Description
The Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony: Revelation 15:1-16:21
Two words and the activities of the 7 Last Angels and the 7 Last Plagues summarize Volume 5 in this series. In Greek, this first word έτελέσθη (etelesthe) places emphasis upon the purpose and design of God’s wrath. The second word γέγονεν (gegonen) places emphasis upon the completion and thus conclusion of God’s wrath. These two words are in Revelation 15:1 (the wrath of God is finished) and in Revelation 16:17 (It is done) and separate this 5th heptad from its surrounding narratives.
Revelation 16:17 contains the only direct reference to God’s Throne in the 5th heptad, but His Throne is implied in the six references to Temple beginning in Revelation 15:5 where the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony stood opened. By means of the symbolism of these three Ts, anchored deeply within the History of Redemption, we gradually understand that The Temple, The Tabernacle and the Testimony are witnesses to Jesus as the unique Way to Salvation, Truth and Life.
Rev. 15-16 is the shortest Heptad in Part 2 of the Apocalypse (Rev. 12:1-22:21) but it is pivotal for the whole Book. Rev. 15:1 is linked by the word sign to Rev. 12:1-2 And I saw another sign…Rev. 17:1 and Rev 21:9 are linked to Rev. 16:17 by the reference to the 7th Angel with the 7th Last Plague. The 6th and the 7th Heptads reveal God’s judgments upon the Great Harlot, Babylon, (Rev. 17:1) and the holiness of the Bride, the Wife of the Lamb, The Church (Rev. 21:9). The 7th Angel with the 7th Bowl from the 5th Heptad guides John to an understanding of the symbolism of these 2 women.
Revelation 16:15 contains the 3rd of the 7 blessings in this Book of Blessing which is immediately followed by the climactic and deeply controverted Battle of Armageddon. Over fifty pages of this Volume are given to the discussion of Armageddon.
Revelation 15-16, the 5th heptad, advances our understanding of the revelations about Jesus Christ and the Consummation in its recapitulation of Revelation 8:2-11:19, the 3rd heptad, where men are warned by the 7 Trumpets of the pending judgments. Revelation 15-16 contains the ministry of the 7 Angels and the 7 Last Plagues who administer the pending judgments. Revelation 16 concludes with unrepentant survivors of God’s judgments, indicating that there is still time for them to repent of their sins. The blessing in this 5th Volume is for those who are morally awake and watching for the Coming of their Lord, who are clothed in His righteousness and will not be found naked at the Judgement, Revelation 16:15.
