Sanctuary in the Book of Revelation

Jiří Moskala, Th.D., Ph.D.

Professor of Old Testament Exegesis and Theology Andrews University

Special Blessing

Rev 1:3 “Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.”

An Appendix? An Obscure Book?

The Book of Revelation = Culmination of Biblical Theology.

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Revelation of John?

“

The revelation of Jesus Christ

, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John…” Rev 1:1

Revelation of God

Revelation coming from God about God!

Introduction and Conclusion:

GRACE

Rev 1:4 “Grace and peace to you…” Rev 22:21 “The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's people. Amen.”

Literary Structure of the Book of Revelation

Chapters 1-11

Historical part

(several overviews from the first coming to the second coming of Jesus) Chapters 12-22

Eschatological part

(focus on the end-time events)

Chiastic Climax of the Apocalypse

Rev 12-14

The Chiasm of Revelation

Pro logue The Seven Churches A The Seven Seals B 4:1 8:1 1:9 3:22 1:1-8 The Seven Trum pets C The Final Crisis D 11:19 14:20 8:2 11:18 The Seven Bowls C’ 15:1 18:24 The Millen nium B’ 19:1 20:15 The New Jeru salem A’ 21:1 22:5 Epi logue 22:6 21

Revelation 12-14

The culmination of the chiastic structure

Summary of the Great Controversy

The Meganarrative of Revelation Series of Seven’s

• • • • • • •

Prologue: Revelation 1:1-8 (Series of Seven's) I. 7 Churches (2-3) II. 7 Seals (6:1-8:1) III. 7 Trumpets (8:7-11:8) IV. 7 Cosmic Conflict Scenes (12:1-15:4)

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[Last 6 start with kai eidon "And I saw"]

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1. 12:1-17 Woman and Serpent

• • • • • •

2. 13:1-10 Sea Beast 3. 13:11-16 Land Beast 4. 14:1-5 144,000 5. 14:6-13 3 Angels' Message 6. 14:14-20 Harvest 7. 15:1-4 Sea of Glass V. 7 Plagues (16:1-18:24) VI. 7 Scenes in the Windup of the Cosmic Conflict (19:11-20:15)

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[Each scene starts with kai eidon "And I saw"]

•

1. 19:11-16 White Horse

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2. 19:17-18 Supper of Birds

• •

3. 19:19-21 Final Battle 4. 20:1-3 1000 Years

• •

5. 20:4-10 Saints Judge 6. 20:11 Great White Throne

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7. 20:12-15 Judgment of Dead VII. 7 Part Description of the New Jerusalem (21:9-22:5) – 21:9-11,12-14,15-17,18-21,22-27; 22:1-2,3-5.

Epilogue: Revelation 22:6-21

The Explicit Pattern

Introduction 1:9-20 4 & 5 8:2-6 11:19 15:5-8 19:1-10 21:1-8 Vision Seven Churches (2-3) Seven Seals (6-7) Seven Trumpets (8-11) 7 GC Scenes (12-14) Seven Plagues (16-18) 7 GC Scenes (19-20) New Earth (21-22)

The Literary Structure

Introductory Sanctuary Scenes Series of Seven's I. 1:9-20 Lampstands

7 Churches (2-3)

The Literary Structure

Introductory Sanctuary Scenes Series of Seven's

I. 1:9-20 Lampstands

II. 4-5 Throne: Inauguration

7 Churches (2-3)

7 Seals (6:1-8:1)

The Literary Structure

Introductory Sanctuary Scenes Series of Seven's

I. 1:9-20 Lampstands 7 Churches (2-3) II. 4-5 Throne: Inauguration 7 Seals (6:1-8:1)

III. 8:2-6 Altar of Incense: Intercession 7 Trumpets (8:7 11:8)

The Literary Structure

Introductory Sanctuary Scenes Series of Seven's

I. 1:9-20 Lampstands II. 4-5 Throne: Inauguration 7 Churches (2-3) 7 Seals (6:1-8:1) III. 8:2-6 Altar of Incense: Intercession 7 Trumpets (8:7-11:8)

IV. 11:19 Ark of Covenant: Judgment 7 Cosmic Conflict Scenes (12:1-15:4)

The Literary Structure

Introductory Sanctuary Scenes

I. 1:9-20 Lampstands

Series of Seven's

7 Churches (2-3) II. 4-5 Throne: Inauguration III.

8:2-6 Altar of Incense: Intercession 7 Seals (6:1-8:1) 7 Trumpets (8:7-11:8) IV.

