Revelation 15 · Verse 5

Revelation 15:5

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

Revelation 15:5, King James Version

Revelation 15:5 in other translations

BSB	After this I looked, and the temple—the tabernacle of the Testimony—was opened in heaven.
WEB	After these things I looked, and the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened.
ASV	And after these things I saw, and the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:
YLT	And after these things I saw, and lo, opened was the sanctuary of the tabernacle of the testimony in the heaven;
DARBY	And after these things I saw, and the temple of the tabernacle of witness in the heaven was opened;
BBE	And after these things I saw, and the house of the Tent of witness in heaven was open:
Webster	And after that I looked, and behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:

What does Revelation 15:5 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

5. So Re 11:19; compare Re 16:17. "The tabernacle of the testimony" appropriately here comes to view, where God's faithfulness in avenging His people with judgments on their foes is about to be set forth. We need to get a glimpse within the Holy place to "understand" the secret spring and the end of God's righteous dealings. behold--omitted by A, B, C, Syriac, and Andreas. It is supported only by Vulgate, Coptic, and Primasius, but no manuscript.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 5. And after that I looked. After I had seen in vision the redeemed thus referred to, celebrating the praises of God, I saw the preparation made for the execution of these purposes of judgment.

And, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony. Not the whole temple, but only that part to which this name was given, The word tabernacle--σκηνη--means properly a booth, hut, tent, and was the name commonly given to the tent or tabernacle that was erected in the wilderness for the service of God. Acts 7:44. The same word came naturally to be applied to the temple that was reared for the same purpose in Jerusalem. It is called the "tabernacle of testimony," because it was a testimony or witness of the presence of God among the people--that is, it served to keep up the remembrance of him. Acts 7:44, where the same Greek phrase is used as here-rendered there "tabernacle of witness." The word temple here--ναος--does not refer to the whole of the building called the "temple," but to the holy of holies. Heb 9:3. This was regarded as the peculiar dwelling-place of God; and it was this sacred place, usually closed from all access, that now seemed to be opened, implying that the command to execute these purposes came directly from God himself.

In heaven. That is, that part of heaven which corresponds to the most holy place in the temple was opened; to wit, that which is the peculiar residence of God himself.

Was opened. Was thrown open to the view of John, so that he was permitted to look, as it were, upon the very dwelling-place of God. From his holy presence now came forth the angels to execute his purposes of judgment on that Antichristian power which had so long corrupted religion and oppressed the world.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 5 The temple of the tabernacle of the testimony - The temple which succeeded the tabernacle, in which was the testimony, viz., the two tables, Aaron's rod, pot of manna, holy anointing oil, etc. All bearing testimony to the truth of God and his miraculous interposition in their behalf.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Revelation 15:5-8

In the judgments God executes upon antichrist and his followers, he fulfils the prophecies and promises of his word. These angels are prepared for their work, clothed with pure and white linen, their breasts girded with golden girdles, representing the holiness, and righteousness, and excellence of these dealings with men. They are ministers of Divine justice, and do every thing in a pure and holy manner. They were armed with the wrath of God against his enemies. Even the meanest creature, when armed with the anger of God, will be too hard for any man in the world. The angels received the vials from one of the four living creatures, one of the ministers of the true church, as in answer to the prayers of the ministers and people of God. Antichrist could not be destroyed without a great shock to all the world, and even the people of God would be in trouble and confusion while the great work was doing. The greatest deliverances of the church are brought about by awful and astonishing steps of Providence; and the happy state of the true church will not begin till obstinate enemies shall be destroyed, and lukewarm or formal Christians are purified. Then, whatever is against Scripture being purged away, the whole church shall be spiritual, and the whole being brought to purity, unity, and spirituality, shall be firmly established.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Revelation 15:5 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ΚαὶKaiAndG2532

μετὰmetaafterG3326

ταῦταtautathese thingsG3778

εἶδονeidonI lookedG1492

καὶkaiandG2532

ἰδούidoubeholdG2400

ἠνοίγηēnoigēwas openedG455

ὁhotheG3588

ναὸςnaostempleG3485

τῆςtēsof theG3588

σκηνῆςskēnēstabernacleG4633

τοῦtouof theG3588

μαρτυρίουmarturioutestimonyG3142

ἐνeninG1722

τῷtō<the>G3588

οὐρανῷ.ouranōheaven.G3772

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Revelation 15:5

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.
Numbers 1:50
But 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.
Matthew 27:51
And, 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;
Exodus 38:21
This 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.
Numbers 1:53
But 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.
Exodus 25:21
And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

11:19; Ex 25:21; Nu 1:50,53; Mt 27:51

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Revelation 15:4
Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.
Revelation 15:5
And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:
Revelation 15:6
And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles.

Read all of Revelation 15

Revelation 15:5 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Y después de estas cosas miré, y he aquí el templo del tabernáculo del testimonio fué abierto en el cielo;
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Et après ces choses je vis: et le temple du tabernacle du témoignage dans le ciel fut ouvert.
German Elberfelder 1871	Und nach diesem sah ich: und der Tempel der Hütte des Zeugnisses in dem Himmel wurde geöffnet.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Et post hæc vidi: et ecce apertum est templum tabernaculi testimonii in cælo,