What does Revelation 15:8 mean when it says "no man was able to enter into the temple till the seven plagues ... were fulfilled"?
Rev 15:1 And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.
Rev 15:5 And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:
Rev 15:8 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.
These "seven last plagues" (also called the vial judgments) would appear to be the completion of judgment day judgments based on Rev 15:1. Mr. Camping teaches that these judgments start on May 21, 2011 and culminate on Oct 21, 2011. He also teaches that before these judgments begin, all believers will have been raptured to be with Christ.
My question has to do with verse 8, that "no man was able to enter into the temple until the seven plagues ... were fulfilled". Notice in verse 5 that this temple (of the tabernacle of the testimony) is located "in heaven". My question is, what is this temple that "no man" (including believers) is able to enter until the seven plagues of judgment are fulfilled (completed, finished)?
To answer this, one must determine what "the temple" refers to. If it refers to Christ, then it would seem to say that believers cannot be with Christ in heaven until the judgment is complete. This would at first seem to preclude believers from being raptured prior to the last day (i.e., judgment day) and being with Christ in heaven. However, it is not clear that believers go immediately to heaven following the rapture, but instead, they may be with Christ as He judges the earth. And, perhaps it is only after this judgment is complete that believers go with Christ to heaven.
If on the other hand "the temple" refers to heaven itself, the same case could be made as above, that while Christ is judging the earth, believers are with him, and thus, not yet able to enter in heaven. One last possibility (that I can think of) is "the temple" might refer to the new heavens and new earth, which won't be created until after the first heavens and first earth pass away.
Rev 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
In this view, it would be quite logical, given Revelation 21:1, that believers could not enter "the temple" until after the judgment, which includes the destruction of the first heaven and first earth, is complete.
Conclusion:
Revelation 15 does not appear to contradict the teaching that believers are raptured to be with Christ prior to the last day, even 5 months earlier, as it might at first seem to indicate.