THE APOCALYPSE AND THE TEMPLE CODE

 The gold belt: “Girt about the paps” means “a wide belt in the upper mid - chest area.” Normal belts are worn around the waist. Kings often wore a large one in the upper chest area. The belt helped the robe to flow and meant dignity and honor when worn.

 Two-edged sword: Sharp in Greek is used to describe a sour vinegar or medical solution

used to stop severe pain (Mark 15:36); also to cleanse filthy wounds and stop infections. Christ used His words to get the filth, junk, and sickness out of the church. A two-edged sword was a Roman sword, long bladed on a pole to cut at a distance. It was sharp on both sides. The sharp curved sword could cut the enemy in half!

Note: John fell down like he was dead (1:17). See also Gen. 17:3; Josh. 5:14; Dan. 10:15

3. The heavenly garments and Christ’s present mi nistry

a. Christ is in white interceding for us continually at the Heavenly Temple (Heb. 7:25) b. Christ (the Priest) must stand to intercede. Stephen saw him standing (Acts 7:56) c. The High Priest remained in linen until the atonement was completed d. Christ has no crown in chapter one, but many crowns in Revelation chapter 19:12

THE VISION OCCURS AT THE HEAVENLY TEMPLE

A. God’s s even earthly dwellings:

1. He visited man in Eden (Gen 3:8) 2. The Tabernacle of Moses (Ex. 26-33) 3. The Tent of David (1 Chron. 15 & 16) 4. The Temple of Solomon (1 Kings 6 & 7) 5. The S econd Temple ( John 2:21) 6. The human body is the Temple of God (1 Cor. 3:16) 7. The church is His body on earth (1 Cor. 12:27)

B. God’s o ne heavenly dwelling:

1. The Throne room in heaven is a Heavenly Temple

a. In Isa. 6:1, Isaiah saw the Lord lifted up in His Temple b. In 2 Chron. 18:18, Micaiah saw the Lord sitting on His throne c. In Dan. 7:9, Daniel saw the Ancient of Days on His throne d. In Ezek. 1:26, Ezekiel saw the Lord on His throne

C. The Heavenly Temple

The throne room is the heavenly Temple. All activity in the Apocalypse centers here.

1. The sacred Temple in heaven (location)

a. The Temple is in the north (Isa. 14:13; Ps. 48:2; Ezek. 1:4)

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