IV. Inspired Portrayal of Temple, Throne, Altar, Ark
1. TEMPLE POSITIONED IN HEAVEN.
Next, look closely at the apostle John's multiple description in the Apocalypse of the heavenly "temple," the "throne," and the "altar," as well as the "ark of His testament" (Rev. 11:19). This will enable us to get an over-all view of the particulars that impressed the inspired Seer. Likewise their inter-relationship, which the Apostle was directed to write out for our information and insight today. John is here our descriptive and interpretative guide, our "seeing eye" and "hearing ear," as it were (chap. 1:1).
First of all, the majestic "temple" (naos), seen again and again by John in holy vision, is referred to some fifteen times. It is not only called "the temple" (seven times), but the "temple of God" (chap. 11:1,19), "the temple of my God" (chap 3:12), and "his temple" (chaps. 7:15, 11:19). its location is given, and expressly designated as the "temple which is in heaven" (14:17).
Even more explicitly it is defined as "the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony of heaven" (chap 15:5)---with its simplified variant, the "temple of heaven" (chap. 16:17). The "altar" is inseparably connected with it (chap 11:1). And the seven branched candlestick (chap. 1 :12). There is no mistaking the intent of the apostle's descriptives, and the location. And the actuality---to him and for us---of the Heavenly Temple, or Tabernacle, with its sacred appurtenances shown him in vision.
2. God's Throne the Center of All
Then there is the "throne" to which John referred a total 39 times. It is, of course, the central predominant feature of the Temple, and is constantly presented before John throughout the entire series of his visions. It is not only "a throne" (chap. 4:2) and "the throne" (29 times), but is specifically the "throne of God" (three times---chaps. 7:15; 14:5; 22:1). And it is both "his [the Father's] throne" (chaps. 3:21; 12:5), and also "my [Christ's] throne" conjointly (chaps. 3:21; 7:17). Moreover, John definitely declares that this throne is "in heaven" (chap. 4:2).
It is God who sits on this throne so stated seven times (chaps. 4:2, 9; 5:7, 11; 6:16; 19:4; 21:5). This majestic throne is encircled by a glorious "rainbow" (chap. 4:3), and is surrounded by celestial assist ants (chaps. 4:4, 6; 5:11) including an innumerable company of angels. "Lamps of fire" burn before it (chap. 4:6), and a sea as of glass spreads out before it. It is the scene and source of momentous sovereign directives as when John twice heard a commanding "voice" come from the throne (chap. 16:17; 19:5). Thus the Temple and the throne are inseparably associated (chap. 16:17) and always in heaven. There is a distinct sense and declaration of reality on the part of John.
3. KEY PLACE OF THE "ALTAR."
As to the "altar," that was also to be specifically measured. It is mentioned eight times, and is twice called the "golden altar" (chaps. 8:3; 9:13). It is positioned "before the throne" (chap. 8:3), and "before God" (chap. 9:13). And it is to be noted that it is likewise in the Temple (chap. 11:1). And there was fire on the altar (chap. 8.: 5).
The angel giving the "go" signal to the Son of man sitting on the great "white cloud," and portrayed as waiting to return to earth came from the altar (chap. 14:8). And a voice of command rang out a second time from the altar concerning the gathering of the grapes of wrath for the winepress of God. So the altar and the throne are intimately associated.
Such are some of the inspired minutiae of the Temple its throne and its altar and ark. And these are all located in the Temple in heaven. The "Lamb" is constantly mentioned in conjunction with the "throne," standing thereby or sitting. And there is continual worship and Service of God "in his temple" (chap. 7:15).
Now turn to certain larger aspects the great conspectus.
V. Hidden Secrets of the Ages Unveiled
1. REDEMPTIVE PANORAMA OF THE AGES.
Let us seek the setting of the redemptive aspect of the Apocalypse. The vast sweep of God's all-encompassing plan of redemption was caused to pass swiftly before the Apostle John in inerrant vision the inspired pageant of the ages. But it comprised vastly more than the affairs of earth and time and man. It embraced God and eternity and heaven with its myriad legions of angels. In vision after vision the scenes of heaven's unceasing activities designed to restore man and destroy sin were dis closed through revelation to the consciousness of John.
A whole series of visions, reaching in scope from the eternity of the past on to the endless futurity of eternity to come, is involved embracing this present crucial period for us called time. Carried beyond the constrictive scenes of earth John sees the ineffable activities of heaven, and the intimate behind-the-scenes activities of the Godhead for the complete recovery of man he sees the divine forces of righteousness arrayed against the powers of evil in relent less conflict, and ultimate victory.
