And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:
Parallel translations
- WEB After these things I looked, and the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened.
- BSB After this I looked, and the temple—the tabernacle of the Testimony—was opened in heaven.
- 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 11:19And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.
- Num 1:50But thou shalt appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of testimony, and over all the vessels thereof, and over all things that belong to it: they shall bear the tabernacle, and all the vessels thereof; and they shall minister unto it, and shall encamp round about the tabernacle.
- Matt 27:51And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
- Num 1:53But the Levites shall pitch round about the tabernacle of testimony, that there be no wrath upon the congregation of the children of Israel: and the Levites shall keep the charge of the tabernacle of testimony.
- Exod 38:21This is the sum of the tabernacle, even of the tabernacle of testimony, as it was counted, according to the commandment of Moses, for the service of the Levites, by the hand of Ithamar, son to Aaron the priest.
- Exod 25:21And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee.
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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
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