Revelation and the Tabernacle
Twelve Studies on the Key to Understanding John's Visions
by David Gooding
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Study Notes
An Investigation of the Book of the Revelation in the Light of the Tabernacle
Our Approach to the Revelation
A time honoured way of studying the Revelation is to treat it as a sourcebook from which to take various pieces of prophetic information and, blending them with other prophetic matter derived from other scriptures, to build the whole into a system of eschatology.
That is, of course, a valid and valuable method of study. On the other hand, it is self-evident that God himself has not seen fit to communicate prophetic truth in the Bible in the form of systematic theology. In our studies we shall be attempting to investigate the Book of the Revelation as a book, to analyse its contents, to map out its major sections and to study their functional inter-relationships.
In the course of that we shall find that in four at least of the major sections of the book, the stage is set for the understanding of events on earth by a vision of heaven described in terms of the Old Testament tabernacle, which itself was, as we know, a copy of things in the heavens. We shall therefore renew and deepen our understanding of the tabernacle and use it as a tool for understanding the Revelation.
In so doing we shall observe in the literary structure of the Book of Exodus that the tabernacle, with its expression of ‘heaven brought down to earth’, stands in contrast to Pharaoh’s world which God plagued. The similarity between this and the situation in the Revelation, where the heavenly tabernacle stands opposed to the world of the beast on which God will pour out his plagues, is obvious. We shall enquire into its significance.
Among the topics that will be studied in depth will be:
- The nature of God’s government and the qualification of the Lamb to judge.
- The age-long problem of the silence of God.
- God’s answer to human and Satanic perversion of power.
- God’s response to the world’s perversion of beauty.
We shall also investigate the principles of salvation as they are displayed in the Revelation against the background of God’s judgments. And we shall examine the use of the tabernacle as a tool for communicating the gospel not only to a religiously-minded but also to a secular and atheistic world.
The Structure of the Book of the Revelation
| 1. 1:1–3:22 | 2. 4:1–7:17 | 3. 8:1–11:18 | 4. 11:19–15:4 | 5. 15:5–19:10 | 6. 19:11–22:21 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Statement of contents . . . the testimony of Jesus (1:1–3) | Opened: Door in heaven | Opened: Seventh seal: Silence in heaven for half an hour | Opened: Temple of God in heaven | Opened: Temple of tabernacle of testimony in heaven | Opened: Heaven |
| 2. John’s greeting: grace and peace from the Trinity (1:4–8) | THE THRONE and THE TWENTY-FOUR THRONES | BIG ALTAR and GOLDEN ALTAR OF INCENSE: SMOKE FROM THE INCENSE | ARK OF GOD’S COVENANT | TEMPLE FILLED WITH SMOKE FROM GOD’S GLORY AND POWER | |
| Pervading theme: | Pervading theme: | Pervading theme: | Pervading theme: | ||
| A. THE SON OF MAN – A sharp sword coming out of his mouth – Coming to address the SEVEN CHURCHES (1:9–20) | – The throne of God; Ch. 4: throughout; Ch. 5: throughout; 6:16; 7:9–11, 15, 17 | – Timing 8:1; 9:5, 10, 15; 10:6; 11:2, 8–9, 11, 18 | – Power and authority; Ch. 12: Satan’s struggle for power: the man-child and God’s throne; Ch. 13: the throne of the beast; Ch. 13; 14:7, 9; 15:2: the beast’s blasphemous claim to divine honours and worship | – Beauty and clothing 15:6 of the seven angels; 16:15: garments/naked; 17:4: of the Harlot; 18:12, 16: of Babylon; 19:7–8: of the Bride of the Lamb | A. THE WARRIOR KING AND JUDGE – A sharp sword coming out of his mouth – Coming to deal with the KINGS OF THE EARTH, THE BEAST, THE FALSE PROPHET AND SATAN (19:11–20:10) |
