No Ark?

Depiction of Levites Carrying the Ark of the Covenant

In my post yesterday I referred to an item as a “surprise move” that “If WND is correct, this may happen tomorrow”.

Well, as far as I have been able to determine, there was no major announcement today by any in Ethiopia to display the “Ark of the Covenant”.

Some sources I checked with today indicated that World News Daily (WND) apparently relied on a mistranslation of an interview with a religious leader from Ethiopia. Supposedly what was said was that the Ark of the Covenant is in Ethiopia (a common claim in Ethiopia) and that it could be revealed to the world today if the Ethiopians wanted it to be.

Perhaps someday, Ethiopia will reveal what many there believe is the Ark of the Covenant. But for now, this simply did not happen as the WND article reported that it would.

LATE UPDATE: WND posted the following update:

Hark! Where’s the Bible Ark?
Ethiopia’s Orthodox patriarch cops out on revealing plan for public viewing

Posted: June 26, 2009 4:16 pm Eastern © 2009 WorldNetDaily

The leader of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church today backed off on a much-anticipated announcement about the Ark of the Covenant — the ancient container holding the Ten Commandment — which he claims to have seen.

But no other evidence or, indeed, even any announcement, was made public today when word had been expected.

Ark hunters and Bible enthusiasts have been buzzing for two days on the report from the Italian news agency Adnkronos that Patriarch Abuna Pauolos, in Italy for a meeting with Pope Benedict XVI this week, said, “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.”

He had suggested the possibility the artifact might be viewable in a planned museum.

“I repeat (the Ark of the Covenant) is in Ethiopia and nobody … knows for how much time. Only God knows,” he said in the Adnkronos report available online.

The report said Pauolos reported the artifact “is described perfectly in the Bible” and is in good condition…

But according to a statement delivered to WND by the webmaster for the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, there is no chance that the religious leaders and people in the nation will give up their custody of what they believe is the Ark.

“I think Abba Pauolos must be out of his mind. … An (artifact) should not be shown or touched other than the clergies but to put it on display is a reckless comment let alone doing it,” the statement said. “Not only the local clergies but the people of Ethiopia won’t allow it and it is not going to happen.”…

“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. http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=102274

Anyway, due to some type of miscommunication, the Ark was not shown. The Ethiopians do claim to have the Ark and perhaps some day they will show it.

Some articles of possible interest may include:

Why is a Jewish Temple in Jerusalem Not Required? Although people like Timothy LaHaye teach a third Jewish temple is required, who is ‘the temple of God” in the New Testament? What does the Bible teach about the temple in the end-times?
Solomon’s TempleThis is a a 5 minute animated film that shows one artist’s understanding of the details about Solomon’s temple.
Africa: Its Biblical Past and Prophesied Future What does the Bible teach about Africa and its future? Did the early Church reach Africa? Were there Sabbath-keepers in Ethiopia? Will God call all the Africans?