11:19 Ark of Covenant: Judgment

V.

7 Cosmic Conflict Scenes (12:1-15:4)

15:5-8 Sanctuary Closes Up: Cessation 7 Plagues (16:1-18:24)

The Literary Structure

Introductory Sanctuary Scenes

I. 1:9-20 Lampstands II. 4-5 Throne: Inauguration III. 8:2-6 Altar of Incense: Intercession IV. 11:19 Ark of Covenant: Judgment V. 15:5-8 Sanctuary Closes Up: "De-inauguration"

VI. 19:1-10 Doxology from the Sanctuary Series of Seven's

7 Churches (2-3) 7 Seals (6:1-8:1) 7 Trumpets (8:7-11:8) 7 Cosmic Conflict Scenes (12:1-15:4) 7 Plagues (16:1 18:24)

7 Scenes in the Windup of the Cosmic Conflict (19:11-20:15)

The Literary Structure

Introductory Sanctuary Scenes

I. 1:9-20 Lampstands II. 4-5 Throne: Inauguration III. 8:2-6 Altar of Incense: Intercession IV. 11:19 Ark of Covenant: Judgment V. 15:5-8 Sanctuary Closes Up: "De-inauguration" VI. 19:1-10 Doxology from the Sanctuary

VII. 21:1-8 Tabernacle of God with Humans Series of Seven's

7 Churches (2-3) 7 Seals (6:1-8:1) 7 Trumpets (8:7-11:8) 7 Cosmic Conflict Scenes (12:1-15:4) 7 Plagues (16:1 18:24) 7 Scenes in the Windup of the Cosmic Conflict (19:11-20:15)

7 Part Description of the New Jerusalem (21:9-22:5)

The Literary Structure

•

Prologue: Revelation 1:1-8 Introductory Sanctuary Scenes I. 1:9-20 Lampstands II. 4-5 Throne: Inauguration III. 8:2-6 Altar of Incense: Intercession IV. 11:19 Ark of Covenant: Judgment V. 15:5-8 Sanctuary Closes Up: Cessation VI. 19:1-10 Doxology from the Sanctuary VII. 21:1-8 Tabernacle of God with Humans Series of Seven's 7 Churches (2-3) 7 Seals (6:1-8:1) 7 Trumpets (8:7-11:8) 7 Cosmic Conflict Scenes (12:1-15:4) 7 Plagues (16:1-8:24) 7 Scenes in the Windup of the Cosmic Conflict (19:11-20:15) 7 Fold Description of the New Jerusalem (21:9-22:5)

•

Epilogue: Revelation 22:6-21

Introductory Sanctuary Scenes

• I. 1:9-20 Lampstands • II. 4-5 Throne: Inauguration • III. 8:2-6 • IV. 11:19 Altar of Incense: Intercession Ark of Covenant: Judgment • V. 15:5-8 Sanctuary Closes Up: Cessation • VI. 19:1-10 Doxology from the Sanctuary • VII. 21:1-8 Tabernacle of God with Humans

Earth-Heaven-Earth Pattern

(1) Rev 1:9-20 Earth (2) Rev 4 & 5 (Inauguration) (3) Rev 8:2-6 (Intercession) (4) Rev 11:19 (Judgment) Heaven (5) Rev 15:5-8 (Cessation) (6) Rev 19:1-10 (Absence) (7) Rev 21:1-8 Earth

