Solomon's Temple Spiritualized
Great thread!
1. The outer gates / walls - Justification - We enter in the gate by faith
2. The Altar - Christ is our sacrifice
3. The Laver - Sanctification - Catechism if you will.
(lets go through the door into the inner temple)
4. Table of Shewbread - The word of God - Spiritual food for you!
5. The Lightstand- Spiritual light - Faith, hope, charity, joy, warmth... etc.
6. The Altar of Golden Incense - Prayer and praise
7. The Holy of Holies - The Baptism of the Holy Spirit - The Anointing/Chrisma
My gosh! I never thought of that! The scene at the opening of Revelation is the same as the old temple set up! I believe the churches as seven...
Ephesus - Apostolic - The world of the Apostles
Smyrna - Martyr - Foxes Book of Martyrs has the Roman persecution as ten.
Pergamos - Orthodox... Pergos is a tower... Needed in the dark ages
Thyatira - Catholic - The spirit of Jezebel is to control and to dominate.
Sardis - Protestant - A sardius is a gem - elegant yet hard and rigid
Philadelphia - Wesleyism - To be sanctioned is to acquire it with love.
Laodicea - Materialistic - Rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing?
The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches. - Revelation 3:20
So in metaphor of the seven churches we have...
The Outer Gates - Justification - Not dealt with in this metaphor
The Altar - Salvation - Again, not dealt with in this metaphor
The laver- Sanctification - Again, not dealt with in this metaphor
The Table of Shewbread - Jesus is the bread of life, appearing to John. The bread is shared in the churches in the form of the word of God. So the seven churches can be represented as shewbread.
The Lampstand - The seven stars I believe as constellations. We are all little lights for Jesus, held in his right hand. These lights make up constellations, in which there were seven.
The Altar of Golden incense- Possible references in Rev 4
The Holy of Holies - Possible references in Rev 4
To tie this is with the metaphor of Solomon's temple will take a little more meditation on my part.
The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools. - Proverbs 26:7
I also have to make diligence to make my parable and metaphors equal and easily understood. It is easy to get off on the wrong track while reading Revelation. And, along with my Orthodox bretheren I must cry, "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner."
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