The book of Revelation is filled with images of the sanctuary, which includes the temple and its furnishings. The book points to the real sanctuary in heaven from which the meaning and function of the earthly sanctuary are modeled. In the Old Testament, the primary function of the sanctuary is expressed with the twofold meaning of the Hebrew word hêkãl as a “palace” (where God dwells and reigns) and a “temple” (the place of the heavenly worship). The heavenly sanctuary in the Bible also functions as the heavenly judgment hall that dealt with the matters of the universe (cf. Job 1–2).
The heavenly temple has two other temporary functions, which originated in the history of the plan of salvation. First, it is the place where the salvation of human beings is taking place. Second, it is the cosmic headquarters of the Great Controversy, where God devices the plans and strategies for solving the problem of sin. This last one is particularly observable in the book.
The key theological features are the sanctuary motifs that are intricately interwoven throughout the book’s literary structure. They are particularly essential in understanding the book’s central theological theme. Each of the seven major parts of the book is introduced with a sanctuary scene:
(1) Revelation 1:12-20 – The first vision of Revelation gives an image of Christ as a High Priest walking among the seven lampstands, which represents the seven churches in Asia. This scene is set on earth and not in heaven; the sanctuary imagery illustrates Jesus’ activities on behalf of the seven churches.
(2) Revelation 4–5 – This vision shifts from earth to heaven (Rev. 4:1), specifically in the throne room of the heavenly temple. More allusions to the sanctuary and its furnishings are given in these two chapters than anywhere else in the book—twenty-four elders of the priestly orders, seven lamps of fire, worship, the sea of glass, bowls with incense, the slain Lamb, and the blood. This scene portrays Christ being inaugurated into the heavenly ministry on behalf of human beings following His ascension to heaven.
(3) Revelation 8:3-5 – These verses portray another scene with the sanctuary setting and depicts the altar of sacrifices, the incense, the golden altar, intercession, and the censer. Before God in the Holy Place of the heavenly temple, an angel offers incense mingled with the prayers of God’s people on the altar of incense. A judgment is hurled upon rebellious humanity. Such a scene displays Christ doing His intercessory work in the heavenly sanctuary.
(4). Revelation 11:19 – The vision focuses on the opening of the Holy of Holies (Gr. naos) of the heavenly temple. The Ark of the Covenant appears as well. The first half of the book sets the context of Christ’s ministry in the Holy Place. The second half of the book, particularly in Revelation 11:19, points to Christ’s ministry in the heavenly sanctuary—the beginning of a new phase—in connection with the pre-advent judgment taking place in heaven (Rev. 14:7). Its purpose is to establish who is on the Lord’s side and who is not.
(5) Revelation 15:5-8 – After the conclusion of the gospel is proclaimed (Rev. 14:6-20), the smoke of God’s glory fills the heavenly temple. Nobody is allowed to enter (Rev. 15:8). This description from the Old Testament denotes that there are no more priestly activities taking place in the temple (1 Kings 8:10-11). Christ has concluded His ministry in the heavenly sanctuary. The intercession has ended, and every person’s destiny has been decided.
(6) Revelation 19:1-10 – The throne room of the heavenly temple is described as a scene of worship. There are no more sanctuary images and furnishings. The heavenly temple no longer functions as the place of intercession on behalf of human beings because Christ’s ministry has already ended.
(7) Revelation 21:2-8 – The last vision brings us back to earth, thus completing the cycle. Just as the Old Testament sanctuary was the place where God symbolically dwelt among his people, the New Jerusalem becomes God’s dwelling place with His people (v. 3). On the new earth, God does not need a physical structure as a symbol of His presence because God is going to dwell with His people in the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21:22).
For the literary understanding of the book of Revelation, the sanctuary pattern renders several implications. Firstly, these seven scenes of the sanctuary show the phases of the heavenly sanctuary that starts with the inauguration (chs. 4–5), intercession (8:3-5), judgment (11:19), the close of intercession (15:8), and the absence of priestly activities (19:1-5). The scenes end with the New Jerusalem, where God’s real presence with His people is actualized (21:2-4).
Moreover, the structure of Revelation is designed based on daily and yearly sanctuary services of the Old Testament, which locates in history the critical visions of the book. Revelation 11:19 divides the book into two timeframes: the historical and the end times. The first half of Revelation focuses on the Christian age, while the second half focuses on the time of the end. The scene of Revelation 4–5, for instance, shows the inauguration of Christ at Pentecost. It also portrays that the seven seals and the seven trumpets run throughout Christian history, while the seven last plagues would all happen at the time of the end.
All of the imagery and motifs of the sanctuary interwoven in the structure of Revelation point to the central theological focus of the book: they reveal that heaven and earth are connected and that the divine actions on earth are the result of the activities in the heavenly temple. Therefore, Christ’s post-Calvary ministry is the central theological focus of the book. In the final sanctuary scene of the book of Revelation—the conclusion of the plan of salvation—God will finally be united with his people. Ultimately, all the imagery in the earthly sanctuary will be realized in the New Jerusalem.