'Ark of the Covenant' about to be unveiled?

[Outta Here]

'Ark of the Covenant' about to be unveil...tifact to world

Quote:

The patriarch of the Orthodox Church of Ethiopia says he will announce to the world Friday the unveiling of the Ark of the Covenant, perhaps the world's most prized archaeological and spiritual artifact, which he says has been hidden away in a church in his country for millennia, according to the Italian news agency Adnkronos.

[carolaa]

It's already Friday in Ethiopia....

[Bravus]

Don't look if you're a Nazi...

[carolaa]

??

[Amelia]

'Ark' revelation: Can they dig it?

Bible buzz begins as hunters wait to view Ten Commandments box

By Chelsea Schilling

Posted: June 25, 2009

© 2009 WorldNetDaily

Ark hunters and Bible enthusiasts are buzzing about a report that the Ark of the Covenant, the ancient container that holds the Ten Commandments, is expected to be unveiled in Rome today.

As WND reported, the patriarch of the Orthodox Church of Ethiopia says he will announce to the world the unveiling of the Ark, which he says has been hidden away in a church in his country for millennia, according to the Italian news agency Adnkronos.

Abuna Pauolos, in Italy for a meeting with Pope Benedict XVI this week, told the news agency, "Soon the world will be able to admire the Ark of the Covenant described in the Bible as the container of the tablets of the law that God delivered to Moses and the center of searches and studies for centuries."

According to the Italian news agency, the announcement is expected to be made at 2 p.m. Italian time (8 a.m. Eastern) from the Hotel Aldrovandi in Rome. Pauolos will reportedly be accompanied by Prince Aklile Berhan Makonnen Haile Sellassie and Duke Amedeo D'Acosta.

"The Ark of the Covenant is in Ethiopia for many centuries," said Pauolos. "As a patriarch I have seen it with my own eyes and only few highly qualified persons could do the same, until now."

Bob Cornuke, biblical investigator, international explorer and best-selling author, has participated in more than 27 expeditions around the world searching for lost locations described in the Bible. A man some consider a real-life Indiana Jones, he has written a book titled "Relic Quest" about the Ark of the Covenant and participated in History Channel production called "Digging for Truth."

Next week, Cornuke will travel to Ethiopia for the 13th time since he began his search for the Ark. He told WND he believes this artifact may be authentic.

"They either have the Ark of the Covenant or they have a replica that they have believed to be the Ark of the Covenant for 2,000 years," he said.

Cornuke said, if it is genuine, there's a plausible explanation of how the Ark may have come to the Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion in Ethiopia.

"The Ark could have been taken out of the temple during the time of the atrocities of Manasseh," he said. "We have kind of a bread crumb trail that appears to go to Egypt, and it stayed on an island there for a couple hundred years called Elephantine Island. The Ark then was transferred over to Lake Tana in Ethiopia where it stayed on Tana Qirqos Island for 800 years. Then it was taken to Axum, where it is enshrined in a temple today where they don't let anybody see it."

Cornuke said he traveled to Tana Qirqos Island and lived with monks who remain there today.

"They unlocked this big, four-inch thick wood door," he said. "It opened up to a treasure room, and they showed me meat forks and bowls and things that they say are from Solomon's temple. When the History Channel did this show, they said it was one of the largest viewed shows. People were fascinated."

He said Ethiopians consider the Ark to be the ultimate holy object, and the church guards the suspected artifact from the "eyes and pollution of man."

"In Ethiopia, their whole culture is centered around worshipping this object," Cornuke said. "Could they have the actual Ark? I think I could make a case that they actually could."

Want to know more about the ancient box holding the Ten Commandments? Get "Exploring the Ark of the Covenant" – a two-DVD set!

However, he said reports about Friday's unveiling are somewhat perplexing because Ethiopia has traditionally shielded it from public view.

"That's the surprise for me," Cornuke said. "I have always thought that they would keep it under wraps."

He explained that a special guardian lives inside the church and never leaves. Once a guardian is appointed, he stays until he dies and another man replaces him.

"We know for a fact that there have been 30 guardians in history who have never left that enclosure," Cornuke said. "I know the guardian. When CNN and BBC went over there, he wouldn't see anybody but me. So I went and talked to him, and he's getting very aged. He told me they have the real Ark and he worships 13 hours a day in front of it. When he gets through, he is covered in sweat and he's exhausted."

He said he met a 105-year-old man who claimed to have seen the Ark 50 years ago when he was training a replacement guardian.

"It frightened him to death when he got a glimpse of it."

Cornuke said he also met with the president of Ethiopia nearly nine years ago and had a one-on-one conversation with him in his palace. He asked if Ethiopia had the Ark of the Covenant.

