The heavenly temple is the setting for the drama which is played out in chapters 4-20 of the book of Revelation. John sees the throne of God (4:1-11). Nearby is the sea (possibly a reference to the laver which is next to the altar in 1 Kgs. 7:23-26) and the altar (6:9-11). Presently John sees the temple opened and the ark of the covenant revealed (11:19). Angels emerge from the temple (15:6) and God sends out his *judgments from it (16:1, 17). Beyond this, John is not interested in the heavenly temple as such; it is simply the stage for his dramatis personae. But the reader is alerted to expect the temple to play an important part in John's vision by his statement that the faithful will be made pillars in the temple of God (3:12).