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Two Doors of Revelation: BE-ing Precedes DO-ing

Let's move on to our next account of the number twelve that speaks to us of the apostolic; "Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick." (Luke 9:1-2) As I read this I am once again reminded of a principle that we studied in depth recently. Let us revisit this principle that I call the "Power of Advancement."

Before we fully launch into unpacking this verse in Luke, I believe there is a precedent we must look at in the book of Mark; "And he ordained twelve, that they should be with Him, and that He might send them forth to preach..." (Mark 3:14) He ordained them to BE with Him. BE-ing precedes DO-ing. Be-ing is the foundation upon which all of our do-ing is predicated. When we try to do things that we are not be-ing, it produces something that is hollow, something without substance. He sent them forth to preach, to do, as the result of a natural outgrowth of their be-ing with Him.

It is not enough to just be "around" Jesus... remember there is always a crowd around Jesus. We want to be the ones that "touch" Him...the ones that are being "with" Him! Be-ing, specifically being "with" Him, is the door that opens up to do-ing. Join me for a moment as we look at two doors.

An Open Door in Heaven

After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven... (Revelation 4:1)

I don't know about you, but I am intrigued by this door. I love the visual imagery of an open door in heaven. It seems to be such a paradox, as a door is something we can relate to, something we have definition for, yet heaven seems to defy imagination. I don't know that this is a regular door, like the doors in my house, though. The word translated as door, thura in Greek, means a portal or entrance. I believe this is significant, as it sheds a different light on the ?door? idea. I think of a "portal" as being an entrance to another realm, a change of environment. Also, note that it is not a window that merely bids us take a look into what lies beyond, rather it is a portal that bids us to enter into what lies beyond!

 I also find it fascinating that we find this door within the same context of another "door" we are all very familiar with.  Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.? (Revelation 3:20) You might be thinking that this door we are looking at in Revelation chapter 4 is not necessarily related to the door in Revelation 3:20. After all, our primary verse begins with the words "after this" which seem to denote a chronological shift, or a passage of time. However this is, in reality, an unfortunate assumption we can make. The words translated as "after this," are two words in Greek, meta tauta. Meta is a primary preposition denoting accompaniment or being AMID. This word occupies an intermediate position between the Greek ek (a primary preposition denoting ORIGIN, the point whence action or motion proceeds) and eis (a primary preposition indicating the point REACHED or entered). Tauta simply means "these things."  So, translated literally, the verse would read, "In the MIDST of, or accompanying these things I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven."  I don't mean to belabor a grammar lesson here, but I believe it is important to see the correlation between the two doors in these two chapters.

You see, the door of Revelation 3:20 speaks of intimacy, as it says, "I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me."  The door of Revelation 4:1-2 speaks of understanding and implementing the eternal purpose of God from the higher perspective and authority of the Throne, as it says, "...Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter... and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne."  May I suggest that we will never enter the "door" of understanding and implementing the eternal purpose of God without first opening the "door" of intimacy? And why is this?  It is because if He can trust us with His heart in the place of intimacy, then He can trust us with His authority in implementing His purpose in the earth.

Being One with Him

Intimacy is not necessarily that "warm fuzzy" feeling we long for and experience as we draw close to Him, although that IS a good thing and to be desired. Rather, intimacy is being ONE in purpose with Him. We can read of this intimacy in John 17:21-23; "That they all may be one; as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in Us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest Me I have given them; that they may be one, even as We are one: I in them, and thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one."  God's purpose is that there be NO separation, that we be ONE with Him and IN Him!

Now then, we just read in Revelation 3:20 as it says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door..."  Personally, I believe that this door requires a "key."  Let us read as the prophet Isaiah speaks of this key; "And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open." (Isaiah 22:22) We can also read of this key in our context of Revelation chapter 3; "These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth..." (Revelation 3:7) I also believe that we can glean much from a quick study of this "key."

If we back up to verses 20-21 of Isaiah 22, it speaks of governmental authority, fathering and Eliakim the son of Hilkiah;  And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will call my servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah: And I will clothe him with thy robe, and strengthen him with thy girdle, and I will commit thy government into his hand: and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah.  (Isaiah 22:20-21) The name Eliakim, Elyaqiym in Hebrew, means God of raising. The name Hilkiah, Chilqiyah in Hebrew, means portion of Jah (God). Indeed, He IS the God that desires to raise up those who are His portion! Those who are intimately His portion, with no divided allegiances, He will exalt in wisdom and authority.

It is from this intimate place of being raised up in wisdom and authority that we can then understand and appropriate the revealed purpose and plan of God. I say this because in Revelation 4:1 we read, "...Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter."  As I discussed in my book entitled "Deep Calls to Deep,"  (click to order) the word unfortunately translated as "hereafter" is two words in Greek, meta tauta. Meta is a primary preposition denoting accompaniment or being amid. Tauta simply means "these things."  Translated literally, the Voice in Revelation is saying, "I will show you what needs to occur in the midst of, or accompanying these things."  John is being shown things which MUST BE in the midst presently. In other words, God's stated eternal purpose is that which MUST BE. The word translated as "must be" is dei in Greek, meaning necessary (as binding), it is the third person singular active present tense of deo - meaning to bind. Deo is the word used in Matthew 16:19, "...whatsoever thou shalt BIND on earth shall be BOUND in heaven..."  So to put all this together, John is being shown a vision of what MUST BE, or what is bound in heaven, in order that we may grasp that vision and bind it (bring it to manifest) in the earth by our words and our lifestyle!