| B. THE LETTERS TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES (2:1–3:22) | Other Tabernacle references: 6:1–7: living creatures; 6:9: altar; 7:11: living creatures; 7:15: tent | Other Tabernacle references: 9:13: golden altar; 11:1, 4: temple, court, altar, lampstands | Other Tabernacle references: 13:6: tabernacle of God; 14:18: altar of sacrifice; 15:2: the sea of glass | Other Tabernacle references: 15:7: living creatures; 16:7: altar of sacrifice | B. NEW JERUSALEM – TABERNACLE OF GOD WITH MEN – BRIDE OF THE LAMB (20:11–22:15) |
| Comment: (7:13–17) – by one of the elders | Comment: (11:16–18) – by the twenty-four elders | Song: (15:2–4) – by the victors over the beast | Response: (19:1–10) – by the great multitude | 1. Threefold testifying of Jesus (22:16–20); 2. The grace (22:21) |
Strategic Themes
| I | II | III | IV | V | VI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1:1–3:22 | 4:1–7:17 | 8:1–11:18 | 11:19–15:4 | 15:5–19:10 | 19:11–22:21 |
| SON OF MAN | LION OF JUDAH: LAMB SLAIN | STRONG ANGEL | WOMAN AND MALE CHILD | FALSE WOMAN: BABYLON | WARRIOR KING |
| Clothed with a garment down to his feet, face as sun, eyes as fire, seven stars in right hand, feet as bronze, glowing in furnace | Seven horns; Seven eyes | – Rainbow on head – Clothed with cloud – Face like sun – Feet like pillars of fire – Roars like lion – Foot on land and sea – In his left hand a little scroll | – Clothed with sun – Crown of twelve stars – Moon under feet; She, her child and seed attacked by Satan | – Clothed in purple and scarlet, gold, precious stones and pearls – In her hand a golden cup – She rides the beast | – Clothed in a robe dipped in blood – Eyes like blazing fire – On head many crowns; He overpowers beast, false prophet and Satan |
| What you see, write in a scroll | He takes the scroll, and opens its seals | John takes the scroll and eats it | |||
| and | and | and | and | and | and |
| SEVEN LAMPSTANDS i.e. seven churches | SEALING OF ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY FOUR THOUSAND AND SALVATION AND TRIUMPH OF UNCOUNTABLE THRONG | TWO LAMPSTANDS i.e. two prophets before Lord of earth and the temple | THE DRAGON, THE BEAST AND THEIR FALSE PROPHET | THE SCARLET BEAST AND HIS SEVEN HEADS AND TEN HORNS | HIS BRIDE, THE LAMB’S WIFE |
| I will remove your lampstand out of its place | The great tribulation | The beast shall overcome them | The beast overcomes the saints | The beast and the ten kings destroy Babylon | The kings of the earth bring their glory into it |
| but | but | but | but | but | but |
| To him who overcomes… | They come out of it… the sun shall not strike nor any heat… | They went up into heaven | Those who were victorious over the beast | The Lamb’s wife has made herself ready | He who overcomes shall inherit these things |
Section I
Judgment begins at the house of God. Christ visits, praises, criticises, admonishes and if need be chastises, rallies and encourages his churches.
A. The Nature and Contents of the Book — 1:1–3
- A revelation of which Christ is both author and central theme, about things that must soon take place.
- Conveyed by Christ’s angel to John who testifies to everything he saw, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.
- To reap its blessing the prophecy must not only be read and heard, but kept.
B. Greetings, and Grace from the Holy Trinity — 1:4–8
- From him who is and was and is to come.
- From the seven Spirits before his throne.
- From Jesus Christ (1) the faithful witness, (2) firstborn of the dead, (3) ruler of the kings of the earth.
- Ascription of glory and dominion to Christ in light of
- His love and redemption.
- What he has made of us.
- His coming manifestation.
- Declaration by the Lord God:
- The Alpha and the Omega._
- Who is, and who was and who is to come.
- The Almighty._
C. The Son of Man Amidst the Golden Lampstands — 1:9–20
- Christ as judge: his official robe; the sword coming out of his mouth.
- His purity and his power.
- Christ strengthens John to write: ‘I am the living one, became dead, am alive, have the keys of Death and Hades’.
