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John the Revelator's soul cried out to see the majesty of God's face when he was ushered into the realms of the Spirit on the Lord's Day. John, the beloved, personal friend of Jesus, was banished to the Isle of Patmos because of his passion for the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus, the spirit of prophecy. During his years of isolation he learned to look into the invisible realms of the Spirit.

The avenue to the depths of knowing God comes when one willingly walks through life's lonely valleys releasing their will and totally submitting to God. John was able to scribe the heavenly revelation of a future time. Instead of sinking into depression, his heart rejoiced.

God is the Spirit of Truth

John was liberated from a sense of possessing material things, yet he possessed all things grand and glorious in the kingdom of heaven. John committed his all; his everything to the safety of God's loving hands. John gladly separated himself to focus on the Spirit of the Lord. God is the Spirit of Truth.

Man can only know the greatness of God when he enters into the Spirit and Truth of God. John lived his whole life surrounded by the presence of God. His sacred isolation positioned him to receive the revelation of Jesus Christ. The great men and women of God are those who have totally given themselves to pursue God with all that is within them.

Faith activates our senses to a spiritual kingdom that surrounds us about and within. The Spirit of God Himself showed John images of the distant future and heavenly visions. During his time of seclusion, John also saw a future door standing open in heaven. John's futuristic door is presently the open revelatory door of the now! John's ears were tuned to hear the clarion voice of God calling him upwards to continue his higher pursuits of God.

Come Up Higher

The voice of the Holy Spirit beckons each of us to recognize His absolute presence, to come up higher and transcend the limitations of our present reality.

At the time of his vision, John heard as it were the voice of Jesus behind him as multitude of many flooding waters thundering. His voice sounded like a trumpet resounding from the outer boundaries of the galaxy. John turned to see the face of the invisible one who was talking.

He saw seven golden lampstands reflecting the seven colors of the Holy Spirit. Then John saw the Son of Man dressed in a long robe, with a golden sash tied around His chest. His head and hair were snow-white like wool. His eyes were like blue flames of fire. His beautiful feet were like brass that glows hot in a furnace.

Jesus held seven stars in His right hand. A sharp two-edged sword came out of His mouth. Jesus looked like the sun shining at its brightest time. When John saw Jesus he fell down at His feet like a dead man. Jesus placed His right hand on John and said, "Don't be afraid! I am the First and the Last. I am the One who lives. I was dead, but behold, I am alive forever and ever! I hold the keys of death and Hades. Now write the vision of what you see." The prophet John wrote with a spiritual authority and reported what he saw in the presence of majestic Deity.

The cultures of America (and many other countries) are cluttered with distractions which preoccupy our time and attention. If we take the example of John's banishment to the Isle of Patmos as prescriptive for our spiritual lives, we would need to make some changes to our attitude and actions concerning the use of time.

Spiritual Enlightenment

Instead of packing every waking moment with noise, activities and motion, we could emulate John by removing ourselves from our busy, frenzied lifestyle. A time of prayerful meditation and fasting without distractions, where we could actually feel the isolation and loneliness of life would go a long way to draw our attention to what really matters. The object of our life, love and affection could turn from those temporal modalities to the Eternal One who is our all in all. We would stay close under the shadow of His wings declaring God is my help! My heart clings to Him and His right hand supports me.

Before sinful man can seek a holy God the Father must draw him through spiritual enlightenment within. Otherwise, if we wait to pray while driving, the notion of visiting heaven while cruising down the highway at 60mph sounds a little stressful to the other occupants of our car. John pulled aside to look into the realm of the spirit. In the place of revelation his eyes were opened to see the door. Once John saw, he then heard a clarion invitation issued to come up to gain heaven's perspective. 

Revelation 4:1-2 (NIV) After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this." At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it."

John the Revelator was issued an invitation to see future opportunities from a heavenly perspective. He entered the Spirit realm to access the door of hope by answering the call to "come up." God is not a respecter of persons. If He issued a call to John, then God has issued the same clarion call to you and me.

Opening Spiritual Access

Learning the ways of God will enable us to navigate the realms of the Spirit. Quiet times of prayerful meditation on and in the Word of God will enable us to interpret the impressions, dreams and visions God gives nightly to each of us. The love and peace of God has opened spiritual access and brings understanding to those who follow and respond to the call of Jesus. The world at large awaits the rise of clarion voices that have gazed behind the holy veil of Father's heart to boldly declare the tender mercies of the Lord that are new every morning.

O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely. Song of Solomon 2:14KJV

We must draw near to God to understand the secrets hidden in Him. Dreams are essential to understanding who we are destined to become in Christ. Godly wisdom helps us address the negative interpretations that come from those who walk in spiritual darkness. It is critical that we give a free rein to the supernatural power of heaven to rule in our lives. Every opaque veil of self we remove brings us into the fullness of God's spiritual light revealing His face to us.

Barbie Breathitt