Revelation chapter 4 begins “the hereafter”.
The word revelation means: the unveiling, revealing, to fully expose. I would suggest that this Book is to be classified as the ultimate Book of Love. Why? Jesus provides us with what is to come for His Bride as well as those who reject Him in some manner. He wishes that none would perish. No other book promises a special blessing to the reader.
The Beloved Disciple recorded by The Holy Spirit in Revelation chapter 1:
17 And when I saw Jesus, I fell at His Feet as dead. But He laid His Right Hand on me, saying to me,
“Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last.
18 I am He Who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.
19 Write the things which you have seen (past), and the things which are (present), and the things which will take place after this (meta tauta).
20 The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My Right Hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.
Jesus gave us the outline of the Book of Revelation:
Chapter 1 the past
Chapters 2 & 3 the present
Chapters 4 – 22 the future
Further, He defines the lampstands as being the churches. The purpose of a lampstand is to provide light, and its light comes from the oil contained which is The Holy Spirit. No Presence of The Holy Spirt, no light!
Revelation Chapter 4:
1 After these things (meta tauta) 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 (meta tauta).”
I am convinced that the harpazo has occurred as of verse 1.
John is now in the Throne Room and in the future (meta tauta) and describes what he saw and heard:
2 Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a Throne set in Heaven, and One sat on the Throne.
3 And He Who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the Throne, in appearance like an emerald.
4 Around the Throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads.
5 And from the Throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the Throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
John recorded what he saw thirty-five times. The term “I looked” is recorded seventy times in this Book. The phrase “I beheld” was recorded seven times, “I heard” was recorded twenty-three times. This was not a vision, but a reality beyond the restriction of the time dimension. Jesus said “I will show thee” and that is exactly what He did!
Isn’t noteworthy that The Beloved Disciple is the one selected to record this Book of Love which occurred beyond the time dimension!
Jesus spoke in Matthew chapter 13:
16 But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear;
17 for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.