| Author | Message | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 2712 Registered: 3-2004  |
I have been reading the book of Revelation again and need some help. Revelation 11:19 says "Then God's temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant. Revelation 21:22 says "I did not see a temple in the city because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. In one text it says there is a temple in heaven and in another it says that he did not see a temple because God and the Lamb are its temple. Please help me understand this. Diana | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 4406 Registered: 12-2003  |
Diana, Revelation 11:19 is using a temple metaphor to remind people of God's faithfulness. While in the OT the ark symbolized the presence of God among His people, "in the NT it symbolizes God's faithfulness in skeeping covenant with his people" (NIV Study Notes). Revelation 21:22, on the other hand, is not referring to heaven but to the New Jerusalem after Jesus destroys evil and establishes His final kingdom. The two passages, in other words, are describing events that happen at very different times, and they're using different. This isn't an exhaustive explanation, but it's a start. Colleen | ||
| Agapetos Registered user Username: Agapetos Post Number: 245 Registered: 10-2002  |
Hi Diana, Revelation is very, very symbolic. Maybe 99% of the time the symbols are taken straight from the Old Covenant shadows. Just as the shadows in the Old Testament were about Jesus, in the same way the shadows (symbols) in Revelation are also about Jesus. The "ark" is an interesting example, because it was the container of the [old] Covenant. It held the Law, Aaron's staff which had budded, and a jar of mannah. On top it had the Mercy Seat between the cherubim where the blood would be sprinkled and where God said He would meet with His people. Now, Jesus is our "container" of the New Covenant! We meet God in Him. I believe the Greek for Romans 3:25 literally says that God presented Christ as our "Mercy Seat". Jesus holds the new Law---the Law of the Spirit of life which sets us free from the law of sin & death. Aaron was the high priest of the Old Covenant---but Jesus is the High Priest of the New Covenant. The staff represents authority, and all authority in heaven & earth has been given to Christ. The staff was also a sign to Israel that God had chosen Aaron as a priest and not others. Christ is also "the sign" to us from God---He is the Chosen One, of whom Father said, "This is My beloved Son whom I have chosen, with Him I am well pleased." He is the Chosen One (and in Him--the Chosen One--we too are chosen!). A line in "Alleluia, Sing to Jesus" shows how He is every part of the old Temple/Tabernacle service! About the Temple, among other verses 1 Corinthians 3 & 6 point out that the "temple" of the New Covenant is.... you and me! The Bible shows a progression of intimacy between God and us. First there were meetings with us in arbitrary places, but then He chose a moveable Tabernacle to live in among Israel. Then a fixed Temple was built. Then Jesus came and "tabernacled" in the flesh when He was on earth among us (that's the literal translation of the Greek from John 1:14). But being "among us" wasn't good enough for Jesus! He wanted to be in us, so He went back to heaven and sent the Holy Spirit so that He could make His home in us! That's why Jesus told the Samaritan woman in John 4 that a time was coming (and had come) when the worshipers of Father would worship Him in spirit and in truth. The lady had asked "where" the correct place for worship was. In essence, Jesus answered that it was Jerusalem, but that it was changing now---worship Him in spirit. We're no longer bound by times & locations, because He lives in us: we are His Temple. Anyway, hope this helps, sorry for getting carried away.  In Jesus, Ramone | ||
| Agapetos Registered user Username: Agapetos Post Number: 246 Registered: 10-2002 |
Oh, forgot to mention what the manna symbolized. But then, maybe that one was the most obvious. | ||
| Jackob Registered user Username: Jackob Post Number: 282 Registered: 7-2005  |
Revelation 11:19 is one of my adventist friend's most favourite, because his argument is that in the Holy of Holies was the ark of the covenant with the Decalogue. For him this idea is that the Law, the ten commandments must be kept, as being the everlasting covenant, from eternity to eternity. This text is also used to make a link beween keeping the sabbath and the supposedly second ministry of Jesus in the Holy of Holies starting with 1844, because the Holy of Holies was opened for all to see the ark of the covenant. My reply: "I'm remembering another time when the temple was opened for all to see what was in the Holy of Holies, when Jesus died and the curtain, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51). It was the end of all that was connected with the temple. Are you ready to say that this will mean the end of the ten commandments? Had the sabbath come to an end, or will come to an end?" | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 2713 Registered: 3-2004 |
Thank you Colleen, Ramone, and Jackob. Each of you has helped me understand these two texts better. I will read I Cor 3 and 6. Thank God for each of you. He is so awesome. Diana | ||
| Mwh Registered user Username: Mwh Post Number: 118 Registered: 4-2006  |
Great pointers and comments | ||
| Grace_alone Registered user Username: Grace_alone Post Number: 103 Registered: 6-2006  |
I have always been very intimidated of Revelation. Then, when I met my husband and he was taking "Daniel and Revelation" classes at LLU I not only was intimidated, but resentful that they would focus on two books and almost ignore the rest. Colleen, Ramone, and Jackob, I love the explanations you've posted! The symbols are beautiful and so easy to understand. This may give me the courage to tackle that book... Diana, may God bless your studies! | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 2720 Registered: 3-2004 |
I have to admit, I am not sure how to study Revelations. But God is pushing me in that direction and who I am to say, stop pushing. One thing I want to do is study the angels that are written about in the book. The SDA focus on only 3, but there are many more than that. So right now, I read a paragraph or a subject, read all the details in the notes. I have to get a notebook to make notes. Thanks Grace_alone. I really need God's blessing as I study and read his word. I am so amazed at how awesome He is. Diana |
