Today you should read: Revelation 15:5-8
In today’s passage, we read about the continued vision of John as he saw the last things take place. We read about the seven angels holding seven plagues with each receiving a gold bowl filled with the wrath of God. We have seen God’s wrath toward sin and sinners who do not repent. The consequences of sin are great.
Today let’s focus on Revelation 15:5:
“Then I looked and saw that the Temple in heaven, God’s Tabernacle, was thrown wide open.” (NLT)
In Genesis, God’s presence was with Adam & Eve in the Garden of Eden. However, they sinned, rebelling against God, and were forced out of the Garden. Eden was guarded by an angel with fire, symbolism for the presence of God. There was a separation made between God and man.
In Exodus, we see God especially present with the people of Israel in the pillar of fire and a pillar of cloud as they were in the wilderness. We then read of how God instructed them to set up a Tabernacle, a place where he would dwell.
Later on, we see God especially present in the Temple of Jerusalem. Jesus called it his “house.” We also see God leave the Temple in Ezekiel 10.
In John, we read about the “the Word,” Jesus, who “became flesh and dwelt among us…” Jesus, the Son of God, was a physical representation of the Tabernacle. He tabernacled among us.
We then read in 1 Corinthians 6 how the Holy Spirit dwells in us and that our body “is a temple of the Holy Spirit.”
Today, we see the heavenly Temple, God’s Tabernacle opened wide. Smoke from the glory of God (Remember pillar of fire and pillar of cloud?) filled the Temple as the angels will soon pour out the wrath of God on the earth (Revelation 16).
All this points forward to a day where God will establish a new heaven and a new earth, where his people will dwell with him in the New Jerusalem. There is no temple in this city, “for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple” (Revelation 21:22, CSB). God’s home will be with his people. “He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things [will be] gone forever” (Revelation 21:4, CSB).
We can look forward to that day when all things are made new. Until then, turn from your sin, turn your eyes to Jesus, and wait for his return. “He who is the faithful witness to all these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon!”
What stuck out to you in today’s reading?
By: Lucas Taylor — West Campus Pastoral Ministry Apprentice
JumpstartCPC.com 
Related to today’s reading, I’m working my way through this sermon serious on the Kingdom or God by Matt Chandler right now. Highly recommend! I won’t be surprised if this passage (Rev 15:5-8) is referenced soon. How awesome it will be to one day be in the full unveiled presence of God! I’m thankful that we have His promises to return to the relationship we read about between God and Adam in the Garden.
https://www.tvcresources.net/resource-library/sermons/by-series/citizens-and-strangers