After the sign of the seven angels was seen (Revelation 15:1), and after John saw the overcomers standing upon the glassy sea before the throne of God (Revelation 15:2, and after John heard them sing the Song of Moses and the Song of the Lamb (Revelation 15:3-4), he looked and saw in heaven that the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony was open (Revelation 15:5). But, what kind of language is “the Temple OF the Tabernacle etc.” To some scholars this doesn’t make sense. Others immediately say it refers to the Holy of Holies, but they don’t bother to explain what “the Temple OF the Tabernacle” means. Still others tell us that probably the Tent of Meeting or the Tabernacle of Witness is in view (Numbers 9:15; 17:7), rather than the Temple at Jerusalem. What can be said of these things?
When considering the meaning of the Temple OF the Tabernacle of the Testimony, what first comes to mind is what we read earlier in the Apocalypse:
And the temple of God was opened in Heaven, and there was seen in His temple the ark of His covenant, and there occurred lightning and voices, and thunders and an earthquake, and a great hail (Revelation 11:19).
In Exodus, chapter 27 we read as follows:
in the tabernacle of the congregation, outside the veil which is before the testimony. Aaron and his sons shall order it from evening to morning before Jehovah. It shall be a statute forever to their generations on behalf of the sons of Israel. (Exodus 27:21)
The Tabernacle of the Congregation is outside the veil, or, in other words, it is the Holy Place where Aaron and his sons performed many of their daily duties. This place is before the “testimony” and outside the veil that separated the two rooms. Could this mean, as some scholars conclude, that the Tabernacle of the Testimony is the Holy of Holies? I don’t think so, because that wouldn’t tell us what the Temple OF that Tabernacle (Holy of Holies) would be. Notice what Stephen told his listeners:
The tabernacle of witness was among our fathers in the wilderness, as commanded by God, speaking to Moses to make it according to the pattern that he had seen. (Acts 7:44)
The text tells us that the Tabernacle of Witness was designed after a pattern Moses was shown upon Mount Sinai, where he met with God. Moses was told there that he would build an ark, and the Lord would have him place the testimony he would give him into the Ark (Exodus 25:10, 15), and then place the Ark inside the Tabernacle (Exodus 40:20-21). What was the testimony that Moses placed inside the Ark? The Ark of the Testimony held the Tables of the Covenant, which were written by the hand of God, Aaron’s rod that budded and bore almonds, and a golden cup of manna (Hebrews 9:4; cf. Deuteronomy 10:2-5; Numbers 17:6, 10; Exodus 16:33).
The witness in reality is the witness of God’s presence among his people. There was no law in the ANE culture like the Law God gave to Israel. It exceedingly surpassed all others in terms of righteousness and fairness. Moreover, who but God could make a dead rod like Aaron’s bud again, bringing forth both flowers and almonds? Who but God could cause it to rain food in the desert, not once but daily—except for the seventh day, the Sabbath. For forty years it rained food in the desert for six days each week, then, just as it had suddenly begun, it stopped the next day after the children of Israel ate the fruit of the land, which would soon become their own (Joshua 5:10-12). The Ark of the Covenant was placed beyond the veil and inside the Holy of Holies, so the Holy of Holies was the Temple of the Tabernacle (Ark) of the Testimony to the presence of God!
Yet, notice one more thing. Stephen said that Moses merely built a pattern of the reality that he had seen, while he was with God on the Mount (Acts 7:44). So, the literal Ark of the Testimony, which held the Ten Commandments, Aaron’s rod and a cup of manna, was not what John saw when he looked into heaven in Revelation 15:5. Moses placed the shadows (Colossians 2:17) inside an ark of wood that he had made (Deuteronomy 10:1-3). The Reality is Jesus. He is the Ark of the Testimony, He, being God, was made flesh (John 1:1, 14) and brought the testimony of God to men (John 5:30-32, 36). He lived among us (John 1:14-18) and taught us the way of righteousness, giving us an example that we should follow (1Peter 2:21).
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One response to “The Temple OF the Tabernacle of Witness”
Hi Eddie,
You’ve got some excellent points here, especially about the “shadows” of this ark of testimony being on earth, but with Jesus being the REALITY of the Ark of Testimony in heaven. A TESTIMONY is a WITNESS, yes? And John in Revelation 1:5 pronounced grace and peace upon the seven churches from the seven Spirits that are before the throne (the “seven EYES” of the Lamb – Rev. 5:6), and from “Jesus Christ who is THE FAITHFUL WITNESS”.
There is nothing new about this idea, since long ago Job 16:19 told us “…Behold, MY WITNESS is in heaven, and my record is on high (or “in the high places”).” The eyes of the Lord have always been opened “upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.” (Ps. 34:15).
Under the New Covenant in Christ’s blood, that “testimony” or “witness” became our faithful high priest advocate on the mercy seat throne in heaven – a continuous human / divine representative for the saints; the one who offered the testimony of His blood on their behalf.
I think it is extremely important as to just WHEN that Temple in heaven was first opened for mankind to enter into it – that is, when the 7 plagues of the AD 70 era were fulfilled (Rev. 15:8), as well as being the time when the dead were judged and rewarded (Rev. 11:19). This was the time when access was granted for the BODILY-RESURRECTED SAINTS to enter heaven’s Temple, directly into the presence of Jesus, that Ark of the Testimony.