Exodus 25-26: Ark of the Covenant and Mercy Seat

by COGwriter

This article is part of a series covering the entire Book of Exodus.

We have three articles covering earlier chapters in the Book of Exodus.

Exodus and the Days of Unleavened Bread covers chapters 1-6, and parts of others.

Reasons, Proofs, and Ramifications of the Ten Plagues of Exodus covers chapters to 7-15 and parts of others.

Exodus 16-19 which covers all of those verses--here is a link to a related sermon: Exodus 16-19: Manna, Governance, and End Time Protection.

Exodus 20: The Ten Commandments which covers all the verses in that chapter: A related sermon is available: Exodus 20: The Ten Commandments.

Exodus 21-24: These are the Judgments–here is a link to a related sermon: Exodus 21-24: Judgments.

Chapter 25

Do you know about the Ark of the Covenant? What about the Mercy Seat?

Could the Ark of the Covenant be in Ethiopia? What about Ireland? What about Israel?

Let's go through Exodus 25 as well as other information to address these questions.

It may be of interest to note that the Bible (NKJV version) uses term 'the ark of the covenant' 43 times. It is called the 'ark of the testimony' 13 times, 'ark of God 37 times, and 'ark of the Lord' 37 times. So, 130 times in the NKJV version of the Bible. It uses the term 'mercy seat' 28 times.

Now, in the 25th chapter of Exodus God gives information about an offering for something He wants:

1 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 2 "Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring Me an offering. From everyone who gives it willingly with his heart you shall take My offering. 3 And this is the offering which you shall take from them: gold, silver, and bronze; 4 blue, purple, and scarlet thread, fine linen, and goats' hair; 5 ram skins dyed red, badger skins, and acacia wood; 6 oil for the light, and spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet incense; 7 onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod and in the breastplate.

Here is part of why God requested those:

8 And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them. 9 According to all that I show you, that is, the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings, just so you shall make it.

Before going further, let's point out that the New Testament shows a new tabernacle is coming:

3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." (Revelation 21:3-4)

There will not be the distance between God and His creation like we presently see. This is something that the biblical Feast of Tabernacles pictures.

Anyway, the bulk of the remainder of Exodus 25 is God's instruction concerning the construction of the mercy seat and the ark of the covenant which Moses was to make and put in a particular section of the Tabernacle.

Continuing in Exodus 25:

10 "And they shall make an ark of acacia wood; two and a half cubits shall be its length, a cubit and a half its width, and a cubit and a half its height. 11 And you shall overlay it with pure gold, inside and out you shall overlay it, and shall make on it a molding of gold all around. 12 You shall cast four rings of gold for it, and put them in its four corners; two rings shall be on one side, and two rings on the other side. 13 And you shall make poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold. 14 You shall put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark, that the ark may be carried by them. 15 The poles shall be in the rings of the ark; they shall not be taken from it. 16 And you shall put into the ark the Testimony which I will give you.

Here information in the New Testament about some of these matters:

1 Then indeed, even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service and the earthly sanctuary. 2 For a tabernacle was prepared: the first part, in which was the lampstand, the table, and the showbread, which is called the sanctuary; 3 and behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All, 4 which had the golden censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron's rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant; 5 and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail. 6 Now when these things had been thus prepared, the priests always went into the first part of the tabernacle, performing the services. 7 But into the second part the high priest went alone once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people's sins committed in ignorance; 8 the Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing. 9 It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience-- 10 concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation. 11 But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. 12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, 14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (Hebrews 9:1-14)

So, Christians do not need the earthly Ark of the Covenant or animal sacrifices for the cleansing of sins.

Ideas About the Ark of the Covenant

Many have speculated or made assertions about the location of the Ark of the Covenant.

Locations from Ethiopia to Israel to Ireland to Heaven have been claimed.

Here is a claim about a Jerusalem location of the biblical Ark of the Covenant:

Ark of Covenant resting beneath Temple Mount?

With Mideast in turmoil, new evidence Solomon made provisions to hide

WND – Sept 22, 2012

One of the persistent theories about the whereabouts of the Ark is that it lay buried in secret tunnels and passageways constructed by King Solomon for the specific purpose of keeping it from enemies who might one day capture and destroy the Temple.

Now there is compelling new evidence that’s just what happened – and that the Ark still rests beneath the chamber known as the Holy of Holies, moved there through an elaborate machine constructed under the direction of Solomon long before the invasion of the Babylonians and the sacking of the Temple.  http://www.wnd.com/2012/09/ark-of-covenant-resting-beneath-temple-mount/

Here is something related to the late Ron Wyatt:

The Ark of the Covenant Special Article

AT THIS TIME, WYATT ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH CAN PROVIDE NO CONCLUSIVE EVIDENCE REGARDING THE DISCOVERY OF THE ARK OF THE COVENANT.

There are many claims being made today as to the location of the Ark of the Covenant and the purpose of this site is to give you an opportunity to hear Ron Wyatt’s story as he has told it and his wife has written it...

One day in Jerusalem, after the swelling in Ron’s legs and feet went down a bit, he decided to go sightseeing in the immediate area around his hotel near the Damascus Gate. Walking along an ancient stone quarry, known to some as “the Calvary Escarpment,” he began conversing with a local authority about Roman antiquities. At one point, they stopped walking, and Ron’s left hand pointed to a site being used as a trash dump and he stated, “That’s Jeremiah’s Grotto and the Ark of the Covenant is in there.” Even though these words had come from his own mouth and his own hand had pointed, he had not consciously done or said these things. In fact, it was the first time he had ever thought about excavating for the Ark.

The man with him, quite out of character, also reacted strangely. He said, “That’s wonderful! We want you to excavate, and we’ll furnish your permits, put you up in a place to stay and even furnish your meals!”

But Ron didn’t know what to think – he knew it was a “supernatural” experience, but was it of God, or was it of “someone else”? ...

Jerusalem is situated on 2 hills, traditionally referred to as “Mt. Moriah” and Mt. Zion”. ...

The quarry which contains the site Ron was to excavate is part of the northern extension of Mt. Moriah. ...

The site Ron pointed to was along the quarried face (escarpment) of “Mt. Moriah”. This cliff-face is referred to by some as “the Calvary escarpment” because it contains the “skull-face” that many believe was “Golgotha” or “Calvary” where Christ was crucified.

It also contains the site traditionally called “Jeremiah’s Grotto”, the “Garden Tomb” (where many believe Christ was buried) and St. Etienne which contains a large complex of Jewish tombs dating to the 1st and 2nd temple periods cut into the side of the mountain. ...

It was January, 1979 when Ron and the boys returned to Jerusalem. ...They dug straight down along the cliff face, forming a steep wall with the earth they removed. Almost immediately, Ron noticed a “shelf-like” niche cut into the face of the cliff. Digging down further, he discovered there were 3 of these “niches” cut into the face of the cliff with a smaller one on the right side.

He was convinced that these were cut into the cliff-face to hold “signs” or notices. And because of the location – in the vicinity of the “skull-face”, and because there were 3 of these, he believed they were where the notices stating the crime of the crucifixion victim in 3 languages were placed. ...

By this time, Ron and the boys had ... had begun in January of 1979 ... Of course, they weren’t working constantly ... 2:00 pm, Wednesday, January 6, 1982. Shining his flashlight down through the massive pile of large rocks, his eye caught a glimpse of something shiny. ...

Crawling slowly and painfully over the rocks to the rear of the chamber, he saw a stone case extending through the rocks. ...

When he realized that the crack in the ceiling was the end of the crack he had found in the elevated cross-hole many feet above him, and the black substance was blood which had fallen through the crack and into the stone case, he KNEW the Ark was in the stone case. But the most overwhelming realization was that Christ’s Blood had actually fallen onto the Mercy Seat. ...

The objects he saw in that chamber that he feels confident in identifying are: the Ark of the Covenant in the Stone case;

1. the Table of Shewbread;
2. the Golden Altar of Incense that was in front of the veil;
3. the Golden Censer;
4. the 7-branched Candlestick holder, (which didn’t have candles but had tiny, bowlike golden oil lamps which are built into the tips of the candlestick);
5. a very large sword;
6. an Ephod;
7. a Miter with an ivory pomegranate on the tip;
8. a brass shekel weight; numerous oil lamps;

and a brass ring which appeared to be for hanging a curtain or something similar. There are more objects, but these are all Ron could positively identify. https://wyattmuseum.com/the-ark-of-the-covenant-special-article/2011-338 retrieved 04/04/19

One COG leader I discussed this with mentioned that he believed Ron Wyatt got his information from demons and that he really did not see the Ark. Also, be careful about believing that this was the site of Jesus' execution--specifically because "the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city" (John 19:20), whereas the site Ron Wyatt was in was in the ancient city (though some think that it could have been outside the original walls of Jerusalem).

Now notice another view of the Ark’s location:

9 January 2014

livescience.com – A newly translated Hebrew text claims to reveal where treasures from King Solomon’s temple were hidden and discusses the fate of the Ark of the Covenant itself.