- The scope of the writing: the things you saw, the things that are, the things that shall be after these.
- The nature and significance of the lampstands and stars.
D. Christ’s Appraisal of His Churches — 2:1–3:22
| 1. Ephesus | I know your works . . . BUT . . . overcome . . . tree of life | cf. 22:2 |
| 2. Smyrna | I know your tribulation . . . FEAR NOT . . . overcome . . . crown of life . . . not hurt by the second death | cf. 20:14 |
| 3. Pergamum | I know your dwelling-place . . . BUT . . . overcome . . . hidden manna . . . white stone . . . secret name | |
| 4. Thyatira | I know your works . . . BUT . . . overcome . . . authority over nations . . . rule with rod of iron | cf. 12:5; 19:15; 20:6 |
| 5. Sardis | I know your works . . . AND . . . overcome . . . will not blot name out of book of life | cf. 20:15; 21:27 |
| 6. Philadelphia | I know your works . . . BEHOLD . . . overcome . . . will write on him name of God, name of city, new Jerusalem | cf. 22:4 |
| 7. Laodicea | I know your works . . . BECAUSE . . . overcome . . . sit down with me on my throne . . . my Father’s throne | cf. 22:1, 3 |
For the idea of ‘overcoming’ see 21:7
Old Testament Allusions and Features of the Seven Churches
Old Testament Allusions
| 1. Ephesus | I will remove your lampstand out of its place . . . To him who overcomes I will give to eat of the tree of life which is in the paradise of God (cf. Gen 3). |
| 2. Smyrna | Fear not what you are about to suffer. Behold the devil is about to throw some of you into prison that you may be tested, and you shall have affliction ten days (cf. the prophecy of Israel’s enslavement in Egypt: Your seed will be strangers in a country not their own and be enslaved; and they shall afflict them four hundred years. Gen 15:13). |
| 3. Pergamum | You have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam who taught Balak to cast a stumbling-block before the children of Israel (cf. Num 22–24). |
| 4. Thyatira | You allow that woman Jezebel, who says that she is a prophetess, and teaches and seduces my servants (cf. 1 Kgs 16:29–31; 2 Kgs 9). |
| 5. Sardis | I will not blot his name out of the book of life. cf. and the Lord had not said that he would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven, but he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam (II) (2 Kgs 14:27). |
| 6. Philadelphia | He who has the key of David, who opens and none shall shut, and shuts and none shall open cf. a prophecy originally spoken of Eliakim, royal steward in the reign of Hezekiah (Isa 22:22). |
| 7. Laodicea | I will spew you out of my mouth cf. the prophecy of the exile. . . lest the land spew you out also . . . as it spewed out the nation that was before you (Lev 18:28). |
Features of the Seven Churches
| 1. Ephesus | Commended for their hate: blamed for letting go (aphekes) of their first love. |
| 2. Smyrna | Them that say they are Jews and they are not but are a synagogue of Satan . . . behold the devil is about to cast some of you into prison . . . |
| 3. Pergamum | You hold fast my name and did not deny my faith, even in the days of Antipas . . . who was killed among you . . . |
| 4. Thyatira | Commended for their love: blamed for letting (apheis) the woman Jezebel teach and seduce my servants to commit fornication. |
| 5. Sardis | You have a name that you live, and you are dead. |
| 6. Philadelphia | I have set before you a door opened, which none can shut . . . Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and they are not . . . to come and fall before your feet . . . |
| 7. Laodicea | Blamed for being neither hot nor cold, but lukewarm. As many as I love I reprove and chasten. |
Section II
The throne of God and the worthiness of God and of the Lamb to receive the worship and service of God’s whole creation.
A. Description of the Throne 4:1–11
- Its occupant.
- The rainbow round the throne: and round the throne twenty-four thrones: also occupied.
- Out of the throne lightnings, voices, thunders.
- Seven burning torches before the throne: and before the throne a sea of glass.
- In the midst and round the throne four living creatures.
- The grounds of God’s worthiness to be worshipped: he is the Creator: his creatorial purpose.
