The one who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of My God and that one will not go out of the temple anymore. I will write upon him or her the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and I will write upon that one My new name. He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. Rev. 3:12, 13.
Just outside Aswan, Egypt, in the middle of Lake Nasser, sits an island temple called Philae. It is reachable by felucca (Egyptian sailboat) or small motorized boats. On my visit a small, barefooted boy from Sudan, who didn't look a day over 10 years old, drove my boat. The Greek monarchy of the Ptolemies had built the Temple of Philae about two centuries before the time of Jesus. While the Greek rulers didn't worship Egyptian gods, they respected the venerable culture of Egypt and sought to provide temples that carefully copied the ancient Egyptian art and architecture of Thebes
Because of its relative youth and the fact that sand had covered it for hundreds of years, Philae today remains in remarkable condition, compared to the ruins of Karmak and the area around the Valley of the Kings. Its roof is intact, and so is the artwork inside, including colorful paintings amazingly preserved even after 2,200 years.
Like other ancient Egyptian temples (and like the temple to Yahweh in Bible times), one passes through a gigantic gate into an outer courtyard. Another gate opens into the temple structure itself, with successive chambers leading to the tiny inner shrine that is the holiest part of the whole complex. At each level of holiness, access became increasingly limited, until the highest order of priests could enter the inner shrine.
The book of Revelation is full of allusions to the heavenly temple. Revelation 4 and 5 mention the lamps, the incense, the Lamb, the worship, and the presence of God Himself. Revelation 6:9 speaks of the altar of sacrifice, and Revelation 8:3-5 and 9:13 the altar of incense. Revelation 11:19 explicitly connects the ark of the covenant with the inner shrine of the heavenly tabernacle. That heavenly temple appears again in chapter 15, this time only to be emptied because of the glory of God manifested within (Rev. 15:5-8). The book declares that the people of God perform priestly service before Him day and night in His temple (Rev. 7:15-17; 22:2-5).
The promise to Philadelphia includes permanent dwelling in the innermost part of the heavenly temple. Christians will always be in the divine presence. This means that they will have a major role on the governance of the universe (see also Rev. 3:21). Though often weak and despised on this earth, God's servants will be elevated to the highest place in eternity.
Lord, prepare me now for the glorious role You have in store for all of Your people.
Just outside Aswan, Egypt, in the middle of Lake Nasser, sits an island temple called Philae. It is reachable by felucca (Egyptian sailboat) or small motorized boats. On my visit a small, barefooted boy from Sudan, who didn't look a day over 10 years old, drove my boat. The Greek monarchy of the Ptolemies had built the Temple of Philae about two centuries before the time of Jesus. While the Greek rulers didn't worship Egyptian gods, they respected the venerable culture of Egypt and sought to provide temples that carefully copied the ancient Egyptian art and architecture of Thebes
Because of its relative youth and the fact that sand had covered it for hundreds of years, Philae today remains in remarkable condition, compared to the ruins of Karmak and the area around the Valley of the Kings. Its roof is intact, and so is the artwork inside, including colorful paintings amazingly preserved even after 2,200 years.
Like other ancient Egyptian temples (and like the temple to Yahweh in Bible times), one passes through a gigantic gate into an outer courtyard. Another gate opens into the temple structure itself, with successive chambers leading to the tiny inner shrine that is the holiest part of the whole complex. At each level of holiness, access became increasingly limited, until the highest order of priests could enter the inner shrine.
The book of Revelation is full of allusions to the heavenly temple. Revelation 4 and 5 mention the lamps, the incense, the Lamb, the worship, and the presence of God Himself. Revelation 6:9 speaks of the altar of sacrifice, and Revelation 8:3-5 and 9:13 the altar of incense. Revelation 11:19 explicitly connects the ark of the covenant with the inner shrine of the heavenly tabernacle. That heavenly temple appears again in chapter 15, this time only to be emptied because of the glory of God manifested within (Rev. 15:5-8). The book declares that the people of God perform priestly service before Him day and night in His temple (Rev. 7:15-17; 22:2-5).
The promise to Philadelphia includes permanent dwelling in the innermost part of the heavenly temple. Christians will always be in the divine presence. This means that they will have a major role on the governance of the universe (see also Rev. 3:21). Though often weak and despised on this earth, God's servants will be elevated to the highest place in eternity.
Lord, prepare me now for the glorious role You have in store for all of Your people.
RSS Feed
