|
TEMPLE OF THE TABERNACLE OF THE TESTIMONY” Published Senior Experience First Baptist Church Norfolk – Jan.15, 2006 Heaven’s Temple Opens - Rev.15:5 (Rev.7:9 to 8:5 and Rev.11:15-19) All those “having come out of great tribulation” and from “under the Altar” (Rev.6:9) are seen in the Temple in Rev.7:14 after Seal Six opens; but they do not enter until Rev.15. And not until the last Plague empties in the air and the smoke of God’s glory and power clears the Temple. Rev.15:5, 8. Over 60 of 100 Lastday verses, from Rev.6:12 to Rev.8:5; from Rev.14:1 to Rev.15:5 and Rev.11:11 to Rev.11:19 will be fulfilled while the 7th Plague remains suspended in the air on the Lastday! “Then the Ark of the Covenant appears”! The Lastday begins within 3½ days after the Beast kills the Two Witnesses. At Rev.15:5 we recognize the Martyrs have yet to appear in the Temple recorded in 3 other chapters (Rev.7:15; 8:3; 11:19). They first stand before God on a crystal sea mixed with fire, and sing their victory song of Moses after the seven Plagues exhaust God’s anger. God’s wrath is about to begin. Because the smoke of God’s glory and power fills the Temple during the 7 Last Plagues, “no one can enter the Temple until the Plagues manifest that God’s deeds are holy and true”. The Plagues exhaust God’s patience as the wicked refuse to repent. Rev.15:1 (Rev.16:9-11). Act One" of the Drama occurs in Rev.7:9-17 after 40 of 100 Lastday verses are fulfilled while the Last Plague suspends in the air. Martyrs out of the great tribulation enter the Temple to praise God and the Lamb. The only smoke in the Temple is that which goes up before God from the Altar in Act Two while the Angel of Fire mixes incense with the Saints’ prayers. That is when “voices, peals of thunder, flashes of lightning and a quake” signify that God’s Wrath will be announced by the 7th Trumpet Angel in Act Three. Rev.8:3-5. Fire cast to earth from the Altar in Act Two symbolizes that the Hour of God’s Wrath has come. Seal Six signals the Day of Wrath had come. Rev.6:17; Rev.11:18. There are five Flashbacks from Rev. 6:1 to Rev.20:6 to events that climax with God’s wrath on the last day. Seven events that “have come” (aylthen; Strong's #2064; aorist indicative) occur on that Day. There are 22 main events. Under the canopy of the Outer Concentric Path, we have considered events that happen before the Temple Opens so that the Martyrs may enter for the Three-Act Drama. The big question concerns the timing for this Drama. The 144,000 Jews will be present. With the killing of 7000 of the Beast’s elite guard in Jerusalem by a great quake, the Two Prophets suddenly rise up to heaven for the Temple Drama. Their souls will have joined all the Martyrs for two or three days and in singing the victory song of Rev.15:1-4 . . . even though God has not yet avenged their blood. God’s Hour of Wrath had not yet begun when the G & W Sign in Rev.15:1 declares “God’s anger (not wrath) was completed in the 7 Last Plagues”. The Plagues complete His anger before the Martyrs come out from under the Altar. Day of Wrath begins at Rev.6:12-17 and includes the destruction of armies gathered to Armageddon as of that same Day!! Rev.16:12-17. The Temple opens after the Martyrs sing the song of Moses and 144,000 Jews, “redeemed from earth”, sing the Lamb’s song. Rev.14:3-5; Rev.15:3-5. Then they stand in the Temple to praise God and the Lamb described 8 chapters earlier; but it’s after the last Plague empties. John uses a Concentric Structural Paradigm to reveal the specific order of Lastday events. Within this structure 7 things “have come”!
One: The Day of God’s and the Lamb’s wrath “has come”.
