The Abomination of Desolation - St. Marys Coptic Orthodox Church

140 HIS END
these, the third segment of the telescope opens for us to reveal:
THE SEVEN BOWLS:
Although the last and final set of plagues is mentioned in chapters
15 and 16, yet chronologically it follows the destruction of Babylon,
which is detailed in chapters 17 and 18.
And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle
of the testimony in heaven was opened: And the seven angels came
out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and
white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles. And
one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials
full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever. And the
temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his
power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven
plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled. (Rev 15:5-8)
St. John tells us that he saw the temple of the tabernacle of the
testimony in heaven, so what does that mean? You see, when God
ordered Moses to make the tabernacle of the Testimony, He showed
him a heavenly tabernacle and told him to make the earthly tabernacle
after the pattern of the heavenly tabernacle as we are told in Exodus:
And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.
According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle,
and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make
it. (Exod 25:8-9)
St. Paul also emphasizes this in Hebrews 9:19-23:
Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the
vessels of the ministry. And almost all things are by the law purged
with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. It was
therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should
be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with
better sacrifices than these.
St. Paul calls the earthly tabernacle as “the patterns of the things in
heaven.” And, in Hebrews 8:4-5, this is emphasized again: