The Book of Revelation, which describes John's visions of heaven, doesn't explicitly state *why* Jesus allowed John to see these visions. However, we can infer several reasons from the text itself and Christian theology:
* To encourage and strengthen believers: The early church faced persecution and hardship. John's visions of God's ultimate victory, the defeat of evil, and the promise of eternal life in heaven would have been a powerful source of hope and encouragement.
* To reveal God's plan for the future: Revelation unveils aspects of God's plan for the end times, the second coming of Christ, the final judgment, and the establishment of a new heaven and a new earth. This knowledge provides a framework for understanding the world and God's purposes in it.
* To call for repentance and faithfulness: Revelation contains both warnings about the consequences of sin and calls to remain faithful to Christ, even in the face of adversity. The visions are meant to motivate believers to live holy lives.
* To glorify God: Ultimately, the purpose of Revelation, like the rest of Scripture, is to reveal God's glory and majesty. The descriptions of heaven and God's throne room emphasize His power, holiness, and sovereignty.
* John's special role: John was a close disciple of Jesus, one of the "inner circle." God may have chosen him for this special revelation due to his faithfulness and his established role as a leader in the early church.
In short, while the Bible doesn't offer a single, explicit reason, we can conclude that Jesus allowed John to see heaven to inspire hope, reveal God's plan, call for faithfulness, and ultimately glorify God.