But unlike the Indiana Jones movie “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” the text leaves the exact location of the Ark unclear and states that it, and the other treasures, “shall not be revealed until the day of the coming of the Messiah son of David …” putting it out of reach of any would-be treasure seeker…

The newly translated text, called “Treatise of the Vessels” (Massekhet Kelim in Hebrew), says the “treasures were concealed by a number of Levites and prophets,” writes James Davila, a professor at the University of St. Andrews, in an article in the book “Old Testament Pseudepigrapha More Noncanonical Scriptures Volume 1" (William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2013).

“Some of these (treasures) were hidden in various locations in the Land of Israel and in Babylonia, while others were delivered into the hands of the angels Shamshiel, Michael, Gabriel and perhaps Sariel …” writes Davila in his article.

The treatise is similar in some ways to the metallic “Copper Scroll,” one of the Dead Sea Scrolls found near the site of Qumran in the West Bank. The Copper Scroll also discusses the location of hidden treasure, although not from Solomon’s Temple…The Copper Scroll, which dates back around 1,900 years, and is made of copper, shows several “striking parallels” with the newly translated treatise, Davila said.  http://topinfopost.com/2014/01/09/the-ark-of-covenant-revealed-in-hebrew-text

I have heard of that Hebrew claim years before the above came out.

Notice something from late 2018:

Archaeologists shed new light on Biblical site linked to the Ark of the Covenant

Archaeologists believe they have shed new light on Biblical site linked to the Ark of the Covenant in the heart of Israel.

Excavations in Israel are shedding new light on the history of a Biblical site linked to the Ark of the Covenant.

Specifically, archaeologists are focusing their attention on the ancient site of Kiriath-Jearim, which is mentioned in the Bible as one of the places where the Ark of the Covenant stood.

According to Israeli news site Haaretz, experts are convinced that the site of Kiriath-Jearim is a hill on the outskirts of Abu Ghosh, a village near Jerusalem. Excavations in 2017 offered a fascinating glimpse into the history of the hill, where the church of Our Lady of the Ark of the Covenant now stands. …

The Ark of the Covenant continues to be a source of fascination. The Ark was eventually brought from Kiriath-Jearim to Jerusalem by King David but disappeared when the city was destroyed by the Babylonians in 587BC, prompting multiple theories about its fate. While some people believe that the Ark’s gold was melted down, there have also been claims that it was taken to cave on Mount Nebo, Jordan, or to Ethiopia. 12/20/18 https://www.news.com.au/technology/science/archaeology/archaeologists-shed-new-light-on-biblical-site-linked-to-the-ark-of-the-covenant/news-story/54d6e1199f6805869ef21ea9da968e32

There have been several places speculated as the final earthly resting place of the Ark of the Covenant.

As far Kiriath-Jearim/Kirjath-jearim goes it is several miles west-north-west of Jerusalem. The Ark was there for a time, and then it went to Jerusalem.

What happened was that it was in Jerusalem, but the children of Israel brought it to a battle and lost it (1 Samuel 4-6).

Notice something from The Bible Story, Volume IV from the old Worldwide Church of God related to what happened later:

David Brings the Ark to Jerusalem

With the Philistines again defeated through God’s help, David was for a time free to apply himself to matters other than war. For one thing, he wanted to bring the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem from the hill town of Kirjath-jearim. There it had been left many years before, after the Philistines had fearfully sent it back following their miserable experiences with it. (I Samuel 6.)

Traveling with many Israelite leaders and musicians, and with a magnificent procession of thousands of soldiers to put down any possible trouble from the Philistines, David went to the home of a man named Abinadab in Kirjath-jearim, about eight miles west of Jerusalem. (II Samuel 6:1-2.) The ark had been in that home for several decades, where it was watched over by a priest named Eleazar, one of Abinadab’s sons. (I Samuel 7:1-2).

The ark was loaded on a cart that had been built especially for the purpose of transporting it, although that was not the means by which God meant it to be carried. (Exodus 25:10-16; Exodus 37:1-5.) Uzzah and Ahio, two of Abinadab’s sons, drove the ox team that pulled the cart. (II Samuel 6:3.) To give an air of celebration to the bringing of the ark to Jerusalem, David’s musicians walked before the cart and played their harps, tambourines, cymbals, drums and psalteries. David marched behind the cart, and behind him came the thousands who had accompanied him to obtain the ark.

As the colorful procession neared Jerusalem, one of the oxen stumbled in a rut. The cart was jerked so severely that it appeared that the ark might tumble over. Without giving a thought to what the result would be, Uzzah reached out to steady the ark with one hand. That was the last act of his life. (II Samuel 6:4-7.) 

The ark was to be handled only by the poles that were extended through its rings, and touching it was strictly forbidden. (Numbers 4:15.) God made no exception with Uzzah, even though that man’s intentions may not have been consciously wrong. Uzzah should have known the consequences, for the Levites had copies of God’s Word. They were required to know what they were doing and to keep the Scriptures always before them. (Deuteronomy 17:18-20.)

When David saw that Uzzah was dead, he was very grieved. The happy temperament of the whole procession sank. Thinking that God may have been displeased because of the moving of the ark, David decided not to try to take it any farther. He directed that it should be left at the nearby home of an acquaintance named Obed-edom, who lived on the western outskirts of Jerusalem. (II Samuel 6:8-10.)

As the weeks went by, David became more concerned about the ark. He feared he might be responsible for bringing some kind of curse on Obed-edom by leaving the ark with him. Three months after Uzzah’s death, upon inquiring about Obed-edom, David was pleasantly relieved to learn that the man had recently come into a state of prosperity and that everything was going well for all his family. Some members of his family who had been ill were enjoying the best of health because they had been suddenly and miraculously healed. David could only conclude that God had blessed the people in Obed-edom’s home because of the presence of the ark there. (II Samuel 6:11.) This caused him to decide to go at once to bring it to Jerusalem.

The Right Way to Rejoice

Having planned and prepared more carefully this time, David and the high priest instructed Levites in how to handle the ark. (I Chronicles 15:2.) They carried it on foot as they should, holding the poles on their shoulders. Musicians and singers went ahead of the ark, and there was constant music and happy shouting. As before, a great throng followed. Occasionally the ark bearers would stop with their load and burnt offerings would be made nearby on temporary altars that had been built along the route into Jerusalem.

As the procession entered the city, David felt constrained to express his gay and thankful emotions by dancing. Tossing aside his royal tunic, he broke into a very strenuous series of surprisingly graceful leaps and gyrations to the accompaniment of the musicians. The crowd was pleased. (II Samuel 6:12-15.) Probably God was pleased, too, because the Bible says that we should praise the Creator by song, instrumental music and proper dancing. (Psalm 33:1-3).

Since the Ark of the Covenant was removed from Kirjath-jearim, it would seem that it would not have been taken back there for safe-keeping, but perhaps that was a possibility.

As far as a possible Ethiopian location goes, the main story that the Ethiopians have tended to believe contradicts scripture. Also, noting what happened to Uzzah, it would not seem that the Ark would have made it to Ethiopia.

Nevertheless, each year, there are parades in Ethiopia were a replica of the Ark is carried (and some of these ‘replicas’ are only a few inches thick and tend to be covered up. Notice a photo from Pixabay of such an event:

'Ark' procession (Photo via Pixabay)

Here is something I read from an account about the Ark and Ethiopia in 1710 (and yes, the English is hard to read as the source is difficult and some words clearly are spelled incorrectly as far as we in the 21st century are concerned as it has an “f” often where we would have an “s”):

Then the aforesaid Book proceeds to give an Account how the first begotten, at the Initi’gation of Azariah the Son of Sadoc the fable about Prieft, took an Oath to one another to carry away with them the Ark. Ark of the Covenant, which they call’d the Heavenly Sion and that going by Night to the Temple, Providence fo ordering it, they found the Gates open, and put the Ark upon a Cart, and being attended by abundance of People, with much Wealth, and great Acclamations, they travell’d to fwiftly, that Solomon, who went to recover the Ark, could not overtake them, and with the fame Expedition they crofs’d the ‘Red Sea as joyfully as the Children of Ifrael had done, with only this Difference, that the Ifraelites pafs’d it on Foot without being wet, and they flying in their Chariots ; fo that the Sea obey’d the “former, and the Air was fubfervient to the latter.

This Book farther tells us, that when Queen Maqueda underfood that her Son already made King was coming, and brought along with him all the firft begotten, as alfo the Ark of the Heavemly God of Sion, (he went out with great Solemnity to meet them, and plac’d the Ark in the Temp!e of the Laud of Maqueda, all the People of Ethiopia receiving the Knowledge of the true God (Balthazar Telles, John Stevens. The Travels of the Jesuits in Ethiopia. J Knapton, 1710, University of Lausanne, p. 69).

The above would not seem biblically possible, but the Ethiopians have long believed that the Ark is in their country and that a son of Solomon (with the Queen of Sheba as his mother), who is not mentioned in the Bible, brought it there.

