Revelation 11:18,19 - God's temple in heaven was opened

11:18

“The nations were angry”. The nations are angry against God, and God’s wrath will come. The dead will be judged, and the prophets rewarded. A fundamental point is that there is a day of judgement. All will eventually pay for their sins. People may pay something in this life, but even if they get away with it, there will come a day of reckoning. The corollary of this is that those, like the prophets, who suffered for their service to God will receive a reward. This is fundamental to life functioning properly now. Those who know there is an inescapable day of reckoning are less likely to commit heinous crimes (though, of course, it does not rule them out completely, just makes them less likely). Also, knowing there is a day of reward gives strength to battle through difficult times. Those who “revere the Lord” will be rewarded, “great and small”. Any status we may or may not have in this life makes no difference in the long run. “And for destroying those who destroy the earth”. 

11:19

“God’s temple in heaven was opened” and the ark of the covenant could be seen in it. It is not clear that this signifies. Jer 3:16 foretells of a time when the ark is no longer regarded to be of any importance. The most probable explanation is that it represents God’s faithfulness. There are then great flashes of lightning and thunder, along with an earthquake and a severe hailstorm.