Rev.6:17 Martyrs sing after the Plagues “exhaust God’s anger” (The New Jerusalem Bible). It’s impossible that God’s “wrath” was completed with the Martyrs waiting to be avenged. They first exit from under the Altar and declare "God’s great and wonderful acts and His true and righteous ways had been manifested in the 7 last Plagues". Rev.15:1-4. The above 7 things occur after the Mystery of God “was finished and time shall be no longer.” The 1260-Day Task of the Two Prophets “was finished.” Rev.10:7; Rev.11:7. The day of Babylon’s Judgment “has come” for the 2nd time after Ten Kings destroy her by an act of fire (Rev.17:1 and Rev.18:10 refer to the first judgment by fire). The Ten Kings will have reigned 42 months with the Beast before the final Judgment of Babylon “has come” by an act of God in history’s greatest quake. Her first fall is described from Rev.17:1 to Rev.18:19. Her 2nd fall is predicted in Rev.14:8; fulfilled in Rev.16:18-21 and symbolized in Rev.18:21-24. Heaven, Apostles, Prophets and all the Saints in heaven rejoice over her fall in Rev.18:20 and Rev.19:1-3. These events occur separately; but each one on the same 12-Hour-Day of God’s Wrath, the Great Day of God Almighty. Rev.6:17; Rev.16:14. God’s wrath is announced as having come after the armies are gathered to Armageddon and the Martyrs sing the song of Moses in Rev.15:2-4. The Temple was OPEN in Rev.15:5 and Rev.7:9 because “no one can enter the Temple of the Tabernacle, with its Three Act Drama, and Ark of the Testimony, until the 7 Plagues are fulfilled” and the smoke clears. Rev.15:8; Rev.11:19. When the Martyrs and 144,000 Jews sing the songs of Rev.15, they anticipate Christ’s Coronation and God’s avenging wrath. “Vengeance” occurs when the Saints come with Christ to destroy the Beast! Dan.7:22-27; 2 Thess.1:7-10. This occurs after the 7 last Plagues prove the wicked are “worthy of drinking bloody water”. The Plagues do not avenge the blood of the Martyrs! As long as they remain IN heaven and until Jesus Christ arrives FROM heaven, earth’s Hour of Trial has not yet begun! Rev.3:10-11. All Believers will be "kept from this hour of trial"; unbelievers who "beg to escape are kept alive" in the midst of that hour of trial. Luke 17:33; Luke 21:34-36. This vengeance follows the retroactive movement from Rev.15:5 to Rev.7:9 for action in the Middle Path structure. The great multitude stand before God on a throne ablaze with fire. Dan.7:9-10; Rev.15:2. Then in the Temple, in Act One, they praise God and the worthy Lamb. Rev. 7:9-10. Their songs and praise precede the Tribunal of Seal 7 and the Triumph of Trump 7 where the 6th of 7 things “has come: God’s Wrath and the appointed Time to judge the dead (requiring the resurrection), to reward the prophets and saints (requiring the rapture) and to destroy the destroyers of earth with armies gathered at Armageddon”. This is when Christ comes "as a thief". Rev.11:18; Rev.16:15-16. Finally, the Lamb’s wedding “has come”. It first requires the Testimony of the Firstfruit, the Witness of Two Prophets, the 7th Seal’s Court, the 7th Trumpet’s Coronation of Christ and His descent from heaven to meet all His Bride and destroy His enemies. Rev.17:14; Rev.19:7-21. The 1st Key to this order of events occurs in the only text, other than Rev.15:5, that refers to the “Open Temple”. Rev.11:19. “The Kingdoms of this world become the Kingdom of our Lord and His Christ. The Temple of God *was open* in heaven and the Ark of His Covenant was seen with flashes of lightning, voices, peals of thunder, an earthquake and hail stones that quickly become blockbusters. Rev.11:19; Rev.16:21. This is the Hour of God’s wrath; the Hour of Trial for all mankind”; but from which all Believers are kept at the presence of Jesus with “all the Saints”. Luke 21:35; I Thess.3:13; 2 Thess.1:7-10. The Ark of the Covenant played an important role in O T history. Exodus 25:16,21; Exodus 34:29. The Ark consummates the Testimony, Tribunal and Triumph that issue from