by Jim Bramlett
The ark was used by the Israelites for hundreds of years and suddenly it was no longer mentioned in history. Scholars believe that it was lost when the Babylonians captured Jerusalem in 586 B.C. But what was its fate? Was it destroyed, or was it kept and hidden by its captors? Or did something else happen? Because it was so holy, would God actually allow its desecration and destruction?
Because it was so revered, it is very strange that no one mentioned it again. And, of course, it reportedly has never been found by archaeologists. It has been a great mystery for over 2,500 years.
Popular theories. The whereabouts of the ark is not without many opinions, theories, and speculations. Below are some of the more popular ideas where it may be:
1. Some claim the ark is presently known by Israeli authorities to be in a tunnel beneath the historic Temple Mount in Jerusalem, hidden there by temple priests just before the Babylonian invasion. A Muslim mosque currently sits on that site and they say the ark cannot presently be revealed due to the sensitive political situation. Orthodox Jews have, in fact, already made specific plans for a new temple on that historically Jewish sitethe Third Templeand the ark supposedly will be brought forth at the appropriate time. But if revealed now, they say, Muslims would go ballistic at the suggestion their mosque would be destroyed and replaced by a temple for the Jews. Muslims even deny that the Jews ever occupied that piece of real estate, sacred land the use of which goes back about 4,000 years in Jewish history, whereas Islam itself only goes back about 1,400 years, with no interest in that area until years later.
2. In his 1988 book, Armageddon: Appointment With Destiny, author Grant R. Jeffrey claims to document that the ark has been in Ethiopia since Solomon’s day, taken there by Solomon’s son from the Queen of Sheba, Menelik, to preserve it during a time of apostasy in Israel. In its place, the book says that Menelik left behind a replica. Jeffrey provides some interesting documentation, with photos. (It is possible, of course, that Menelik unknowingly took a replica himself.) By the way, black Jews comprise a large community in Ethiopia, referred to as Beta Israel (the house of Israel), and many have emigrated to Israel. Operation Solomon, a two-day Israeli airlift of 14,310 Ethiopian Jews to the Holy Land, occurred in May 1991. This is all very interesting history. This aliyah (emigration of Jews to Israel) is part of a modern-day, world-wide phenomenon foretold by the ancient prophets, such as Ezekiel, when he wrote to “the house of Israel” about something that never happened until the 20th century:
For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land (36:24).
This Ethiopian connection reminds us of the story in the New Testament about the Ethiopian eunuch visiting Jerusalem to worship and was encountered by Philip, as recorded in the book of Acts, chapter 8.
3. Author and publisher J.R. Church of Prophecy in the News magazine also has said that the ark has been in Ethiopia, but Church believes the ark was taken there through Egypt and a different route by exiled Jews.
(I have the highest respect for the scholarship of both Grant Jeffrey and J.R. Church)
4. The apocryphal book, 2 Maccabees, chapter 2, verses 4-8, records that the prophet Jeremiah hid the ark in a cave on Mount Nebo, the place where Moses had been allowed by God to look into the Promised Land. The passage says that Jeremiah’s companions later went back to mark the location but could not find it. It is recorded that Jeremiah then made a most interesting prophetic statement:
The place shall remain unknown until God finally gathers His people together and shows mercy to them. Then the Lord will bring these things to light again, and the glory of the Lord will appear with the cloud…
While 2 Maccabees is not generally accepted or canonized as inspired Scripture, it does not mean the information about the ark is necessarily incorrect. That reported prophecy by Jeremiah is intriguing, especially since God has been gathering His people Israel together in the land for the past few decades for the first time in almost 2,000 years.
5. Some believe the Roman Catholic Church has the ark hidden in the Vatican, but I am not aware of any evidence of this.
6. The most bizarre claim, as mentioned in my last message, is that of the late archeologist Ron Wyatt, who claimed that he found the ark while digging beneath Golgotha where Jesus was crucified. Below the location of the cross, he claimed, is a crack in the rock structure through which Jesus’ blood seeped, and blood was found on the Mercy Seat below, where it had dripped. Blood tests reportedly show the blood to be a person without a human father, which of course would have been the virgin-born Jesus, the Lamb of God. If the ark is there, Israeli authorities probably know about it. This is a fascinating claim, believed by many, but frankly I do not know whether or not it is credible. Wyatt’s materials are available at Wyatt Archeological Research, Inc. in Cornersville, Tennessee. Since my message the other day I have had communications with a friend I respect who knew Ron Wyatt, who traveled with him to Israel, observed his operation, and who is absolutely persuaded that he and his claims were genuine.
The Islamic Mahdi. The devil always has a counterfeit! Some Islamic scholars believe that when their messianic figure, the Mahdi, comes, he will locate the ark. According to a leading Islamic authority, “The coming of the Mahdi is established doctrine for both Sunni and Shi’a Muslims, and indeed for all humanity.” One Islamic source states that the discovery of the ark will help the Mahdi win converts from both Christianity and Judaism prior to “eradicating” the remainder who do not convert to Islam, a part their plan of world conquest. Some Christian scholars believe this Mahdi may be the antichrist of the Bible, or connected with him. If so, that explains the “eradication” attempt probably during the Great Tribulation prophesied in the Bible to occur at the end of the age. At this writing, Iran's leader, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, believes the Mahdi will arrive in the very near future and he hopes to start a world conflict to trigger his arrival.
A heavenly possibility?
There is one more interesting and compelling possibility. All the above theories notwithstanding, I may have discovered the actual location of the famous ark! If so, it is cared for, specially preserved, and in absolutely perfect condition.
What is this location?
I have evidence that the ark is actually located in heaven!
This is not just a personal opinion. I discovered it in the Bible. I was shocked when I found this, but it’s very clear. The Book of Revelation tells us:
God’s temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant (Revelation 11:19)
How did it get there? It could have been literally “taken up” into heaven the same way that Enoch and later Elijah were suddenly taken up from earth to heaven.
The ark just might be in heaven, right now, and not just later! That would explain why it has been considered “lost” and why it is such a mystery. No wonder it hasn’t been found. Maybe it wasn’t meant to be found.
One of the above theories 1 through 6 may also be correct, but even so, I know we will eventually see it in heaven.
Even if there are claims that the ark has been found, we may never know if it is the original, genuine ark, or only a replica, as Jeffrey posits in his book mentioned above.
I once shared this opinion of the ark’s whereabouts with a friend who had an advanced degree in biblical studies. He replied, “But I always thought that verse was metaphorical and not literal.”
I said, “Well, maybe, but I’ll tell you what. Let’s just see. I’ll bet you that when you get to heaven you will find the ark there just like it says.” He didn’t have an answer or take the bet. Of course, I was joking about a bet, but it made my point. I have no reason to suspect that the description is not literal. I know we will see the ark in heaven.
Why would God take the ark and its contents directly to heaven, or why will we eventually find it there? Well, no one knows, but I have a good idea. First, I believe it is because the ark and its contents, the tablets of the Ten Commandments, are so sacred. But more importantly, I believe it is God’s plan for the presence of the ark to be an eternal testimony for the citizens of heaven - a testimony of the eternal blood covenant. It will be a reminder that He gave His own blood to “cover” the accusations of the law against His people. Not a bad reminder.
I hope it is there, for whatever reason. I want to see it. Then I want to say, “Thank you, Lord, for all that you did for us. It’s really great to be here.”
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