Revelation Unlocked #198.

‘And they were singing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb:“Great and marvelous are your works,  O Lord God, the Almighty. Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations. Who will not fear you, Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous deeds have been revealed.” Then I looked and saw that the Temple in heaven, God’s Tabernacle, was thrown wide open. The seven angels who were holding the seven plagues came out of the Temple. They were clothed in spotless white linen with gold sashes across their chests.’ – Revelation 15:3-6

Several times the Book of Revelation describes God as the “almighty.” This word translates from a Greek compound of “all” with “powerful” or “strong.” If God is truly all powerful, then we don’t need to worry. He can do great things with our small efforts, if we put ourselves in the place where He wants us to be. This is illustrated by an amazing story from the year 1900.

A sobbing little girl stood near a small church. She had been turned away because it was “too crowded.” “I can’t go to Sunday School,” she sobbed to the pastor as he walked by. Seeing her shabby, unkempt appearance, the pastor guessed the real reason for her rejection and, taking her by the hand, took her inside and found a place for her in the Sunday School class.

Two years later, the child died and her parents called for the kind-hearted pastor to handle the final arrangements: As her poor little body was being moved, a worn and crumpled red purse was found which seemed to have been rummaged from some dump. Inside was found 57 cents and a note, scribbled in childish handwriting, which read: “This is to help build the little church bigger so more children can go to Sunday School.”

The pastor tearfully read that note, he knew instantly what he would do. Carrying this note and the cracked, red pocketbook to the pulpit, he told the story of her unselfish love and devotion. He challenged his deacons to get busy and raise enough money for the larger building.

But the story does not end there. A newspaper published the story. It was read by a wealthy realtor who offered them an expensive parcel of land which he offered to sell for 57 cents. Within five years the little girl’s gift had increased to $250,000. Her unselfish love had paid large dividends.

Today the Temple Baptist Church, has a seating capacity of 3,300. There is a Temple University as well. The existence of both were inspired by that girl’s dying gift. It goes to show what the Almighty can do with 57 cents.

The basis for worship in Revelation 15 is the public display of God’s mighty and righteous acts. At history’s end, everyone will see that God has destroyed sin and oppression and has delivered His faithful people. God’s saving action will be so overwhelming that the redeemed will break out into spontaneous devotion.

This mention of the temple in heaven is one of many references to the sanctuary in Revelation. Each of the book’s 7 main sections is introduced with a scene based on the Hebrew sanctuary, which in turn, was modelled on the heavenly sanctuary. To summarize briefly:

Revelation 1:12-20. Jesus is among the 7 golden lamp-stands. These represent the churches on earth (1:20). So God’s church is a temple in its own right (1 Cor 3:17; 1 Pet 2:1-10).

Revelation 4-5 contains a thorough mix of images from every part and service of the sanctuary. The scene represents the inauguration of the sanctuary itself when every item in the sanctuary was dedicated to God. 

Revelation 8:3-5. The focus of this passage is intercession. The prayers of the saints are combined with incense from the altar to enhance their effectiveness before God.

Revelation 11:19. Here is a view of the Most Holy Place, where the Ark of the Covenant can be found. It appears in the context of judgment.

In Revelation 15 and 16, the temple is emptied. The heavenly sanctuary was inaugurated in Revelation 4 and 5, went through phases of intercession and judgment and is here shut down, its services have ceased.

Revelation 21:1-8. In Revelation 21:2-3 the “tabernacle” is actually the New Jerusalem descending to earth. The city is symbolically shaped like a cube, just like the Most Holy Place of the sanctuary. God and the Lamb become the temple of the city themselves.

The Book of Revelation displays a completed sanctuary cycle. The cycle begins on earth (Rev 1) and ends on earth (Rev 21). Scenes 2-6, on the other hand, focus on the heavenly sanctuary throughout the Christian era. The sanctuary is inaugurated, goes through phases of intercession and judgment, then is ‘abandoned.’ When the plan of salvation is over, and Christ’s intercession ceases the sanctuary, as it is pictured, will no longer be needed.