Question 1

What is the “temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven”?

Accepted Answer

This phrase points to the true place of God’s presence in heaven, pictured like the Old Testament tabernacle where the ark and mercy seat were kept. There God met with his people, remembered his covenant, and heard prayer. In this vision, that heavenly temple is opened. It shows that God’s coming judgments flow out of his own holy presence, his promises, and his faithfulness to his people. It also hints at the church as God’s spiritual temple, where Christ reigns and where God is present with his people even while they suffer.

Question 2

Who are the seven angels with the seven plagues in this passage?

Accepted Answer

The seven angels are heavenly messengers sent by God to carry out his judgments. They come out of the opened temple, showing they act by God’s order, not on their own. They are dressed in pure, white linen with golden girdles, like priests ready for holy service. This points to the purity and righteousness of the work they are given, even though it is judgment. In a broad sense they also picture God using his servants to bring about his purposes against the powers that oppose Christ and his people.

Question 3

What are the seven golden vials full of the wrath of God?

Accepted Answer

The seven golden vials, or bowls, are a picture of God’s anger being poured out in measured steps. They are given to the angels by one of the four living creatures, which points to a link with the worship and prayers of God’s people. The bowls are full, showing that God’s patience with stubborn evil has reached its limit. The wrath in these bowls is directed against antichristian powers that have opposed Christ, harmed his church, and trampled on his truth. The bowls are poured out in stages, not all at once.

Question 4

Why is the heavenly temple filled with smoke so no one can enter?

Accepted Answer

The smoke filling the temple comes from the glory and power of God. This echoes times when God’s presence filled the tabernacle or temple so strongly that even the priests could not enter. Here, the smoke shows that God himself is acting in holy judgment. No one can enter the temple until the seven plagues are finished, meaning that his work of judgment must run its full course and is beyond human interference. It also hints that, for a time, normal worship and rest for God’s people may be disrupted while this great shaking takes place.

Question 5

What does this vision teach about God’s character and judgment?

Accepted Answer

This vision shows that God’s judgment is holy, measured, and rooted in his promise to his people. The opened temple reminds us that he has not forgotten his covenant or their prayers. The white linen and golden girdles show that his judgments are pure and carried out in righteousness. The full bowls of wrath show he is not indifferent to evil or to the suffering of his church. The smoke of his glory filling the temple shows his greatness and that his ways are beyond us. Judgment is not a loss of control, but God keeping his word.

Question 6

Why could no one enter the temple until the seven plagues were fulfilled?

Accepted Answer

No one entering the temple until the plagues are finished shows that this season of judgment belongs especially to God. It cannot be stopped or shortened by human effort. Some have seen in this picture the blindness of those under judgment, unable to draw near to God. Others see the thought that God’s glory and anger are so strongly displayed that access is, for a time, closed. In any case, it tells us that God’s work must be completed, and only then will a calmer season of worship and gathering follow.

Question 7

How does the clothing of the angels help us understand their role?

Accepted Answer

The angels wear pure, white linen and golden girdles, which is the kind of clothing linked with priests and holiness. White linen points to purity and righteousness, and gold to worth and glory. This shows that the work of judgment they carry out is not dirty or cruel, but clean and just in God’s sight. They are ready and equipped, like servants prepared for a serious task. Their clothing also reminds believers that God’s servants are called to walk in purity and faith, even when he uses hard events to bring down proud and evil powers.

Question 8

What does this passage suggest about the church’s place in God’s plan?

Accepted Answer

The passage hints that the church is closely tied to what happens here. The temple of the testimony points to God’s covenant with his people, and one of the living creatures, often linked with worship and witness, hands the bowls to the angels. This suggests that God’s judgments come in response to the prayers and suffering of his people and in defense of Christ’s honor. It also means the church may feel the shaking of these events, with normal worship disturbed for a time, yet God is using all of it to clear the way for greater freedom to worship him.

Question 9

Why is this passage difficult, and how should we approach it?

Accepted Answer

This passage is difficult because it uses strong pictures of heaven, angels, bowls of wrath, and smoke in the temple. Faithful readers have understood some details in more than one way, especially how exactly the temple and smoke relate to the church and to those under judgment. When reading it, it helps to focus on what is clear: God is holy, he sees the wrong done to his people, he keeps his promises, and his judgments are right. We should approach it with humility, prayer, and trust that God’s purposes are wise and good.

Revelation 15:5

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

Preparation for Judgment

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Revelation 15:5

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

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Preparation for Judgment

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