The Ark of the Covenant is first mentioned in the Bible in Exodus 25. Following Israel's deliverance from slavery in Egypt, God instructs Moses to build a Tabernacle (or tent) in which the Israelites will worship God. Placed in a special area known as "the Holy of Holies," the Ark of the Covenant was the most sacred object in the Tabernacle. Detailed instructions were given by God to construct the Ark. It was to be made with acacia wood and overlaid with gold. Dimensionally, the Ark was to be 2.5 cubits (1 cubit is approximately 18 in.) long and 1.5 cubits wide and high. Atop the Ark were two gold cherubs that stood with their wings covering an area of the Ark known as the "Mercy Seat." It was contained three items of extreme significance to the Israelites. The first was two stone tablets bearing the divine inscription of the Ten Commandments.
The Ten Commandments formed the foundation of God's covenant with Israel, commonly referred to as "The Law" (Exodus 31). The second item in the Ark was the rod of Aaron. God miraculously caused Aaron's rod to bud with blossoms to show the rest of the tribes of Israel that it was God's will for Aaron to be in charge of the Priesthood (Numbers 17). The last item was a golden pot of manna. Manna was the starchy food God miraculously provided for the Israelites during their 40 years of desert wanderings (Exodus 16).
The Ark was where God manifested His presence on earth. It went ahead of the Israelites wherever they traveled. Not only was it the center of worship when it resided in the tabernacle, but the Ark also protected the Israelites in battle, supernaturally defeating any adversaries that came before them (Joshua 6:3-4). The Israelites also went to the Ark to seek God's guidance and wisdom for the nation (Numbers 7:89, Exodus 25:22).
The Ark of the Covenant could only be approached once a year by the high priest on "Yum Kippur"- the Jewish Day of Atonement. On this day, the high priest would enter the Holy of Holies with the blood of a sacrificed lamb. It was also only on this day that God's presence manifested between the two Cherubs. The high priest would sprinkle the blood of the sacrificed lamb on the Mercy Seat. Once received by God, the blood of the lamb atoned (covered) for the sins of the high priest and the entire nation of Israel. This ritual was performed continuously, year after year. The Ark of the Covenant played a key role in the forgiveness of sins.
At first glance, the blood sacrifices associated with the history of the Ark of the Covenant may seem somewhat disturbing. Slaughtering animals and offering their blood on an altar begs of the occult. It is important to note, however, that these sacrifices were not intended to appease the wrath of a bloodthirsty deity. God does not desire the blood and suffering of helpless lambs (Hebrews 10:8).
The biblical text repeatedly shows that where there is sin, the unavoidable result is death. The sacrifice of the lamb points to the severity of sin. Sin must always be atoned (paid) for in order for God to be just (Hebrews 9:22). God's compassion enabled the sins of Israel to be transferred upon the lamb. More importantly, these sacrifices were foreshadowing a greater sacrifice yet to take place -- the sacrifice of the Jewish Messiah, Jesus Christ. God knew that these continual sacrifices would be insufficient to pay for the sins of Israel, much less the sins of all humanity. Therefore, God provided Jesus Christ as the ultimate sacrificial lamb, which became the greatest act of love in all history. A Roman cross became the ark on which Christ was sacrificed. The blood of Christ, once and for all, atoned for the wrongs of all who would accept Him as their Savior (John 3:16).
But the Ark of the Covenant disappeared from the Jewish Temple somewhere before or during the Babylonian invasion of Jerusalem in 586 BC. In anticipation of the Ark's disappearance, the prophet Jeremiah wrote: "And it shall come to pass, when ye be multiplied and increased in the land, in those days, saith the LORD, they shall say no more. Even before Jesus, Jeremiah's prophecy revealed that there would be no more need for the Ark of the Covenant in the future. God had a better covenant He would bring to pass -- the new covenant in His Son, Jesus Christ.
The Ten Commandments formed the foundation of God's covenant with Israel, commonly referred to as "The Law" (Exodus 31). The second item in the Ark was the rod of Aaron. God miraculously caused Aaron's rod to bud with blossoms to show the rest of the tribes of Israel that it was God's will for Aaron to be in charge of the Priesthood (Numbers 17). The last item was a golden pot of manna. Manna was the starchy food God miraculously provided for the Israelites during their 40 years of desert wanderings (Exodus 16).
The Ark was where God manifested His presence on earth. It went ahead of the Israelites wherever they traveled. Not only was it the center of worship when it resided in the tabernacle, but the Ark also protected the Israelites in battle, supernaturally defeating any adversaries that came before them (Joshua 6:3-4). The Israelites also went to the Ark to seek God's guidance and wisdom for the nation (Numbers 7:89, Exodus 25:22).
The Ark of the Covenant could only be approached once a year by the high priest on "Yum Kippur"- the Jewish Day of Atonement. On this day, the high priest would enter the Holy of Holies with the blood of a sacrificed lamb. It was also only on this day that God's presence manifested between the two Cherubs. The high priest would sprinkle the blood of the sacrificed lamb on the Mercy Seat. Once received by God, the blood of the lamb atoned (covered) for the sins of the high priest and the entire nation of Israel. This ritual was performed continuously, year after year. The Ark of the Covenant played a key role in the forgiveness of sins.
At first glance, the blood sacrifices associated with the history of the Ark of the Covenant may seem somewhat disturbing. Slaughtering animals and offering their blood on an altar begs of the occult. It is important to note, however, that these sacrifices were not intended to appease the wrath of a bloodthirsty deity. God does not desire the blood and suffering of helpless lambs (Hebrews 10:8).
