The Heavenly Tabernacle

[Paul River]

So one of the key verses that we need to wrap our heads around is Hebrews 7:12 "For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also." So, the first thing we need to understand is why certain laws were abrogated from the Old Testament, such as the dietary regulations; is because we are under this new priesthood where Christ is our high priest in the order of Melchizedek. This is not to say many of the laws of the Old Testament are not re-affirmed in the New Testament - all of the 10 commandments are re-affirmed in the New Testament over and again except for the Sabbath, as the Sabbath is now embodied in the person of Jesus Christ, and He is our rest! (Hebrews 1 - 4) Also, the sacrificial laws have been completely abrogated (this is also for you journeyman) as (Hebrews. 9:11-12) "But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption." The shadows of all the sacrifices in the Old Testament 1) Burnt Offering, 2) Grain and Wine Offering, 3) Peace Offering, 4) Sin Offering, and 5) The Transgression Offering, could never compare with Christ's one-time perfect gift of His own blood!

So if Christ is our High Priest in the order of Melchizedek, who are we? 1) We as believers are all Royal Priests (1Peter 2:9) "But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." And the fact of our Royal Priesthood is re-affirmed in Titus 2:14, Revelation 1:6, and Revelation 5:10. 2) We (our lives and bodies) are the sacrifice (Romans 12:1) "Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship." Also, see the following verses on Christians being the sacrifice: Philippians 2:17-18, 1 Peter 2:5, and Hebrews 13:5. 3) And finally, we (Christians) are the Temple of God (1Peter 2:4-5) "And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." Also, see the following verses on Christians being God's Temple: Ephesians 2:19-22, 1 Corinthians 3:16-17, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, 2 Corinthians 6:16, Revelation 3:12.

So now we understand that Christ is our High Priest in the order of Melchizedek, and Christians are priests, the sacrifice and God's Temple, we can look at the book of Revelations with fresh eyes and not with the eyes of a cessationist who sees no connection between the Old Testament and the New Testament. Since one of the main themes of the book of Revelation is clearly about the operation of the Heavenly Tabernacle (Revelation 3:12, 7:15, 11:1, 19, 13:6, 14:15, 15:5, 6, 8, 16:1, 17, 21:3, 22.), and we can find all of the elements of the Wilderness Tabernacle and Solomon's Temple in it (The Menorah Rev 1:10 - 16, The Brazen Sea Rev 4:2, 15:2, The Lamb Sacrifice Rev 5:5-6, The Priesthood Rev 5:9, 10, The Altar Rev 6:9-10, 8:3, Ark of the Covenant Rev 11:19, and the Showbread Table Rev 14:14-20.) the High Priest must be here somewhere! Without question, the vision John sees in Revelation 1:10-20 is our glorified Saviour as he says in (Revelation 1:17-18) "Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades." I am simply assigning Him the title Melchizedek because that is who we know he is within the context of this Heavenly Tabernacle in the Book of Revelation.

Edited November 25, 2023 by Paul River

[Marilyn C]

On 11/24/2023 at 9:36 PM, Paul River said:

OK, awesome - very interested in your input

Thank you. I will post my nots in stages as you may want to comment on any.

The Heavenly Tabernacle.

`The LORD (Father) has sworn and will not relent, “You (Jesus) are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. (KingPriest)` (Heb. 7: 21)

`We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a Minister of the sanctuary and true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man.` (Heb. 8: 1 & 2)

 

The Lord Jesus Christ is revealed in His kingpriestly offices in the heavenly Tabernacle throughout Revelation. We see Him operating according to His titles – Head, Heir, Mediator and Judge. He is exalted to the highest position in all of God`s great kingdom and worshipped and adored by men and angels.

 

1.Christ the Kingpriest operating in His Headship. (Rev. 1 – 3)

 

Head of the Body  - `in the midst of the seven lampstands …` are the seven churches.` (Rev. 1: 13,  20)

 

King – Throne. `my throne…` (Rev. 3: 21)

Priest – `clothed with a garment down to His feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. ` (Rev. 1: 13)

 

The Lord as High Priest addresses each group particularly, giving words of commendation and encouragement or chastisement and warnings. Christ then counsels each group presenting Himself in clarity and truth. The response is but to repent & obey His Holy Spirit. 

