Revelation 11 19

Revelation 11:19 kjv

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.

Revelation 11:19 nkjv

Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail.

Revelation 11:19 niv

Then God's temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant. And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a severe hailstorm.

Revelation 11:19 esv

Then God's temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail.

Revelation 11:19 nlt

Then, in heaven, the Temple of God was opened and the Ark of his covenant could be seen inside the Temple. Lightning flashed, thunder crashed and roared, and there was an earthquake and a terrible hailstorm.

Revelation 11 verses

Revelation 11 19 Meaning

Revelation 11:19 marks a pivotal moment in the divine drama, immediately following the sounding of the seventh trumpet. It signifies the full establishment of God's reign and the beginning of His final judgment upon the earth. The opening of the heavenly temple reveals the ark of the covenant, symbolizing God's enduring faithfulness to His covenant people, His holy presence, and His ultimate authority. The accompanying atmospheric phenomena – lightning, rumblings, thunder, an earthquake, and a hailstorm – serve as a powerful theophany, signifying God's awesome majesty and the imminence and severity of His final divine judgment and wrath poured out upon the unrighteous world.

Revelation 11 19 Context

Revelation 11:19 immediately follows the announcement of the seventh trumpet (Rev 11:15-18), which proclaims that "the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ." This verse serves as the immediate consequence and divine confirmation of that pronouncement. It closes a major section of Revelation (Chapters 4-11), which details the seven seals and seven trumpets. The historical context for the original audience, facing Roman persecution, involves comfort that God is still in control and His judgments are certain, while also warning those who compromise. The Jewish audience would have deeply resonated with the imagery of the temple, particularly the holy of holies and the Ark, as these were central to their understanding of God's presence, covenant, and holiness, and their absence in the post-70 AD temple (and long before, the Ark itself) would make its appearance in heaven profoundly significant.

Revelation 11 19 Word analysis

• Then God’s temple in heaven (Καὶ ἠνοίγη ὁ ναὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ, kai ēnoigē ho naos tou Theou en tō ouranō)

  • ναὸς (naos): Refers specifically to the inner sanctuary or holy of holies, distinct from hieron which means the entire temple complex. Its usage emphasizes the most sacred presence of God.
  • τοῦ Θεοῦ (tou Theou): "Of God." Clearly designates ownership and ultimate authority.
  • ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ (en tō ouranō): "In heaven." Emphasizes the heavenly, spiritual reality of God's dwelling, contrasted with earthly, temporal temples. It signifies God's transcendental throne and divine governance.
  • Significance: The revelation of the naos in heaven underscores that the earthly temple, even the holiest place, was but a shadow of the true, unshakeable heavenly reality where God eternally reigns.

• was opened (ἠνοίγη, ēnoigē)

  • ἠνοίγη (ēnoigē): Passive voice, indicating a divine action; God Himself opened the temple.
  • Significance: This is not an opening by human means but a direct divine revelation, allowing a glimpse into the innermost sanctum of heaven. It denotes a moment of profound disclosure and the commencement of ultimate divine intervention and judgment.

• and within His temple was seen (καὶ ὤφθη ἡ κιβωτὸς τῆς διαθήκης αὐτοῦ ἐν τῷ ναῷ αὐτοῦ, kai ōphthē hē kibōtos tēs diathēkēs autou en tō naō autou)

  • ὤφθη (ōphthē): Passive, "it was seen," indicating something supernaturally revealed to John.
  • ἡ κιβωτὸς τῆς διαθήκης αὐτοῦ (hē kibōtos tēs diathēkēs autou): "The ark of His covenant." The Ark was the most sacred object in the Old Testament tabernacle and temple, representing God's throne, His presence among His people, and the physical repository of the Law. It was also where the High Priest performed the annual Day of Atonement. After the Babylonian exile, the physical Ark was believed lost.
  • Significance: Its appearance in heaven is profoundly symbolic. It signifies God's enduring faithfulness to His covenants, particularly His covenant with Israel and the coming new covenant (Jer 31:31-34, Heb 8:8-12). It declares God's sovereignty and judgment in fulfillment of His promises, particularly in His role as Judge of the living and the dead. Its revelation signals the full outworking of God’s redemptive and judicial plans established in covenant.

