Posted on 05/29/2005 1:28:15 PM PDT by wagglebee
"Raiders of the Lost Ark" is one of my all-time favorite movies, filled with mystery and adventure. It focuses on the search for a biblical artifact and treasure called The Ark of the Covenant. What makes the movie particularly exciting is how closely it mimics (with some added Hollywood flair) the real life hunt for the lost Ark.
History has it that the original Ark was where God manifested His presence on earth beginning in the days of Moses. The Ark was designed as a chest made of acacia wood overlaid with gold. It had four golden rings. Each one attached to a corner. These rings provided a means to carry the Ark by inserting two wooden bars (also overlaid with gold) on either side. Atop the Ark were two golden cherubim spreading their wings over the Ark's cover also known as the mercy seat.
The Ark itself contained the Ten Commandments and was housed in the innermost room of the Jewish Temple called the Holy of Holies. Here it was the center of worship, although actual access to the Ark was permitted only once a year on the Day of Atonement called Yom Kippur. On that day, the high priest would enter the Holy of Holies with the blood of a goat to make atonement for the sins of the Israelites.
Other contents of the Ark included Aaron's rod and a golden pot of manna. Additionally, the Ark is renowned for its mysterious powers. According to the Bible, when the Ark was carried by the people of Israel into battle, it protected the Israelites, supernaturally defeating any adversaries that came before them.
This explains why in the movie "Raiders of the Lost Ark" the Nazis were intent on obtaining it. Their theory (as the story line goes) was that they would be unbeatable if they possessed the Ark and could harness its mysterious powers. Of course, as both the movie and history would have it, things didn't quite work out for the Nazis.
But what of the Ark?
It is believed to have disappeared with the destruction of the First Temple by King Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon in 586 B.C. The exact whereabouts of the Ark have remained a mystery ever since.
One theory is that the Ark was taken from ancient Jerusalem by Prince Menelik of Ethiopia. Menelik was the son of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. Menelik purportedly brought the Ark to his country for safekeeping where it currently remains housed in a church in Axum.
Another theory is that the Ark was hidden in a secret chamber housed beneath Jerusalem's Temple Mount. The alleged secret chamber was created by either King Solomon, who built the First Temple, or a subsequent king before the temple was plundered by Nebuchadnezzar.
One version of this theory suggests that in the early 12th century a group of nine Frenchmen known as the original Knights Templars excavated beneath the site of the old Temple of Jerusalem. They retrieved the true Ark of the Covenant and secreted it away.
A second more popular version suggests the Ark is still located in a vault somewhere in the miles of tunnels carved beneath the city of Jerusalem. It is believed the location of the Ark will be revealed when the time is right for the Jewish Temple to be built for the third time.
One famous adherent to this theory is Dr. Vendyl Jones. He is a modern-day explorer and teacher and the true inspiration for the Indiana Jones series. Startling the world, he announced last week on Israel National Radio that he actually knows the location of the Ark.
He says according to ancient documents the Ark is hidden in a secret passage that runs 18 miles south of the Temple Mount into the Judean Desert. Before dismissing his claim as a lark, it is worth noting that Jones published a book in 1959 predicting the precise outbreak of the Six Day War.
He calculated the war in 1967 by analyzing the sequence of events in the First Temple period and transposing them on the Third Temple period. The First Temple period began with its original construction in the days of King Solomon. The Third Temple period began according to Jones with the Jews founding an independent state in the land of Israel in 1948.
Now Jones is convinced that with the help of ancient documents found in Qumran, he has pinpointed the location of the Ark. And armed with the blessing of religious leaders, Jones hopes to reveal the location of the Ark by Aug. 14, which marks the Fast of Tisha B'Av. This holy day commemorates repeated tragedy in Jewish history including the destruction of both the First and the Second Holy Temples.
Jones' plan is simple. It is to drill a borehole into the chamber containing the Ark, drop a pin-camera in and reveal the historic treasure to a watching world.
If Jones is right, many predict this event will turn the world upside down. Jones says this will bring an end to the government's plan to uproot Jews of Gaza and northern Samaria. It also will bring the very idea of any Palestinian state to a screeching halt. In fact, Jones predicts quite the opposite will occur. With the discovery of the Ark, the Jewish people will have the greatest motivation of all time to return to Israel from around the world and rebuild the Temple to house this holy treasure.