However, the Bible shows that well after Solomon’s sons would have died (Solomon began his reign c. 970 B.C.), that the Ark was still in Jerusalem:

2 Now Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes, the chief fathers of the children of Israel, in Jerusalem, that they might bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord up from the City of David, which is Zion. 3 Therefore all the men of Israel assembled with the king at the feast, which was in the seventh month. 4 So all the elders of Israel came, and the Levites took up the ark. 5 Then they brought up the ark, the tabernacle of meeting, and all the holy furnishings that were in the tabernacle. The priests and the Levites brought them up. 6 Also King Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel who were assembled with him before the ark, were sacrificing sheep and oxen that could not be counted or numbered for multitude. 7 Then the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the Lord to its place, into the inner sanctuary of the temple, to the Most Holy Place, under the wings of the cherubim. 8 For the cherubim spread their wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubim overshadowed the ark and its poles. 9 The poles extended so that the ends of the poles of the ark could be seen from the holy place, in front of the inner sanctuary; but they could not be seen from outside. And they are there to this day. 10 Nothing was in the ark except the two tablets which Moses put there at Horeb, when the Lord made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they had come out of Egypt. (2 Chronicles 5:2-10)

The "there to this day" comment may have been inserted by Hezekiah or someone past him.

Notice further absolute biblical proof that one of Solomon'direct sons did not take the Ark:

35:1 Now Josiah kept a Passover to the LORD in Jerusalem, and they slaughtered the Passover lambs on the fourteenth day of the first month. 2 And he set the priests in their duties and encouraged them for the service of the house of the LORD. 3 Then he said to the Levites who taught all Israel, who were holy to the LORD: “Put the holy ark in the house which Solomon the son of David, king of Israel, built. It shall no longer be a burden on your shoulders. Now serve the LORD your God and His people Israel (2 Chronicles 35:1-3).

Somehow, the Ark was out of the Temple, and Josiah put it back. "(Yer. Sheḳ. vi. 49c). Another tradition records that it was King Josiah who hid the Ark and other sacred vessels, for fear that if they were taken to Babylonia they would never be brought back (ib.)" (Ark of the Covenant. Jewish Encyclopedia of 1906)"

Before going further, there is a Jewish tradition that

Chart via Wikipedia

The incident with Josiah was around 621 B.C.

Thus, if the Ark of the Covenant possibly made it to Ethiopia it was not until centuries after Solomon's sons died that it left Jerusalem.

But there in another Ethiopian story:

Is the Ark of the Covenant in Africa or Is It an Anti-Semitic Hoax?

December 4, 2018

A theory claiming the Ark of the Covenant is in Ethiopia has resurfaced. The theory is unproven and seems to be based more in its author’s personal agenda, deep within Replacement Theology rather than archaeology and fact.

Bob Cornuke, a former police investigator, and author of Cornuke theorized in his book In Search of the Ark of the Covenant that around 701 BCE, during the reign of King Manasseh, the Ark was taken from Solomon’s Temple and carried away to Elephantine Island in Egypt. Cornuke points to ruins of a temple that according to his claims, matches the dimensions of Solomon’s temple in Jerusalem. Cornuke believes this was an emergency temple built to house the Ark. The Egyptian temple was destroyed in 410 BCE, at which point Cornuke believes the Ark was moved to Ethiopia. …

Cornuke spoke with a 105-year-old priest who once was the Administrator at St. Mary’s of Zion who claimed he was allowed to see the Ark during a transition period after the death of a previous Guardian and described it as “a gold box with two winged angels on top.”

Cornuke admitted that there was no proof the Ark was in Axum.

“At this juncture, we cannot say with certainty that it is, but neither can we say for certain that it isn’t,” Cornuke wrote. “What we have concluded is that St. Mary’s of Zion church in Axum, Ethiopia, is the resting place either of an incredible replica of the biblical Ark of the Covenant, or, of the actual Ark of the Covenant itself.” …

Harry Moskoff, a writer/journalist and investigative archaeologist, disagrees with Cornuke’s theory. In his book, The Ark Report: The Ark of the Covenant and the Tunnels of Israel, Moskoff discusses his theory of the ark’s location based research as well as ancient Jewish sources.

“The Ark is where it has always been for the past 2,700 years; in a sealed room under the Temple Mount, told Breaking Israel News. “The Talmud states this explicitly in several places. There are about 50 tunnels under the Temple Mount that were mapped out about 150 years ago by Sir Charles Warren but never fully explored. Maimonides describes the Ark as being about 45 feet underground at the end of several mazes.”

“Jewish sources state that King Hosea hid the Ark 37 years before the destruction of the First Temple, Moskoff said. “Jerusalem was not even being threatened but he did so out of divine guidance. Based on my sources, I believe it is directly below where the Holy of Holies was. They needed the Ark in order to do the Temple service but they also needed to hide it. Since it was in the same place just buried.”

Moskoff emphasized that the history of the Temple is well-documented in Jewish sources and there are no claims that the Ark, the central feature of the Temple, ever left Jerusalem.

“Persian King Cyrus listed everything taken from the First Temple and the Ark was not on the list,” Moskoff said. “Even when Ezra and Nehemiah built the Second Temple they couldn’t find the Ark. The Talmud states that there were five things from the First Temple that were missing from the Second Temple, and the Ark was one of those things. The Holy of Holies was completely empty.” …

Moskoff suggested that the church in Ethiopia may contain an artifact though not the Ark of the Covenant containing the stone tablets given to Moses on Mount Sinai.

“The Talmud says that duplicates of many of the Temple utensils were made in case they became ritually impure,” Moskoff said. “Though it is not mentioned explicitly and it is highly unlikely, it could be that a duplicate Ark was made and that is what is in Ethiopia. We also know that the Egyptians made things resembling the Ark of the Covenant. There might be something in Ethiopia but it is certainly not the Ark of the Covenant.” …

Moskoff believes the motives behind Cornuke’s theory is based in Replacement Theology much more than a historical curiosity.

“This is Replacement Theology with a pretty cover story that really makes no sense,” Moskoff said. “The Arabs and anyone who does not want the Temple to be rebuilt try very hard to put as much distance between the Jews and the Temple Mount as possible, even going as far as to contradicting archaeological evidence and historical accounts. It is based in theology but has real-world anti-Israel political implications.”

Moskoff’s theory and search for the ark are based in facts and research but his motives are religious.

“The Ark is what brings the Shechina to the Temple Mount,” Moskoff said. “Without the Ark, the Temple Mount is not holy; not to the Jews and not to anyone.” https://www.breakingisraelnews.com/118082/ark-covenant-africa-anti-semitic-hoax/

Perhaps I should mention that I watched a documentary on this other way the Ark supposedly got to Ethiopia featuring someone other than Dr. Cornuke, plus have read Robert Cornuke's book about a lot of this. It is claimed that certain temple implements went to Elephantine Island in Egypt, and remain there, so some consider this as evidence that some Levitical priests did get to Elephantine Island in Egypt and on its way to Ethiopia.

So, if the Ark went to Ethiopia (which is highly doubtful), maybe it first was in Egypt and moved by Levites, like Robert Cornuke seems to believe. That may be at least biblically plausible. But, I and others are not convinced.

More likely one or more temple implements (or copies of implements) and/or replica of the Ark somehow ended up in Ethiopia. And then the legend sprang from that. It is also not much of stretch to think that some temple implement arrived and someone made a replica.

Currently, there is a monk from Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church that oversees the chapel that the claimed Ark of the Covenant is at. The guardian monk is appointed for life by his predecessor before the predecessor dies. If the incumbent guardian dies without naming a successor, then the monks of the monastery hold an election to select the new guardian. Supposedly, this monk, and he alone, can look at the Ark.

Chapel of the Tablet, Axum, Ethiopia
(Photo by JensiS65 via Wikipedia)

I do not currently believe that the Ark is there, but a replica may well be. Adolf Hitler's SS supposedly went to Ethiopia looking for the Ark of the Covenant--and apparently did not take it. Presumably they would have been able to overcome the guardian monk. So, this is another reason to discount Ethiopia.

If the Ark exists on the earth, a location in the land of Israel makes more sense.

The following from Jeremiah seems to suggest that the Ark was still around at the time of Jeremiah:

14 "Return, O backsliding children," says the Lord; "for I am married to you. I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion. 15 And I will give you shepherds according to My heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding. 16 Then it shall come to pass, when you are multiplied and increased in the land in those days," says the Lord, "that they will say no more, 'The ark of the covenant of the Lord.' It shall not come to mind, nor shall they remember it, nor shall they visit it, nor shall it be made anymore. 17 At that time Jerusalem shall be called The Throne of the Lord, and all the nations shall be gathered to it, to the name of the Lord, to Jerusalem. No more shall they follow the dictates of their evil hearts. 18 In those days the house of Judah shall walk with the house of Israel, and they shall come together out of the land of the north to the land that I have given as an inheritance to your fathers. (Jeremiah 3:14-18)

Since the Ark of the Covenant has not clearly been visited since the destruction of the first temple (the temple was destroyed in 587/586 B.C.. and the high priest used to only visit it once per year on the Day of Atonement), some have said it shows that before the millennial kingdom that the Ark may get a lot of visitors for a time.