The biblical text repeatedly shows that where there is sin, the unavoidable result is death. The sacrifice of the lamb points to the severity of sin. Sin must always be atoned (paid) for in order for God to be just (Hebrews 9:22). God's compassion enabled the sins of Israel to be transferred upon the lamb. More importantly, these sacrifices were foreshadowing a greater sacrifice yet to take place -- the sacrifice of the Jewish Messiah, Jesus Christ. God knew that these continual sacrifices would be insufficient to pay for the sins of Israel, much less the sins of all humanity. Therefore, God provided Jesus Christ as the ultimate sacrificial lamb, which became the greatest act of love in all history. A Roman cross became the ark on which Christ was sacrificed. The blood of Christ, once and for all, atoned for the wrongs of all who would accept Him as their Savior (John 3:16).
But the Ark of the Covenant disappeared from the Jewish Temple somewhere before or during the Babylonian invasion of Jerusalem in 586 BC. In anticipation of the Ark's disappearance, the prophet Jeremiah wrote: "And it shall come to pass, when ye be multiplied and increased in the land, in those days, saith the LORD, they shall say no more. Even before Jesus, Jeremiah's prophecy revealed that there would be no more need for the Ark of the Covenant in the future. God had a better covenant He would bring to pass -- the new covenant in His Son, Jesus Christ.
Ark of the Covenant
ReplyDeleteA palanqin reliquary.
The graphics here are contradictory, but each contains something I find correct.
In the top graphic, an ark of egyptian design shows two qruviym [cherubim] with wings in the traditional egyptian pose. I find this to be correct.
In this graphic though, the poles are oriented left to right instead of front to rear.
The second graphic shows a more modern [erroneous] confabulation in the configuration of the qruviym and their respective wings, but does show the poles correctly oriented front to rear.
Ramses II in the battle of qadesh is shown with his army attacking the holy city [Carchemish](conventionally misplaced on the Orontes) and there is a protected enclosure where priests honor an artifact shaped like the ark of the covenant - with the qruviym in the traditional egyptian configuration honoring the emblem of the deity/pharaoh.
The device can be interpreted as a palanquin/reliquary/ark in keeping with longstanding egyptian tradition even in the time of Ramses II.
The divinity would be seated, facing forward, with the qruviym on his left and right. Their upswept wings forming the back of the seat, and their downswept wings making way for the feet as the rider sat facing forward, enthroned between the qruviym.
Carriers would shoulder the poles fore and aft, three on each pole in front, three on each pole in the rear, for a total of twelve.
In the mishnah, it is reported that after earthquakes, the poles would poke forward into the parochet, or curtain separating the dvir[holy of Holies] from the Heiqal[main inner room. This too is consistent with the poles facing fore and aft, as in a palanquin or carrying chair.
As a mobile throne, it would contain relics that represent the seat of authority for divine rule. Similar to Jewish tradition where it was carried into battle, Ramses II is shown with his palanquin/reliquary/ark on the battle scene as well.
The egyptian origin and consistency of the tradition should be a confirmation for us, and the exception to the egyptian tradition is that no earthly king ever rode the hebrew ark, but that it instead represented the ineffable divine and contained the foundation of that rulership, His given word, the Torah.
Future prophecy speaks to antichrist taking his seat on the throne of G-d, therefore we should expect the physical ark, still in existence, to be located and verified. Only then can the prophecy be fulfilled literally.
ReplyDeleteRon Wyatt points to Jeremiah's Grotto, saying the ark is located in a cave beneath it, and that blood from the crucifixion actually poured through a fissure onto the mercy seat itself.
Other sources have Jeremiah taking the artifact to Mt Nebo, outside the city. A carved qruv pointed the way. This was found north of the Antonia[now misdesignated as temple mount] and would be consistent with the Wyatt site, with the Nebo reference being understood as a code, or as a later variant of the story.
Consistent with the prophecy of Jesus, every stone of the temple mount itself was removed down to bedrock and virgin soil. The location of the Gihon spring, south of the Antonia, speaks to the veracity of this interpretation.
Should the artifact be found, we should look to blood residue being consistent with that found on the shroud of turin, which naturally carbon dates to the middle ages because of its long full air exposure at that time, but is in fact older and contains pollen from Jerusalem and turkey, consistent with its historical travels.
The gold of the artifact can be analyzed for trace minerals consistent with ancient egyptian provenance. The torah scroll would be a validator for the later manuscripts.
Later accounts regarding the ark say that the omer of manna and the rod of aron formerly carried in the ark were discovered missing, so if these are indeed absent when the artifact is brought to light, it should not be seen as a lack of validation.
When found, it or related articles may be covered with timber and blue dyed cloth or skins, consistent with regulations for its transport.
Further, consistent with egyptian temple design secrets of the royal family of egypt, into which solomon married [Michael Rood] the Ark may have been secreted into the tunnel system and stored in a sarcophagus of granite in a cave made inaccessible by water and other engineered blockages.
The qruv carving north of the antonia points to the correct location, but if these legends are correct, it will have to be accessed from above. When found, the lower accesses now underwater can be drained and studied, or mapped by divers and underwater robotic equipment.
Other stories of the ark being destroyed, copied etc are part of tradition. If these are found, we can use the original to guage the fidelity of the copy, is such exists - but prophecy says that a copy would not be made.
The Wyatt assertion that Christ's blood touched the mercy seat is in keeping with the sacrificial atonement concept, and it is widely known that the ark was not located in the temple itself in Jesus' time.
Whatever the theological or traditional interpretations, it is reasonable to acknowledge the possibility that the artifact does in fact still exist, and can be verified archaeologically.
They found the Ark of the Covenant! Christ tomb, Crucifixion site and the Ark of the Covenant found buried under a trash pile at the foot of Skull Mountain.
ReplyDeletehttp://arkofthecovenant2.blogspot.com
Please don't put your website link in Comment section. This is for discussion article related only. Thank you :)