Will the two tables of stone given to Moses and placed in the ark be found before the second coming of Christ? Some think they will. An intriguing Ellen White statement on this subject reads as follows: " '[Christ] gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communicating with him upon Mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written by the finger of God.' Nothing written on those tables could be blotted out. The precious record of the law was placed in the ark of the testament and is still there, safely hidden from the human family. But in God's appointed time He will bring forth these tables of stone to be a testimony to all the world against the disregard of His commandments and against the idolatrous worship of a counterfeit Sabbath."--Manuscript 122, 1901. (Quoted in The SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 1, p. 1109.)

Some believe that the tables of stone here referred to are the ones Ellen White describes as appearing in the sky soon after the voice of God delivers His beleaguered people, just before Christ descends from heaven at His second coming: "While these words of holy trust [Ps. 46:1-3] ascend to God, the clouds sweep back, and the starry heavens are seen, unspeakably glorious in contrast with the black and angry firmament on either side. The glory of the celestial city streams from the gates ajar. Then there appears against the sky a hand holding two tables of stone folded together. Says the prophet: 'The heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God is judge himself.' Psalm 50:6. That holy law, God's righteousness, that amid thunder and flame was proclaimed from Sinai as the guide of life, is now revealed to men as the rule of judgment. The hand opens the tables, and there are seen the precepts of the Decalogue, traced as with a pen of fire. The words are so plain that all can read them. Memory is aroused, the darkness of superstition and heresy is swept from every mind, and God's ten words, brief, comprehensive, and authoritative, are presented to the view of all the inhabitants of the earth.

" It is impossible to describe the horror and despair of those who have trampled upon God's holy requirements. --The Great Controversy, p. 639.

From whence do the tables of stone that appear in the sky come forth? Ellen White says: "When God's temple in heaven is opened, what a triumphant time that will be for all who have been faithful and true! In the temple will be seen the ark of the testament in which were placed the two tables of stone, on which are written God's law. These tables of stone will be brought forth from their hiding place, and on them will be seen the Ten Commandments engraved by the finger of God....These tables of stone now lying in the ark of the testament will be a convincing testimony to the truth and binding claims of God's law.--Letter 47, 1902. (Quoted in The SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 7, p. 972).

The tables of stone that appear after the saints are delivered by the voice of God are brought forth from the ark of the testament of the heavenly temple. Does this mean that the ark of the testament of the earthly sanctuary, together with the tables of stone that were given to Moses on Mount Sinai, has been transported to heaven?

Ellen White answers: "Among the righteous still in Jerusalem [at the time of Nebuchadnezzar's siege in 587 B.C.], to whom had been made plain the divine purpose, were some who determined to place beyond the reach of ruthless hands the sacred ark containing the tables of stone on which had been traced the precepts of the Decalogue. This they did. With mourning and sadness they secreted the ark in a cave, where it was to be hidden from the people of Israel and Judah because of their sins, and was to be 'no more restored to them. That sacred ark is yet hidden. It has never been disturbed since it was secreted." --Prophets and Kings, p. 453.

Still safely hidden

This statement is plain and unequivocal. Unless the ark, hidden in 587 B.C., has been disturbed by being taken to heaven, or unless the people who hid it secreted it in a cave in heaven, the ark containing the tables of stone that were given to Moses (see I Kings 8:9) is still safely hidden in a cave here on earth.

Does this mean that there are two sets of tables of stone on which are inscribed God's law? Apparently it does. "The law is just as Jehovah wrote it, in the temple in heaven. Men may trample upon its copy here on earth, but the original is kept in the ark of God in Heaven. Above it is the mercy-seat, and Jesus, our great High Priest, stands before the ark, to mediate in man's behalf. We want you to keep God's commandments and live, and his law as the apple of your eye; for, "whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of Heaven." -- The Signs of the Times, 12-22-87