“And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of Jehovah, So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of Jehovah had filled the house of Jehovah” (1 Kings 8:10,11).

Solomon’s temple was completed in the 8th month of Solomon’s 11th year as king (1 Kings 6:38). However, in the 7th month, Solomon brought the Ark of the Covenant and other furnishings into the temple and proceeded with its dedication. Smoke then filled the temple and no one was able to enter (1 Kings 8:2-4, 10-12).

The question naturally arises, “Why furnish and dedicate the temple a month before its completion?” God must have had something specific in mind when He did this.

REVELATIONCHAPTER FIFTEEN

The answer is provided in Revelation 15. There we see that the temple filling with smoke is connected with the pouring out of the seven plagues. Hence, the temple furnished and dedicated prior to its completion indicates that the great work of atonement will not move forward until the seven last plagues have accomplished their task.

“After these things I looked, and the temple of the tabernacle of testimony in heaven was opened, and the seven angels who had the seven plagues came out of the temple … And one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God, who lives for ever and ever. And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no one was able to enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished” (Revelation 15:5-8, NAS).

Notice the sequence here. The temple filled with smoke so no man could enter until the seven plagues were fulfilled.

Because Solomon was promised a peaceable kingdom, his reign represents the peaceable kingdom of Christ, the antitypical Solomon (Matthew 12:42). Solomon’s work of building the temple illustrated the work of Christ in building the spiritual temple that would serve during the kingdom of Christ. The Apostle Paul said, “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16, see also Revelation 3:12). So, Revelation 15 also relates to the dedication and completion of the Church Class.

But why would its completion be delayed? As mentioned earlier, Solomon’s temple filled with smoke one month before it was completed and went into operation. In the Revelation account the smoke filling the temple must represent something that precedes the completion of the church. In fact, the account says that “no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled” (verse 8).

THE SMOKE REPRESENTS GOD’S JUDGEMENT

Because of the connection that Revelation makes between the plagues and the smoke, the smoke must represent God’s judgment and the resulting time of trouble. In Psalms 97:2,3, David offered a similar analogy between clouds and darkness and the judgments of God. “Clouds and darkness are round about him [God]: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne. A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about.”

Solomon echoed that sentiment when he said, “Jehovah said that he would dwell in the thick darkness” (1 Kings 8:12). Although scriptures indicate that, “God dwells in the light” (1 Timothy 6:16), the sense in which He dwells in thick darkness is that His judgments, which bring trouble upon those being judged, are righteous acts. The seven angels, sent to pour out the plagues upon nominal Christianity, recognize that they are “great and marvelous” works and that God’s ways are “just and true” (verse 3).

Notice too that in Revelation 15 the smoke is said to be “from the glory of God” (verse 8). The true and righteous judgments of God will reveal to the world the glory of His just character. No one will properly question the correct judgment that leads to the destruction of everything that is nominal and false. Though troublous at the time, the result eventually will be beneficial to the world.

Solomon’s Prayer at the Dedication of the Temple (Courtesy La Vista Church of Christ website)

Thus the picture being used in Revelation suggests that the temple class will not be completed until the seven plagues are poured out. In the context following Revelation 15, the completion of the Church Class occurs in Revelation 16:17, after the 7th plague is poured out. “And there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.”

BLESSINGS COME AFTER THE TROUBLE

“So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud” (1 Kings 8:11). In Solomon’s day the temple was filled with smoke so that the priests were unable to do their priestly work. Antitypically, this indicates that no one can come to the temple to receive its blessings until the church is complete. The resurrection of the sleeping saints is not sufficient for Jesus and the church to administer New Covenant blessings to the world. And so, we wait for the time of trouble to accomplish its purpose and for the smoke to clear. Once it does, the priestly class will begin its work of reconciling the world to God.

Living today, as many Bible Students believe, in the time when these 7 plagues are being poured out, we can be encouraged to know that the end of this order is near and the glorious temple will soon begin to function. The plagues, which will bring down the present evil systems, are the just and righteous acts of God. They will soon lead to the healing of the nations (Revelation 22:2), and “the desire of all nations shall come” (Haggai 2:7).

This understanding provides a beneficial perspective in knowing that, in the end, the trouble will be worth the pain, because the righteous judge of heaven is in control and His glory will be revealed.

 

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