Now, one concern that I have had is that if the Ark of the Covenant is found, this could possibly get more of the Jews to support the ecumenical end-time religion that will call itself Catholic. This would be consistent with biblical (Revelation 13:4,8; 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12) and Catholic prophecies (see further below in this article).

Before going further, it may be of interest to note that former Worldwide Church of God members, Stanley Rader and Robert Kuhn, claimed to have written some version of the Hollywood movie called Raiders of the Lost Ark and sued the movie producers for infringement.

Some say Ireland

Some have claimed Ireland is the location of the Ark of the Covenant:

Cairn T, at Loughcrew, nr. Oldcastle, Royal Meath in Ireland is the Tomb of Jeremiah the Bible Prophet who was commissioned by God to tear down; uproot (from Jerusalem) and plant (in Ireland) the daughter (the Tender Twig - Teia Tephi), from the line of David (symbolised in Scripture as the High Cedar), of king Zedekiah, in c. 588 B.C.; the Throne of Israel - the Lia Fail / Bethel Stone and The Ark of The Covenant. Jeremiah 1:10 See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.

The proof of the fact, that this cairn is the tomb of Jeremiah, is "written in stone" in hieroglyphics, on the stones within the cairn itself. http://jahtruth.net/jere.htm retrieved 04/03/19

Here is more related to it from Lawrence O'Brien:

Could Ireland’s Cairn T Really Be the Tomb of the Prophet Jeremiah?

11 May 2017

Cairn T is at a junction of the Road of the Chariots in County Meath, in the Boyne Valley, Ireland. Unfortunately, it’s not on Google Maps yet, but nearby Loughcrew House is. Cairn T is nearer to the house and further inland than Tara, the seat of the High Kings of Ireland.

This cairn passage tomb is a little visited archaeological site about a one hour drive from Dublin. ...

The Prophet Jeremiah, you will remember, was the Jewish prophet who some say escaped the ruins of Jerusalem with the Ark of the Covenant in 587 BC. He was the guy who had warned the Jewish king about the destruction that was to come and was imprisoned for his efforts.

He was only released when the Babylonians under Nebuchadnezzar took the city and destroyed the First Temple. After leaving Jerusalem, one new account proposes that he sailed to Ireland, after stopping at the Jewish enclave at Alexandria in Egypt, the most likely destination for anyone fleeing the Babylonians. ...

I experienced a powerful feeling of peace and inner contentment when I visited Cairn T. Whether the Ark of the Covenant is buried there or at Tara is hard to know. Neither site has been excavated. When a group of Zionists tried to dig up Tara in 1902 in a search for the Ark, they were stopped by mass protests. ...

Many people believe Cairn T is the site of the Prophet Jeremiah’s tomb. ... The pictogram of the boat on the stone at the entrance is said to show Jeremiah’s arrival in Ireland.

This site has never been excavated. It also has an almost permanent guard; if you’re thinking of coming and looking for the Ark of the Covenant. https://www.ancient-origins.net/ancient-places-europe/could-ireland-s-cairn-t-really-be-tomb-prophet-jeremiah-008052 retrieved 04/03/19

There are various traditions and legends concerning Jeremiah and the British Isles. Essentially they are based upon tying a few biblical passages in with some early claims. Notice one discussed by E.B.Benjamin in 19th century (scriptures within {} below inserted by me):

In Jeremiah i. 10 we read a commission given to him in these words: "I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant." In tracing the prophet's history, his pulling down and destroying is clearly told, for his whole cry was the destruction of the nation of Judah and the conquest by the King of Babylon…

Then "Jeremiah went with Gedaliah and dwelt with him" {Jeremiah 40:6}; he was the "governor whom the King of Babylon had set over the people of the land." {vs. 7}

This "governor" was conquered by Ishmael, "of the seed royal," {41:1} who had joined the Ammonites, and Ishmael carried off his captives, "even the king's daughters," {41:10} to go to the Ammonites.

Ishmael, in his turn, was conquered by Johanan {41:16}, who took his captives, with Jeremiah and the king's daughters, to "Chimham, which is by Bethlehem, to go to enter into Egypt." {41:17} There they pretended to desire to know what the Lord wished them to do {42:1-3}. Through Jeremiah they were commanded not to go to Egypt {41:19}. Like many of later date, the thing they were told not to do was that they had determined upon {43:1-5}. So—we may judge sorely against his will—Jeremiah and the king's daughters were taken into Egypt {43:5-6}. As this was against the direct command of God, and as his mission "to build and to plant" {1:10} was yet unfulfilled, we may infer that the prophet escaped from Egypt at the earliest opportunity.

Doubtless ships of Dan {cf. Judges 5:17} were still engaged in the same trade as that of the Phoenicians, the trade in tin with Cornwall, and in one of Dan's ships, tradition tells us, Jeremiah and the king's daughters, and the stone, the Lia Fail, embarked. Holy Writ is silent on this subject, leaving us only sure that Jeremiah would fulfil his mission.

It is said the vessel was wrecked on the coast of Spain; tradition in that country confirms this. Finally, 580 B. C, the goal was reached, and the Tuatha de Danans welcomed to Tara's halls the great prophet and the Eastern princess, who brought with them the heirloom of Israel, Jacob's Pillow.

Jewish tradition tells that this stone had been preserved in the temple as a pillar of witness of the covenant between Jacob and his God. Irish tradition tells of the beauty of the princess (but one is spoken of, perhaps the others married in Spain) Tephi, the beautiful, and of her grave; of the college established by the prophet; of the city and nation that he built and planted; and the grandeur of Tara's halls is now both " said and sung." (Benjamin EB. Lia Fall. The Churchman, November 16, 1878. Original from the University of Michigan. Digitized, Oct 31, 2009, p. 595).

As far as the king's daughters, it should be mentioned that one king (Jehoiakim) and one prince (Coniah) of Judah were told that their descendants would not occupy the throne of David (Jeremiah 36:30; 22:24-30). And hence, this is may be part of why King Zedekiah's daughters are mentioned in scripture (Jeremiah 41:10; 43:6)--the throne was apparently to go through them.

According to an interpretation of an inscription in stone in the alleged 'Tomb of Jeremiah' only four people arrived--Jeremiah, his scribe Baruch, and two of the king's daughters--the fifth allegedly died in Gibraltar. Unless Baruch was also a Levite, it would not seem that he could have help move the Ark--hence since Jeremiah would not have been able to move it himself, this could eliminate the Irish possibility.

The Ark of the Covenant connection with Jeremiah seems to be related to the following from the non-canonical Book of 2 Maccabees which states:

2 One finds in the records that the prophet Jeremiah ordered those who were being deported to take some of the fire, as has been mentioned, 2 and that the prophet, after giving them the law, instructed those who were being deported not to forget the commandments of the Lord, or to be led astray in their thoughts on seeing the gold and silver statues and their adornment. 3 And with other similar words he exhorted them that the law should not depart from their hearts.

4 It was also in the same document that the prophet, having received an oracle, ordered that the tent and the ark should follow with him, and that he went out to the mountain where Moses had gone up and had seen the inheritance of God. 5 Jeremiah came and found a cave-dwelling, and he brought there the tent and the ark and the altar of incense; then he sealed up the entrance. 6 Some of those who followed him came up intending to mark the way, but could not find it. 7 When Jeremiah learned of it, he rebuked them and declared: “The place shall remain unknown until God gathers his people together again and shows his mercy. 8 Then the Lord will disclose these things, and the glory of the Lord and the cloud will appear, as they were shown in the case of Moses, and as Solomon asked that the place should be specially consecrated.” (2 Maccabees 2:2-8)

If that is accurate, since Jeremiah seemingly went to the British Isles, and in particular the Irish isle, then possibly it ended up in Ireland.

Notice also:

In the Pseudepigraphal book called “The Paralipomena of Jeremiah” (meaning “the remaining words of Jeremiah”) it is also written that Jeremiah, in obedience to God’s command, hid the sacred objects from the temple just before the destruction of Jerusalem. Now, neither of these books are to be trusted as completely accurate – however, they do show a strong tradition that has Jeremiah hiding, or having someone else hide, the Ark and other objects from the temple.

Is there any truth in these 2 books? Perhaps – since Jeremiah WAS the prophet in Jerusalem during the time of Josiah (when the Ark was brought back into the temple) and he continued through to the time of the destruction of Jerusalem, it is logical to believe it possible that God directed him to have the Ark and other sacred items hidden. https://wyattmuseum.com/the-ark-of-the-covenant-special-article/2011-338 retrieved 04/04/19

Jeremiah was the son of a priest (Jeremiah 1:1), hence a Levite. Levites were biblical entrusted to move the Ark of the Covenant (Deuteronomy 31:25).

