What is an “Open Heaven”?

Do you live with an open heaven?

One night I had a dream where one angel was telling another angel to “move the golden hole.” Hmmn . . .

It was like there was a “hole” or “window” in heaven that they moved over a young man we know. He was in his 40’s and not yet married, although he desired to be married.

I knew instinctively that he was going to be blessed and would be married soon after the “window” of heaven had been “moved” above him.

And, yes, he was soon married after I had the dream.

This got me thinking. What causes God to open heaven for us? What can we do that moves God or the angels to move “the golden hole” above us? What are some of the ways that God opens heaven?

I was able to spot several instances in His word that specifically state the heavens opening.

1. Tithing – Malachi 3:10

“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the LORD of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.”

2. Water Baptism – Mark 1:10

“Immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him;” Matthew 3:16

“After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him,” Luke 3:21

“Now when all the people were baptized, Jesus was also baptized, and while He was praying, heaven was opened.”

3. Prayer – Acts 10:11

“On the next day, as they were on their way and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. But he became hungry and was desiring to eat; but while they were making preparations, he fell into a trance; and he saw the sky opened up, and an object like a great sheet coming down, lowered by four corners to the ground.”

4. Full of Holy Spirit/martyrdom

“But being full of the Holy Spirit, he (Stephen) gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God;” and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” Acts 7:55,56

5. Seen by Jesus

Jesus answered and said to him (Nathaniel), “Because I said to you that I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You will see greater things than these.”

And He said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see the heavens opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” John 1:51

6. Divine Dreams

He (Jacob) had a dream, and behold, a ladder was set on the earth with its top reaching to heaven; and behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. Gen 28:11

7. Divine Visions

Now it came about in the thirtieth year, on the fifth day of the fourth month, while I (Ezekiel) was by the river Chebar among the exiles, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God. Ezekiel 1: 1

After these things I (John) looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things.” Revelation 4:1-2

And I (John) saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. Revelation 19:11

8. Divine Call – Acts 9:3

As he was traveling, it happened that he (Saul) was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him;

9. Divine Provision – Psalms 78:23,24

“Yet He commanded the clouds above and opened the doors of heaven; He rained down manna upon them to eat and gave them food from heaven.”

There are many ways to get under God’s “open heaven” (God’s abundant blessing) mentioned in His word that don’t specifically call it an “open heaven”. See how many you can find. Hint to get you started: Matthew 5: 2-12.

Photo by NOAA on Unsplash