The Altar in Heaven

The Altar in Heaven

The word “altar” appears in the Old Testament 402 times. (מִזְבֵּחַ, mizbeaḥ)

A quick list of a few Altar Builders in the Bible:

• Noah built an altar after flood. (Gen. 8:20-21)
• Abraham. (Gen. 12:7, Genesis 12:8, Genesis 13:4, Genesis 13:18, Genesis 22:9)
• Isaac. (Genesis 33:20) Interesting, I don’t see many references to Isaac being an altar builder. I wonder if there was an aversion to altar building, since the last time an altar was built (Genesis 22) he was on it as the sacrifice!
• Jacob. (Genesis 35:1-7)
• Moses. (Exodus 17:15)
• The tabernacle had an altar. (Of incense inside the tabernacle and of slaughter outside the tabernacle.) Blood was drained under the altar of sacrifice. (Leviticus 4:18)
• Joshua built an altar to the Lord on Mt. Ebal. (Joshua 8:30-31)
• Gideon built an altar to the Lord and tore down the altar to Baal. (Judges 6:24-32)
• David was an Altar builder. (So was Saul, 1 Sam. 14:35)
• Elijah repaired the altar of the Lord on Mount Carmel. (1 Kings 18:32)
• Ezra restored the altar after the exile. (Ezra 3:2-3)

In Revelation 6, there is an Altar

• Revelation 6:9-11
• Is this the Altar of incense or the altar of sacrifice? In heaven, both altars are present in the throne room.
• “The altar is mentioned in 8:3, 5; 9:13; 11:1; 14:18; and 16:7. In 8:3, 5, the altar stands before the throne and appears to be the altar of incense representing the prayers of the saints. In 11:1, the altar appears to be the altar of sacrifice which stood in the court of the priests… In the present instance, the altar is clearly the altar of sacrifice where sacrificial blood was poured.” (George Eldon Ladd. A Commentary on the Revelation)
• Revelation 6:10, “those who dwell on the earth.” The lost are called “earth dwellers” in Revelation because they are committed to the systems of this earth. The saved are “heaven dwellers” (Revelation 12:2) because they are committed to the kingdom of heaven.

Notice: There was no sacrifice on the Altar: (6:9)

• If an altar is a place of sacrifice, why is there no sacrifice on the altar?
• But also notice, there is no cross in heaven. The central symbol of Christianity from the earliest days is missing in heaven.
• In heaven, Jesus’ death is not symbolized by a cross, but by the Sacrificial Altar.

Great TRUTHS about Jesus:

1. Jesus did what

2. Jesus work was

• Expiation: Removed sin. Expunged/erased.
• Propitiation: Turning away wrath by offering.
• Reconciliation: Restoration of friendship and fellowship.

That can only be accomplished by the shed blood of Jesus.

The saints are under the altar. (Revelation 6:9) I think this is important symbolism, since Leviticus 4:18 and other verses make clear that blood was drained at the bottom of the altar. Many commentators see this as the saints standing in their own blood; ie, they have given their blood for the cause of Jesus. But I think quite the opposite! An empty altar… saints standing where the blood would be… I think is clearly a symbol of Jesus’ death and his blood. The saints stand there because they have taken refuge not in their own works or sacrifice, but in the blood of Jesus.

As the song says:

1 What can wash away my sin?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

What can make me whole again?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Chorus:

O precious is the flow

that makes me white as snow;

no other fount I know;

nothing but the blood of Jesus.

2 For my pardon this I see:

nothing but the blood of Jesus.

For my cleansing this my plea:

nothing but the blood of Jesus.

3 Nothing can for sin atone:

nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Naught of good that I have done:

nothing but the blood of Jesus.

4 This is all my hope and peace:

nothing but the blood of Jesus.

This is all my righteousness:

nothing but the blood of Jesus.

3. Jesus set us free from

• Revelation 6:9, he saw the dead already in heaven.
• Hebrews 2:15, Jesus came to free those who all their lives were held in slavery by the fear of death.

Answers some questions:

• They have visible yet spiritual bodies. He could “see” their “souls.” You can’t see souls in earth, because the soul is housed in the physical body. In heaven we have a spiritual body. (1 Cor. 5)
• The saints still have memories of things that happened on earth. Notice, they even remember the bad things that happened! They ask God to “avenge” their blood” (Revelation 6:10.)
• The saints have some view of what is happening on earth. They are aware that evil continue, and that God has not yet brought his final vengeance on the earth. (Revelation 6:10)
• Also notice that these saints in heaven experience time. In Revelation 6:11 they are told to “wait a little longer.” And their waiting is tied to the timeline on earth.

4. Jesus can

• Revelation 6:10
• They affirm four great truths of God: He is Sovereign, he is holy, he is true and he is judge.

OUR RESPONSE: I will Never Forget.