No previous prophet had ever been given such a comprehensive coverage such heretofore secret information, known only to God. Now it was revealed for man. It focused particularly on the events of the Christian Era to the end of time, the dawn of eternity. It constitutes the climax of divine revelation, closing the Sacred Cannon.
2. PULSATING CENTER OF VAST ENTERPRISE.
John was shown the inmost center, the pulsating heart of the vast enterprise the very throne of God, in the inmost part of the Temple of Redemptive Activity, with its chosen appurtenances and its in numerable host of celestial attendants.
It was an awesome scene, for this is the strategic Command Center of the universe brought into special operation in order to deal with the catastrophe of sin and rebellion that had injected itself into the universe, and then became localized on this planet with its human inhabitants. It is to continue its strategic operations until the sin problem is solved and sin's originators and perpetrators are disposed of forever with a clean universe ensuing, and the re deemed of earth established on the prophesied New Earth forever.
3. COMMAND CENTER AND SUPERNAL THRONE.
The majestic movement and actuality of it all passed vividly before the astonished eyes of the apostle. He was taken from one scene to another seeing first one aspect, and then another. John was then directed to record it all, that we too especially today might see through his eyes, and be illumined and guided thereby. But it was the awesome Command Center, with its supernal throne in the very heart of the Temple of God in heaven, that most impressed John. He remarked concerning it again and again.
Nearly two-score times in the twenty-two chapters he is constrained to mention and describe this momentous throne-center, and to remark concerning its power and characteristics and astonishing accomplishments. The issues of time and eternity all inhere in and emerge from that throne, as the place of decision and source of all action. And the One who created all things, and controls the universe, is the One seated thereon He and the Lamb of God. All decisions are determined by Him, and executed through His directives. And that throne, John reiterates, is located in the inmost heart of the transcendent Temple in heaven. That repetitive emphasis, by the chosen apostle, is designed and significant.
Again and again John is constrained to comment on this Temple of God its characteristics and appurtenances, and above all its transcendent activities. It fascinates him. The destiny of all men is wrapped up therein. Everything is determined from within its confines. It covers the vast sweep of the ages. It is the place of overwhelming power, justice, righteousness.
4. UNROLLING PANORAMA FOR OUR GUIDANCE.
With swift strides follow the high points of the unrolling panorama disclosed to John and seek to see through his Spirit-touched eyes the secret things of God here disclosed for the guidance of His earthly followers, that we may sense the divine workings and over-rulings in the in finite Plan of Redemption, now speeding toward its final scenes.
It is fundamental for us to understand the great outline presented in order to have certainty and conviction. Only in this way may we know just where we are in the divine plan and purpose of the ages, and their revealed progression and timing. And all this revolving around the sovereign decisions and directives that come from the throne room of God positioned in the Temple of God in heaven above as disclosed to John. Note the majestic sweep of the revealed sequences.
VI. Temple Throne Room Command Center of Universe
1. SOURCE OF ILLIMITABLE POWER.
So the Temple throne room is the inmost sanctum of illimitable power and purpose, love and action. Every redemptive activity for man centers in and emanates from that ineffable throne the Father's throne as well as Christ's, conjointly (chap. 3:21). Ponder it.
Looking through an "open door" (chap. 4:1, R.S.V.), the Apostle John in vision saw that this throne was "set in heaven." An enthralling rainbow encircled it. A vast sea as of glass surrounded it. Special assistants were seated near God twenty-four of them (v. 5), with other deputies that were hard to describe (vs. 6-11). John saw tremendous activity and heard "voices." And paeans of praise for God's power and love. It baffled all human expression.
2. INNUMERABLE ASSISTANTS ACTIVELY AID.
John saw Jesus Christ, the "Lamb" of God, who had been slain (chap. 5:6), and noted the Lamb's special activity. The secrets of heaven were to be disclosed. But first he heard ascriptions of praise for the Lamb (vs. 8-14), and saw the operation of the manifold Spirit of God. Some of the redeemed were there. He saw a vast con course of ministering angels ten thousand times ten thousand, and "thousands of thousands" (v. 11) in this mighty Temple. Its vastness was awesome. But there it was. (Cf. Dan. 7:10; Heb. 12:22.)
