Ark of the Covenant History Through Film

Description Bible describes the Ark as made of acacia wood. God gave the instructions for making the Ark. A cubit and a half broad and high and two and a half cubits long (about 3.75 x 2.25 x 2.25 feet). Ark was covered all over with the purest gold. upper surface or lid, the mercy seat, was surrounded with a rim of gold

On each of the two sides were 2 gold rings, where 2 wooden poles could carry the ark On top of the Ark, at the 2 ends, were 2 cherubim (angels) with their faces turned toward one another. Their outspread wings over the top of the ark formed the throne of God, while the ark itself was his footstool.

Contents According to the Bible, the two tablets of stone constituting the "testimony" or evidence of God's covenant with the people (Deuteronomy 31:26) were kept within the Ark itself. 10 Commandments.. The “word” of God himself!!!!

Contents A golden jar containing some of the manna (seed) from the Israelites' trek in the wilderness the rod of Aaron that budded (miracle) These items were removed at some point as stated in I Kings 8:9 that there "was nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone."

Prophets’ References Ark of the Covenant is mentioned by prophets in both the Bible and the Qur'an (Islamic holy book).

Present Location? Middle East 1989: Ron Wyatt claimed to uncovered a chamber underneath Mount Moriah (Temple Mount) claims to have seen the ark and taken pics (blurry) Wyatt said excavations were closed off (private property) and no one has seen the Ark since.

Temple Mount, Jerusalem

Present Location? Middle East Vendyl Jones claimed to have found the entrance to the chamber in the cave of the Column - Qumran. Here, he stated, is where the Ark was hidden prior to the destruction of the First Temple. Jones is waiting for funding to explore the cave.

Cave of the Column- Qumran

Present Location? Africa During King Manasseh’s reign the Ark was smuggled from the temple by way of the Well of Souls and taken to Egypt, ending up in Ethiopia.

Present Location? Africa Some carvings on the Cathedral of Chartres refer to this. Theory was dramatized by George Lucas and Steven Spielberg in the story and screenplay for the movie Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Present Location? Ethiopian Orthodox Church Ethiopian Orthodox Church in Axum, Ethiopia is the only one in the world which still claims to possess the Ark of the Covenant.

Present Location? Ethiopian Orthodox Church According to stories, after King Solomon’s son had come to Jerusalem to visit his father, Solomon had given him a copy of the Ark, and commanded him to travel back to Ethiopia to settle there.

Present Location? Ethiopian Orthodox Church These people did not want to live away from the Ark, so they switched the copy with the original

Present Location? Ethiopian Orthodox Church Was once paraded in town once each year Now it is kept under constant guard in a "treasury" near the Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion;only the head priest of the church is allowed to view it.

The Chapel of the Tablet at the Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion

Present Location? Valley of Kings, Egypt Scientist claims that the hiding place of the ark to be "a desolate valley under a hill - on its east side, forty stones deep” (from ancient Jewish text).

Present Location? Valley of Kings, Egypt Some believe this refers to the Tomb of Tutankhamun (east side of the Valley of Kings, about 40 stones deep).

Valley of the Kings, Egypt

Power of the Ark The Ark was God's throne; it was the visible sign of God's presence and protection on Earth God's presence did not dwell inside the box, but remained over the Ark, in between the two Cherubim

Tool by which high priests could communicate with God; “radio transmitter” God’s power channeled through the Ark… wipe out whole armies and destroy walls