So, it may be that Ireland (if enough Levites were with Jeremiah) or in the tunnels in Jerusalem could be a theoretical possibility.

However, since multiple Levites were involved in moving it, it is not clear that Jeremiah would have been able to take the Ark to Ireland.

While it is hard to argue from a negative, notice the following:

5 But Johanan the son of Kareah and all the captains of the forces took all the remnant of Judah who had returned to dwell in the land of Judah, from all nations where they had been driven — 6 men, women, children, the king's daughters, and every person whom Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had left with Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, and Jeremiah the prophet and Baruch the son of Neriah. 7 So they went to the land of Egypt, for they did not obey the voice of the Lord. And they went as far as Tahpanhes. (Jeremiah 43:5-7)

The above clearly says that Jeremiah was with the king's daughters and presumably other things associated with royalty. But nothing about the Ark of the Covenant in mentioned.

The Ark in Heaven and Other Prophecies

The Bible is clear that the Ark of the Covenant is or will be in heaven:

19 Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail. (Revelation 11:19)

Now, since the Ark is NOT mentioned in Revelation 4 or 5 in the visions related to God's throne and heaven, it either was there and not mentioned or it came up between the events of Revelation 5 and 11:19.

It has also been suggested that the physical ark of the covenant that the children of Israel had was patterned on one in heaven, thus it could still be on earth. If it will be found, there is a small chance that the Continuing Church of God may have some involvement with it as we are considering involvement in an archeological project in Jerusalem in the area known as Mt. Zion.

Notice also the following Islamic view of the Ark:

The Book of Revelation says the Ark is in the temple of God in heaven (Rev. 11:19). Muslim scholars say it will be found near the end of times by the Mahdi – a messianic figure in Islam. http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=102119

It is interesting, however, that many of the Muslims believe that their Mahdi will rise up after the finding of the Ark (the Mahdi of Islamic prophecy seems to be the same one that the Bible indicates will be the final King of the South). Events seem to be happening in the Arab nations that align with the rising up of such a leader. Perhaps, if the Ark is publicly shown, he could point to it as proof that his timing for rising up was prophesied. We will see.

Interestingly, many Roman Catholics believe that Enoch and Elijah will not appear until after the discovery of the ark of the covenant. This is supposedly related to 2 Machabees (sometimes spelled Maccabees)--which was quoted earlier. 2 Machabees is another of the "deuterocanoconical" books of the Old Testament Apocrypha.

There is a rabbinic interpretation of the 2 Machabees 2:4-8 that claims that this ark has to do with the coming of the Messiah. But it needs to be pointed out that this passage of Machabees does not mention Enoch nor Elijah. Furthermore, here is a Jewish interpretation, "The Ark is mentioned in only one passage in the Apocrypha (II Macc. ii. 4-10), which contains a legend to the effect that the prophet Jeremiah, "being warned of God," took the Ark, and the tabernacle, and the altar of incense, and buried them in a cave on Mount Sinai, informing those of his followers who wished to find the place that it should remain unknown "until the time that God should gather His people again together, and receive them unto mercy." " (Ark of the Covenant, Jewish Encyclopedia of 1906). But 2 Maccabees does not state Mount Sinai.

Yet, notice the following Catholic view, which is claimed to be based upon an interpretation of that passage in 2 Machabees which is that the two witnesses (which they often consider will be Enoch and Elijah) will rise up after the Ark is found:

Yet, notice the following, which is claimed to be based upon an interpretation of that passage in 2 Machabees.

Bl. Dionysus of Luetzenberg…prophecies:

“After the discovery of the Ark of the Covenant, Enoch and Elias will restore the Holy Sacrament of the Altar; Because of the fact that the Ark of the Covenant will be in the possession of the two holy prophets and not in Antichrist’s hands, the Jews will recognize that Jesus is the true Messias…”

( Luetzenberg, Antichristus Chapter 29 as cited in Birch D.A. Trial, Tribulation & Triumph. Queenship Publishing, Goleta (CA), 1996, p. 509)

Since neither the Bible nor the passage is 2 Machabees states that Enoch and Elijah will come "After the discovery of the Ark of the Covenant," those who believe that Ark must first be found simply may not be able to discern the true witnesses from God. Presuming the Ark is not recognized as found, this would be a reason that Catholics could point to in efforts discrediting God's two witnesses (see also Who Are The Two Witnesses?).

Now, since Islamic, Jewish, and Catholic prophecies suggest that it will be found, it is possible that some of them will point to the Ark in Ethiopia (some believe Ethiopia has the original Ark, while others believe that it has an early copy) or one in Jerusalem or Ireland as proof that their prophecies are to be fulfilled. Or perhaps to a different location in the future.

Or Catholics may claim that if the Ark of the Covenant has not been found, that some will claim that this is additional proof that the real two witnesses are not God’s two witnesses. Notice that the Catholics want to place their practices on it (by Holy Sacrament, they seem to mean their Eucharistic practices; here is an article about their origins: Marcus, the Marcosians, & Mithraism: Developers of the Eucharist?), these are the same Catholics that also keep trying to gain control of the Church of God on Jerusalem’s Western Hill.

Spiritual Ramifications

There are spiritual and possible physical ramifications of the Ark of the Covenant related to a dream by a lady named Fesilafai Fiso Leanna (see also Dreams, the Bible, and the Continuing Church of God).

Unbeknownst to me until late September 2013, Fesilafai Fiso Leaana of New Zealand had a dream after going to bed on December 8, 2012.  Here is a report that Fesilafai Fiso Leaana wrote about her dream:

A few months before my dream, my husband and I noticed a contradiction in practice, regarding the sabbath commandment in LCG, from there we started to pray continuously for God to lead us to where the truth is. It seems God has answered our prayers through the dream.

The dream began with myself and approximately 70 New Zealand Living Church of God brethren, then suddenly LCG vanished (I was wondering where is LCG?) and I was left standing with approximately 10 people excluding myself, on a very high building. We were standing on the very top of the building, where I couldn’t see the bottom, there were no other buildings, just this building. I could not see the bottom of the building but just clouds below the building and clouds surrounding the building which led to a beautiful white mountain – a mountain that had no ends on either side. The building was pretty close to the mountain, I could see the top of the mountain. The mountain was all white and so beautiful. I remember that I began to be filled with joy and peace. But also wondering how we got up on this building and confused why there were no other buildings but the clouds seemed like it was hiding the building and I felt protected or it felt like a safe place. I looked around there were still only about ten people there, the only person I could clearly recognize was Shirley constantly working, the approximate ten others were just sitting and standing around. So I walked around the building looking for the large crowd from LCG, but all I kept returning to was that Shirley was working and doing different types of work alone while the others were still sitting and standing around the building with me. I wondered why she was working a lot.  I could not find LCG.

Then suddenly a message came to my mind: “There is a secret in the mountain”. And I was so happy to know that, I was still feeling elated and could still see the beautiful white mountain and wondered about the secret. Then I asked: “What is the secret?” Then the message said, nobody knows the secret in the mountain but only you have received this message that there is a secret in the mountain. Then I asked ‘what is the secret in the mountain?’ I received a message to my mind that told me that “the secret in the mountain is the Ark of the Covenant”. Then the dream abruptly ended because I woke up. And immediately, I woke up my husband and recounted the dream to him, and I told my husband that it reminded me of when God gave Moses the Ten Commandments on the mountain and that the mountain was also covered with clouds.

On the same day after my dream, at church service Mr Penman warned us to be careful what we read from Bob Thiel’s Obama book, because they do not support everything he wrote in it. At the time I kept your name in my mind as I did not know who you were then.

Then 3 weeks later Shirley contacted me regarding your Chronology – the exit from LCG. Shirley had all of the Chronology and gave us all a print out of it and went over it with my husband and I. Shirley kept stressing the integrity of the LCG leadership and administration was compromised as proven by your Chronology account. Then my husband and I had to make a decision whether we would continue with LCG or go with Bob Thiel (you) since Shirley, John and Kayla had already decided to be with you.

We decided to go with Bob Thiel and then left the meeting but a letter from Mr. Penman and a visit from the new New Zealand minister Paul attempted to obstruct our departure and tried to dissuade us from leaving LCG and coming with you. This forced us to carefully rethink our decision.

My husband and I were alone, that’s when my husband said to me, “remember your dream? This is what your dream means, that we need to leave this church and go with Shirley”. That’s when we knew what to do. And this dream is the reason most of us in the kiwi CCOG knew that we are in the right Church, God told us to come to this Church. We reaffirmed with Shirley and others that we were going to go with Bob Thiel and my husband told them the dream for the first time and that the dream is the reason my husband and I decided to come.

Not having all the details of the dream, Shirley then prayed about the dream. She asked God for more understanding on the dream. Then the next day she was reading the book of Psalm and Psalm 25:14 JUMPED out at her: “The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him, And He will show them His covenant.” (email 9/29/13)

Within several weeks of the dream, ten people in New Zealand, including Shirley Gestro (the Shirley above) began to attend the newly formed Continuing Church of God.

