It is highly likely that, at the very time John received his vision on Patmos, the Roman armies were at the gates of Jerusalem. (The AD 95 date found in most Bible commentaries is based on Catholic sources and has no historical foundation.) The days of the Second Temple were numbered. In the book of Revelation, John's thoughts seem to continually come back to the Temple in the last days of its existence.
- Rev. 1:12, 20 "And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks ... The seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches." One of the few furnishings in the Sanctuary was a seven-branched candelabra. Made of a single piece of gold, it had 7 cups filled with olive oil, and they were lit every day to provide light. When John thought of the Menorah, he was reminded of the seven little gatherings of believers in the province of Asia. Even with their shortcoming, these churches were still the light of the world.
- Rev. 5:8, 8:3-4 "Golden vial full of odors, which are the prayers of saints." Another furnishing in the temple was an incense alter covered with gold. The priests would burn incense every morning and evening when they trimmed the lamps. John said the prayers of the saints were like the odor of that incense. They are pleasing to God. His heart is touched when we cry out to Him in our need and praise Him for His goodness.
- Rev. 3:12 "Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God" Pillars are the part of the building which supports and bears weight. In the Temple of Solomon, two of the 18 cubit high columns were even given names. A pillar in the church of God is someone who is willing to bear the burdens of others. Pillars are often found behind walls, silent and unseen, patiently filling their place and extending a hand to others.
- Rev. 19:8 "And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints." Once a year on the Day of Atonement, the High Priest would bathe, an oxen would be slain for his sins, he would put on the linen garments and enter the Holy of Holies. When we believe and love His Son, we are justified or made right in God' eyes. Our robes are made white in the blood of the Lamb, Rev. 7:13.
- The Mishnah describes how the priests serving in the Temple were checked for blemishes and given the white garments of their office: "The Chamber of Hewn Stone was where the Great Sanhedrin of Israel used to sit and judge the priesthood; and if in any priest a blemish was found he clothed himself in black and veiled himself in black and departed and went his way; and he in whom no blemish was found clothed himself in white and veiled himself in white, and went in and ministered with his brethren the priests" (Middot 1.5).
- Rev. 21:22 "And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it." It would not be long until the Temple would be destroyed for all time. Those who accept His Son would become the new Temple - or dwelling place - of His Spirit. In heaven, we will enjoy personal fellowship with the Father and the Son.
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