” this is the exact symbolism that is being conveyed. Christ initiated the process, He identifies Himself through the message, and if a response is made, He comes in. It is reflected in the words of Paul –

“But what does it say? ‘The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart’ (that is, the word of faith which we preach): ⁹ that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Romans 10:8-10

Of this verse in Revelation, Albert Barnes provides the following insights –

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(1) that the invitation of the gospel is made to all – “if any man hear my voice”;

(2) that the movement toward reconciliation and friendship is originated by the Saviour – “behold, I stand at the door and knock”;

(3) that there is a recognition of our own free agency in religion – “if any man will hear my voice, and open the door”;

(4) the ease of the terms of salvation, represented by “hearing his voice,” and “opening the door”; and,

(5) the blessedness of thus admitting him, arising from his friendship – “I will sup with him, and he with me.” What friend can man have who would confer so many benefits on him as the Lord Jesus Christ? Who is there that he should so gladly welcome to his bosom?

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Life application: After taking a strong and disapproving stand against the church at Laodicea because of their lukewarm attitude towards Him, He lovingly calls them back to Himself with a most precious offer. When we deal with those we know, the friendships develop in various ways. Some stay friendly but social, some become “go to the movies” friendly, some never really develop, and some make us rejoice when we draw near. But the friendships which become the most heartfelt and personal are the ones that involve a meal.

“Come to my house for dinner” normally means a close and personal friendship has sprung up and the type of conversation is far different than that of other interpersonal relationships. Jesus says to the Laodiceans, “I have offered My life for you and you haven’t respected that offer, but I’m willing to completely change the relationship if you will only let Me.” And so, the Lord stands at the door and knocks. In other words, He isn’t going to force Himself on anyone, but will rather allow those, who are willing, to open the door of their own volition. And it only takes one person to open a door, not the entire congregation – churches are not saved; people are.

That one person may be the inspiration to revive the entire group. If you are in a church that is in a poor spiritual condition, are you the one who will step forward and help revive the hearts of stone? Jesus is knocking and He is patiently waiting. When the door is open, He will flood each of those in the room who respond with His glory.

This verse isn’t meant to be applicable solely to the group, although it could be if the whole group responds. Instead, His terminology is personal – “I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” Jesus is calling the individual and he who responds will have a meal with the King of kings.

Someday, a heavenly supper is coming, and it will be a banquet like no other. For those who respond to the call of Christ, what is stated here will be realized in an actual way. Get yourself ready for the choicest dining experience you can imagine… a meal with Jesus!

O God, to sit and dine with our Lord and Savior! It is more than we can imagine – nourishing ourselves with the Bread of Life and drinking wine from the Cup of Salvation. Even now, we have a foretaste of this glorious meal as we join together in the Lord’s Supper. What a joy to participate in this as we await that greater feast to come. And may it be soon! Amen.