A) THE BOOK OF REVELATION.

B) SEVEN.

C) SPIRITUAL HOUSE.

D) OBSCURING THE SANCTUARY SERVICES.

 

 

A) THE BOOK OF REVELATION

 

 

That the Book of Revelation covers the entire ministration of Christ’s work in the Heavenly Sanctuary after His resurrection, let’s observe:

 

The first introductory scene shows Christ, clothed as our High Priest, walking among the seven lampstands (Rev. 1:12-20).

 

The second shows the Heavenly Throne Room, and the verses reveal a wide variety of Sanctuary imagery:  “Throne, Lamps, Slain Lamb, Blood, Golden Bowls of Incense” (Rev. Chs. 4 & 5).

 

The third scene refers to the continual service of intercession in the context of the First Apartment of the Heavenly Sanctuary (Rev. 8:2-6).

 

The fourth and central scene gives us a glimpse of the Ark of the Covenant in the Second Apartment (Rev. 11:9).

 

The fifth scene brings the entire Tabernacle in Heaven into view (Rev. 15:5-8).

 

The sixth scene is unique in that it does not contain any explicit references to the Sanctuary.  This is most likely in order to illustrate that Christ’s work there is finished (Rev. 19:1-10).

 

The final and seventh scene is all about the glorious holy city on earth, which is portrayed as the Tabernacle “coming down out of Heaven,” Revelation 21:1-8.

 

 

B) SEVEN

 

 

In a side note, there are so many examples of “seven’s” in the Book of Revelation.  There is the one shown above and many others like that:

 

Seven Churches; Seven Trumpets; Seven Golden Candlesticks; Seven Stars; Seven Spirits of God; Seven Seals; Seven Eyes; Seven Horns; Seven Angels; Seven Thunders; Seven Heads; Seven Crowns; Seven Last Plagues; Seven Golden Vials; Seven Mountains; Seven Kings; on-and-on to name a few.

 

 

C) SPIRITUAL HOUSE

 

 

I admonish you, the remnant, as did the prophet Haggai, admonished the remnant of Israel:  “Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your ceiled [or paneled in, completed] houses, and this house [God’s Sanctuary] lie waste?”  Hagia 1:4.  Although God is rebuking the Jews for allowing their comfortable living to blind their need of rebuilding God’s Temple, the Spiritual Implications are dynamic.  How often are we alert to our own material needs, such that we fail to see our spiritual need of completing God’s Sanctuary in our hearts, so that, like Israel should have recognized, God can now dwell with us?  And, how often are we blind to this spiritual need, which in turn blinds us to the needs of God’s work on earth?

 

So long as men postpone the building of the Lord’s spiritual house, as Peter encourages us to do, “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by [or because of] Jesus Christ,” First Peter 2:5.  So long as we fail in this area of our lives, so long will its completion be delayed (Jam. 5:7).  Christ left Heaven to come down to this earth (going into the outer court); He then accepts the transfer of our sins as the Lamb of God (going into the inner court); He is then slain because of our choices (going onto the Brazen Altar); He then prepares Himself to be presented clean (going to the Laver) before ascending to Heaven (see John 20:17); He then ascends to Heaven (going into the Holy Place); He then moves to eradicate sin from the universe (going into the Most Holy Place), on the Day of Atonement; which is the close of probation.  “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still:  and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still:  and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still:  and he that is holy, let him be holy still.”  Revelation 22:11.

 

 

D) OBSCURING THE SANCTUARY SERVICES

 

 

And now, as if I haven’t already stuck my neck out with some innovative thoughts upon the symbolism of the Sanctuary already, here is one more that is sure to raise some eyebrows.  According to Daniel 7:25 and 9:26, an evil power would arise and persecute God’s people, obscure the Sanctuary services, cast the truth to the ground, and prosper in doing it.  It would attempt to change the Law of God, and by so doing, deceive many.  But after a period of time (Dan. 8:14) a people would arise that will bring to light Biblical truths on the Sanctuary.  This is the power:  “Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.”  Second Thessalonians 2:4.

 

The ultimate purpose of the Sanctuary service is to cleanse from sin.  This power claims to be able to forgive sin through indulgences and absolutions.  In short, it has entered into the Sanctuary (Dan. 8:10-12) and attempted to replace God’s Mediator, becoming itself the mediator.  I admonish you to seek the true Mediator of the Sanctuary; The Only One Who can absolve and abolish sin, our Lord and Savior, Jesus, The Christ; and not this changer of God’s Law and persecuting power which claims to represent God.  This “Threefold Union” backed by Satan.  See my Bible Studies on the Book of Revelation.

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