Heaven is a Real Place
Existing at This Moment
After “these things” (4:1), which summarizes the words and events of chapters 1-3: a new scene unfolds before John’s eyes. Just as real as those early churches was the Throne of God: that towered over everything happening to John on Patmos. That is the message. Heaven is real.
The scenes of Revelation 1-3 are given on the island of Patmos, between Roman Asia (modern Turkey) and Greece. John was a prisoner of the Roman Emperor Domitian (AD 51-96) who ruled Rome from AD 81-96. God was on His Throne while John was exiled.
Domitian’s father was Vespatian who is best known for building the Colosseum; and who ruled from AD 69-79, winning the Empire after Nero’s suicide in AD 68. God was on His Throne while the Emperor Vespatian designed the Colosseum.
Domitian’s brother was Titus who ruled from AD 79-81; but is most remembered as the Roman General who destroyed Jerusalem in AD 70. So God was on His Throne while the Emperor Titus destroyed Jerusalem and a million Jews in AD 70.
Domitian persecuted the church by allowing provincial purges of churches and believers, but not on an Empire wide basis, just here and there. He banished the last living disciple of Christ, the Apostle John, to Patmos. John had been living and pastoring in Ephesus when he was imprisoned on Patmos, and after Domitian’s death in AD 96, John returned back to live his last days in Ephesus. God was on His Throne while the Emperor Domitian exiled John to Patmos.
The vision of Christ (Rev. 1) and the letters to the seven churches (Rev. 2 & 3) are literal events, with letters to historic places that are still identifiable today by their geographic ruins.