In Revelation 5:1, this signifies the states of all people in heaven (within) and on earth (on the back). (Apocalypse Explained 299)

9500. 'To carry the ark on them' means thereby holding heaven firmly in being and keeping it in being. This is clear from the meaning of 'carrying' as holding in a state of goodness and truth, thus bringing it into being and keeping it in being, for 'the poles in the rings' means the power of the Divine sphere, or power of Divine Truth joined to Divine Good, 9498, thus bringing into being and keeping in being, since heaven is kept in being by that power; and from the meaning of 'the ark' as heaven, dealt with in 9485.