Rev 11:19 says -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.
Why was John shown the Ark of the Covenant in heaven? What purpose did this serve?
Perhaps to show him what it looked like back when YHVH instructed the Hebrew Israelites to build it as shown in Exodus 25?
The words Ark and Sanctuary/Tabernacle are both mentioned in Reve 11:19.
Blue Letter Bible - Lexicon
Strong's Number H727 matches the Hebrew אָרוֹן (
'arown), which occurs 202 times in 174 verses in the Hebrew concordance
Young) Exodus 25:
8 `And they have made for Me a
sanctuary, and I have tabernacled in their midst;
9 according to all that which I am shewing thee, the pattern of the
tabernacle, and the pattern of all its vessels, even so ye do make [it].
10 `And they have made an
ARK of [bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse]tim wood; two cubits and a half its length, and a cubit and a half its breadth, and a cubit and a half its height;
I find it interesting that it is only mentioned
2 times in the NT/NC of the Bible
Blue Letter Bible - Lexicon
Strong's Number G2787 matches the Greek κιβωτός (kibōtos), which occurs 6 times in 6 verses in the Greek concordance of the KJV
Young) Hebrews 9:4 having a golden censer, and
the Ark of the covenant overlaid all round about with gold, in which [is] the golden pot having the manna, and the rod of Aaron that budded, and the tables of the covenant,
Reve 11:19 And was opened
the Sanctuary of the God in the heaven and was seen
the Ark of the Covenant of Him in the Sanctuary of Him
and became lightnings and voices/sounds and thunders and quaking and great hail.
Studies In The Scriptures - Tabernacle Shadows - Chapter 1
The Camp--The Court--The Tabernacle--The Brazen Altar--The Laver-- The Table--The Lampstand--The Golden Altar--
The Mercy Seat and Ark--The Gate--The First Veil--The Second Veil--The Significance of These and Their Antitypes.