Biblically, mountains can symbolize government (Psalm 30:7; Isaiah 11:9; Daniel 2:35; Zechariah 4:7; see also The Bible, Peter, Paul, John, Polycarp, Herbert W. Armstrong, Roderick C. Meredith, and Bob Thiel on Church Government) and white purity or cleanness (Isaiah 1:18; Revelation 7:14, 19:14). Clouds around a mountain (or at least the top of it) could show a separation—maybe a separation that keeps many from seeing all of the truth (cf. Job 22:14; Lamentations 3:44) or recognizing top leadership?

The dream seemed to be a signal to confirm that the Philadelphia mantle was not with the Living Church of God, but instead was associated with someone that that had something to do with the ark of the covenant. Prior to the dream Fesilafai Fiso Leaana indicated that she had problems with how the leadership in LCG viewed the Sabbath, and that was one of the issues that I dealt within weeks of the formation of the Continuing Church of God.

Now, I (Bob Thiel) never heard of, nor learned of, this dream until after the start of the Feast of Tabernacles in September 2013 in New Zealand (which is where my wife Joyce and I began the Feast of Tabernacles in 2013).

Why is that potentially significant?

Back in 2006, when I was first asked to give a sermon at the Feast of Tabernacles, it occurred to me that never in WCG, GCG, nor LCG did I recall anyone actually fulfilling the requirement in Deuteronomy 31:10-13 about reading the “words of the law” in Deuteronomy every seven years at the Feast of Tabernacles. So, when the opportunity to give a sermon came up (in Guatemala in 2006), I attempted to go through that book of the law. In 2012, it occurred to me that since this was to be done every seven years, that somehow I would need to do this in 2013 (seven years later), but I was not sure how this would be done. However, once the Continuing Church of God formed, I realized that how this would be done at the Feast of Tabernacles in 2013.

My plan was to be faithful to the covenant and teach it, consistent with Shirley Gestro's interpretation--the interpretion of which she had before meeting me or telling me anything about this.

An interesting coincidence?

If the dream related to the Ark was essentially spiritual, then it has been being fulfilled by the CCOG.

As it turns out, it was after I began to cite Deuteronomy 31:10-13 and started reading the book of the law at the Feast of Tabernacles in New Zealand in 2013, that Fesilafai Fiso Leaana came up to me and told me about her dream. We discussed some points about it and the ark of the covenant, etc. As it turns out, one of the items that was kept besides the ark of the covenant was the very same “Book of the Law” (Deuteronomy 31:26)  that I was reading in its entirety publicly during that Feast of Tabernacles. This is a connection that, humanly speaking Fesilafai Leaana could not have known. There are also other potential ramifications related to the ark of the covenant.

Subsequent events, events that Fesilafai Leaana could not have known on December 8/9, 2012, confirmed her dream. She had no idea that the Continuing Church of God was going to form, and I had not made the decision to actually form it until after getting a letter on December 28, 2012. Fesilafai Leaana’s dream is another witness as to the proper start, etc. of the Continuing Church of God.

As it turns out, on October 24, 2013, I was able to visit the visible remains of the Church of God on Jerusalem's Western Hill as well as go inside what the crusaders and Muslims eventually built upon it. I was not actually planning on going there until about a week before I went (someone was supposed to get me some information the month before there, but was unable to do it--so as a last minute move, I decided to go). I did not go because of Fesilafai Leaana's dream.

Anyway, while attempting to take some photos and to video some of the remains of the Church of God on Jerusalem’s Western Hill, I was approached by a Jewish rabbi named Avraham Goldstein of the Diaspora Yeshiva. He asked why I was there, so I explained my interest in what is believed to have been the first Christian church building in Jerusalem (see Church of God on Jerusalem's Western Hill)--a picture of which was on the front cover of our songbook, The Bible Hymnal, then and now.

Avraham Goldstein then asked me if the Continuing Church of God would like to be involved in an archaeological project related to that general area. He mentioned doing excavations related to what some believe is David's tomb, located below. Many consider that only a legend and not the real location--though the actual location of David's tomb has not been verified in many centuries. However a Jewish rabbi who claimed to visit it in 1163 A.D. stated it was below this particular Mt. Zion.

Others say that Zion was really on the eastern side side of Jerusalem, and thus, if there is a physical Ark remaining on earth, that may be where the Ark could be or end up.

Avraham Goldstein also told me that he believes that the ark of the covenant may be directly below or near it via tunnels. He, not I, brought up the Ark of the Covenant.

I do not know if this ties to Fesilafai Leaana's dream. But if so, that would be a powerful witness.

Anyway, I have reported years ago to the brethren of the Continuing Church of God that we were considering having some possible involvement with Avraham Goldstein's proposal, because of various aspects of this project (see Letter: October 25, 2013). I have spoken to Avraham Goldstein a few times on the telephone since my visit there in 2013.

It is my intent to try to look more into this project, presuming I am able to go back to Jerusalem in the next few years.

If the ark of the covenant is now below the Church of God on Jerusalem’s Western Hill, known as Mt. Zion, that would have ramifications for the world as well as the Continuing Church of God (see Church of God on Jerusalem’s Western Hill).

Before going further, let me state that Christians are the 'temple of God' according to scriptures like 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 (see also Why is a Jewish Temple in Jerusalem Not Required?), and in that sense, the ark is within us as we are led by the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:14).

But as far as where the Ark is to end up, furthermore, notice:

8 Arise, O Lord, to Your resting place, You and the ark of Your strength. 9 Let Your priests be clothed with righteousness,And let Your saints shout for joy. 10 For Your servant David’s sake, Do not turn away the face of Your Anointed. 11 The Lord has sworn in truth to David; He will not turn from it: “I will set upon your throne the fruit of your body. 12 If your sons will keep My covenant And My testimony which I shall teach them, Their sons also shall sit upon your throne forevermore.” 13 For the Lord has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His dwelling place: 14 “This is My resting place forever; Here I will dwell, for I have desired it. 15 I will abundantly bless her provision; I will satisfy her poor with bread. 16 I will also clothe her priests with salvation, And her saints shall shout aloud for joy. 17 There I will make the horn of David grow;I will prepare a lamp for My Anointed. 18 His enemies I will clothe with shame, But upon Himself His crown shall flourish.” (Psalm 132:8-18)

While Solomon wanted it to be in the temple he built to house the ark forever, God had David write Zion was the chosen location.

It remains my view that there is a chance that we will see the Ark or a strong claim that someone has located the Ark (or perhaps part of it) within the next decade or so.

What are the options?

1. No ark will be found or claimed to be found, other than what will be in heaven.
2. An Islamic leader will claim to have found it and gain a greater following.
3. The Ark of the Covenant or a piece of it may be found, with or without CCOG assistance.
4. Catholics will not accept the two witnesses and may claim the lack of an Ark discovery (even if there is one or even a later false one) as part of the reason.

Whether or not it is presently in Ireland or inside Mount Zion, it will be in heaven for a time and end up in Mount Zion.

Developments related to the Ark of the Covenant may well have prophetic ramifications.

Back to Exodus 25

Now in Exodus 25 we learn about something called a 'mercy seat':

17 "You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold; two and a half cubits shall be its length and a cubit and a half its width. 18 And you shall make two cherubim of gold; of hammered work you shall make them at the two ends of the mercy seat. 19 Make one cherub at one end, and the other cherub at the other end; you shall make the cherubim at the two ends of it of one piece with the mercy seat. 20 And the cherubim shall stretch out their wings above, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and they shall face one another; the faces of the cherubim shall be toward the mercy seat. 21 You shall put the mercy seat on top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the Testimony that I will give you. 22 And there I will meet with you, and I will speak with you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are on the ark of the Testimony, about everything which I will give you in commandment to the children of Israel.

So, that is how it waas supposed to be made.

It has been claimed that “The Mercy Seat of the Holy of Holies was the earthly representation of the very Throne of GOD in heaven” (Armstrong HW. Plain Truth, June 1967). The expression “mercy seat” is used 28 times in the Bible (NKJV). It is shown as a place that God speaks from.

Herbert W. Armstrong wrote:

The earthly type of God’s throne was the MERCY SEAT in the HOLY OF HOLIES. After Christ died, He went to the heav- enly mercy seat interceding for US, as our HIGH PRIEST ". . . entering into what is within the ued; WHITHER the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec” (Heb. 6: 19-20) (Armstrong HW. How You Could Lose Your Salvation! Good News, August 1954, p. 6)

The old Worldwide Church of God also publised the following:

Michael is called " one of the chief princes." He is obviously one of God's representatives -not a follower of Satan. Elsewhere in the Bible we find that Michael is revealed to be one of the "covering cherubs" -one of the angelic beings who covered the throne of God with his wings (Ezek. 28:16).

