The Heavenly sanctuary and its services in the book of Revelation : its reality and meaning

Abstract

The heavenly naos, together with the services performed there, is the key for a proper understanding of the message of the book of Revealation. In its twofold meaning, as the heavenly temple-sanctuary and the dwelling palce of God, the naos is the center of all divine activities concerning our planet. The heavenly naos is, in Revelation, seen in the context of the great controversy between Christ and his followers and Satan and his followers; thus, our planet is a battlefield and the naos is the "headquarters" where the plans, strategies, and all main decisions for the solving of the sin problem are made. It is also the place from which the final judgement will be brought out. As a temporary structure it will become obsolete when the sin problem is forever solved. That a real temple structure, the pattern for the earthly sanctuary, truly exists in heaven is explicitly seen from the Old Testament and the Epistles tot he Hebrews. Ancient Jewish tradition also confirms this. The heavenly temple has the same elements as the earthly one: two apartments, each with its articles of furniture. The two apartments relate to the two divisions of the book: historical (chapters 1-11) and eschatological (11-22). Christ, who is the central figure of all John's visions, is, in the heavenly temple, portrayed in his twofold role: the slain Lamb and the High Priest. The figure of the slain Lamb, is a key for the proper understanding of Christ's priestly ministry. Two phases of his ministry are related to the holy and most holy places. In the first, his work is closely associated with the articles of furniture found there. All the attention of the historical division is concentrated on the breaking of the seals of the book of destiny and the sounding of the trumpet warnings, which are preparatory steps announcing the approaching of the judgement (the Day of Atonement of the Old Testament earthly type). Jewish traditional thought shed more light on the significance of all these events and Christ's ministry performed there. The second phase of Christ's ministry, introduced by the "measuring" of the temple and worshippers, begins with the opening of the most holy place (11:19). At this time decisions regarding all men will be brouht out. After this work is finished, Christ ceases his priestly ministry and carries out the ministry of his wrath upon evildoers and eternal salvation and glorification upon his redeemed saints. The study of Revealation in a Christ-centered manner through the sanctuary must keep in mind that Old Testament thought and Jewish tradition are largely employed in the book. Such approach of study is indispensable for the understanding and interpretation of all the symbolism and so-called "puzzles," the solving of which will make the "Apocalypse" to be truly "the Revealation of Jesus Christ."