16.4. A Heavenly Pattern

The earthly Temple is patterned after a greater reality: the heavenly Temple (Heb. Heb. 8:4-5; Heb. Heb. 9:1-11). Almost everything which was shown Moses (Ex. Ex. 25:40) and David (1Chr. 1Chr. 28:12-19) concerning the Tabernacle and Temple, respectively, has a purpose in revealing a greater reality which ultimately serves the purpose of God in heaven. The heavenly pattern which is reflected in the earthly Temple communicates truths about the nature of sin, redemption, God’s holiness, communion with God, and ultimately points to the promised sacrifice of Messiah Jesus to reconcile man to God (Luke Luke 24:27, Luke 24:44; John John 5:39; Acts Acts 10:43). Price has identified many of the parallels between the earthly and heavenly Temples, which we’ve incorporated in the table below.¹

Shared Elements of Earthly and Heavenly Temples

Description	Earthly	Heavenly
called “worldly sanctuary” versus “Temple in heaven” or “true Tabernacle”	Heb. Heb. 9:1-2	Rev. Rev. 7:15+; Rev. 14:17+; Rev. 15:5+; Rev. 16:17+; Heb. Heb. 8:2
seven-branched lampstand	Ex. Ex. 26:35	Rev. Rev. 1:12+
trumpet	Ex. Ex. 19:13, Ex. 19:16, Ex. 19:19	Rev. Rev. 8:2+, Rev. 8:6+
altar of sacrifice	Ex. Ex. 27:1-2; Ex. 39:39	Rev. Rev. 6:9+
sacral vestments	Ex. Ex. 29:1, Ex. 39:1	Rev. Rev. 4:4+; Rev. 6:11+; Rev. 15:6+
altar of incense	Ex. Ex. 30:1-6; Ex. 39:38	Rev. Rev. 8:3-5+
four horns of the altar	Ex. Ex. 30:10	Rev. Rev. 9:13+
Ark of the Covenant	Ex. Ex. 25:1	Rev. Rev. 11:19+
golden censer	1K. 1K. 7:50	Rev. Rev. 8:3-5+
incense	Ex. Ex. 30:34-36	Rev. Rev. 5:8+; Rev. 8:3-4+
incense bowls	1K. 1K. 7:50; Num. Num. 7:13, Num. 7:19, Num. 7:25, Num. 7:31, Num. 7:37	Rev. Rev. 5:8+
throne (mercy seat)	Ex. Ex. 25:22; Lev. Lev. 16:2	Ps. Ps. 11:4; Rev. Rev. 7:9+; Rev. 16:17+
Holy Place	1K. 1K. 7:50	Heb. Heb. 9:11-12, Heb. 9:24
Holy of Holies	Ex. Ex. 26:25-33	Rev. Rev. 4:1-10+
high priest	Heb. Heb. 4:14	Heb. Heb. 9:6-7
priestly officiants versus priestly officials	Ps. Ps. 110:4; Heb. Heb. 7:17	Rev. Rev. 8:2-5+
rites	Lev. Lev. 1:1-Lev. 10:1; Lev. 16:23-34	Rev. Rev. 4:8-11+; Rev. 8:2-5+; Rev. 15:1-8+
24 priestly courses versus 24 elders	1Chr. 1Chr. 23:3-6	Rev. Rev. 4:4+, Rev. 4:10+; Rev. 5:8+
cherubim versus living creatures	Ex. Ex. 25:18, Ex. 25:22; 1K. 1K. 6:23-28	Rev. Rev. 4:6-8+
worshipers	2Chr. 2Chr. 7:3	Rev. Rev. 5:11+; Rev. 7:9+; Rev. 19:6+
sacrifice of lambs versus slain Lamb of God	Ex. Ex. 29:39	Rev. Rev. 5:6+

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Notes

¹ Adapted from [Randall Price, The Coming Last Days Temple (Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 1999), 57] which, in turn, is adapted from a chart by J. A. and Donald Parry in Temples of the Ancient World, p. 521.