Pity about Raiders! I think I’d go with Boan, #2, with the link to Hebrews & decomposition – why would God preserve what is redundant? Rv.11:19, in whatever EV, does not in itself require a literalism, especially in line with its rich symbolism. I think that what the ark symbolised in the OT, the presence of God in mercy & commitment to his people, is what Rv.11:19 is saying. Must we really image that there is a temple “in heaven”, presumably bigger than God & presumably co-eternal, with perhaps various holy items within?
I doubt that even Dispensationalism requires the latter, and if it does not, can it insist on the former?
On BCE & CE, I personally neither like nor use them, but some organisations I deem validly Christian do use them either to be in tune with a wider audience or if deference to non‑Christian Jews. To rule out such organisations is, I feel, OTT.
|