According to Cornuke, the president responded: "Yes, we do. I am the president, and I know. It's not a copy. It's the real thing."

However, Grant Jeffrey, host of TBN's Bible Prophecy Revealed and well-known author of "Armageddon: Appointment With Destiny," does not believe claims that the Ark is in Ethiopia. He told WND he has spoken extensively with Robert Thompson, former adviser to former Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie.

Jeffrey said Thompson told him the Ark of the Covenant had been taken to Ethiopia by Menelik, purported son of the Queen of Sheba and King Solomon. When Menelik became emperor, he claims royal priests entrusted him with the Ark of the Covenant because King Solomon was slipping into apostasy. A replica was then left behind in Israel.

"The Ethiopian royal chronicles suggest that for 3,000 years, they had been guarding the ark, knowing that it had to go back to Israel eventually," Jeffrey said.

He claims that after the Ethiopian civil war, Israel sent in a group of commandos from the tribe of Levi and the carried the Ark onto a plane and back to Israel in 1991.

"It is being held there secretly, waiting in the eyes of the religious leaders of Israel, for a supernatural signal from God to rebuild the temple," he said. "They are not going to do it before that. When that happens, they will bring the Ark into that temple."

But author and Bible teacher Chuck Missler, founder of Koinonia House, told WND the theory of Menelik obtaining the Ark is not biblical, though he believes there is a possibility that the Ethiopians may have the real deal.

"The fact that the Ethiopians may have been guarding the Ark of the Bible is very possible," he said. "They cling to a belief that is clearly not biblical in terms of how the Ark got down there. But that doesn't mean they don't have it.

Missler said there is no biblical basis for the Menelik account, and he believes there was a reason for that version of events.

"What everybody overlooks is that there's a reason that particular story was cooked up in early times," he said. "It was to give their kings Solomonic descent. There's reason why they would try to sell that. But just because the official belief in how it got down there is not biblical, doesn't mean they don't have it."

Tennessee historian and "Time is the Ally of Deceit" author Richard Rives, searched for the Ark and participated in excavations beneath Mount Moriah outside the walls of ancient Jerusalem. His group was trying to verify claims by relic hunter Ron Wyatt that he actually saw the Ark there several decades ago after tunneling through a small passageway.

While they found Roman ruins from the first century, Rives told WND they were unsuccessful in confirming Wyatt's account. Nonetheless, Rives does not believe the story of Menelik obtaining the artifact or that Ethiopia ever had the real Ark.

"God's presence was on the mercy seat. That was the throne of God," he said.

If the account were accurate, Rives said God would have been dwelling on an Ark replica in Jerusalem.

"I just don't believe they could have persuaded him to sit on a fake Ark of the Covenant," he said.

Many theories exist about the ultimate fate of the Ark, including that it has been hidden in a still unknown location, it was destroyed by enemies of the Israelites, taken by Egyptian invaders to Egypt or removed by divine intervention.

The artifact received additional publicity in 1981 when actor Harrison Ford searched for it in Steven Spielberg's "Raiders of the Lost Ark."

Cornuke said Ethiopians claim their purported Ark is kept in a large stone sarcophagus lined in ornately hammered silver. The Ark itself is made of acacia wood and laminated with a thin veneer of gold. The mercy seat sits atop the Ark and is made of pure, hammered gold and includes two cherubim facing one another.

Whether the artifact is real or simply a copy, Cornuke said unveiling might leave the world with more questions than answers.

"We have only typology to go on," he said. "We could probably have some people analyze the wood samples and come up with some kind of dating protocol on it because it is acacia wood to see if that is it."

Rives said a close inspection of the Ten Commandments would be necessary to ensure they are in accordance with true text and not in accordance with later versions of the Ten Commandments.

Cornuke said experts would also need to determine whether the artifact itself fits the biblical description and trace its path to Ethiopia.

"We are peeking behind the veil of history," he said. "We're taking a glimpse of an artifact that could be a very holy object."

[Bravus]

Carol - ever seen 'Raiders of the Lost Ark'?

[phkrause]

This is interesting Aubrey. Not so sure I buy this, but wouldn't it be something! My problem with this is, unless it was just discovered, why are we just hearing about it?

pk

[Woody]

This has been talked about for many years. This claim is not new.

I am just wondering how many people are going to be struck dead.

[nuff sed]

#1 I wouldn't put much credibility in anything that Bob Cornuke has to say. #2 The patriarch said that there were copies all over Ethiopia.

#3 I think that the Ark of the Covenant is right where Ron Wyatt said it is, though I can't prove it.........................yet.

www.anchorstone.com.

