Catholic Ping
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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?
Two arks. One with the orginal broken tablets from Sinai, the other with Mose's.
Vendly Jones used to be a Christian. He now rejects Christianity, in favor of what Judaism teaches. Read his statement here:
http://www.vendyljones.org.il/message.htm
IIRC the red heifer must be physically perfect as well as entirely red, a flaw of any kind or just one hair of any other color disqualifies her for the sacrificial role. I have heard that a man in TX has been breeding red cattle for several years trying to come up with a heifer that qualifies. I heard that if and when he gets a perfect specimen he plans to make her available to Orthodox rabbis in Israel to be cared for until the time is right for the sacrifice.
The Cohens are descended from the tribe of Levi.
There won't be a problem about who is who when the Davidic kingdom is re-established, because David's royal Son Jesus Christ himself will be it's one and only King for it's entire 1000 year literal existence and he has kept perfect genealogical records from Adam forward.
bttt
Catholic Ping
Please freepmail me if you want on/off this list
Where did I read that?
A natural capacitor with one helluva discharge.
The Palimino or the Morgan?
Not so.
All of the Cohens are Kohites. And they are training at this time to act as priests in the Temple. They are divided in to the various courses exactly as provided for. If a Temple, Israel is prepared to manage it.
As far as the location of the Temple, or of the Holy of Holies, there is in fact dispute about the correct location--one theory having the Holy of Holies over the Cupola of the Winds in the courtyard.
About ten or fifteen years ago, Biblical Archeology Review did a study of the location of the various structures on the Mount--it is not clear. My own view is that the second temple may have been located in a different place than the first although I recognize that is a strech and speculative.
But, nothing requires that the Temple be reconstructed before the sacrifical worship system is started. The sacrifices were conducted for many years in a tent. No reason not to expect that the tent will not be erected on the Mount to house the Ark, with a resumption of the sacrifices.
A couple years ago, when I visited Israel, they told us some people found something in the walls below the Temple Mount, but the CAtholic church or whoever was in charge of that would not allow any archaeological investigation.
I bet it is there.
Observe that there are several groups of identified Jews.
Various orthodox and ultra orthodox sects that believe and attempt to follow the law; and "reform" or "ethnic" Jews who may well understand the Word but who believe God is not involved. And the reaction of the various orthodox groups may not be the same either--the Hassidim object to the nation of Israel on the grounds that it should not exist until Messiah comes.
"Calgary?
What does Canada have to do with anything?
Moonbat alert!!"
ROFL!!!!!!!!!
That is one of the stupidest things I have heard in my life.
Revelation is filled with OT imagery.
The ark is the ark. It is not Mary. The ark is the ark.
Now, whether it is there now I don't know. Much of Revelation is from the future, so it still may be in Earth now.
And besides, God's covenant of grace is the same now as it was back then. As Scripture explains, Abraham's faith was accounted to him as righteousness.
God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. He may express his grace differently, and the fullness of his covenant of grace is in Christ, but I really don't like it when people act like the Old Covenant was somehow worthless and make a distinction between a covenant of works and grace. No, God has had one covenant of grace through all of time.
Although I was always somewhat sketical of the books in the Apocrypha, it does say this in 2 Maccabees, chapter 2: note verses 4 and 5.
1: It is also found in the records, that Jeremy the prophet commanded them that were carried away to take of the fire, as it hath been signified:
2: And how that the prophet, having given them the law, charged them not to forget the commandments of the Lord, and that they should not err in their minds, when they see images of silver and gold, with their ornaments.
3: And with other such speeches exhorted he them, that the law should not depart from their hearts.
4: It was also contained in the same writing, that the prophet, being warned of God, commanded the tabernacle and the ark to go with him, as he went forth into the mountain, where Moses climbed up, and saw the heritage of God.
5: And when Jeremy came thither, he found an hollow cave, wherein he laid the tabernacle, and the ark, and the altar of incense, and so stopped the door.
6: And some of those that followed him came to mark the way, but they could not find it.
7: Which when Jeremy perceived, he blamed them, saying, As for that place, it shall be unknown until the time that God gather his people again together, and receive them unto mercy.
8: Then shall the Lord shew them these things, and the glory of the Lord shall appear, and the cloud also, as it was shewed under Moses, and as when Solomon desired that the place might be honourably sanctified.
9: It was also declared, that he being wise offered the sacrifice of dedication, and of the finishing of the temple.
Your saying there are some so extreme as to not come to see the Ark of the Covenent if it were found?
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