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

1:1-8

The Seven

ChurchesA

1:9-3:22

TheSevenTrum- pets

C

4:1-8:1

TheSevenSeals

B

The FinalCrisis

D

8:2-11:18

11:19-14:20

The Seven Bowls

C’

15:1-18:24

19:1-20:15

The Millen- nium

B’

21:1-22:5

The New Jeru- salem

A’

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)

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

– [Each scene starts with kai eidon "And I saw"]• 1. 19:11-16 White Horse• 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• 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 VisionSeven Churches (2-3)

Seven Seals (6-7)

Seven Trumpets (8-11)

Seven Plagues (16-18)

1:9-20

4 & 58:2-6

15:5-87 GC Scenes (12-14)11:19

7 GC Scenes (19-20)19:1-10New Earth (21-22)21:1-8

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 7 Churches (2-3)

II. 4-5 Throne: Inauguration 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: Intercession7 Trumpets (8:7-

11:8)

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)

IV. 11:19 Ark of Covenant: Judgment7 Cosmic Conflict Scenes (12:1-15:4)

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)

IV. 11:19 Ark of Covenant: Judgment7 Cosmic Conflict Scenes (12:1-

15:4)V. 15:5-8 Sanctuary Closes Up: Cessation

7 Plagues (16:1-18:24)

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)IV. 11:19 Ark of Covenant: Judgment 7 Cosmic Conflict

Scenes (12:1-15:4)

V. 15:5-8 Sanctuary Closes Up: "De-inauguration" 7 Plagues (16:1- 18:24)

VI. 19:1-10 Doxology from the Sanctuary 7 Scenes in the Windup of the Cosmic Conflict (19:11-20:15)

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)IV. 11:19 Ark of Covenant: Judgment 7 Cosmic Conflict

Scenes (12:1-15:4)

V. 15:5-8 Sanctuary Closes Up: "De-inauguration" 7 Plagues (16:1- 18:24)

VI. 19:1-10 Doxology from the Sanctuary 7 Scenes in the Windup of the Cosmic Conflict (19:11-20:15)

VII. 21:1-8 Tabernacle of God with Humans 7 Part Description of the New Jerusalem (21:9-22:5)

The Literary Structure

• Prologue: Revelation 1:1-8

Introductory Sanctuary Scenes Series of Seven'sI. 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)IV. 11:19 Ark of Covenant: Judgment 7 Cosmic Conflict

Scenes (12:1-15:4)V. 15:5-8 Sanctuary Closes Up: Cessation 7 Plagues (16:1-8:24)VI. 19:1-10 Doxology from the Sanctuary 7 Scenes in the

Windup of the Cosmic Conflict

(19:11-20:15)VII. 21:1-8 Tabernacle of God with Humans 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 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

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

EARTH

HEAVEN

Rev 4:1 Rev 21:3

(1) (7)

(2) (6) (3) (5)

(4)

Patmos New J

Inauguration AbsenceIntercession Cessation

Judgment

The Daily Service (Tamid) in Revelation

Order of Daily Service1) 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 Revelation1) 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 Location in Revelation

1) Measure Sanctuary, Altar, and People (Lev 16:6,11,16-18,

23-24, 32-34)

1) 11:1-2

2) Ark and Judgment 2) 11:18-19

3) Commandments of God Located in Ark

3) 12:17; 14:12

4) Judgment Has Come 4) 14:7

5) Grape Harvest (Fall) 5) 14:14-20

The Daily/Yearly Pattern

First half of Revelation (1-11) modeled on “Daily” service (Tamid)First half of Revelation (1-11) modeled on “Daily” service (Tamid)

Second half of Revelation (12-22) modeled on the yearly service (Yom Kippur)

Second half of Revelation (12-22) modeled on the yearly service (Yom Kippur)

IntercessionIntercession

JudgmentJudgment

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 Pentecost

● Inauguration of heavenly sanctuary occurred at Pentecost

● Inauguration of heavenly sanctuary occurred at Pentecost

● 5:6– Spirit goes out to world ● 5:6– Spirit goes out to world

● First Pentecost at Sinai (Exod 19)● First Pentecost at Sinai (Exod 19)

● Readings for Pentecost = Exod 19; Ezek 1

● 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 Tabernacles

● Rev 21-22: Yom Kippur is over● Rev 21-22: Yom Kippur is over

● Harvest is over (Rev 14) ● Harvest is over (Rev 14)

● God’s Tabernacle is with us (21:3)● God’s Tabernacle is with us (21:3)

● Feasting, palm branches, music, rejoicing, hallelujahs (cf. Rev 7, 19)

● Feasting, palm branches, music, rejoicing, hallelujahs (cf. Rev 7, 19)

● Water and light ● Water and light

The Seven Sanctuary Scenes and the Annual Hebrew Festivals

Sanctuary Scenes FestivalsI. 1:9-20 PassoverII. 4-5 PentecostIII. 8:2-6 Trumpets

IV. 11:19 Day of Atonement (Beginning)V. 15:5-8 Day of Atonement (Progression)VI. 19:1-10 Day of Atonement (Closure)

VII. 21:1-8 Tabernacles

The Annual Feasts in Revelation

Book of Revelation Moves from Spring to Fall Feasts

Book of Revelation Moves from Spring to Fall Feasts

Trumpets = transition from Spring to FallTrumpets = transition from Spring to Fall

Signals opening of judgment Signals opening of judgment

Yearly service is presented in the 2nd halfYearly service is presented in the 2nd half

First half of book = Christian age First half of book = Christian age

Second half of book = End -Time Second half of book = End -Time

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

• 1:9-20 (1) Earth—focus on earthly work of Christ (combined with Holy Place imagery)

• 4-5 (2) Inauguration of heavenly sanctuary — (thorough mix of sanctuary imagery but Holy Place focus)

• 8:2-6 (3) Intercession in heavenly sanctuary—(Holy Place)

• 11:19 (4) Judgment in heavenly sanctuary (Most Holy Place)• 15:5-8 (5) Cessation of heavenly sanctuary ministry

• 19:1-10 (6) Doxology in heaven—(absence of explicit heavenly sanctuary imagery)

• 21:1-8 (7) 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!