B. The Worthiness of the Lamb to Execute Judgment 5:1–14
- The LION has overcome: by being The SLAIN LAMB with seven horns and seven eyes.
- The new song: the prayers of the saints offered by the elders: the Lamb is worthy because:
- He has purchased men for God with his blood;
- He has made them a kingdom and priests to God;
- They shall reign over the earth._
- The angels’ worship.
- The whole universe’s acknowledgement of the Lamb’s worthiness.
C. The Opening of the Seals 6:1–17
- White horse: conquest.
- Red horse: war.
- Black horse: famine.
- Pale horse: Death and Hades.
- Martyred souls must wait to be avenged.
- Climax: the great day of wrath
- The half hour of silence (8:1)
D. Two Groups Saved 7:1–17
- One hundred and forty four thousand out of the tribes of Israel: sealed, so as to suffer no hurt.
- An uncountable multitude: they come out of the great tribulation.
- The grounds of their salvation: they have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb.
- Their blessings and consolations.
Section III
The problem of the silence of God in the face of evil and his apparent delay in avenging his saints, apostles and prophets.
A. The Blowing of the Seven Trumpets 8:1–9:21; 11:15
- Smoke from the incense and the prayers of the saints leads to the breaking of the half hour of silence: thunders, lightnings, earthquake, trumpets, as censer is emptied out on the earth.
- The seven trumpets: _a_. Hail and fire and blood: one-third earth burnt up. _b_. One-third sea turned to blood: one-third sea-life and shipping destroyed. _c_. One-third rivers, fountains, waters become bitter. _d_. One-third sun, moon, stars smitten: one-third reduction of light. e. Locusts from abyss torment men. Their king, Apollyon. f. Angels at Euphrates loosed. Invasion by vast army of horses. _g_. See* below.
B. The Strong Angel Sets Right Foot on Sea and Left on Earth 10:1–11
- Clothed with a cloud: rainbow on head: face as sun . . .
- In his hand a little book, sweet in mouth, bitter in belly.
- Swears by Creator: delay no longer, but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel (see* below).
- The mystery of God, according to the good news which he declared to his servants the prophets, SHALL BE FINISHED.
C. The Two Witnesses 11:1–14
- The holy city trodden underfoot by Gentiles forty-two months.
- After one thousand two hundred and sixty days the two LAMPSTANDS are extinguished by the beast. The dead bodies of the two prophets lie in city called Sodom and Egypt where the Lord was crucified. The world rejoices.
- After three-and-a-half days the prophets are resurrected, taken to heaven, their testimony vindicated.
D. Thanksgiving That the Time for Judgment Has Come 11:15–18
- At the seventh trumpet mystery of God finished.
- Great voices in heaven: kingdom of world has become God’s and Christ’s.
- Twenty-four elders who sit on thrones: fall on faces: give thanks that
- God has at last taken his great power and begun to reign.
- In response to wrath of nations, God’s WRATH has come.
- The time has come for dead to be judged: to reward prophets and saints and those who fear God’s name: to destroy those who destroy the earth.
Section IV
The throne of the beast and the grounds of his demand to receive universal worship. God’s answer to the beast and Satan.
A. First Trilogy: Signs in Heaven—Satan Frustrated 11:19–13:1
- A woman and child: the dragon stands before the woman to devour child: but the child is caught up to God’s throne.
- War in heaven: accuser of brethren cast down: they overcome him: NOW has come salvation, power, Kingdom of God and authority of his Christ.
- Satan persecutes woman: fails: stands on sea-shore.
B. Second Trilogy: Situation Resulting on Earth—Satan Apparently Victorious 13:1–14:5
- I saw—the beast’s throne: his ‘resurrection’ and irresistible power: his claim to divine worship: he overcomes the saints.
- I saw—the second beast’s deceptive signs: image: no purchasing without the mark of the beast.
- I saw—the Lamb standing on Mount Zion with one hundred and forty four thousand purchased (!) out of the earth: A NEW SONG. In their mouth no lie.
C. Third Trilogy: Warnings and Judgments—Earth’s Inhabitants Warned Against the Beast 14:6–15:1
- I saw—
- First Angel: worship creator: hour of judgment come.