[Woody]

Yes, but Ron says it's been cracked. So we will see if the one being unveiled has a crack. Ha Ha. If not ... maybe it is Ron that is 'cracked' rather than the Ark.

[phkrause]

That was an interesting link Gladussee. I had read or heard this before. Also I have a book at home on the Ark of the Covenant, that someone from Australia wrote. I can't think of his name right now. But anyway, Ron Wyatt had him check into his claim, so the guy actually went to disprove the claim but wound up that he couldn't disprove it.

pk

[Dr. Rich]

If I were you I would not hold my breath! Rev. 11:19 places the ark of the [His] covenant in heaven.

[phkrause]

I think the ark of the covenant they are talking about is the one built by moses.

pk

[John317]

If I were you I would not hold my breath! Rev. 11:19 places the ark of the [His] covenant in heaven.

Rev. 11: 19 is speaking of the original pattern, not the man-made copy made by the people of Israel. It is like the rest of the heavenly sanctuary described in the book of Revelation. Those things weren't transported from earth to heaven.

[Guest WilloMar]

“‘And He gave unto Moses, when He had made an end of communing with him upon Mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.’ (Ex. 31:18) There are abundant evidences of the immutability of God's law. It was written with the finger of God, never to be obliterated, never to be destroyed. The tables of stone are hidden by God, to be produced in the great judgment-day, just as he wrote them.” R & H, March 26, 1908, paragraph 6.

“When God's temple in heaven is opened, what a triumphant time that will be for all who have been faithful and true. In the temple will be seen the ark of the testament in which were placed the two tables of stone, on which are written God's law. These tables of stone will be brought forth from their hiding place, and on them will be seen the ten commandments engraved by the finger of God. These tables of stone now lying in the ark of the testament will be a convincing testimony to the truth and binding claims of God's law.” Manuscript Releases Volume 20 [Nos. 1420-1500] page 221.

“In the temple will be seen the ark of the testament in which were placed the two tables of stone, on which are written God's law. These tables of stone will be brought forth from their hiding place, and on them will be seen the Ten Commandments engraved by the finger of God. These tables of stone now lying in the ark of the testament will be a convincing testimony to the truth and binding claims of God's law.

“Sacrilegious minds and hearts have thought they were mighty enough to change the times and laws of Jehovah; but, safe in the archives of heaven, in the ark of God, are the original commandments, written upon the two tables of stone. No potentate of earth has power to draw forth those tables from their sacred hiding place beneath the mercy seat.

“There appears against the sky a hand holding two tables of stone folded together. Says the prophet: ‘The heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God is judge himself.’ Psalm 50:6. That holy law, God's righteousness, that amid thunder and flame was proclaimed from Sinai as the guide of life, is now revealed to men as the rule of judgment. The hand opens the tables, and there are seen the precepts of the Decalogue, traced as with a pen of fire. The words are so plain that all can read them. Memory is aroused, the darkness of superstition and heresy is swept from every mind, and God's ten words, brief, comprehensive, and authoritative, are presented to the view of all the inhabitants of the earth.

“It is impossible to describe the horror and despair of those who have trampled upon God's holy requirements. . . .The enemies of God's law, from the ministers down to the least among them, have a new conception of truth and duty. Too late they see that the Sabbath of the fourth commandment is the seal of the living God. But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. Matthew 24:36.” Maranatha 286, 7.

Let’s be ready for that Day!

[BobRyan]

The ark of the covenant was secreted away during the days of Jeremiah the prophet - just before Babylon sacked Jerusalem.

Quote:

The Egyptians endeavored to come to the rescue of the beleaguered city; and the Chaldeans, in order to keep them back, abandoned for a time their siege of the Judean capital. Hope sprang up in the heart of Zedekiah, and he sent a messenger to Jeremiah, asking him to pray to God in behalf of the Hebrew nation. {PK 452.2}

The prophet's fearful answer was that the Chaldeans would return and destroy the city. The fiat had gone forth; no longer could the impenitent nation avert the divine judgments. "Deceive not yourselves," the Lord warned His people. "The Chaldeans . . . shall not depart. For though ye had smitten the whole army of the Chaldeans that fight against you, and there remained but wounded men among them, yet should they rise up every man in his tent, and burn this city with fire." Jeremiah 37:9, 10. The remnant of Judah were to go into captivity, to learn through adversity the lessons they had refused to learn under circumstances more favorable. From this decree of the holy Watcher there could be no appeal. {PK 453.1}

Among the righteous still in Jerusalem, to whom had been made plain the divine purpose, were some who determined to place beyond the reach of ruthless hands the sacred ark containing the tables of stone on which had been traced the precepts of the Decalogue. This they did. With mourning and sadness they secreted the ark in a cave, where it was to be hidden from the people of Israel and Judah because of their sins, and was to be no more restored to them. That sacred ark is yet hidden. It has never been disturbed since it was secreted. {PK 453.2}

http://egwwritings.whiteestate.org/nxt/g...pter04071.htm#2

So "IF" the Ethiopians had one since the times of Solomon - it is because they made their own copy.