The Menorah Pattern

A VERTICAL VIEW HEAVEN (4) (3) (5) (2) (6) Intercession Cessation Inauguration Absence Rev 4:1 Rev 21:3 (1) (7) Patmos New J EARTH

The Daily Service (Tamid) in Revelation

Order of Daily Service

1) Trim lamps 2) Leave temple door open 3) Slay lamb 4) Pour out blood at base of altar of burnt offering 5) Collect coals and incense in censer 6) Minister incense at golden altar 7) Period of silence 8) Seven trumpets blow 9) Throw down censer

Order in Revelation

1) 1:12-20 2) 4:1 3) 5:6 4) 6:9-11 5) 8:3-4 6) 8:3-4 7) 8:1 8) 8:2,6 9) 8:5

The Yearly Service in Revelation

Allusions to Yom Kippur

1) Measure Sanctuary, Altar, and People (Lev 16:6,11,16-18, 23-24, 32-34) 2) Ark and Judgment 3) Commandments of God Located in Ark 4) Judgment Has Come 5) Grape Harvest (Fall)

Location in Revelation

1) 11:1-2 2) 11:18-19 3) 12:17; 14:12 4) 14:7 5) 14:14-20

The Daily/Yearly Pattern

First half of Revelation (1-11) modeled on “Daily” service (Tamid) Intercession Second half of Revelation (12-22) modeled on the yearly service (Yom Kippur) Judgment

The Annual Feasts in Revelation

Passover

● Concentration on Christ’s death and resurrection (1:5,17-18; 3:21) ● Fulfilled by earthly Christ ● Search for leaven ● Meal of Mutual Fellowship (Rev 3:20)

The Annual Feasts in Revelation

Pentecost

● Inauguration of heavenly sanctuary occurred at Pentecost ● 5:6– Spirit goes out to world ● First Pentecost at Sinai (Exod 19) ● Readings for Pentecost = Exod 19; Ezek 1

The Annual Feasts in Revelation

Feast of Trumpets

● Clearest connection with annual feasts ● Seven new moons leading up to feast

The Annual Feasts in Revelation

Day of Atonement

● Sanctuary, ark, commandments, judgment ● Grape Harvest

The Annual Feasts in Revelation

Tabernacles

● Rev 21-22: Yom Kippur is over ● Harvest is over (Rev 14) ● God’s Tabernacle is with us (21:3) ● Feasting, palm branches, music, rejoicing, hallelujahs (cf. Rev 7, 19) ● Water and light

The Seven Sanctuary Scenes and the Annual Hebrew Festivals

Sanctuary Scenes I. 1:9-20 II. 4-5 III. 8:2-6 IV. 11:19 V.

15:5-8 VI. 19:1-10 VII. 21:1-8 Festivals Passover Pentecost Trumpets Day of Atonement (Beginning) Day of Atonement (Progression) Day of Atonement (Closure) Tabernacles

The Annual Feasts in Revelation

Book of Revelation Moves from Spring to Fall Feasts Trumpets = transition from Spring to Fall Signals opening of judgment Yearly service is presented in the 2 nd half

First half of book = Christian age Second half of book = End -Time

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1:9-20

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4-5

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8:2-6

• •

11:19 15:5-8

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19:1-10

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21:1-8

Patterns: Earth/Heaven and Holy Place /Most Holy Place

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7)

Earth

—focus on earthly work of Christ (combined with Holy Place imagery)

Inauguration

of heavenly sanctuary — (thorough mix of sanctuary imagery but Holy Place focus)

Intercession

in heavenly sanctuary —(Holy Place)

Judgment

in heavenly sanctuary (Most Holy Place)

Cessation

of heavenly sanctuary ministry

Doxology

in heaven —(absence of explicit heavenly sanctuary imagery)

Back to Earth

—"Tabernacle of God is with men."

God is love

• These seven opening sanctuary scenes present a beautiful picture about our God, His amazing actions for us, and His magnificent plan of Salvation.

• Hallelujah to God!

• Soli Deo Gloria!!! Amen!