the decree at the 7th Plague: “The End has come”; and from the verdict of the 7th Seal’s Angel of Fire; and from the proclamation of the 7th Trumpet Angel that “God’s wrath has come”. Immediate destruction falls on Babylon and the wicked gathered to Armageddon. The Coronation of Christ and Ark of Testimony are displayed after the armies of the 6th Plague have invaded Israel intent on totally destroying God’s people! Not even the 7th Plague will implode and dispense its calamities over the entire earth until the Temple opens and Seal 7 renders its Verdict and Trump 7 announces God’s wrath has come! The 7th Trumpet is God’s “appointed (kairos) time” for five things! Rev.11:15-18. A 2nd Key for precise timing of the Drama is the back-to-back occurrences of a Storm Theophany. The second and third storm scenes contain identical elements: “Flashes of lightning, voices, thunders, an earthquake and hail”. Only at its 3rd occurrence does God’s “anger mix with His wrath” so that the earthquake affects the entire earth. The first storm attends the verdict of Seal 7. The 2nd climaxes the 7th Trumpet and signals the moment for God’s wrath. His anger-induced-wrath effects Seal 7’s Verdict and Babylon’s total Destruction. Earth’s cities and mountains disappear while Christ Himself “treads the winepress of God’s anger and wrath”. Rev.8:5; Rev.11:19; Rev.16:19; Rev.19:15-21. God’s wrath is the recurring theme of Revelation; but not its execution until the Last Plague empties! The Plagues are intended to demonstrate God’s patience with wicked men. His wrath deals first with Harlot Babylon. Heaven rejoices over her fall and then announces: “The Lamb’s wedding has come”. Then heaven opens! Christ descends! Rev.19:1-10. God’s great anger, symbolized by reaping the earth (Rev.14:19) and simmering at the boiling point during the 6th and 7th Seals and 7th Plague, demands the full impact of His anger-filled-cup of wrath be poured out on earth. The Beast and False Prophet are “brought to nothing” at Christ’s blazing epiphany. 2 Thess.2:8. The text describes God’s wrath over the entire earth separately from that in which His enemies perish after the Evil Trio gathers them to Armageddon. Destruction occurs in the same Hour. The Hour of Trial affects “all inhabitants on all the face of all the earth” as Christ appears with all the Saints. Those who remain are rescued and “kept alive” only by “begging to escape”. Rev.3:10; Luke 21:35-36; Luke 17:33; Joel 2:32. God purposes to "show mercy to all" after proving them disobedient! Rom.11:30-33. The Martyrs in heaven are referenced in nine chapters of Revelation. Trib-Saints who “survive to the end” are raised up by Jesus and “gathered together above” to meet those having “died in the Lord”. Rev.14:13; I Thess.4:13. All the Saints in heaven “prepare for the wedding” including Trib-Martyrs, moments before “heaven opens”. Christ descends with their “souls” and raises up their bodies in glory! I Thess.4:17. Martyrs do not enter the Temple until the Plagues complete God’s anger and armies are gathered to Armageddon. “No one enters until the Plagues are finished” and only at the 7th Plague can it be said the Lastday begins. Even as the Beast kills the Two Witnesses on the last (1260th) countdown day of great tribulation, there remain up to 3½ days until the 7th Plague empties and the decree from the Throne reveals the “End has come”. Seal 7, Trump 7 and Plague 7 occur on the same 12-Hour Day. The killing of the Two Prophets and the decree anticipate the *DAY* of Wrath at Seal 6 and Coronation of the King at Trump 7. Rev.16:17; Rev.6:17; Rev.11:17. That's why Jesus speaks of no time being allowed for people to come out of the field to their homes. (The short time of Matt.24:17 refers to the start of the great tribulation; but that of Luke 17:31 refers to signs of the Lastday, the 12-Hour Day of the Lord). Only the Father knows the *HOUR* in which the final Martyr dies! This means the decree out of the Temple, from the Throne, not