Apparently, there were originally three such cherubs -Lucifer, Michael (Israel's " prince" -Dan. 12:1), and Gabriel. These three were the " chief princes" among God's angels. Lucifer, Gabriel and Michael may have each ruled over one third of the angels. When Lucifer rebelled, and became known as "Satan" (the adversary), he took one third of the angels with him (Rev. 12:4).

Indications are that the remaining two thirds of the angelic host remained loyal to God and to Michael and Gabriel. 'It is possible that Satan himself was the enigmatic "prince of Persia" referred to in Daniel 10. Satan is the " god of this world" and Persia was the dominant world kingdom at the time. These two remaining cherub-rank angels may have been symbolized by the two pure-gold cherubim that covered the mercy seat in the tabernacle in Ithe wilderness (Ex . 25:1.1-22).

Lucifer was dropped from his office as a " covering cherub" following his pre-Adamic rebellion. (Knowles B. ARE WE LIVING IN THE LAST DAYS? PART ONE "THE HANDWRITING IS ON'THE WALL" Good News, August 1976, p. 22)

Replica of Ark of the Covenant showing wings of cherubs in George Washington Masonic National Memorial
(photo by SchuminWeb)

The old Worldwide Church of God also published the following:

The Tabernacle itself was divided into two compartments: the Holy Place where priests ministered and, blocked off by a veil, the Holy of Holies. Only the high priest was allowed to go through the veil into the Holy of Holies, and then only once a year on the Day of Atonement. What was in the Holy of Holies? The golden mercy seat, picturing the very throne of God. In other words, no one but the high priest had access to God's throne. The veil kept everyone else out. (Steep CD. What Is Jesus Doing Now? Good News, February 1983)

But when Jesus died, that veil was torn in half:

37 And Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and breathed His last. 38 Then the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. (Mark 15:37-38)

Christians now have direct access to the mercy seat in heaven:

19 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and having a High Priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:19-25)

The old Worldwide Church of God also published the following:

When we pray to God we should remember that He is not a stern, harsh, feelingless Being just waiting for a chance to see us get what suffering we deserve.

"The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy … He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him … "Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust… the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting" (Ps. 103:8-17).

God is merciful, tender and compassionate. Talk to Him with that in mind. Because of His mercy you can have confidence that He will hear and answer. "Let Israel hope in the Lord: [Why?] for with the Lord there is mercy" (Ps. 130:7).

Hebrews 4:14-16 explains that Jesus is now our great High Priest. He can be "touched with the feeling of our infirmities" because He was "in all points tempted [tried] like as we are" (verse 15). "Let us therefore come boldly [that is, with feeling, conviction and confidence] unto the throne of grace [the mercy seat!], that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (verse 16). That invitation should help us all put our hearts into our prayers, knowing that how God will respond is not automatically decided beforehand. The answer we receive can depend on how we approach that throne of grace. (Steep CD. Pray More Effectively - Straight From the Heart! Good News, December 1981)

What is Christ doing as our High Priest in heaven? He's our advocate — He's our go-between, interceding for us with God.

"For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus" (I Tim. 2:5).

We know from other biblical references that Satan is coming before God's throne as well, accusing us, bringing up our sins (Rev. 12:10, Job 1:6-12). However, we can ask Jesus Christ to intervene on our behalf as our "defense attorney," as our "propitiation" (I John 2:2).

Christ is the propitiation — the expiation. The Greek word refers to an Old Testament word that deals with the mercy seat covering the Ark of the Covenant. Once a year, on the Day of Atonement, the blood of the sin offering was sprinkled on the mercy seat. The blood was the expiation. The blood was the propitiation. (Albrect G. John's Message for TodayGood News, December 1983)

Jesus blood was shed as our Passover:

7 ... For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. (1 Corinthians 5:7b)

Because of Jesus' sacrfice, Christians can appeal to the mercy throne of grace.

What about for non-Christians?

Does God have a mercy seat because He expects to mainly provide eternal condemnation at the white throne judgment of Revelation 20 like many seem to think?

Obviously, since there is a mercy seat (cf. Exodus 25:17-22; Hebrews 9:5), this is a clue that God plans to have mercy.

While judgment will happen in Revelation 20:11-12 and people will be found guilty (as “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” per Romans 3:23), it will not be eternal condemnation.

Why? Because, God will plead with His handiwork (Jeremiah 25:31). Furthermore,  James 2:13 teaches (in multiple translations):

13 ... Mercy triumphs over judgment. (NKJV, NIV, ESV, BSB, BLB, NASB, CSB, GNT, HCSB, ISV, NET, NHEB, NAS, KJ2000, WNT, WEB, RSV, RSV-Catholic, NABRE, OSB, AFV)

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines mercy as:

compassion or forbearance shown especially to an offender or to one subject to one’s power

also: lenient or compassionate treatment …

a blessing that is an act of divine favor or compassion

Furthermore, mercy is not just for those who are truly Christians in this age.

While God has mercy on those called now, God will have mercy on those not called to be firstfruits in this age.

But, this teaching is hard for many to understand now as Romans 11:30-33 teaches:

30 For as you were once disobedient to God, yet have now obtained mercy through their disobedience, 31 even so these also have now been disobedient, that through the mercy shown you they also may obtain mercy. 32 For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all. 33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!

Notice that God’s plan has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all. Also notice that Paul is teaching that God’s mercy and judgment is apparently not easy for most to figure out.

Is it someone’s fault that they were born in an area that no one knew or taught Christ? Or if Christ was taught, He and God’s plan were taught wrong?

God knew that most would not at first obey, but that He has a plan to have mercy on them.

Thus it should be clear that God INTENTIONALLY is allowing some to be disobedient now, so that they will get mercy later and that those called now (the firstfruits) will have mercy now.

And God has done this so that He might have mercy on all--this apparently could not have happened any better way. The only way for God to have mercy on ALL is for salvation to be offered to all in a manner they can properly comprehend.

Yet, these concepts are offensive to many.

Because of their traditions, miseducation, biases, and pride, many cannot accept that God is so merciful.

Many who followed Jesus were offended after He spoke and turned away from Him, despite seeing miracles (see John 6:1-66). Many will not believe what we in the Continuing Church of God point out that the Bible teaches--this includes most who claim to believe the Bible.

Yet, it is only those who intentionally reject God’s mercy, who will be destroyed in the lake of fire, the second death (Revelation 20:14) to put them out of their misery (cf. Revelation 21:4).

Back to Exodus 25:

Back to Exodus 25:

23 "You shall also make a table of acacia wood; two cubits shall be its length, a cubit its width, and a cubit and a half its height. 24 And you shall overlay it with pure gold, and make a molding of gold all around. 25 You shall make for it a frame of a handbreadth all around, and you shall make a gold molding for the frame all around. 26 And you shall make for it four rings of gold, and put the rings on the four corners that are at its four legs. 27 The rings shall be close to the frame, as holders for the poles to bear the table. 28 And you shall make the poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold, that the table may be carried with them. 29 You shall make its dishes, its pans, its pitchers, and its bowls for pouring. You shall make them of pure gold. 30 And you shall set the showbread on the table before Me always.

The table for the showbread is also mentioned in Exodus 37:10-16.

MacLaren's Expositions states:

THE BREAD OF THE PRESENCE Exodus 25:30. I suspect that to many readers the term ‘shew-bread’ conveys little more meaning than if the Hebrew words had been lifted over into our version. The original expression, literally rendered, is ‘bread of the face’; or, as the Revised Version has it in the margin, ‘presence bread,’ and the meaning of that singular designation is paraphrased and explained in my text: ‘Thou shalt set upon the table, bread of the presence before Me always.’ It was bread, then, which was laid in the presence of God. The directions with regard to it may be very briefly stated. Every Sabbath the priests laid upon the table which stood on one side of the Altar of Incense, in the Inner Court, two piles of loaves, on each of which piles was placed a pan of incense. They lay there for a week, being replaced by fresh ones on the coming Sabbath.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible states:

And thou shall set upon the table shewbread before me always. Which consisted of twelve cakes loaves, set in two rows upon the table, and stood there a whole week, and every sabbath were renewed; and when the old ones were took away, which were eaten by the priests, new ones were set, so that they were always before the Lord; and being continually before him, were called shewbread, or "bread of faces", being always before the face of God. This was a memorial of the goodness of God in daily providing bread for the people of Israel, and was presented to him as a thankful acknowledgment of it, and being the same they ate at their own tables; and this being eaten by the priests, was expressive of the communion between God and them, they being guests of his, and feeding on the same provisions. This shewbread may be considered either as typical of the church and people of God, who are all one bread, 1 Corinthians 10:17, these pure and unleavened cakes may denote their purity, simplicity, and sincerity, being without the leaven of malice and wickedness; the number twelve, the twelve tribes of Israel, the whole spiritual Israel of God; their being called shewbread, or bread of faces, the presentation of themselves to the Lord in public worship, and their being ever under the eye and care of God; their being set on the table, their standing in Christ, and security by him, who is the foundation of the apostles and prophets; and being set in rows, their order and harmony; being renewed every sabbath, the constancy of their worship, and the succession of them in all ages; the frankincense put on each row, the acceptance of their persons and services through the incense of Christ's mediation; the border round about them, the power of Christ around them to keep them from falling: or else as typical of Christ himself, of his being the food of believers, the bread of life: the shewbread of fine flour may fitly signify Christ, the finest of the wheat, the corn of heaven, the bread that comes from thence; its quantity, twelve cakes, the sufficiency of food with him, bread enough and to spare for the whole Israel of God; its continuance, the permanency of Christ as the food believers have always to feed upon; the frankincense on it, the gratefulness of Christ to such, to whom his flesh is meat indeed, and his blood drink indeed; and being set for priests, and only for them, may show that Christ is only food to such who are made priests to God: or this may be an emblem of the intercession of Christ, who is the Angel of God's presence, ever before him, and represents the whole Israel of God, for whom he intercedes; and his intercession is continual, he ever lives to make intercession for them, and that is always acceptable to God. The twelve loaves, Josephus (a) says, signify the year divided into so many months.

