Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Revelation 11:19

"And there was opened the temple of God that is in heaven; and there was seen in his temple the ark of his covenant; and there followed lightnings, and voices, and thunders, and an earthquake, and great hail." — Revelation 11:19 (ASV)

In the heavenly temple John sees the ark of God’s covenant. In the OT the ark was the chest that God directed Moses to make and place within the holiest room of the tabernacle sanctuary (Exodus 25:10–22). He was directed to put in the ark the two tablets of the Decalogue—the documentary basis of God’s redemptive covenant with Israel (Exodus 34:28–29). Presumably the ark was destroyed when Nebuchadnezzar burned the temple in 586 B. C., for there was no ark in the second temple. Although the way into the Most Holy Place was barred under the old covenant to all except the high priest, now full and immediate access for all, along with a perfect redemption, has been secured by Christ’s death (Hebrews 9:11– 12; 10:19–22). In v.19 the kingdom of God is seen retrospectively as having fully come. Yet its coming will be elaborated in chs. 20–22.

Prospectively, this sight of the ark prepares us for the following chapters, which concern the faithfulness of God to his covenant people. As the ark was the sign to Israel of God’s loyal love throughout their desert journeys and battles, so this sign of the new covenant will assure the followers of Christ of his loyal love through their severe trial and attacks by the beast. “Flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder” represent God’s presence and vindication of his people (cf. comment on 6:12; 8:5).