Chapter Twenty-Six -God's Sacred Secret-Its Glorious Climax!

Behold the Ark of His Covenant!

Jehovah rules!  Through his Messianic Kingdom, he is exercising his sovereignty toward mankind in a marvelous way  This is confirmed by what John next:  "Ad the temple sanctuary of God that is in heaven was opened and the ark of his covenant was seen in his temple sanctuary. And there occurred lightnings and voices and thunders and an earthquake and a great hail."  (Revelation 11:19)  This is the only mention in Revelation of the ark of God's covenant.  The Ark had been the visible symbol of Jehovah's presence with his people Israel. In the tabernacle, and later in the temple built by Solomon, it was kept in the Most Holy.  But when Israel went into captivity in Babylon 607 B.C.E., Jerusalem was desolated and the ark of the covenant disappeared.  That was when representatives of the house of David ceased "to sit upon Jehovah's throne as king." -1 Chronicles 29:23.

Now, after more than 2, 500 years, the Ark is seen once more. But in John's vision the Ark is not in an earthly temple. It appears in the heavenly sanctuary  of God. Once again, Jehovah rules by means of a king in the royal line of David. This time, however, the King, Christ Jesus, is enthroned in heavenly Jerusalem-the exalted vantage point from which he executes Jehovah 's judgments.  (Hebrews 12:22)  The following chapter of Revelation will unveil these to us. 

In ancient earthly Jerusalem, the Ark was not seen by the Israelites in general, nor even by the priests serving in the temple, for it was within the Most Holy that was screened off from the Holy Place by a curtain. (Number 4:20; Hebrews 9:2, 3)  Only the high priest got to see it when he entered the Most Holy on the annual Day of Atonement. Nevertheless, when the temple sanctuary in the heavens  is opened, the symbolic ark is visible not only to Jehovah's High Priest, Jesus Christ, but also to his underpriests, the 144,000, including John.  

Next time: Chapter Twenty-Six -God's Sacred Secret - Its Glorious Climax! Conclusion of  Behold the Ark of His Covenant!

From the book of Revelation