Revelation 4:2

As soon as John heard this invitation, he entered another visionary state (cf. Revelation 1:10). His body remained on the earth, but he saw a throne and someone sitting on it in heaven (cf. Ezekiel 11:1; Ezekiel 11:5). [Note: See J. M. Vogelgesang, "The Interpretation of Ezekiel in the Book of Revelation," (Ph.D. dissertation, Harvard University, 1985).] "Throne" occurs 45 times in Revelation and only 15 times in the rest of the New Testament. The tense of the Greek verb translated "sitting" (present participle here and in Revelation 4:3) suggests continuous sitting. The person on the throne was undoubtedly God the Father (cf. Revelation 4:5; Revelation 5:5; Revelation 5:7; Revelation 6:16; Revelation 7:10; Revelation 19:4). John apparently saw a very large room with a throne in the center of it and someone sitting on the throne (cf. 1 Kings 22:19; 2 Chronicles 18:18; Psalms 11:4; Psalms 47:8; Isaiah 6:1; Ezekiel 1:26; Daniel 7:9).

"Daniel, the prophet, saw the same glorious sight (Daniel 7): the Ancient of Days enthroned, and ’One like unto a son of man brought near before him’ and given ’dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all the peoples, and languages should serve him.’" [Note: Newell, p. 84. Daniel 7:13-14; cf. Daniel 7:9; Ezekiel 1.]

This was probably a room in the heavenly temple since later John also saw the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant there (Revelation 8:3; Revelation 11:19).

"The major focus of chapter 4 upon the throne is its symbolism of God’s sovereignty exercised in judgment. From this point of origination proceeds the outworking of God’s wrath described in the body of the Apocalypse (cf. Revelation 6:10; Revelation 6:16-17; Revelation 14:7; Revelation 15:1; Revelation 16:5; Revelation 16:19; Revelation 18:20; Revelation 19:2; Revelation 19:11). Though evil reigns for a time on earth, God will ultimately prevail." [Note: Thomas, Revelation 1-7, pp. 339-40.]

Some pretribulational commentators have seen a representation of the rapture of the church in this verse. They view John entering heaven in his vision as symbolic of Christians entering heaven at the Rapture. [Note: E.g., Ironside, p. 80.] This is probably reading too much into the text since it was John himself who entered heaven, and he entered heaven in a vision, not in reality.

The absence of specific reference to the Rapture in Revelation has led some (posttribulational) interpreters to conclude that it will occur at the Second Coming, following the Tribulation judgments. Yet the differences between the Rapture and the Second Coming, as various Scriptures refer to these events, make this extremely improbable (cf. John 14:1-3, 1 Corinthians 15:50-58, and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 with Revelation 19). The unusual absence of reference to the Rapture may be due to God’s purpose in chapters 4-19, namely, to focus on the judgments coming on unbelievers culminating in the Second Coming. There are 20 references to the church in chapters 1-3 but none until Revelation 22:17. This strongly implies that the church is not on earth during the Tribulation. Evidently the Rapture takes place between chapters 3 and 4.