There are many such Jewish themes in the book of Revelation. For example Yochanan writes, "I turned around to see who was speaking
to me; and when I had turned, I saw seven gold
menorahs," (Rev. 1:12). Although most translations translate this as "lampstands" the
menorah, the seven-branched light in the Temple, was indeed a lampstand. Also when Revelation 1:13 mentions Yeshua's priestly robe,
he is depicted as the priest maintaining the lights of the seven messianic congregations, just as the priests serving the Temple kept
its lights lit. Likewise the twenty-four elders in Revelation 4:4, represent the twenty-four divisions of the priesthood described in
1 Chronicles 24:4 "There were sixteen divisions of the descendants of El'azar, headed by clan leaders, and eight divisions of the descendants
of Itamar, according to their clans. "Furthermore, the "sea of glass" in Revelation 4:6 is, in fact, the laver (a washbasin) from the Temple.
The incense burned in 5:8 and the censor and alter of incense seen in 8:3 are also based on the Tabernacle/Temple.
In Revelation 11:19 Yochanan announces, "Then the Temple of God in heaven was open, and the Ark of the Covenant was seen in his Temple;
and there were flashes of lightning, voices, peals of thunder, an earthquake and violent hail." This was a reminder of the words describing
the giving of the
Torah on Sinai.
The Temple of God in Yerushalayim is a true picture of what reality will be in the Messianic Age when, as the heavenly Tabernacle, becomes
the earthly throne of Yeshua, whereas now the throne of
Adonai is in heaven, Revelation 21:3 concludes: "I heard a loud voice from the
throne say, "See God's
Sh'khinah is with mankind, and he will live with them. They will be his people, he himself, God-with-them,
will be their God."
Baruch Hashem Adonai
ברוך השם אדונאי
Shabbat Shalom
שבת שלום