only occurs as the 7th Plague empties in the air BUT this decree launches the signs of the Lastday. Events 8-10 of the *Outer* Concentric Path see the Martyrs presenting the Son of Man to God on a sea mixed with fire. Then they enter the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony for (already recorded) events of the structured *Middle* Concentric Path. On the Lastday, the Flashback to the Temple Drama is a 3rd vital Key to the order of events. God's single Day of Wrath begins at Seal 6. The Temple “was open” for 7 angels to exit and receive their Bowls and to empty their Plagues long before the Lamb opens the 6th Seal to launch known signs of God’s Day of Wrath! And the Temple fills with smoke until the 7th Angel empties the last Plague and the Decree from the Throne signals the Lamb to open Seal 6 in Rev.6:12-17. The 7 Plagues describe Satan’s ongoing rebellion up to the Day of God Almighty’s Wrath at Armageddon! Rev.16:14-17. Text-wise, these events are separated by ten chapters. Signs of the Day of Wrath occur on one of the days immediately after the great tribulation. Mark 13:24; Matt.24:29. The 7 last Plagues are Flashbacks to events near the end of the great tribulation. The action of the Court in Seal 7 and the Coronation of Christ in the 7th Trumpet occur after the armies have gathered to Armageddon. The last Plague bridges the Temple Drama until its contents implode. The warnings of Seal 6, and the messages of doom flashing across the sky, precede the Drama. The Petitions in the songs of Moses and of the Lamb anticipate the Praise and Prayers and Pageantry of the Temple Drama. God’s Decree out of the Temple at the 7th Plague, Rev.16:17, authorizes the Lamb to open Seal 6 and launch the Day of God’s wrath at Rev.6:17. Seven angels with the 7 Trumpets are seen within the open Scroll after Seal 7 opens. This video "playback" scene constitutes the first of five Flashbacks. In that Flashback, six of 7 Trumpets are a replay of the Trumpet Judgments that have passed by with two billion people killed over a "quarter" of the earth! The 4th Seal (death over a quarter of earth) and 6th Trumpet (death to a third of mankind) seem to occur at the same time. Rev.6:8; Rev.9:15-18. We should anticipate the Temple Drama as soon as the Martyrs and 144,000 Jews “present the Son of Man to the Ancient of Days”. The G & W Sign introduces their presentation of Him after the Last Plague just as that Last Plague also signals the Lamb to open Seal Six for the Day of God’s Wrath, the Day of God Almighty. The G & W Sign at the start of chapter 15 follows the Flashback to the Last Plagues on the one hand and on the other hand points to the Temple Drama from Rev.7:9 to Rev.8:5 and Rev.11:15-19. The armies of Trump #6, having killed a third of mankind, must be gathered to Armageddon (Plague #6) before Seal #6 opens. There can be “no more delay . . . The 7th Trumpet is about to sound”. Mark 13:24; Matt.24:29; Rev.10:6-7. Mel ***********************************************************************IMPORTANCE OF FLASHBACKS IN REVELATION FLASHBACK - Rev.10:1 to Rev.11:19 – Retroactive Role of the Two Witnesses! John wrote about the Holocaust of the 6th Trumpet that kills a third of mankind just before its armies navigate the Euphrates River bed to invade Israel. They will enter the Holy Land in the 6th Plague to fight against the Lamb. Rev.17:14. This will lead to the 7th Plague with armies set for battle at Armageddon. But suddenly a mighty Angel takes him back in time for the role of the two Endtime Prophets. John repeatedly uses this retroactive tactic in the Book of Revelation. God counters Satan and the Beast by sending Two Prophets to demonstrate His Kingdom Power until the Beast kills them. This Flashback ends with Christ's Coronation and the Saints about to be raised up to “reign over the kingdoms under the whole heaven”. Dan.7:27; Rev.11:15-18. The 7th Trumpet sounds “quickly” after the holocaust inferno (of the 6th Trumpet) blights a