Revelation 15:5; The Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony in Heaven was Opened

Revelation 15:5-7 And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:

The opening clause, which also occurs in Revelation 4:1; 7:1, 9; 18:1, communicates that John’s attention shifts from the vision of the saints at the sea of glass to a vision of what is about to take place in heaven.

Revelation 4:1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard wasa s it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. 

Revelation 7:1 And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. 

Revelation 7:9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; 

Revelation 18:1 And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. 

After the interlude of verses 2–4, John now continues the message of verse 1 regarding the seven angels with the seven plagues.

The scene is in heaven where John sees the open temple that gives him a view of the Holy of Holies. When Jesus died on Calvary’s cross, the curtain separating the Holy Place from the inner sanctuary was split from top to bottom. God caused the tear to take place to indicate that Jesus’ sacrifice had paid for the sins of his people; no substitution of animal blood was needed anymore to sprinkle the ark of the covenant. Hence the inner sanctuary was open to the view of all those who entered the temple.

The term temple in the phrase “the temple of the tabernacle of testimony” signifies the inner sanctuary of the tabernacle itself. In Moses’ writings the tabernacle and the tent of testimony are one and the same structure (Exodus 40:34–35; Acts 7:44).

Exodus 40:34-35 Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. 

Acts 7:44 Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking unto Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen. 

John calls this structure “the tabernacle of testimony” and not “the tent of meeting.” The expression testimony refers to the ark of the covenant that was placed in the Holy of Holies; the ark contained the two tablets of stone on which the Ten Commandments were inscribed (Revelation 11:19).

Revelation 11:19 And 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. 

In short, this expression alludes to the Ten Commandments, which were the basic condition of the covenant God made with His people at Mount Sinai (Exodus 25:16; 40:20).

Exodus 25:16 And thou shalt put into the ark the testimony which I shall give thee. 

Exodus 40:20 And he took and put the testimony into the ark, and set the staves on the ark, and put the mercy seat above upon the ark: 

These two slabs of stone were called “the two tablets of the Testimony” (Exod. 31:18).

Exodus 31:18 And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God. 

The Ten Commandments are a witness to the people’s transgressions that would call forth God’s judgment and condemnation. Hence from the very presence of God and from the testimony of these laws divine judgment flows forth. Passing judgment, God executes justice and righteousness on the basis of his law.

And as a consequence seven angels are empowered to pour out the seven plagues on the followers of the Antichrist.

 Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Book of Revelation (Vol. 20, pp. 431–432). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.