Paragraph 15:5–8

15:5a

After this I looked: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as this is literally “these (things).” It refers to what John had already seen. This clause introduces a new scene in heaven. For example:

After ⌊I saw⌋ those things I looked ⌊again⌋

15:5b

and the temple—the tabernacle of the Testimony—was opened in heaven:
The Greek words are literally “the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony was opened.” There are three ways to interpret the connection between temple and tabernacle :

(1) The phrase the tabernacle of the Testimony explains the word temple. For example:

the temple (the tent of the testimony) was opened (NET Bible)

(2) The temple is a part of the tabernacle of the Testimony. For example:

the sanctuary of the tent of witness in heaven was opened (English Standard Version)

(3) The tabernacle of the Testimony is inside the temple. For example:

the temple…open, with the Sacred Tent in it (Good News Translation)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because the temple had the same function as the tabernacle of the Testimony. The ark (chest or box) of the covenant was kept in the tabernacle and then later in the temple. Jews worshiped God first at the tabernacle and then later at the temple.

the temple…was opened: This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active or intransitive clause. For example:

⌊God⌋ commanded the temple to open ⌊and it did⌋
-or-

⌊God⌋ caused the temple to open
-or-

⌊someone⌋ opened…the temple ⌊on God’s behalf⌋
-or-
the temple…became open

temple: The word temple refers to a building where God, or another deity, is believed to be present in a special way. People worship there. See how you translated this word in 3:12 or 14:15.

the tabernacle of the Testimony: This phrase refers to the tent in which the Jews first worshiped God. They called it the tabernacle of the Testimony because it contained the box called “the ark of the covenant.” The ark held the tablets on which God had written the ten commandments. These commandments were called “the Testimony” (Exodus 34:29). The tent and the ark reminded the Jews that God had made a covenant with them. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

the tent of witness (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
the tent that witnesses/testifies to God
-or-
the worship tent that shows that God is with us
-or-
the worship tent that is a reminder of what God has revealed

tabernacle: This means “tent” here. It refers to a special tent where the Israelites worshiped God before the temple was built.

Testimony: The Greek word refers to something that is used as a reminder of something else. God made a covenant with the Israelites. He wrote the ten most important commands of that covenant on two tablets of stone. Those tablets were later called the Testimony. They were put in a box called “the ark of the covenant.” God also told the Jews to make this special tent in which they would worship him. The tent where the box was kept was also called the tent (or tabernacle) of the Testimony. All these things reminded the Israelites about God’s covenant with them. See the examples above.

in heaven: Here the word heaven refers to the place where God lives.

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