quarter of the earth and kills two billion people. The Mystery of God ends with the Prophets’ 1260-Day Task completed. The armies invade Israel "in the days Trump #7 is about to sound.” It sounds on the Lastday. Rev.10:6-7; Rev.11:6-19. FLASHBACK - Rev.12:6 to Rev.13:18 - God’s Kingdom Power Manifested 1260 Days! The Endtime conflict between God and Satan begins when Michael casts Satan to earth for 1260 days . . . the "NOW Time of God's Kingdom Power and Christ's Authority". The Abomination sits in the Temple until the End. Dan.12:11; Matt. 24:15; Mark 13:14; 2 Thess.2:3-8; Rev.11:2. Then, on the Lastday, the 144,000 harvest Firstfruit are rescued, taken to heaven to sing the Song of the Lamb and to present the Son of Man to the Ancient of Days. The action of Rev.14:1 to Rev.15:5 occurs on one of the 3½ days *after* Chronos-Time ends at Rev.13:18! FLASHBACK - Rev.15:6 to Rev.16:16 – Retroactive View of Six of Seven Plagues! The Martyrs and 144,000 Firstfruit unto God present the Son of Man to the Ancient of Days because the Plagues had already exhausted God's patience. The Temple, filled with the smoke of God's glory, prevents the “presentation” until the 7th Plague empties. Rev.15:8. With armies gathered to Armageddon, the retroaction from Rev.16:17 to Rev.6:12-17 begins fulfilling the 10 events of the Outer Path and anticipates the 5 events of the Middle Concentric Path. Warnings of impending wrath begin on the Lastday with the signs of Seal 6. Rev. 6:12-17. Warnings escalate as 3 angels sent from heaven's Temple announce the Hour of God's Judgment “has come” for Babylon and Beast-Worshipers. This Flashback to the 7 Plagues reveals the basis on which the Martyrs will sing that “God’s deeds were righteous and true”. The wicked blaspheme God to the very end. Rev.16:9,11,21. The Evil Trio gathers the armies to destroy Israel before the 7th Plague implodes its contents over the entire earth. Rev.16:18-21. This Last Plague hangs in midair until God's anger boils over the hot coals of evidence presented in the open Scroll "whenever the Lamb breaks the 7th Seal”. I believe the 15 Outer and Middle Path events occur between Rev.16:17 and Rev.16:18. The depth of destruction depicted in Rev.16:18-21 is too great and far reaching for anyone to survive by hiding in the mountains prior to the onset of Seal 6. In that Seal, following the great quake on the Lastday, they acknowledge the Day of the Lord has begun. But the wicked blaspheme God as cities and mountains disappear and islands move away. Those begging for mercy will survive. Matt.24:28; Rev.19:17-21; Luke 21:35-36; Luke 17:33-37. FLASHBACK - Rev.17-18 - Babylon falls by Fire and 3½ years later by Quake! This shows the role of Great Babylon as a City ruling the earth prior to the 42-month Endtime conflict. The City falls by Fire at midweek of Daniel’s 70th Seven as Ten Kings confiscate the System. Antichrist takes peace from earth in Seal Two. Satan, the Beast and False Prophet exercise power over the earth for 42 months. Rev.13:5. Flashbacks 4 and 5 end with Babylon’s 2nd fall by a great quake and symbolically by a great millstone. Rev.16:19; Rev.18:21. The first fall occurs by fire at the hands of Ten Kings. Rev.17:12-16; Rev.18:8. The 2nd fall includes destruction of cities that support Babylon. They are destroyed by giant Tsunamis and great quakes and blocks of hail on the Lastday. Rev.11:19; Rev.16:21; Luke 21:25,35. Signs of the Day of the Lord follow God's Decree signaling "the End has come." Rev.16:17 The Day of Wrath in Seal 6 is also the Day of God Almighty. Rev. 16:14. It will be one of 3 days after the Prophets fulfill the 1260 days required by Rev.11:3-7; Rev.12:14; Rev.13:5; Dan.7:25; Dan.12:7,11. The Lamb rescues 144,000 living Firstfruit and takes them to heaven after Seal 6 opens. The Prophets rise up and ascend, a great quake kills 7,000 in a tenth of Jerusalem and the remnant are terrified but glorify God. Rev.11:11-14. The Outer and Middle Paths that intersect Rev.16:17 