THE APOCALYPSE AND THE TEMPLE CODE

THE HEAVENLY THRONE ROOM, THE PRIESTHOOD, AND THE BEGINNING OF THE TRIBULATION

THE SHIFTING SCENE FROM EARTH TO HEAVEN

 The scene changes from Christ in linen to God on the Throne (what was)  The setting changes from the earthly church to the Heavenly Temple (what is)  The substance changes from addressing Christians to judging the nations (what is to come)  Revelation chapters 4 and 5 are the initiation of the tribulation or Daniel’s 70 th week

A. Theologians have three opinions of the timing of the “catching away” in Revelation

1. Pre-tribulation - Christ catches away the overcomers in the church before the tribulation 2. Mid-tribulation - Christ catches away the overcomers in the middle of the tribulation 3. Post-tribulation - Christ catches away the overcomers at the end of the tribulation

B. The pre-tribulation concept from Rev. 4:1-2

Main verse: Revelation 4:1-2

1. There is transition from what is (the church age) to what is to come (after the church age) 2. The catching away occurs after the gospel is preached to all nations (Matt. 24:14) 3. The imagery and the words used in chapter 4:1-2 4. The door in heaven opens (a literal portal) - the parable of the 10 virgins (Matt. 25:10) 5. The voice of a trumpet (the voice of archangel and trump of God) - “come up” (Rev. 11:12) 6. Things hereafter means after the previous events (church age) 7. John was immediately in the Spirit ( a picture of being “ changed ” and “ caught up ” ) 8. The imagery in Rev. 4:1-2 is the gathering together (1 Thess. 4:16-17; Eph. 1:9-10)

THREE ANCIENT TEMPLE RITUALS REFLECT THE RAPTURE OF THE SAINTS

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The Passover Assembly

The Priestly Ordination Service

 The Concealment of the High Priest before Yom Kippur

A. The Rapture and the Passover assembly

1. There are parallels in the Passover Assembly in Revelation chapters 4 and 5

a. During Passover at the Temple, there were so many sheep the ground was covered white b. There were three blasts blown from a silver trumpet

c. Twelve Levites stood with silver sticks inside the Temple compound d. Twelve Levites stood with gold sticks inside the Temple compound e. The priest wore a red garment to the thighs so no blood would be seen f. The slain lambs are the central theme of Passover at the Temple

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