In the previous issue of Piecing Together Bible Prophecy, we took the Bible and measured the true sanctuary, discovering that “the temple of God” being referred to in Revelation 11:1-2 is the church, not some future rebuilt Jewish temple, as is popularly believed. How can a rebuilt Jewish temple serve as the house of God in the last days if it will be built in absolute rejection of God’s Son, the Savior of the world, the Lord Jesus Christ? In this issue, we will take the Bible and measure true salvation, discovering that “the altar” being referred to in Revelation 11:1 is symbolic of the salvation wrought by God for the whole world in Christ.

We must remember that the Book of Revelation introduces itself as a book of signs and symbols. In its opening verse, it explains that it was “signified,” which means communicated by signs and symbols, to God’s servant John by an angel of God (Revelation 1:1).  Therefore, all who insist upon a literal rather than figurative interpretation of the Book of Revelation ignore the fact that the book begins by describing itself as a book of signs and symbols. 

The altar being referred to in Revelation 11:1 cannot possibly be an altar built to offer sacrifices on in some future rebuilt Jewish temple, since Christ came into the world “to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself” (Hebrews 9:26). According to the author of Hebrews, Christ has “offered one sacrifice for sins for ever” (Hebrews 10:12). As a result, “there remains no more sacrifice for sins” (Hebrews 10:26). The altar being referred to in Revelation 11:1 is obviously symbolic of the sacrifice of Christ offered on the cross of Calvary for the salvation of the world.

Jesus once said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). His apostles preached, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). The Bible clearly teaches that Christ alone is the Savior of the world and the world’s only hope of salvation. Apart from Christ, “there is no Savior” (Isaiah 43:11; Hosea 13:4).

The Bible instructs us to “call upon the name of the Lord” for salvation (Romans 10:13). Have you ever wondered why we are not instructed to simply call upon the Lord? Why are we to specifically call upon the name of the Lord rather than just upon the Lord Himself?

The Lord’s name is Jesus—the “name which is above every name” (Philippians 2:9-11). According to the  Apostle Paul, the name Jesus will ultimately be universally bowed to and confessed by “things in heaven,  and things on earth, and things under the earth.” The only question is: “When will you bow to Jesus Christ and confess Him as Lord?” You can freely do so now for salvation or wait till later when you are forced to do so in condemnation. The choice is yours.

The name “Jesus” means “the salvation of Jehovah.” The  salvation of God is found only in Him. There is therefore no other name that can save us. “Allah” won’t do, neither will “Mohammed,” “Buddha,” “Brahma,” or “Krishna.” Only Jesus can save us from our sins!

To be truly saved we must trust Christ and Christ alone for salvation. We must give up any notion of being saved  by our own works and believe that Christ’s atoning work on our behalf is sufficient in and of itself for our salvation.

True salvation is only had by those who believe that all  faiths apart from the Christian faith are spiritual dead-ends, leading only to destruction (Proverbs 14:12). No matter how sincere their adherents, false religions can no more save us from our sins than a sincere belief that strychnine is milk can save us if we drink it. There is simply no way that a false faith can lead anybody to the one and only true God. 

It is only by calling upon the name of the Lord and believing that Jesus alone is the salvation of Jehovah that we can be saved from our sin. Anyone who believes that salvation is available apart from faith in Christ cannot possibly be a Christian, since such a belief belies one’s believing in and calling upon the name of the Lord.

With the Word of God in our hand, we can accurately measure true salvation. It is found in Christ alone. It is received by faith alone. And it is made possible by grace alone (Ephesians 2:8-9). Any other “altar” fails to meet God’s specifications. All man-made ways to God come up miserably short, none measure up to the divine standard.

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