Revelation 4:1
What does Revelation 4:1 mean?
A plain-English look at Revelation 4:1 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Revelation 4:1 means
John’s vision shifts from earthly concerns to a heavenly perspective. An opening into heaven signals that what follows is a revelation granted by God, not reached by human effort. The trumpet-like voice recalls the commanding clarity and authority of God’s summons. John is invited to come and see what must unfold in the future, emphasizing divine necessity and purpose. This sets prophecy in the key of worship and obedience: history will not drift; it will be shown and governed. The verse teaches that true understanding of what is to come begins with God’s initiative and our response to His call to behold reality from above.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000After these things I saw, and behold, a door opened in heaven, and the first voice that I heard, a voiceas of a trumpet speaking with me, one saying, Come up hither, and I will show thee the things which must come to pass hereafter.
KJV
King James Version · 1611After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901After these things I saw, and behold, a door opened in heaven, and the first voice that I heard, a voiceas of a trumpet speaking with me, one saying, Come up hither, and I will show thee the things which must come to pass hereafter.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949After these things I saw a door open in heaven, and the first voice came to my ears, like the sound of a horn, saying, Come up here, and I will make clear to you the things which are to come.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862After these things I saw, and lo, a door opened in the heaven, and the first voice that I heard <FI>is<Fi> as of a trumpet speaking with me, saying, `Come up hither, and I will shew thee what it behoveth to come to pass after these things;'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752After these things I looked, and behold a door was opened in heaven, and the first voice which I heard, as it were, of a trumpet speaking with me, said: Come up hither, and I will shew thee the things which must be done hereafter.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890After these things I saw, and behold, a door opened in heaven, and the first voice which I heard as of a trumpet speaking with me, saying, Come up here, and I will shew thee the things which must take place after these things.
Context
After the seven letters, the narrative turns a corner. Verse 1 functions as a doorway from the church’s present struggles to God’s heavenly courtroom. The invitation to “come up” readies the reader for a vision governed by divine perspective, not earthly rumor. What comes next is not the details of future judgments yet, but the central sight that anchors everything: God’s throne. Seeing that first is essential, because all subsequent scenes in Revelation flow from and answer to the authority revealed here.
v.1This passage
v.2Straightway I was in the Spirit: and behold, there was a throne set in heaven, and one sitting upon the throne;
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Acts 7:56
and said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
- Matthew 3:16
And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway from the water: and lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon him;
- Exodus 24:12
And Jehovah said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee the tables of stone, and the law and the commandment, which I have written, that thou mayest teach them.
- Revelation 1:10
I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet
- Luke 3:21
Now it came to pass, when all the people were baptized, that, Jesus also having been baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened,
- Acts 10:11
and he beholdeth the heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending, as it were a great sheet, let down by four corners upon the earth:
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