The ineffable throne the center of it all; the Lamb the central figure in all activities. John also saw an "altar" nearby (chap. 6:9), just as earlier he had seen the "seven golden candlesticks" (chap. 1:12), with the Son of man in special relationship to them (v. 13). And he heard words concerning retribution for the martyrs, as well as noting the fear of retribution by those who had slain them (vs. 16, 17).
3. THRONE AND TEMPLE BOTH LOCATED.
John was impressed by the innumerable "multitude" of the redeemed standing be fore the "throne" and the Lamb (chap. 7:9). And angels surrounding the throne (v. 11) serving God be it particularly noted "in his temple" (v. 15), as He sat on His throne with the Lamb in the midst of it all (v. 17). That incontrovertibly locates the throne as in the Temple of God.
From the temple "in heaven" (chap. 8:1), the prophet sees special operations issuing forth a series of judgments to be visited on the earth. Again John sees that "altar" nearby (vs. 3, 5) this time called the "golden altar" which is located "be fore the throne" (v. 3). Then he heard a "loud voice" issuing from the "golden altar which is before God" (chap. 9:13). Such are the general relationships and specific settings.
4. EARTHLY MOVEMENTS DIRECTED FROM HEAVEN.
Then John saw that the divine judgments to be visited upon earth were directed from the "golden altar which is be fore God" (vs. 13, 14). Commands were is sued and power assigned (v. 5), as well as restrictions set. These are all part of developments on earth enjoined from Heaven.
There is "direct line" connection be tween heaven and earth and angel emissaries (chap. 10:1) and authoritative voices (vs. 2, 4, 7). There is preparation for tremendous events on earth, decreed from the Temple in heaven. Time is running out (v. 6). Movements intensify and quicken on earth.
There is thus inseparable relation be tween the directives from the throne and the tremendous activities on earth. These developments accelerate as the end of the age approaches specifically directed from the throne in the Temple.
5. ARK IN THE HEAVENLY TEMPLE.
John was then brought actively into the picture commanded to "rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar" (chap. 11:1). He was directed to grasp their significance. Distinction was made between the Heavenly Temple and the earthly court (v. 2). John was then carried along the stream of time to the latter days of earth, when the "nations" of earth are "angry," for the time of God's "wrath" had come (v. 18).
John was again directed to the opened "temple of God" which is "in heaven." There is no possible mistake as to its location. He then saw "in his temple the ark of his testament" (v. 19). Both setting and in tent were very familiar to John, because of the earthly types so well known to all Jews, harking back to the Mosaic tabernacle of ancient times, foreshadowing and reflecting the great Heavenly Reality he now observed.
6. "WAR" AGAINST CHURCH ON EARTH.
Then, in further vision, the amazing historic controversy-war "in heaven," in the eternity of the past, was revealed Satan's brazen revolt against Christ, and the defection of a "third" of the angels (chap. 12: 4). Then the devil and his followers were overcome and expelled "cast out into the earth" (vs. 7-10) as their rendezvous for mischief among mankind. Then the long and cruel war against the Christian Church, within the 1,260 year-days of the papal period (v. 6), was unrolled before John.
He is carried down to the "remnant" of time and its Remnant Church. He notes their dual characteristics, portrayed as keeping the "commandments of God" and having the "testimony of Jesus" (v. 17).
The conflicts of the centuries are again reviewed. The principal actors and factors cross the stage of action. Collusion between Church and State is involved (chap. 13). And victory for the Lamb and His followers (chap. 14:1-4), who are declared "with out fault" before the "throne of God" (v. 5), because of the redemptive provisions of the Lamb.
7. THREEFOLD MESSAGE BEFORE SECOND ADVENT.
Then comes the last-day three fold message of God to earth (chap. 14) the Judgment Hour, Babylon's fall, and Mark-of-the-Beast messages to mankind, be ginning their delivery early in the nineteenth century. This results in that loyal remnant who "keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus" (v. 12). Next comes the glorious Second Advent at the great "harvest-time" at the world's end.
With the Son of God on the great "white cloud" (v. 14) about to return, John heard the directive to go forth, given in a loud voice "out of the temple" in heaven (v. 15). Then followed a second "loud cry," issued from the same "altar" in the same Temple, directing that the "grapes" of wrath be gathered for the "winepress of God" (vs. 18, 19). These scenes mark the end of the age.