Of course, whether Jones actually uncovers the Ark is not the sole issue. Equally compelling is proving once more through science that the Bible is more than just a collection of parables. Are you ready for this?
Face melting is not what would happen, according to the bible, which says that people attempting to save the Ark from falling or protect it in some uncorrect manner, actually touched the Ark and were immediately struck dead.
According to this, the ark was taken in 586 from Jerusalem. Probably in the basement of one of Saddam's palaces or buried out in the Iraqi desert somewhere.
Summary?
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Very interesting article on the theory that it was taken south by descendants of the Queen of Sheba, and is still kept in a church in Ethiopia, here:
http://www.crisismagazine.com/julaug2002/feature2.htm
I found this a fascinating read.
Well, either it does not protect one's army in battle, or the French did not excavate and remove it. The two are mutually exclusive.
The Ethopian legend about Menelik does not fit the historical time frames for the events of the appearance of the Ark in Aksum. In all probability, Menelik was not a historical figure.
Not in any way to detract from the expectation of the imminent appearance of the Ark. Chapter 18 of Issiah forecasts the delivery of a gift which is an "ensign" from Ethopia to the Mount of Zion at a time of famine in Ethopia.
Since I do not read Daniel 9:26-27 as requiring construction of a Third Temple, I see the probable circumstances as a little different.
Daniel 9:27 says that at the time of the Abomination of Desolation event, approximately three and one-half years before the return of Jesus Christ, the sacrificial worship system will be terminated by the Prince of 9:26. Obviously, by implication, the worship system must be reinstated prior to that date since it has not been conducted since the late spring of 70 A.D.
Many believers read into this forecast, the proposition that the Temple must be rebuilt to permit the sacrifices to resume. Maybe. But we know of no reason to believe that is so--the sacrifices were conducted many years before the first temple was constructed in a tent and they could be resumed at that location at any time.
Many Jews expect the sacrifices to resume when the Messiah comes--so return of the Ark from Ethopia might well trigger the appearance of an individual of Jewish ancestry in Bethlehem who claims to be the Messiah who will confirm a treaty with Israel initiating the sacrifices.
If he is right, then expect the islamos to go nuts.
There's a movement to rebuild the Temple, and all the pieces have come together (original temple incense, anointing oil,the location of Gilgal,etc), with the exception of the red heifer (may be coming soon), and the Ark of The Covenant.
Oh, yeah, there's a pesky little mosque, the Dome of The Rock, that would need to be razed prior to rebuilding the temple.
Exceedingly incendiary. If the Ark is located, there will be big trouble.
The Ark is in Ethiopia. It formerly got moved a lot and was last used in the successful repulsion of the Italian Army a century ago.
I also think it is important to note that the Communist powers in Ethiopia are unlikely to have allowed a relic of this type remain undisturbed.
The most likely explanations for the fate of the Ark are that it was taken by one of the powers that invaded Israel, or it was hidden by the Temple priests.
I believe the red heifer was born in Israel less than 5 years ago.
Can anybody say, "Al Capone's vault"?
I think the Israelis would do this in a minute as long as they thought that Washington would be supportive.
My personal wish is that it will be found, the sooner the better, and the Third Temple rebuilt. At least we don't have to wait too long to find out if this latest theory is right!
Rev 11:19 And the temple of God was opened in Heaven, and there was seen in His temple the ark of His covenant, and there occurred lightnings and voices, and thunders and an earthquake, and a great hail.
I hope he's real careful with that drill - putting a big hole in the Ark would be a no-no. On the other hand, most oil drilling takes place in a slurry of drilling mud. Filling the Ark with mud is likely a bad idea too.
Yeah, but just before reaching the appropriate age for the sacrifice, she was found to have a few white hairs. We are still waiting for the perfect red heifer.
Thanks...I was about to post the same thing. You beat me to it! ;)
What isn't, are Mohammed's rantings* to justify
rape, murder, pillage, beheadings, promise of
virgins and last but not least the subjugation of women.
This latter rant insures the males must keep the
females under heel.
* These were his "nightly talks with Allah",
while everyone else was asleep.
Very interesting.
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