1. This is the innermost part of the temple – the dwelling place of God.
2. “And the temple was filled with smoke” – In the past God has manifested His presence in the temple in a cloud. Moses could not enter the tabemacle because of the cloud – Exodus 40:34-35. The priests, when Solomon’s Temple was dedicated, could not minister because of the cloud. Now, with the divine wrath ready to be poured out, the Temple was filled with smoke and no one could enter until the plagues were ended.
The picture here is this:
(1) The righteous and holy God in His Temple.
(2) God sends His angels out with the fullness of His wrath to pour it out on the inhabitants of the earth.
(3) No one allowed to enter the Temple (access to God) to plead for mercy until the wrath of God is all spent.
(4) When God moves in wrath and judgment the door of mercy is closed. What a warning this should be to all of those who are putting off the matter of their salvation until a later time. Remember the “Foolish virgins” who came up late “And the door was shut.” Yes, the day is coming when the door to the mercy of God will be shut forever for those who reject His Son, Jesus Christ.