 

The kingly promise to overcomers is that they will sit on His throne. (Rev. 3: 21)

 

Worship. `To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.` (Rev. 1: 5 &6)

 

Symbol – The garments of the High Priest and the Golden candlesticks.

[Marilyn C]

2. Christ the Kingpriest operating in His Heirship. (Rev. 4 – 7)

 

Heir of all things - `whom He appointed heir of all things, ` (Heb. 1: 2)

 

King – Throne. `a throne set in heaven.` (Rev. 4: 2) `I have set My King on My holy hill of Zion.` (Ps. 2: 6)

Priest – the High Priest`s breastplate with the first and last of the 12 gems. `jasper and sardius stone,` (Rev. 4: 3)

 

The Lord as King and Priest is worthy to take the scroll to bring judgments and give mercy.

`How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth? Then a white robe was given to each of them;… (priestly). (Rev. 6: 10 & 11)

`The Lion of the tribe of Judah, (King) …..and Lamb ….as if slain, (Priest)` (Rev. 5: 5 & 6)

`Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne, (king) and from the wrath of the Lamb, (priest). (Rev. 6: 16)

 

Worship. `The 24 elders fall before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: “You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things and by Your will they exist and were created.` (Rev. 4: 10 & 11.)

 

“Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing.”

“Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!” (Rev. 5: 12 & 13)

 

Symbol – The Breastplate of the High Priest and the slain lamb.

 

[Marilyn C]

3.Christ the Kingpriest operating in His Mediatorship. (Rev. 8 – 13)

 

Mediator of the new Covenant –  the `mighty angel` with the cloud and rainbow. (Rev. 10: 1,    Gen. 9: 12 & 13,     48: 16,   Mal. 3: 1)

 

King - `the golden altar, ` is crowned signifying Christ`s kingship. (Rev. 8: 3)

Priest - `He was given much incense, that He should offer it with the prayers of all the saints,` (Rev. 8: 3) Priestly activity.

 

Christ`s kingship revealed - `The Kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!` (Rev. 11: 15)

 

Christ`s Priesthood – the `angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. ` (Rev. 8: 3) This is the enactment of the Day of Atonement when the High Priest would go once a year with the golden censer before the ark of God.

 

Worship - `And the 24 elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshipped God, saying, “We give you thanks, O Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was and who is to come, because You have taken Your great power and reigned.` (Rev. 11: 16 & 17)

 

`The temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail.` (Rev. 11: 19)

 

Symbol – the Golden Altar and Ark.

 

 

 

 

[Marilyn C]

4.Christ the KingPriest operating in His Judgeship.

 

Judge - `Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God! For true and righteous are His judgments…` (Rev. 19: 1 & 2)

`Then I saw a great white throne …and the dead were judged…` (Rev. 20: 11 – 15)

 

King - `Then I looked and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion,…` (Rev. 14: 1) Heavenly Mount Zion is the ruling area.

Priest - `Then I looked and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion,…` (Rev. 14: 1) The Lamb represents Christ`s priestly sacrifice.

 

Christ`s Kingship - `And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: King of Kings and Lord of Lords.` (Rev. 19: 16)

 

Christ`s Priesthood - `He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood,..` (Rev. 19: 13)

 

Worship - `And the 24 elders fell down and worshiped God who sat on the throne, saying, “Amen! Alleluia! ….and I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of might thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!.” (Rev. 19: 4 & 6)

 

 

Symbol - the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God.

[Marilyn C]

Christ, Maker of All Things New - `Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. ` (Rev. 21: 1)

`Behold, I make all things new.` (Rev. 21: 5)

 

King - `The throne of God and the Lamb.` (Rev. 22: 1)

Priest - `The Lamb`s book of Life.` (Rev. 21: 27)

 

Christ`s Kingship - `Now the wall of the city had 12 foundations, and on them were the names of the 12 Apostles of the Lamb.` (Rev. 21: 14,   Matt. 19: 28)

 

Christ`s Priesthood – `Then he measured the wall: 144 cubits, ` (Rev. 21: 17) Representing 144,000 priests. (Rev. 14: 1 – 5)

 

 

Worship - `And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it.` (Rev. 21: 24)

 

Symbol – the glory over the Tabernacle.