8. SEVEN LAST PLAGUES DIRECTED FROM TEMPLE.
John's eyes were again lifted. He once more saw "in heaven" that vast "sea of glass" before the throne (chap. 15: 2). He saw the "judgments" of God about to be poured out (v. 4). Again in vision, John is directed to look. He saw that "the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened" (v. 5). He beheld tremendous activities. Seven angels proceeded from the "temple" (thrice mentioned in vs. 6-8) to pour out upon the earth the seven vials of punishment, "full of the wrath of God" (v. 7).
John heard a further directive in the form of "a great voice out of the temple" (chap. 16:1) commanding them to pour out their vials of "judgment" in deadly sequence. The seven plagues, one after the other, fell upon men. A vindicating angel voice cried out from the "altar" in the heavenly temple, "True and righteous are thy judgments" (v. 7). These climax with the last great threefold confederacy, and the Armageddon-conflict on earth (vs. 13-16).
When the seventh angel had poured out his vial, John again heard "a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done" (v. 17). This likewise came from the Command Center of redemptive and judicial activity. It marked the climactic close of the final retribution. Redemptive activity was over forever.
9. FINAL POWER AND APPEAL FROM HEAVEN.
Going back for details, the depths of ecclesiastical apostasy, aided and abetted by the nations, was disclosed to John (chap. 17), that had brought on all this terror during the Christian Era. But God here takes an overruling hand and directs a dazzling angel to come down from the throne and the Temple in heaven, and lighten the earth with its glory (chap. 18:1).
Amid the announcement of the complete and final fall of Babylon, John heard something else this time a tender "voice from heaven," bidding, "Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues" (v. 4). That indicates God's tender watch-care over His loyal followers scattered throughout organized apostasy. And they responded. That we are soon to witness.
Again John's eyes were lifted to the "throne." He hears the voice from the throne. He sees those great last scenes of retributive judgment as the Son of God rides forth from "heaven" (chap. 19:11), now to "smite the nations" given over to rebellion (v. 15). It is another portrayal of the Second Advent, given for cumulative emphasis, with the gathering of the saints and the precipitous cutting off of the wicked.
10. SATAN AND FOLLOWERS DESTROYED FOREVER.
Swiftly the culmination is presented. Another mighty angel comes "down from heaven" (chap. 20:1) and binds Satan confining him to the desolation on earth for the allotted thousand-year period. At the same time in heaven the righteous judgment and justice of God are reviewed and vindicated before the universe at tested by the resurrected and translated saints. Thus the great panorama ends.
At the close of the thousand years, Satan and his evil cohorts and the vast host of resurrected wicked of earth make one last desperate but futile onslaught against the now descended City of God the New Jerusalem. Then they are destroyed by devouring fire that "came down from God out of heaven" (vs. 7-9). This is the second and final death, forever, for all involved in the sin episode Satan, fallen angels, evil men.
11. SEES No TEMPLE IN HOLY CITY.
The scene suddenly changes. John sees the "new heaven and new earth" as they supplant the old, marred and scarred by sin. God Himself again dwells with men in Paradise restored (chap. 21:1-6). This earth scene of a planet in willful rebellion becomes the sinless home of the saints, saved by grace forevermore.
But there is this sequel amid the tremendous creative scenes: In the New Jerusalem capital of the new earth, that came down "from God out of heaven" (v. 2) John "saw no temple therein" (v. 22). "No need" any longer for the Command Center of redemptive action, mediation, and judgment. Sin is eradicated forever. Redemption is complete. Face-to-face communion is now restored forevermore.
12. No LONGER NEED FOR TEMPLE OPERATIONS.
Mark it well: There is no longer need of an Intercessor in a Temple devoted to the redemption of man and dealing with all the involvements of the sin problem (vs. 22-24). But the abiding "throne of God and of the Lamb" are forever there. These are twice mentioned (chap. 22:1, 3). The re deemed now "see his face" (v. 4), in face-to-face communion.
The tragic experiment of sin the brazen challenge, the warfare against God and His followers is over. God is forever on His throne but no longer with the appurtenances of the Temple, center of all redemptive activities throughout the time of the great rebellion.
So there is today a throne in heaven, situated in the Temple of God in heaven with its appurtenances such as the golden altar and the ark just as certainly as God is in His heaven. Our sole hope of redemption and triumph centers in that Temple. Nothing is more real and actual save God Himself and the Lamb of God, who activate the plan of salvation.
(To be continued)
