In my ongoing Bible study on Revelations 1-11, I tend to see a logical sequence, not only because of the narrative development of the passage but also within the framework of the sanctuary service as briefly outlined in Hebrews chapter 9 and Leviticus 4 and 16. If you are familiar with the book of Hebrews you will recall the fact that the 8th and 9th chapters are basically a comparison between the Old and New Covenant sanctuary services.
The Levitical sanctuary is a shadow of the New Covenant sanctuary. In order for us to understand the function of the sanctuary of the New Covenant we need to study the earthly sanctuary service. Hence, as we study Revelation we will be able to identify with what John saw in vision concerning the activities in the heavenly tabernacle.
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The daily sanctuary service
The earthly sanctuary service is conducted in two phases. You have the daily and the yearly services. During the daily service the priest will enter the first apartment of the tabernacle for the purpose of making daily atonement for individual sins. When the sinner offers his sacrifice, the priest will take the blood and make the atonement for him in the tabernacle of the congregation (first apartment) and, hence, his sins will be forgiven him (Heb. 9:6; Lev. 4).
The yearly sanctuary service
In the second phase (yearly service), the high priest alone goes into the second apartment once every year for the purpose of cleansing the people (Heb. 9:7). The day on which this service takes place is called the Day of Atonement. On this day the high priest offers a bullock for himself and his family, and then a goat for the congregation. In both cases he will take the blood and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat, and afterward upon the altars of incense and burnt offering. When the high priest completes his atonement work, he confesses all the sins of the people upon the scapegoat and sends him away into the wilderness, never more to come back into the camp (See Lev. 16).
The anti-typical sanctuary service in the book of Revelation
Though the book of Hebrews has spoken about a New-Covenant sanctuary, of which Christ is the minister, we are not given adequate details for us to know exactly what it entails. As the book of Leviticus gives us step-by-step details about the earthly sanctuary ministry, so the book of Revelation provides similar details of the heavenly ministry.
Christ's first-apartment ministry: In your Bible study of Revelation 1-3, the first scene that you will see is Christ standing among seven candlesticks. In the earthly sanctuary service you will recall that a seven branch candlestick is one of the items of furniture found in the first apartment. The other items are the table of shewbread and the golden altar (Heb. 9:2). Thus, the vision of Christ among the candlesticks is an indication that He was still carrying on His ministry in the first apartment. It is interesting that it is from the "tabernacle of the congregation" that Christ sends messages to His congregation - the seven churches.
The antitypical Day of Atonement in session:The vision then moves into another phase in Revelation chapters 4 and 5 where John saw a door opened in heaven. Beyond the door he saw the throne of God surrounded by cherubims (the four beasts) and 24 elders giving praises to God. The setting of this vision seems to be quite similar to another vision found in Isaiah 6 where the same description is given of these four living creatures flying around in God's throne room.
A Bible study on chapters 5-7 of Revelation reveals that there was a continuous worship scene leading up to the opening of the seven seals. John saw a book in the Father's hand sealed with seven seals and only the Lamb (Christ) was considered worthy to open this book. In response to the Lamb taking the book out of the Father's hand, the elders offered incense, which are the prayers of the saints. You will recall the fact that it is only on the Day of Atonement that incense was offered via the golden censer (Lev. 16:12, 13), and that it is only on that day that the High Priest goes directly in the presence of God before Ark of the Covenant. The Ark is a sacred chest over which the cherubims of glory, shadowing the mercy seat, are located (Heb. 9:5).
From the scenes of Revelations 4 and 5, John is actually witnessing the opening of the Day of Atonement where Christ as our great High Priest makes final reconciliation for the sins of God's people before the "ark of His testament" (Rev. 11:19). This atonement work is to prepare the people of God to stand without fault before His throne (Lev. 16:30; Rev. 14:5). As the opening of the seals takes us all the way to Revelation chapter 8, you will see in verse 5 where the censer is subsequently cast down to the earth.
Christ's ministry in the sanctuary will not continue forever
The ascending incense via the golden censer is the means by which the prayers of the saints are offered before God. Therefore, the casting down of this censer is a clear indication that the final atonement is made, the saints are cleansed, and no more prayers of penitence can be offered. The rest of the narrative continues all the way to Revelations chapter 11 when seventh trumpet sounds and the impending reign of Christ announced.
At the end of this work Christ in His capacity as High Priest will confess the sins of His people upon the head of the scapegoat. Remember, this scapegoat was to be presented alive and an atonement is to be made with him (Lev. 16:10). Christ has already fulfilled His role as that goat upon which the Lord's lot fell; He was sacrificed as a sin offering for the people (Lev. 16:9; St. Jn 19:30).
The antitypical scapegoat will be led away
Who is the scapegoat? The Jewish understanding suggests that this scapegoat (or Azazel) personifies uncleanness and is generally regarded as the symbol of a fallen angel. The scapegoat is the one on whom the responsibility for sin is to be placed, but Christ is not the one who is to take that final responsibility. The ultimate charge for the sin problem in our world today must appropriately be laid at the feet of Satan, the originator and direct instigator of sin.
Satan will pay the ultimate price for the sins of the penitent
In your Bible study on Revelation 20, you will see where Satan will be consigned to the bottomless pit, a desolate wilderness, bearing the weight of all the sins of the redeemed that was transferred to him by the High Priest. Because the wicked did not partake of Christ's atonement they will pay the penalty for their own sins in the lake of fire (Rev. 20:9, 10). Now we can see why Satan is working overtime to get us to continue sinning because he knows that if we should repent, all our sins will eventually be placed on him and, therefore, he will have to pay the ultimate price for them.
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