- Second Angel: Babylon has fallen.
- Third Angel: warning: mark of beast leads to eternal torment.
- Voice from heaven: those who die in the Lord are blessed._
- I saw—
- Son of Man sitting on cloud: corn-harvest.
- Another angel: grape-harvest: wrath of God.
- I saw—
- Seven Angels: announcement of seven plagues which will complete THE WRATH OF GOD.
D. Victory Over the Beast 15:2–4
- I saw—the victors stand by the sea of glass and fire.
- They sing the new song of Moses and the Lamb.
- The grounds on which all nations will worship God and acknowledge his unique name and holiness: his righteous acts have been made manifest.
Section V
God’s eventual and swift avenging of his saints, apostles and prophets on Babylon who compromised with the beast in order to gain power and wealth and murdered God’s true people and preachers.
A. The Pouring out of the Vials in Which God’s Wrath Is Finished 15:5–16:21
- Smoke from the glory and power of God fill the temple: None can enter till the seven plagues are finished.
- The seven vials
- Ugly and painful sores on people who have mark of beast.
- Sea turned to blood as of dead man: everything in it dies.
- Rivers and fountains of waters become blood._
- Sun scorches men with fire._
- Throne and kingdom of beast darkened.
- Euphrates dried up. Kings of earth deceived by demons to come to the war of the great day of God Almighty.
- Great voice out of temple, from throne: IT IS DONE. Great earthquake. Great city divided. Cities of the nations fall. Babylon the great remembered and given cup of God’s WRATH. Every island and mountain flees. Great hail.
B. Judgment of Babylon (A) 17:1–18
SHE SITS ON MANY WATERS AND ON SEVEN MOUNTAINS
- Clothed in purple, scarlet: gold, jewels, pearls.
- In her hand a golden cup of wine of unclean things.
- The historical succession of empires: five fallen, one is, one is yet to come and must continue a little while: then the eighth . . . and he goes into perdition, overcome by the Lamb.
- A mystery: Babylon . . . mother of harlots, drunk with blood of saints and martyrs of Jesus . . . she is herself destroyed by the beast and ten kings: ‘God put into their hearts to do his mind . . . until the words of God should be finished’.
C. Judgment of Babylon (B) 18:1–24
- The unholy city: ‘I sit as a queen’: In one day her plagues come.
- In her was found the blood of prophets, saints and of all slain: ‘God has judged your judgment on her’.
- The city never to rise again: NO LAMP TO SHINE in her again.
D. Hallelujahs for God’s Judgment 19:1–10
- By a great voice of a great multitude in heaven: salvation, glory, power are God’s for he has judged the harlot and avenged his servants.
- By the twenty-four elders.
- By a voice from the throne.
- By the voice of a great multitude: God reigns: Rejoice! Give him the glory: the marriage supper of Lamb has come, and his wife has made herself ready.
- It was given her that she should clothe herself in fine linen.
Section VI
The coming of Christ in power and great glory to execute the wrath of God; the millennial reign of Christ with a rod of iron; the great white throne and the new heavens and the new earth; and all of this to prepare for the coming of the new Jerusalem, the tabernacle of God and the bride of the Lamb.
A. The Rider on the White Horse
First Trilogy: 19:11–21
- In justice he judges and makes war: a sharp sword out of mouth.
- Invitation to birds to the great supper.
- The battle: beast and false prophet into lake of fire: the rest killed with the sharp sword: birds filled with flesh.
Second Trilogy: 20:1–10
- Angel with keys of abyss: binds Satan and imprisons in abyss for one thousand years.
- One thousand years’ reign of resurrected martyrs and those who refused mark of beast.
- After the one thousand years: final rebellion: Satan into lake of fire.
B. The New Heaven and Earth
Third Trilogy: 20:11–22:15
- The great white throne: heaven and earth flee: if any not found written, cast into lake of fire (20:11–15).
- New heaven and new earth: new Jerusalem corning down: tabernacle of God with men (21:1–4).