Given that bit of inspired data - it is far more likely that Wyatt saw the original - than that the Ethiopian priest mentioned in the story - ever saw the original.

in Christ,

Bob

[Kevin H]

Bob: It's been pointed out that this statement came from the source that Mrs. White was copying from and it is a repeat of Jewish legend which on other quotes, when pointed out to Mrs. White that it was not exactly worded this way in the Bible but that she was quoting tradition she would sometimes quote the tradition in one place but not use the tradition in another. No reason why this quote should not be seen in the same light as how she used similar sources. The full legend is that Jeremiah took it out, at least Mrs. White leaves out that part of the legend.

Both my professors at AUC and at Hebrew university gave strong (and basically the same) argument that the ark of the covenant was distroyed by Manasseth and the gold given away when Manasseth was giving away valuables from the temple for tribute. They point out that Jeremiah's comments about the ark hints that the ark already no longer existed.

As for the whole Jewish legend that Jeremiah hid the ark, Jermiah was the dispised high priest of the northern kingdom's cursed high places (or would have been had Hezikiah not distroyed them) one of the cursed decendents of Eli, and banished from the temple under the threat of death, who's priesthood had long ago given up any interest in the Ark.

[Kevin H]

A number of years back in Biblical Archaeology Review Sigred Horn ripped Wyatt's so called ark viewing to shreads.

[John317]

Bob: It's been pointed out that this statement came from the source that Mrs. White was copying from and it is a repeat of Jewish legend which on other quotes, when pointed out to Mrs. White that it was not exactly worded this way in the Bible but that she was quoting tradition she would sometimes quote the tradition in one place but not use the tradition in another. No reason why this quote should not be seen in the same light as how she used similar sources. The full legend is that Jeremiah took it out, at least Mrs. White leaves out that part of the legend.

I don't believe Ellen White would repeat "legend" unless she was shown in vision that it was true. She didn't just repeat what someone said. She often used what people said, true, but she selected part of what they said and rejected other parts, as she did in the matter of counsels on health and as she did in her writing of Desire of Ages and the Sketches of the Life of Paul. She specifically denied that she gave us simply her "opinions." I believe, therefore, that she wouldn't have said what she said about the Ark unless she saw this in vision, or unless the Holy Spirit inspired her to include that information.

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

This doesn't look anything like what I thought the Ark of the Covenant would look like...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/26/ark-of-the-covenant-revea_n_221519.html

[Dr. Rich]

OK, John 317, you are allowed to have your own belief--if you want I guess. I knew Ron Wyatt and was going to dive the red sea with him at one time until he said I was asking too many questions. I will leave it at that.

[Kevin H]

Originally Posted By: Kevin H

Bob: It's been pointed out that this statement came from the source that Mrs. White was copying from and it is a repeat of Jewish legend which on other quotes, when pointed out to Mrs. White that it was not exactly worded this way in the Bible but that she was quoting tradition she would sometimes quote the tradition in one place but not use the tradition in another. No reason why this quote should not be seen in the same light as how she used similar sources. The full legend is that Jeremiah took it out, at least Mrs. White leaves out that part of the legend.

I don't believe Ellen White would repeat "legend" unless she was shown in vision that it was true. She didn't just repeat what someone said. She often used what people said, true, but she selected part of what they said and rejected other parts, as she did in the matter of counsels on health and as she did in her writing of Desire of Ages and the Sketches of the Life of Paul. She specifically denied that she gave us simply her "opinions." I believe, therefore, that she wouldn't have said what she said about the Ark unless she saw this in vision, or unless the Holy Spirit inspired her to include that information.

An example used in Bible class was that she talked about the serpant handing the fruit to Eve. Someone pointed out to her that this was a Jewish Legend and there after she would divide her writings and comments between the serpant handing her the fruit and her reaching out and grabing the fruit to leave open both possibilities

[Woody]

A 'multi-purpose prophet' ?

[carolaa]

Carol - ever seen 'Raiders of the Lost Ark'?

Ohhhhhh.... No.

I don't come out from under my rock much. But I appreciate your attempt to explain. :smile:

[BobRyan]

Bob: It's been pointed out that this statement came from the source that Mrs. White was copying from