Revelation 15:1-8

Today's reading was Revelation 15:1-8

I was struck by 15:8a - where it reads: "And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power..."

The Temple being filled with smoke signified God's glory and power. Now in light of that let's check these citations.

"At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke." Isaiah 6:4.

'On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled. 17 Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. 18 Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the LORD descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, and the whole mountain[a] trembled violently." Exodus 19:16-18.

"Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. ³⁵ Moses could not enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle." Exodus 40:34-35.

When the priests withdrew from the Holy Place, the cloud filled the temple of the LORD. 11 And the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled his temple.

12 Then Solomon said, “The LORD has said that he would dwell in a dark cloud; 13 I have indeed built a magnificent temple for you, a place for you to dwell forever.” Exodus 8:10-13

The smoke that filled the temple refers to the shekina cloud first associated with the tabernacle and then the temple. It symbolizes God's speicial presence and that he is the sourse of the judgments (Ex. 40:34ff)