Temple Imagery in the Book of Revelation

Among the many images and symbols in the  Book of Revelation, many - perhaps dozens - have direct or indirect references to the temple.  Because the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints continues to build and worship in temples, members of the Church are familiar with temple imagery, more so than perhaps other readers of the Book of Revelation.  While I can't name them all - in truth, I haven't found them all - there are a few that piqued my interest.

The book opens in a Temple setting. John describes seeing the resurrected Christ with things that would have been found in the Holy of Holies in the Jewish Temple.  John immediately sees Christ with seven golden candlesticks.  He sees Him clothes in temple garment, a white robe down his feet wearing a golden girdle.  This temple image reflects the ceremonial garment worn by the high priests when they officiated in the temple.

Jewish High Priestly Temple Garment

John saw seven stars in Christ's right hand, which John tells us represent seven angels.  Remembering that the number seven mean whole or complete, He is essentially surrounded by heavenly spiritual beings.   Since the number is also associated with covenants, it is appropriate in a temple setting where the most sacred covenants into which men can enter with God are completed.

Many of the promised blessing given to six of the seven Churches are temple-related, including giving those who endure a white stone with a new name. Jesus identifies Himself as the root of Jesse and the bright and morning star. (Rev. 22: 16).  Those who overcome will be given a morning star (Rev. 2: 28) To me, this reflects the covenant we take upon ourselves when we take Christ's name and become His children.

John then enters heaven and sees Jesus sitting on a golden throne with a rainbow surrounding him.  The rainbow is a token of another of God's covenants, that which God made, not only with man,  but  with the entire earth, again appropriate in a temple setting. John compares the Savior's radiance with the sun, a celestial image.

John sees the four and twenty elders enthroned, with crowns of glory upon their heads.  Elsewhere in the Revelation, he speaks of God making these men priests and kings unto the most high God, a definite temple reference. We first meet the term priest and king in the Book of Genesis and it refers to Melchizedek as God's priest and king on earth.  It interests me that the priesthood of the latter-day temple is the priesthood named after Melchizedek and a man today must hold that priesthood to enter into latter-day temples.

Later, as the revelation speaks of the wedding of Christ to His Church, John tells us that the bride is being dressed for the wedding.  The Greek word used for dressed is enduae from which we get our word endowed. Enduae also means to endure to the end.

In short, John didn't create the images; God created the images and John did his best to describe what he saw.  Someone once said that it took a revelation for John to write the book and it will take revelation for anyone who reads the book to even get a glimpse of understanding.  I prayerfully studied the book six or eight years ago and felt enlightened.  Now, with more years and more life as well as spiritual experiences, as I study today, other things come into my mind. I remember someone saying that you don't ever read the same book twice because each time you approach the book, you have changed and the book is changed for you.  That is certainly true of the Book of Revelation!

Approach the study prayerfully and let the images speak to you.  If  you do, the Holy Ghost will teach you those things the Lord wants you to understand about the entire scope of history, from the Grand Council in Heaven to the Second Coming and judgment of Christ.

© December 26, 2019, Kathleen Rawlings Buntin Danielson