After this I looked, and the temple—the tabernacle of the Testimony—was opened in heaven.
Parallel translations
- WEB After these things I looked, and the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened.
- KJV And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:
- NKJV After these things I looked, and behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened.
- NASB After these things I looked, and the temple of the tabernacle of testimony in heaven was opened,
- NLT Then I looked and saw that the Temple in heaven, God’s Tabernacle, was thrown wide open.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The heavenly temple of the testimony is opened. Judgment proceeds from God's holy presence and faithfulness to his covenant.
Overview
John sees the opening of 'the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony,' recalling the tabernacle housing the ark and the covenant law. From this sanctuary the agents of judgment emerge, showing that the coming wrath flows from God's holiness and covenant righteousness. Judgment is no arbitrary act but rooted in God's just and faithful character.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Rev 11:19Then the temple of God in heaven was opened, and the ark of His covenant appeared in His temple. And there were flashes of lightning, and rumblings, and peals of thunder, and an earthquake, and a great hailstorm.
- Num 1:50Instead, you are to appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of the Testimony, all its furnishings, and everything in it. They shall carry the tabernacle and all its articles, care for it, and camp around it.
- Matt 27:51At that moment the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth quaked and the rocks were split.
- Num 1:53But the Levites are to camp around the tabernacle of the Testimony and watch over it, so that no wrath will fall on the congregation of Israel. So the Levites are responsible for the tabernacle of the Testimony.”
- Exod 38:21This is the inventory for the tabernacle, the tabernacle of the Testimony, as recorded at Moses’ command by the Levites under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.
- Exod 25:21Set the mercy seat atop the ark, and put the Testimony that I will give you into the ark.
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Christ at the center
Revelation ends the story with the slain-yet-standing Lamb who is worthy, the Lion of Judah, the Alpha and Omega, the returning King who makes all things new and dwells with his people forever.
How Revelation 15:5 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.