Mark the seven or eight times in which heaven in the New Testament is said to be opened.
1. At the baptism of Jesus, the God of heaven had found, and would own "who" and " what" have rest on earth:- viz., Christ and His service (Matt. 3:16; Luke 3:21).
2. The heavens opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.
Time will be, when, He upholding blessing upon earth, not only the God of heaven shall set His seal upon Him, but heaven's previous, and then present hosts shall wait upon Him-Blesser of the earth (John 1:51).
3. Heaven opened on Stephen in martyrdom. The Son of man, in heaven, lets His suffering servant know His sympathy, and sustainment, in the period that earth can hold no testimony for God (Acts 7:56).
4. The sheet let down out of heaven.
The church has no connection with earthly dispensations. It is something that comes down out of heaven, and is drawn up again into heaven, and never gets a rest upon earth; you must look into it from above (Acts 10:11).
5. Heaven opened to John-the suffering servant-and the Lord God Almighty upon the throne found to be the spring, whence the Lamb draws for his servants, when the churches are judged, all needed blessing. All upon the throne is secure (Rev. 4:1).
6. The security of Israel's blessing in the day of its affliction shown (Rev. 11:19).
7. The security of the remnant-and the certainty of judgment (Rev. 15:5-8).
8. The mission of God's Champion to introduce and establish God's power upon earth (Rev. 19:11).
If 6 and 7 are separate, then there are eight openings; if they are the same opening, then there are seven.