In the Temple

In his monograph on The Throne Motif in the Book of Revelation (228-9), Lazlo Gallusz lays out a helpful macro-outline of Revelation, which shows the alternation of temple scenes and visions:

Temple scene 1, 1:9-20 (Jesus among lampstands)

Vision 1, 2:1-3:22

Temple scene 2, 4:1-5:14 (heavenly temple)

Vision 2, 6:1-8:1

Temple scene 3, 8:2-6 (angel at altar)

Vision 3, 8:7-11:18

Temple scene 4, 11:19 (ark of the covenant)

Vision 4, 12:1-14:30

Temple scene 5, 15:1-8 (praise of God after harvest)

Vision 5, 16:1-18:24

Temple scene 6, 19:1-10 (praise after fall of Babylon)

Vision 6, 19:11-20:15

Temple scene 7, 21:1-8 (Jerusalem descending)

Vision 7, 21:9-22:5

Gallucz is most interested in the thronos motif, which occurs explicitly in four of the seven temple scenes. In two of the other three scenes, the throne is implicitly present – as the ark in 11:19 and as the implied focus of praise in 15:5-8.

One of the interesting effects of this overview is the fact that temple scenes introduce visions. This is clearly the case with the second temple scene-vision sequence: The vision of the heavenly temple and the scroll is followed by the opening of the scrolls. It’s also clear in sequence #5, where the angels who are going to pour the bowls are first introduced in the temple scene.

Some of the others are less clear. It might seem that the angel at the altar (8:2-6) concludes rather than introduces a scene, but we perhaps should read it otherwise. Likewise, the revelation of the ark in 11:19 seems to conclude the previous scene, but it should be taken as the setting for the fourth vision: The drama of the dragon and the mother is enacted before the ark. That context sheds some important light on the drama that unfolds.