and Rev.16:18 constitute what amounts to an extended Flashback. The storm that accompanies the 7th Trumpet escalates, back to back, after Seal 7 and Trump 7 to climax the Middle Path and implode the 7th Plague. The “quake” part of this storm scene intensifies with history’s greatest quake at Rev.11:19 and Rev.16:18! The 2nd and 3rd storm scenes change dramatically, from a great quake to global quakes. The 1st storm scene occurs after Act Two, Seal 7. Rev. 8:5. The 2nd scene occurs after Act Three, Trump 7. Rev. 11:19. The 3rd storm scene sees the Decree of Wrath executed on the entire earth as Plague 7 implodes with the Cup of God's anger and wrath pouring out its deadly "wine". Rev.16:18-21. These Storm Scenes indicate close proximity between Trump 7 and the Cup of Wrath. Great hail and global quakes consummate the Hour of Trial. Luke 21:35; Rev.3:10. Anger churns in wrath’s cup. They combine and cascade like great waters rushing toward the wicked huddled on the precipice of eternity. This "new" compound-mix of anger and wrath explodes on all mankind; detonated like a giant tsunami by the mighty Angel's great millstone. Nations in rebellion against God drink the dregs of Wrath's Cup. Aftershocks of history’s greatest quake destroy cities and mountains and move islands out of place! The smoke of Great Babylon, City and System, “goes up forever and ever”. Rev.19:3. Here is what happens at the climax of five Endtime Flashbacks: #1- The wicked go on trial in the Court of Seal Seven - Rev.8:1-5 #2- Time to reward Saints; destroy earth's destroyers; Ark seen - Rev.11:18-19 #3- Blood flows to horses' bridles; Martyrs’ victorious song - Rev.14:20; 15:2 #4- Nations' cities and mountains destroyed; Islands relocated - Rev.16:18-21 #5- Babylon never seen again; giant tsunamis - Rev.18:21-24; (Luke 21:25). The 7th Plague overlaps Outer and Middle Path events and fills the gap between Rev.16:17 and Rev.16:18. God's Mystery ends in the days prior to the 7th Trumpet. Storm Scenes disallow a separation of days between the last Seal, last Trump and last Plague. The 3rd storm scene shows flashes of lightning preceding the thunder along with great hail and global devastating quakes. Moments separate these scenes and the execution of God’s wrath decreed by the 7th Trumpet. God’s anger escalates until it mixes full strength with His wrath! John returns over and over to Lastday events. Seal 7 reviews the evidence of six of seven Trumpet judgments. At the end of the Flashback to the Two Prophets' 1260-day task, two billion people have been killed in the 6th Trumpet and soldiers cross the Euphrates River for the "third woe which comes quickly". Rev.11:14. These two are left dead less than 4 days while armies gather to Armageddon in the 6th Plague described 5 chapters later. The 7th Seal and 7th Trumpet immediately precede Christ’s descent to destroy earth’s destroyers. The Temple Drama occurs during the darkness of the 6th Seal but with the smoke of God’s glory and power cleared from the Temple while the 7th Plague remains suspended. Five Flashbacks and this Scenario reveal the strategic importance of the Drama in the Temple of the Tabernacle of Testimony. This climaxes with the Ark of the Covenant on display in the open Temple. I seek to convince readers that events of the Three-Act Temple Drama occur on the Lastday after Plague 7 empties and Seal 6 opens. The 7th Plague remains suspended until God’s anger fills the Cup of Wrath. This is basic to show six of 7 Trumpets and six of 7 Plagues are finished before the Lamb opens the 6th of 7 Seals on the Lastday. Flashbacks in Revelation start with the Flashback from Plague #7 of Rev.16 to Seal #6 of Rev.6. The Open Temple Drama in heaven immediately follows the Great and Wonderful Sign. The songs of the Martyrs and 144,000 reveal the Plagues have “exhausted God’s anger”. I hope my innovative concept will be considered seriously by Biblical students. Mel |
| Next - Temple Drama - Act One |
|
|
| Previous Next |