Following the individualised letters to the seven churches (but intended to be read to all of them, and to us too), John is immersed in a new vision. His eyes are taken upwards to a doorway into heaven. Unlike Jacob's dream of a ladder to heaven at the top of which God stood, commanding His promise of earthly territory to Jacob and his descendants so that they would be a blessing to the world (Genesis 28:10-15) - this vision showed heaven to come.

The voice belongs to Jesus (Revelation 1:10-18): and sounded like the trumpet call of God that, one day, will wake the dead (1 Thessalonians 4:16). Jesus confirmed His promise of Revelation 1:19 that the things revealed 'will soon taken place', by saying that they 'must take place'. Jesus had previously said that like labour pains, there is an inescapable certainty that our present world cannot stay the same (Matthew 24:4-14).

In his vision, John was no longer outside the door of heaven, or more remote like Jacob who watched heaven's door from earth. John was inside heaven. A magnificent throne dominated his gaze, and upon the throne was a person who is later worshipped as the Holy and Almighty God (Revelation 4:8, 11). A huge bow of green light wrapped itself around the throne, perhaps a little like the Northern Lights seen close to the Arctic Circle. But God was not now seen in human form but as two massive gemstones, jasper and ruby (or carnelian). This should remind us of Exodus 28:15-21 in which God instructed Moses to construct a breastplate or ephod for the High Priest to wear. On the breastplate, twelve gemstones were set to represent the twelve tribes of Israel. The first was the ruby and the last was jasper. So God identifies Himself as being the God of His people, intrinsically committed to them and inseparable from them. They are the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27).

This sets the scene for the rest of Revelation. It is about how God will not abandon His people: He will fight for them and win a definitive victory against Satan and his evil accomplices. God will vindicate His people and will establish new heavens and a new earth, the home of righteousness (2 Peter 3:13). As we read through the Book, we will see it is about God working in ways we have not previously seen. The pictures will seem odd to us. Although many have tried to construct a systemic approach of reading the future through this book, there is too much we cannot understand before it happens to make any systemic totally explain the future. Imagery of a scroll and its seals, trumpets, a dragon, a beast, angels, bowls, the reign of Christ and the defeat of Satan and the new Jerusalem – are all strange to us. But as we unpack the pictures, we will see that the Lord we love is intensely committed to dealing with all that opposes us and gathering us securely into His kingdom. God is Holy, but we who trust in Jesus are a part of Him. Whatever you may feel, the truth is that He will move heaven and earth so that you can be with Him for ever.