Revelation 15 5

Revelation 15:5 kjv

And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:

Revelation 15:5 nkjv

After these things I looked, and behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened.

Revelation 15:5 niv

After this I looked, and I saw in heaven the temple?that is, the tabernacle of the covenant law?and it was opened.

Revelation 15:5 esv

After this I looked, and the sanctuary of the tent of witness in heaven was opened,

Revelation 15:5 nlt

Then I looked and saw that the Temple in heaven, God's Tabernacle, was thrown wide open.

Revelation 15 verses

Revelation 15 5 Meaning

This verse shifts John's vision to the dramatic scene preceding God's final judgments. It reveals the solemn opening of the heavenly sanctuary, which is described as the "temple of the tabernacle of the testimony." This opening signifies that the impending judgments, soon to be poured out by the seven angels, proceed directly from God's holy presence and are in full alignment with His righteous character and unchangeable covenant. It underscores the divine origin and justice of God's final wrath upon an unrepentant world.

Revelation 15 5 Context

Revelation chapter 15 sets the stage for the seven final plagues, described as "the bowls of God's wrath" in chapter 16. Prior to this, Revelation 14 concluded with the ominous vision of the earth's harvest, specifically the winepress of God's wrath. Chapter 15 itself opens by introducing the seven angels carrying these plagues, and a triumphant scene of those who have overcome the beast. Verse 5 directly precedes the angels receiving the bowls of wrath. The opening of the heavenly "temple of the tabernacle of the testimony" therefore signals the immediate commencement of God's final, just judgments, stemming from His holy and covenantal presence in heaven. Historically, the imagery draws heavily from Old Testament patterns of the Mosaic tabernacle and Jerusalem temple, portraying a divine reality from which all earthly types are derived, and from which God's sovereign purposes unfold.

Revelation 15 5 Word analysis

• "After these things" (Μετὰ ταῦτα, Meta tauta):
  • A common transitional phrase in Revelation, marking a sequential shift in John's vision and prophetic narrative. It introduces the next phase of divine revelation.
• "I looked" (εἶδον, eidon):
  • Emphasizes John's role as a visionary prophet, directly witnessing the heavenly events revealed to him by divine will.
• "and the temple" (τὸν ναὸν, ton naon):
  • Specifically refers to the inner sanctuary or Holy of Holies within a sacred structure, the dwelling place of God's presence, rather than the broader temple precinct (ἱερόν, hieron). It denotes a space of profound holiness and immediate divine accessibility.
• "of the tabernacle" (τῆς σκηνῆς, tēs skēnēs):
  • Evokes the portable Tent of Meeting from the Old Testament, the earthly dwelling place where God communed with Israel during their wilderness journey. This term reinforces the theme of God's intimate presence among His people, though now it refers to its heavenly archetype.
• "of the testimony" (τοῦ μαρτυρίου, tou martyriou):
  • A direct reference to the "tablets of the testimony" (the Ten Commandments) kept within the Ark of the Covenant, located in the Most Holy Place of the earthly tabernacle/temple. This signifies God's divine law, His covenant witness against human rebellion, and the unchangeable basis for His righteous judgment.
• "in heaven" (ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ, en tō ouranō):
  • Clearly situates this temple, tabernacle, and testimony in the spiritual, transcendent realm. This heavenly reality is the perfect original from which the earthly counterparts were copied, emphasizing the ultimate divine origin and authority of the ensuing judgments.
• "was opened" (ἠνεῴχθη, ēneōichthē):
  • An aorist passive verb, indicating a completed action initiated by a divine, unnamed agent. The opening signifies a divinely orchestrated unveiling or granting of access into God's holy presence and the revelation of His sovereign plan, especially concerning judgment. It permits the exit of the angels with the bowls.

Words-group analysis:

• "the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony": This full compound phrase underscores the profound theological continuity between the Old and New Testaments. It links God's impending judgments directly to His covenant relationship, His eternal law (the testimony), and His holy dwelling (the tabernacle and temple). By explicitly referencing the "testimony," the text grounds the terrifying judgments in divine righteousness and the consistent character of God who responds to a broken covenant and violated law. It signals that what is about to occur flows directly from the ultimate divine sanctuary and carries its full, unimpeachable authority.

Revelation 15 5 Bonus section

• Polemics and Divine Authority: In a world where pagan temples claimed localized divine power and served as centers of rival cults, particularly the Roman imperial cult, Revelation 15:5 boldly declares that the true, authoritative temple resides in heaven. This heavenly temple is the singular source of ultimate power, judgment, and revelation, unequivocally demonstrating God's supreme sovereignty over all earthly powers and false deities. The emphasis on "testimony" further contrasts the living, divine revelation of God's law with the dead pronouncements of idols.
• Assurance for Believers: For the original Christian audience enduring severe persecution, this vision offers immense comfort. It affirms that the chaos and suffering on earth are not without divine oversight. God sees, God knows, and His judgment will ultimately prevail. The unveiling of His heavenly sanctuary signals that He is actively engaged, and His righteousness will bring ultimate vindication for His suffering people, as His justice flows forth from His holy dwelling.
• Symbolic Preparation for Judgment: The opening of the temple in Revelation often precedes significant divine action. Here, it functions as the definitive prelude to the outpouring of final judgment. It symbolizes that God's hidden plans and His righteous indignation are now fully revealed and set into motion, giving way to the unhindered execution of His decrees.

Revelation 15 5 Commentary

Revelation 15:5 functions as a momentous declaration, drawing back the veil to reveal the immediate source of God's ultimate wrath. The imagery of "the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven" is deeply rooted in Old Testament sacred space and theology, recalling the Mosaic Tabernacle and its ultimate fulfillment in a heavenly archetype. The naos (inner sanctuary) signifies God's intimate and holy presence, while the skēnē (tabernacle) underscores His dwelling place among His people, and the martyriou (testimony) refers specifically to the Ark of the Covenant, containing God's law. This signifies that the forthcoming bowls of wrath are not capricious or arbitrary acts, but the righteous, measured outpouring of God's holiness against a world that has persistently rejected His truth and violated His immutable laws. The fact that it "was opened" by a divine, passive action emphasizes God's sovereign initiation of these judgments, allowing the seven angels to emerge and execute His decree. This provides profound theological justification for the severity of the coming plagues, assuring readers that these final acts of wrath are entirely just and originate from the very core of God's holy, righteous being.