In the skies above him, John sees an open door. The way the Greek reads makes clear that this door is not open momentarily but is opened to stay open. God in the beginning had created two parts, the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1), with the heavens as his dwelling and the earth as the habitation for humanity (Psalm 115:16). The fall into sin had formed a barrier closing open relations between God and man, earth and heaven (see Genesis 3:24; Exodus 26:33, Exodus 26:36). But now there’s an open door between these two parts of God’s world (see Matthew 27:51)! Jacob’s dream had hinted that God would open heaven again to earth (Genesis 28:17; see also Ezekiel 1:1). Stephen had also seen this opened door (Acts 7:56; see also Acts 10:11). Now John may tell the churches what’s happening behind that door.
1 After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.”