- God’s pronouncement: he who overcomes shall inherit: but . . . all liars, their part in lake of fire (21:5–8).
- Angel shows John bride of Lamb: and there shall not enter . . . anyone who makes a lie: and he showed me (21:9–22:5).
- Veracity of the prophecy (22:6–7).
- Proper reaction to the prophecy (22:8–9).
- Direction for publication of the prophecy: outside are dogs . . . and everyone who loves and makes a lie (22:10–15).
C. The Three-Fold Testifying of Jesus 22:16–20
- I, Jesus have sent my angel to testify; and the response of the Spirit, bride, hearers and thirsty ones (22:16–17).
- I testify unto you . . . warning against altering the words of the book (22:18–19).
- He who testifies says: surely I come quickly; and the response: Amen: come Lord Jesus (22:20).
D. THE GRACE of the Lord Jesus be with the Saints 22:21
The Two Halves of Exodus—Some Comparisons
| 1. | 5. |
| a. Israelites reject Moses as judge: he flees to Jethro (2:14–22) | a. Jethro advises Moses how to organise Israel’s judges. Moses becomes the mediator of the law (ch. 18) |
| b. God’s self-revelation in the flames of the burning bush (ch. 3) | b. God’s self-revelation in the flames of Sinai (ch. 19) |
| c. Israel’s deliverance based on God’s covenant with Abraham (2:24) | c. Israel’s status, role and behaviour dependent on the covenant at Sinai (chs. 19–24) |
| d. Israel, God’s firstborn (4:22) | d. Israel, God’s special treasure from among all nations, priests, a holy nation (19:5–6) |
| 2. | 6. |
| a. ‘Let my people go, that they may serve me’ (9:1) | a. Directions for the tabernacle and priesthood (chs. 25–31) |
| b. The ‘finger of God’ intervening in the physical world (8:19). | b. The ‘finger of God’ in the revelation of the law (31:18) |
| c. God’s presence in the created world: the difference between the Israelites and the Egyptians is a sign to Pharaoh ‘that I am the Lord in the midst of the earth’ (8:21–23) | c. God’s presence among his redeemed people: ‘a sanctuary that I may dwell among them’ (25:8). Israel’s observance of God’s Sabbath rest after the creation of the world, a sign between God and Israel . . . ‘that I am the Lord who sanctifies you’ (31:12–17) |
| 3. | 7. |
| a. Israelites ask Egyptians for gold and silver (11:2–3; 12:35–36) | a. Israel turn some of the gold into the golden calf (32:2–4) |
| b. ‘I have brought your hosts out of the land of Egypt’ (12:17) | b. ‘These are your gods which brought you up out of the land of Egypt’ (32:4) |
| c. ‘You shall keep it as a feast (hag) to the Lord . . . forever’ (12:14) | c. ‘Tomorrow is a feast (hag) to the Lord’ (32:5) |
| d. Sanctification of Israel’s firstborn to the Lord (13:1–2, 11–16) | d. Consecration of the Levites to the Lord (32:26–29). The sanctification of the firstborn (34:19–20) |
| e. The Lord ‘passes over’ the door to protect the firstborn (12:13, 23) | e. The Lord puts Moses in the cleft of the rock and covers him with his hand to protect him (33:20–23) |
| 4. | 8. |
| a. ‘The Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud . . . and by night in a pillar of fire’ (13:21–22) | a. ‘The cloud . . . was on the tabernacle by day, and . . . fire by night . . . throughout all their journeys’ (40:38) |
| b. ‘You have guided them . . . to your holy habitation . . . you will bring them in . . . the place . . . which you have made for yourself to dwell in, thy sanctuary . . .’ (15:13, 17) | b. The making, presentation, and erection of the tabernacle for God to dwell in (chs. 35–40) |
| c. The Sabbath in relation to gaining one’s daily bread (16:22–36) | c. The Sabbath in relation to building the tabernacle (35:1–3). ‘So Moses finished the work’ (40:33) |
| d. ‘They looked toward the wilderness and the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud’ (16:10) | d. ‘The glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle’ (40:34, 35) |