[FJK]

6 hours ago, Marilyn C said:

`Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. ` (Rev. 21: 1)

This is Genesis 1:1 again, after the end has come to the current creation a new creation will take place and there will be again be a newly created Heaven and Earth, our current one will no longer be.

[Dennis1209]

Given where I suspect we are on God’s prophetic time clock, this is an exciting topic to discuss. There are more opinions and speculations on the Book of Revelation than any other book in the Bible. The generation closest to the event(s) should understand them best and see them coming.

Prophecy is best interpreted after it occurs; one example is Israel reborn as a nation in one day (Isa. 66:8). Along with the dozen or so subsequent prophetic fulfillments with the 1967 Six Days War. Only in hindsight can we get the complete picture. But our Lord would not have us be ignorant.

Matthew 25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

What are we commanded to watch for? There will be no signs that precede the Rapture. I think the prophetic time clock countdown started on May 14, 1948. I propose we are watching for the season of Christ's return. The convergence of everything prophetic for the terminal generation (Israel a cup of trembling, a new world order, digital money, Matt. 24, Eze. 38-39, 2 Tim. 3, Damascus, Syria becoming a ruinous heap, Elam destroyed, etc.).

If the apostle John does not directly explain some of the mysteries in Revelation, many can be found elsewhere in the Bible. Letting the Bible explain the Bible is always the best interpretation, would you agree?

Daniel gives us some reasons for the Tribulation and millennial reign of the Lord. Fortunately for us, we are in the 69^th week, a.k.a. the age of Grace, the church age. The final week (7 days = seven years) appears to be just around the corner.

Daniel 9:24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.

Any prophetic watchman can see the geopolitics, alignments, treaties, staging, actions, and rhetoric of who, why, and how many of these events will occur. The only questions in my mind are the sequence and timing.

In total, what we are told about the number 666, the mark of the Beast, and the image of the Beast, what other generation could imagine how that could come about? I am tempted to ask Bing Chat, my computer, and artificial intelligence that question. Not to mention the new constellation of satellites (Elon Musk-Space X) now covering the entire globe to be tied into the system, and a dozen other ties.

When is the Rapture? Soon, I believe, sometime before the beginning of the Tribulation, a topic of continual fervent discussion.

Who are the 144,000? I believe they are Jewish evangelists spreading the kingdom Gospel globally, as the dispensation of the Age of Grace is history. The Two Witnesses likewise, but restricted to God’s chosen people, the Jews. I believe the numbers are literal and not symbolic of something else.

I think the seven-year confirmation covenant Antichrist makes with Israel is the official start of the Tribulation. I do not see how he can suddenly appear on the scene and immediately rise to power. It seems more logical that his rise through the ranks of proven accomplishments and track record should be seen well before he ascends global dominance.

No objections or criticism, only one person’s hermeneutics and view.

[Marilyn C]

14 hours ago, Dennis1209 said:

 

What are we commanded to watch for? There will be no signs that precede the Rapture. 

Great post there Dennis, (as usual). Just like to point out that we will see this -

`I (God) will turn you (Russian Federation) back, and put hooks in your jaws, and lead you out...` (Ez. 38: 4) 

Thus, we will see Russia turn away from the Ukraine and start to come down to Israel. 

Israel will then have gotten control of Gaza and be at peace.

Not long now...

[Paul River]

On 11/25/2023 at 9:10 PM, Marilyn C said:

Christ, Maker of All Things New - `Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. ` (Rev. 21: 1)

`Behold, I make all things new.` (Rev. 21: 5)

This is the ultimate goal of God's redemptive purposes - to reconcile all of creation back to Himself. We see in Ezekiel 28:18 how Satan corrupted his sanctuary in the courts of Heaven, and then how he took control of the earthly realm by seducing Adam and Eve to sin. So the Book of Revelation can be seen as an exorcism of the enemies of God out of their strongholds (The heavens - Satan, The Abyss - Leviathan, and The Earth - Azazel), and ultimately judged . . . and God uses His ecclesia to accomplish this. Babalon is replaced with the New Jerusalem and Lucifer (9 precious stones Eze 28:13) is replaced with the Bride of Christ (12 precious stones Rev 21:19, 20)