Primary References: Revelation 11:19

Following the reward judgments, John sees God's heavenly temple opened. It contains the Ark of the Testament, which is likely a heavenly companion of the Ark of the Covenant but the Bible only mentions the Ark of the Testament here and provides few details about it. Today people are searching worldwide to find the earthly ark, which contains the mercy seat, the rod of Aaron, the Ten Commandments, and the manna from heaven. Rumors about its location run the gamut from Ethiopia to the Vatican to the temple mount and the surrounding mountains. Some suggest that it is not lost but is the Ark of the Testament in heaven. If so, it likely does not return until Jesus returns. Others believe this is a different ark and that the ark of Moses is symbolic of the one in heaven. The answer to this mystery must wait but the later theory (two arks) seems the more plausible of the two, especially in light of the two golden altars already seen.