In our text, several Bible versions translate it as "a door standing open in heaven."  I like this idea of the door (portal) standing open. It speaks to me of an "open heaven!"   This idea of an open heaven ties in closely with the Key of David, as Revelation 3:7-8 states, "These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth...behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it..."  Also in Isaiah 22:22, "And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut..."

I think all of us are interested in an open heaven... all of us are interested in the favor of God. In the past I have always thought of an "open heaven" or the "favor of God" as resting primarily on individuals. I have seen it operating powerfully in my own life. At times I have even felt somewhat guilty for walking in such "favor," as I knew I certainly didn't deserve it. However, I am beginning to glimpse the possible immaturity in my thinking. You see, although an "open heaven" or the "favor of God" may manifest through an individual, it's really more a matter of the "favor" resting upon the purpose of God. Yes, I believe the "favor" actually rests upon the purpose of God and when we align ourselves with His purpose, the "favor" utilizes US as a conduit through which to flow. You see, His favor really isn't ABOUT ME, it's about His purpose.

Key of David

As I began writing this, I was proceeding with the thought that intimacy was the Key of David. After all, David is known as the man after God's heart.  However, now I am seeing that intimacy is actually the avenue that takes us to God's purpose - God's eternal purpose is the KEY! We must remember that David was not only the man after God's heart, but because of his intimate relationship he was aligned with and implementing God's eternal purpose as he set up the Davidic Tabernacle. Think about it for a moment...why didn't David just take the Ark a few miles back to Gibeon where it had been for years? You see, the Ark represented the very presence of God, and not only represented it, but the shekinah glory of the Presence of the Lord literally manifested between the wings of the cherubim. Because of his intimate relationship, something inside of David compelled him to prepare a special place, "And David... prepared a place for the ark of God..." (1 Chronicles 15:1) 

Whether he was totally aware of it or not, David was participating in the implementation of the Father's ultimate plan. We can read of this in Acts 15:16-17, "After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things."  I personally believe that the restoration of the Davidic Tabernacle is absolutely paramount to the fulfillment of God's present purposes.

However, may I suggest that it is a living and breathing restored Davidic Tabernacle, a Third Day People with no veil of the fleshly self-life to hide the Christ that dwells within them, a people that manifest the presence and glory of God! God's original purpose was and still is, through a corporate Man in His image and likeness, and to exercise dominion (not domination) FROM the Davidic Throne of mercy and justice, THROUGH the corporate Body of Messiah. His purpose is to have a Throne (a seat of authority) in the earth to bring heaven to earth!  "In mercy the THRONE will be established; And one will sit on it in truth, in the tabernacle of David, Judging and seeking justice and hastening righteousness." (Isaiah 16:5 NKJV) This ties in directly with our context in the book of Revelation; Behold, I stand at the door, and knock (the call to intimacy)...To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne (the call to authority), even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne.?

Bringing Heaven to Earth

So many in Christendom have set their hopes on, and ordered their lives on the idea of leaving the earth to GO TO HEAVEN, when all along God's eternal purpose is for us to order our lives on the idea of BRINGING HEAVEN TO EARTH! This is the purpose of God's favor, this is the purpose of an "open heaven"... in order that the Kingdom of heaven that is within us (Luke 17:21) would invade the earth around us! Jesus said it this way, "But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house." (Matthew 12:28-29) The carnal thinking of the world-system is the "strong man's house" and it is time we enforced the victory of the cross to spoil his house.  It is time we believed the Scripture when it says, "Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out." (John 12:31) and "...the prince of this world is judged." (John 16:11)

Listen to this Psalm penned by the man after God's heart.  Because of his intimate relationship, David truly had a revelation of the eternal purpose of God:  "The earth is the LORD's, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. (No mention of escape because the devil is in control!) For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods. Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? (The call to come higher and draw near to Him in intimacy.) He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart...(Those who are the undivided portion of God.) Lift up your head, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting DOORS; and the King of glory shall come in. (Once again we read of open doors!) Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting DOORS; and the King of glory shall come in. (And for what purpose are there open doors?... that the King of glory shall come in!... that heaven invade earth!) Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah." (Psalms 24:1-10 my input in parenthesis)

I sense something stirring in the Body of Christ these days, an unsettling expectancy. I believe that many in the church are "beholding the door" that bids us to enter into what lies beyond, many are standing at the portal right now; "After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven...And like the sounding of a trumpet (the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me...), the prophetic call today is, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be..." (Revelation 4:1) Those who respond to this call will be given a fresh vision of the Throne of God. "And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne." (Revelation 4:2)

The Father is declaring, "And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open. And I will fasten him as a nail in a sure place; and he shall be for a glorious throne to his father's house." (Isaiah 22:22-23) Through intimate relationship, a living and breathing restored Davidic Tabernacle, He desires to give us a fresh vision of the Kingdom of heaven within us, a fresh vision of the Throne of God, and its invasion of the earth, and its establishment in the earth. Knowing and understanding His eternal purpose, we become the very CONDUITS, the open doors through which the King of glory comes in, that heaven invade earth!  "And in mercy shall the throne be established: and he shall sit upon it in truth in the Tabernacle of David, judging, and seeking judgment, and hasting righteousness." (Isaiah 16:5)

THIS is the day of an open door. THIS is the day of an open heaven. THIS is the day of the Key of David.

Doug Fortune