The old Worldwide Church of God taught:

The word shewbread means "bread of the presence." In the Old Testament it consisted of 12 unleavened loaves of bread (Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, III, vi, 6) laid in two rows and displayed on a table in the holy place before God continually (The New Westminster Dictionary of the Bible, article "Shewbread," page 876). The shewbread was offered before God and changed every Sabbath. These loaves signified the constant communion between God and His people in those things that His bounty provided, and which His people enjoyed in His presence and used in His service. (Aust J. EAT AND REJOICE! Good News, September 1984)

Back to Exodus 25:

31 "You shall also make a lampstand of pure gold; the lampstand shall be of hammered work. Its shaft, its branches, its bowls, its ornamental knobs, and flowers shall be of one piece. 32 And six branches shall come out of its sides: three branches of the lampstand out of one side, and three branches of the lampstand out of the other side. 33 Three bowls shall be made like almond blossoms on one branch, with an ornamental knob and a flower, and three bowls made like almond blossoms on the other branch, with an ornamental knob and a flower — and so for the six branches that come out of the lampstand. 34 On the lampstand itself four bowls shall be made like almond blossoms, each with its ornamental knob and flower. 35 And there shall be a knob under the first two branches of the same, a knob under the second two branches of the same, and a knob under the third two branches of the same, according to the six branches that extend from the lampstand. 36 Their knobs and their branches shall be of one piece; all of it shall be one hammered piece of pure gold. 37 You shall make seven lamps for it, and they shall arrange its lamps so that they give light in front of it. 38 And its wick-trimmers and their trays shall be of pure gold. 39 It shall be made of a talent of pure gold, with all these utensils. 40 And see to it that you make them according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain.

The Gold Lampstand is also discussed in Exodus 37:17-24.

The Jews refer to this seven golden lampstand item as a menorah.

A reconstruction of the Menorah of the Temple created by the Temple Institute

I actually saw that one when I was in Jerusalem in 2013.

Furthermore, my family and I have seen this depicted in the Arch of Titus in the old Roman forum as part of a scene depicting it being taken away from Jerusalem by the Romans in 70 A.D.

Arch of Titus (Wikpedia)

Notice something from the New Testament from around 95 A.D.:

12 Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. 14 His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; 15 His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; 16 He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength. 17 And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, "Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. 18 I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death. 19 Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this. 20 The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches. (Revelation 1:11-20)

The seven golden lampstand represnt the seven era of the Church of God during the church age (see also The Churches of Revelation 2 & 3).

The early Christians have been claimed to use a seven lamped lampstand as a symbol as the Catholic scholar and priest Bagatti reported:

In reality for many centuries the candelabrum has been a symbol of the Jewish people. But in ancient times it was common also among the Judaeo-Christians. (Bagatti, Bellarmino. Translated by Eugene Hoade. The Church from the Circumcision. Nihil obstat: Marcus Adinolfi. Imprimi potest: Herminius Roncari. Imprimatur: +Albertus Gori, die 26 Junii 1970.  Franciscan Printing Press, Jerusalem, p. 202).

The late evangelists Carl McNair and John Ogwyn thought that there were seven eras of the Old Testament (see Old Testament Church Eras), and hence the menorah of Exodus 25 may have represented that.

Chapter 26

In Exodus 26 comes the command to make curtains for the Tabernacle which would separate certain areas from others in the Sanctuary.

So, to Exodus 26:

1 "Moreover you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine woven linen and blue, purple, and scarlet thread; with artistic designs of cherubim you shall weave them. 2 The length of each curtain shall be twenty-eight cubits, and the width of each curtain four cubits. And every one of the curtains shall have the same measurements. 3 Five curtains shall be coupled to one another, and the other five curtains shall be coupled to one another. 4 And you shall make loops of blue yarn on the edge of the curtain on the selvedge of one set, and likewise you shall do on the outer edge of the other curtain of the second set. 5 Fifty loops you shall make in the one curtain, and fifty loops you shall make on the edge of the curtain that is on the end of the second set, that the loops may be clasped to one another. 6 And you shall make fifty clasps of gold, and couple the curtains together with the clasps, so that it may be one tabernacle.

It is of interest to note that the cherubim are to be weaved into the curtains.

This is obviously not for the worship of cherubim (cf. Revelation 19:10, 22:8). but apparently to show that they are associated with God's throne.

7 "You shall also make curtains of goats' hair, to be a tent over the tabernacle. You shall make eleven curtains. 8 The length of each curtain shall be thirty cubits, and the width of each curtain four cubits; and the eleven curtains shall all have the same measurements. 9 And you shall couple five curtains by themselves and six curtains by themselves, and you shall double over the sixth curtain at the forefront of the tent. 10 You shall make fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that is outermost in one set, and fifty loops on the edge of the curtain of the second set. 11 And you shall make fifty bronze clasps, put the clasps into the loops, and couple the tent together, that it may be one. 12 The remnant that remains of the curtains of the tent, the half curtain that remains, shall hang over the back of the tabernacle. 13 And a cubit on one side and a cubit on the other side, of what remains of the length of the curtains of the tent, shall hang over the sides of the tabernacle, on this side and on that side, to cover it.

14 "You shall also make a covering of ram skins dyed red for the tent, and a covering of badger skins above that.

15 "And for the tabernacle you shall make the boards of acacia wood, standing upright. 16 Ten cubits shall be the length of a board, and a cubit and a half shall be the width of each board. 17 Two tenons shall be in each board for binding one to another. Thus you shall make for all the boards of the tabernacle. 18 And you shall make the boards for the tabernacle, twenty boards for the south side. 19 You shall make forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards: two sockets under each of the boards for its two tenons. 20 And for the second side of the tabernacle, the north side, there shall be twenty boards 21 and their forty sockets of silver: two sockets under each of the boards. 22 For the far side of the tabernacle, westward, you shall make six boards. 23 And you shall also make two boards for the two back corners of the tabernacle. 24 They shall be coupled together at the bottom and they shall be coupled together at the top by one ring. Thus it shall be for both of them. They shall be for the two corners. 25 So there shall be eight boards with their sockets of silver — sixteen sockets — two sockets under each of the boards.

Here is a picture of a version of this in Israel:

Model of the tabernacle in Timna Valley Park, Israel
(Photo by Ruk7, Wikipedia)

Continuing:

26 "And you shall make bars of acacia wood: five for the boards on one side of the tabernacle, 27 five bars for the boards on the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the side of the tabernacle, for the far side westward. 28 The middle bar shall pass through the midst of the boards from end to end. 29 You shall overlay the boards with gold, make their rings of gold as holders for the bars, and overlay the bars with gold. 30 And you shall raise up the tabernacle according to its pattern which you were shown on the mountain.

31 "You shall make a veil woven of blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen. It shall be woven with an artistic design of cherubim. 32 You shall hang it upon the four pillars of acacia wood overlaid with gold. Their hooks shall be gold, upon four sockets of silver. 33 And you shall hang the veil from the clasps. Then you shall bring the ark of the Testimony in there, behind the veil. The veil shall be a divider for you between the holy place and the Most Holy.

This is the veil that was torn in two when Jesus died.

Continuing:

34 You shall put the mercy seat upon the ark of the Testimony in the Most Holy. 35 You shall set the table outside the veil, and the lampstand across from the table on the side of the tabernacle toward the south; and you shall put the table on the north side.

36 "You shall make a screen for the door of the tabernacle, woven of blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen, made by a weaver. 37 And you shall make for the screen five pillars of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold; their hooks shall be gold, and you shall cast five sockets of bronze for them.

God is merciful.

This is clear throughout the Bible.

Making a 'mercy seat' should let people understand that it will have a purpose during the White Throne Judgment.

For more on the Ark of the Covenant, see also: Ark of the Covenant: Prophetic Ramifications.

Thiel B. Exodus 25-26: Ark of the Covenant and Mercy Seat. COGwriter (c) http://www.cogwriter.com/exodus25-ark-covenant-mercy.htm 2019 0404

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