• And there were flashes of lightning (καὶ ἐγένοντο ἀστραπαὶ, kai egenonto astrapai)

  • ἀστραπαὶ (astrapai): "Flashes of lightning."
  • Significance: A classic sign of theophany (God's manifest presence) and divine judgment (Exod 19:16; Rev 4:5; 8:5; 16:18). It heralds God's power and impending wrath.

• rumblings (καὶ φωναὶ, kai phōnai)

  • φωναὶ (phōnai): Literally "voices," often rendered as "rumblings" in contexts of atmospheric disturbance, particularly preceding or accompanying thunder.
  • Significance: Suggests profound, echoing sounds indicating a seismic, powerful, and frightening manifestation of God's presence and judicial action.

• peals of thunder (καὶ βρονταὶ, kai brontai)

  • βρονταὶ (brontai): "Thunders."
  • Significance: Also a classic accompaniment of divine presence and judgment (Psa 29; Exod 19:16). Thundering emphasizes God's majesty and the terrifying nature of His advent as judge.

• an earthquake (καὶ σεισμός, kai seismos)

  • σεισμός (seismos): "Earthquake."
  • Significance: Symbolizes a shaking of foundations, cosmic disruption, and significant shifts in the divine order. Often accompanies the breaking forth of divine judgment and the coming of the Lord's day (e.g., Isa 24:18-20; Joel 2:10; Hag 2:6-7; Zech 14:4).

• and a severe hailstorm (καὶ χάλαζα μεγάλη, kai chalaza megalē)

  • χάλαζα (chalaza): "Hail."
  • μεγάλη (megalē): "Great," "severe."
  • Significance: Hail, especially great hail, is frequently depicted in scripture as an instrument of divine wrath and judgment, reminiscent of the plagues on Egypt (Exod 9:22-26) and foretelling future judgments (Ezek 38:22; Rev 16:21). Its presence marks the severity and destructiveness of the coming judgment.

Revelation 11 19 Bonus section

The reappearance of the Ark of the Covenant in this vision directly addresses Jewish expectation and the perceived "loss" of the Ark after the Babylonian exile, demonstrating that the true, original Ark remains safe in heaven, underscoring the enduring reality and ultimate fulfillment of God's covenant purposes in the divine realm. This verse serves as a crucial interlude, transitioning the narrative from the preliminary judgments of the trumpets to the grand cosmic conflict and final judgments (chapters 12-20), highlighting the decisive intervention of God after prolonged forbearance. It affirms the absolute authority and ultimate triumph of Christ and God, signaling the nearing of the end of the age and the establishment of the eternal kingdom.

Revelation 11 19 Commentary

Revelation 11:19 is the climax of the first half of the book, directly following the announcement that God's kingdom has finally come. The dramatic scene depicts God's heavenly sanctuary being opened, granting John a privileged vision of the Ark of His covenant. This vision underscores God's absolute faithfulness to His covenant promises, establishing Him as the sovereign King and righteous Judge. The appearance of the long-lost Ark in the heavenly temple symbolically connects the Old Covenant to the New, asserting God's timeless plan and affirming that all His promises, including judgment, will be fulfilled. The accompanying powerful natural phenomena—lightning, rumblings, thunder, an earthquake, and severe hail—are classic biblical indicators of a theophany, God's self-manifestation in power and majesty. These signs do not merely signify His presence but explicitly herald the breaking forth of His decisive judgment and the full implementation of His rule. The verse marks a clear transition from the unfolding mysteries of God's plan to the commencement of His definitive judgments and the shaking of all that is against Him. It reinforces the idea that despite the chaos and suffering in the world, God is on His throne, about to complete His redemptive and retributive purposes.