“And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.”
Then God's temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple; and there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail — the heavenly temple's opening (anoigō) reveals the ark of the covenant (kibōtos diathēkē), the ultimate symbol of God's covenant presence. The accompanying theophanic signs (lightning, rumblings, thunder, earthquake, hail) echo Exodus and establish that God's covenant-keeping reaches its eschatological climax. The vision of the ark assures that God's promises to Israel and the church are not forgotten but fulfilled.
Church Fathers on Revelation 11:19
“And the temple of God was opened which is in heaven.” The temple opened is a manifestation of our Lord. For the temple of God is the Son, as He Himself says: “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” And when the Jews said, “Forty and six years was this temple in building,” the evangelist says, “He spoke of the temple of His body.” “And there was seen in His temple the ark of the Lord's testament.” The preaching of the Gospel and the forgiveness of sins,…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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