Keepers of the Lost Ark? (Christians in Ethiopia have long claimed to have the ark of the covenant)

Smithsonian Magazine ^ | Paul Raffaele

[Vermont Lt]

I am going to ask you a question, and I sincerely dont want you to think that I am baiting your or being a jerk.

The texts that I grew up with (KJV) were written in the 15th century (I think) by a bunch of scholars who, while they intended well, were as interested in the poetic aspect of the writing as they were the original context. If that is the case, how can you hold to the literal sense of any sacred text, except in the original form?

I fully respect your attitude towards the bible and the constitution, but I have often had these questions.

[arthurus]

The difference is there is no reason to have to prove the Ark to you.

[SunkenCiv]

Keepers of the Lost Ark?[Ethiopia][Ark of the Covenant]
Smithsonian Magazine | December 2007 | Paul Raffaele
Posted on 11/27/2007 2:27:12 PM EST by BGHater
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1931280/posts

[David]

In the context of Isiah Chapter 18, the location of the Ark of the Covenant may well be an important contemporary topic.

Anyone who is interested in the subject ought to read Graham Hancock's book, Sign and the Seal. Hancock's timeline is much more persuasive than the Kebra Negast and there is secular evidence to support it.

Hancock says the Ark was removed from the Temple by the priests during the reign of Manasseh, Hezzikiah's son, in the 7th Century BC and taken to Elephantine Island in Egypt.

Manasseh denied God and profaned the Temple.

And there is secular evidence that there was a Temple on Elephantine built at this time. There is existing correspondence between priests at that Temple and the priests in Babylon during the captivity.

Problems developed in Egypt in the Fifth Century--the Elephantine Temple was destroyed; and the Ark was removed to Lake Tana in Ethopia. The rest of the story tracks Ethopian history to Aksum.

Jewish belief is that the Ark will reappear at the time the Messiah enters Jerusalem. Maybe the Anti Christ will use the Ark to support his claim; alternatively, maybe tradition is correct and the Ark won't appear until the Lord returns.

[JoeProBono]