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3. The Open Temple in Heaven (Revelation 11:19)
REVELATION 11:19
19 God’s temple that is in heaven was opened, and the ark of the Lord’s covenant was seen in his temple. Lightnings, sounds, thunders, an earthquake, and great hail followed.
The seventh trumpet introduced a series of breathtaking events, which fill the second half of the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ (Revelation 11:15-22). The last trumpet brings about decisive events in the last three- and- a- half years preceding the end of the world. We are again and again lead back to the revealed theme of Revelation 11:15, which describes the summation and goal of the entire book of Revelation: “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!”
Following the victorious tone of the seventh trumpet the patriarch, John, cast his eye upon the 24 elders in heaven, as they worshiped the Lord of the entire universe. There then followed a new vision, one that greatly excited him and all other Israelites. In the open heaven John saw the original of the destroyed temple in Jerusalem. He recognized the building in which God dwells and in which He will be worshiped. It was not just one of many temples, mosques or domes on earth, but the temple of God in heaven.
This original temple had not been destroyed like the temple in Jerusalem, and it was not closed; its gates were wide open. John saw something which no Israelite had ever seen apart from the high priests. He saw in the open Holy of Holies the Ark of the Covenant, which had been missing since 587 before Christ (Jeremiah 3:16)! The understanding held by both Jews and Gentiles regarding the fundamental ordinances of the Old Testament would be turned upside down by this overwhelming vision. It opened new perspectives and radical insights.
The temple in Jerusalem had consisted of two main rooms. In the holy place stood the seven armed lampstand, the altar of incense and the table of the showbread. Here the priests, every morning and every evening, brought their offering of incense as a symbol of the prayers of the covenant people. Behind the holy place, separated by a great veil, was the Holy of Holies, containing the Ark of the Covenant, in which the stone tablets of the law given to Moses lied. Once a year, on the great Day of Atonement, on the tenth day of the seventh month, did the high priest alone have the right and the duty to enter into the Holy of Holies, to make reconciliation for himself, the people, and the temple with the Holy God (Leviticus 16:1-34; 23:26-32; Numbers 29:7-11; Hebrews 9:7-14).
At the center of the Holy of Holies, that had no windows, stood the Ark of the Covenant. It was a chest measuring 122 cm long and 73 cm in height and width, overlaid with a thin layer of pure gold, and standing on four feet. Upon the ark (chest), which represented the covenant which the Lord had concluded with the people of Israel, lay a massive plate of pure gold, shielded by the wings of two Cherubim, also formed of pure gold. The people of Israel in the Old Testament understood this plate to be the place of atonement and the throne of grace (kapporet), or the throne of the Lord. The Ark of the Covenant, for Israel, symbolized God's throne and His presence in the middle of His covenant people (Exodus 25:10-22; 37:1-9; Numbers 10:33; 2 Samuel 6:1-19; 1 Kings 8:1-14). Any approach to or contact with the throne of God, except for the high priest on the Day of Atonement, was absolutely forbidden and stood under the penalty of death, indicating it was impossible for any sinner to approach the Holy Lord. The fear of God and the terror before His holiness were and are foundational elements in the Old Covenant, and constitute compelling grounds to keep His laws and ordinances.
But the patriarch, John, saw the gates of the temple in heaven wide open! The veil to the Holy of Holies was removed, and everyone could see the Ark of the Covenant. This revelation was like a devastating earthquake. Every member of Israel should recognize that the old had passed away, and that something new had begun. They could understand and sense:
- The wrath of God has passed from His people. He has opened His temple in heaven. He no longer rejects His people, but has once again received them. He again wants to dwell in their midst.
- The way into the Holy of Holies stands wide open. Since the time the separating veil was torn from top to bottom through the sacrificial death of Jesus (Matthew 27:51; Mark 15:38) the way to the Father is free for everyone who has been cleansed by the blood of Christ. Paul confirmed this unique privilege for Jews and Christians if they follow Jesus (Ephesians 2:18-22; 3:12; Hebrews 4:16).
- The throne of God appeared in heaven, not on earth, and not in Israel. That meant the beginning of the devastating court of justice for all who do not allow themselves to be cleansed by the blood of Christ or be enlivened by His Spirit. The living God comes to judge. It is terrifying to fall into His hands (Hebrews 10:31). The Ark of the Covenant which was made visible signifies God's attack on the decadent world.
- Paul assures us, that the Person of Jesus Christ is the true “Throne of Grace” of the New Covenant (Romans 3:24-25), in which God meets us and through which He has reconciled us to Himself (2 Corinthians 5:19-21).
The unique vision of John of the brightly shining Ark of the Covenant in the open temple of God was to be a consolation and strength for the Jewish-Christian church members in the Hellenistic churches of Asia Minor, for persecution had begun. This revelation is also for the believers among the nations, because the door into the Holy of Holies stands open for anyone who allows himself to be clad in the righteousness of Christ.
The vision of the open temple in heaven made clear: The final battle of history will be concentrated in the unholy “Holy Land” of the Middle East, where the storm of the last years will make its course. The focal point will be the location of the disappeared Throne of God (the Ark) out of the Old Covenant, as well as the “Throne of Grace” (the cross and place of atonement) in the New Testament. In the third temple, however, which will yet be built in Jerusalem, the antichrist will take his place upon the throne of God, in order to contest the rightful worship of the Almighty (2 Thessalonians 2:4; Daniel 11:36; Matthew 24:15).
The last sentence of chapter 11 of Revelation makes plain that the developments in the Holy Land around Jerusalem and in the world will be accompanied by lightning, voices, thunder, earthquakes and great hail. To express these words in modern language implies there will be continual acts of terror, futile efforts at peace and ear splitting sounds of cannon fire. Time and time again atomic warheads, annihilating clusters of bombs and remote controlled rockets will fall from the sky like hail. Whoever speaks of “peace in the Middle East” is like a naïve dreamer out of an unrealistic fairy tale.
To all, however, who believe in the victory of God and of His Lamb, we recommend memorizing the victory proclamation of the voices from heaven. In the face of all the negative developments in our world today it is good to recite them again and again. “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” (Revelation 11:15)
With this confession of faith, the Lord wants to involve us in the future overcoming of the antichrist's forces (1 John 5:4).
PRAYER: Holy Lord, You concealed Your glory before Your disobedient people. You even accepted their sacrifices as emblems of repentance and regret from them offered to You by the high priest in the old temple. It was impossible for any of them to see You lest they die. Therefore, the opening of Your temple in heaven signifies the beginning of severe destruction of the world.
QUESTION:
- Why was the temple, particularly the Holy of Holies, open in the Old Testament only for the high priest and only once a year?