The Ark of the Covenant, Will It Be Found?

Chapter 1—The Decalogue on Tables of Stone in the Heavenly Sanctuary

The Ten Commandments have been written on tables of stone and kept in the ark of the covenant of the heavenly sanctuary as well as on tables of stone and preserved in the ark of the covenant of the earthly sanctuary. Such is taught in the following Ellen G. White statements: ACWF 1.2

“I was then bidden to take notice of the two apartments of the heavenly sanctuary.... The veil was lifted, and I looked into the second apartment. I saw there an ark which had the appearance of being of the finest gold. As a border around the top of the ark, was most beautiful work representing crowns. In the ark were tables of stone containing the ten commandments.”—Early Writings, 251, 252.

“The Lord gave me a view of the heavenly sanctuary. The temple of God was open in heaven, and I was shown the ark of God covered with the mercy seat. Two angels stood one at either end of the ark, with their wings spread over the mercy seat, and their faces turned toward it. This, my accompanying angel informed me, represented all the heavenly host looking with reverential awe toward the law of God, which had been written by the finger of God.

“Jesus raised the cover of the ark, and I beheld the tables of stone on which the ten commandments were written.”—Life Sketches of Ellen G. White, 95.

“But the Lord gave me a view of the heavenly sanctuary. The temple of God was opened in heaven, and I was shown the ark of God.... Jesus raised the cover of the ark, and I beheld the tables of stone on which the ten commandments were written.”—Testimonies for the Church 1:76.

In describing a view given her of the heavenly sanctuary and Christ’s closing work of ministration in the most holy place, Ellen White says: ACWF 1.3

“It was represented to me that the remnant followed Jesus into the most holy place and beheld the ark and the mercy seat, and were captivated with their glory. Jesus then raised the cover of the ark, and lo! the tables of stone, with the ten commandments written upon them.”—Early Writings, 255.

“The ark containing the law of God, the altar of incense, and other instruments of service found in the sanctuary below, have also their counterpart in the sanctuary above. In holy vision the apostle John was permitted to enter heaven, and he there beheld the candlestick and the altar of incense, and as ‘the temple of God was opened,’ he beheld also ‘the ark of His testament’ (Revelation 11:19).”—The Spirit of Prophecy 4:261.

“In the temple in heaven, the dwelling place of God, His throne is established in righteousness and judgment. In the most holy place is His law, the great rule of right by which all mankind are tested. The ark that enshrines the tables of the law is covered with the mercy seat, before which Christ pleads His blood in the sinner’s behalf.”—The Great Controversy, 415.

“The ark in the tabernacle on earth contained the two tables of stone, upon which were inscribed the precepts of the law of God. The ark was merely a receptacle for the tables of the law, and the presence of these divine precepts gave to it its value and sacredness. When the temple of God was opened in heaven, the ark of His testament was seen. Within the holy of holies, in the sanctuary in heaven, the divine law is sacredly enshrined—the law that was spoken by God Himself amid the thunders of Sinai and written with His own finger on the tables of stone.”—The Great Controversy, 433, 434.