It is a replica because I don't think you could even be in the same room with the real ark. I think the priests wore bells on their robes so others would know he was still alive. No bells meant he died. I think that was the Ark, but I might be thinking of something else.
I believe all that is in the past - under the Old Covenant. The New Covenant of Jesus Christ puts it this way: “However, the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says" - Acts 7:48. The last physical Temple was destroyed in 70 AD. The Ark of the Covenant has seemingly disappeared from history. Was it hid when the Priests realized that the 1st Temple was going to be destroyed? Some believe that the Ark of the Covenant wasn't even in the 2nd Temple (Herods")!
Matthew 23:38: "See, your house is left to you desolate." Jesus issued a devastating but necessary judgment upon the entire temple-priest syndicate, a money changer operation corrupted beyond any spiritual usefulness for God's people.
So many dispensational or Zionist-leaning Christians tend to think there is still some spiritual significance to old covenant paraphernalia, or a certain physical piece of real estate. But they miss the weight of Jesus' words of final judgment in Matt 23. Jerusalem, particularly the temple and priestly system, was supposed to be the spiritual loci for God's people. To gather and commune with a holy God through offerings, sacrifice, worship, and taking refuge in his special but dangerous Glory presence contained in that place and that system.
But Jesus, after final judicial inspection of the fig tree and its being barren of any fruit (Mark 11), announced that Glory presence would once for all abandon that house. "Desolate" = no more specific space and time system of atonement and cleansing from the guilt of sin. From then on, one must come to faith in Jesus Christ through the preaching ministry of his ambassadors the apostles.
That's why the author to the Hebrews wrote something interesting a little later in that same century to Jewish Christians who were considering going back to the old covenant religious practices. The author argued that, since the risen Christ who was the fulfillment of the priesthood and the temple had ascended triumphantly, and once and for all made a sacrifice for sin, that all "Jewish" religious rituals dependent on the old covenant system of altar and sacrifices are DEAD works that must be repented of (Hebrews 6:1). They can only come to Christ in order to be near to God, to receive grace, forgiveness and cleansing from sin.
The ark of the covenant? Long long long long gone and done with. God's intense, holy presence no longer descends upon inanimate objects like that, not since He sent His only begotten Son in flesh and blood.
Why does DJT have a venerated replica of it? Likely due to Chabad family entanglements. Make of that what you will.
Thanks for your excellent summary! When I read comments such as yours I am encouraged in my faith. I realize that I'm not alone in how I view the broad scope of scripture.
I've been in "the Way" for about 42 years. Sadly, for the 1st 20 years of my Christian walk I was a dispensationalist. In fact I taught dispensationalism to junior high, high school and college age young people. I can't believe I missed the clear teachings of scripture for so long. At any rate I've since "repented" of my ignorant and unlearned ways.
Matthew 23 is a powerful condemnation of apostate Israel. The fig tree in Mark 11 along with the olive tree in Romans 11 gives us a picture of the true Israel of God. In Revelation John spoke against those who call themselves "Jews" but are of the synagogue of Satan (Rev. 2:9 & 3:9).
The replica that DJT has could just be for the benefit of dispensational/evangelical Christians who are still tied up with the necessity of a 3rd Temple in Jerusalem. Or a hat tip to his Chabad family entanglements - or both!
Maybe Trump is just a huge fan of Raiders of the Lost Ark? My friend who used to work for McFarlane Toys has a casting from the original gold Hovitos idol prop used in the beginning of the movie.
Good stuff. Yes, I also had my dispensational phase decades ago. And tried to convince others in those errors, ugh. But we can't beat ourselves up too much, the end times campaigns and intricacy with how those Dispie bible teachers isolated and chopped up prophetic sections of scripture seemed so convincing, since they worked without an overarching framework. When there is no sense of the drama and progression of redemptive history from Genesis to Revelation, it's easy to misunderstand or ignore how Paul argued for example in Romans 4 and Galatians 3-4 how the blessings promised to Abraham were meant to be for all nations through the Seed promise fulfilled in Christ.
Thoughtful, although your wall looms ahead - "Do this in memory of me."
Recreating the outward sign of the holy act must be done at a dinner table or altar, right? So it would seem clear that the hidden nature of the hoarding priestly class of the Hebrews was being rebuked, not a blanket condemnation of any sacred space for all time.
Once you've used bread and wine in the doing this in memory of Him, you can't just toss excess things out in the garbage! You need a place to keep the blessed artifacts. Especially since evil sacrilegious people try to steal then to desecrate them, so a secure but visible place, because nothing should be hidden from the faithful... See how this goes?
Yes I've heard that's a possibility. Or it's buried under the Temple mount.....or well I believe there's a couple more theories that are thrown out there. I told my wife it she ever runs across a box, at a garage sale, covered in gold, with two angels on the lid to let me know!!!
Was the ark not needed for the new covenant? I'm thinking of Ron Wyatt's talk about the blood of Christ falling through the rent earth and dropping onto the ark, the blood of the covenant fulfilling scripture.
Ark needed for the new covenant? Yes but not in the same fashion as the Old Covenant! Think Jesus...
An interesting word in the Bible is “propitiation.” It is often translated “mercy-seat.” There is a connection between the imagery of the Old Testament system, and our Savior’s role in the redemption of man.
“And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holy of holies; having a golden altar of incense, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was a golden pot holding the manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; and above it cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy-seat; of which things we cannot now speak severally” (Heb. 9:3-5).
What is the significance of this? In the New Testament Christ, is designated as our “propitiation.”
“being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God set forth to be a propitiation, through faith, in his blood, to show his righteousness because of the passing over of the sins done aforetime, in the forbearance of God” (Rom. 3:24-25; emphasis added).
Jesus is the covering for sin, as previewed by these Old Testament prophetic images. By means of his death, and our response to the requirements of “the faith” system, all our past sins are covered.
Later in Romans, Paul pinpoints precisely when this occurs.
“Or are ye ignorant that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him through baptism unto death: that like as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life” (Rom. 6:3-4).
Um, the ark wasn't 'needed' for the old covenant, as it was established before the ark was constructed, and the comparison escapes me, sorry. The commandments weren't the covenant, they were symbolic of it, the most direct and lasting gift from God to his chosen nation, held with other sacred relics of His direct aid, in the ark, on an altar. They were outward signs of a divine reality ("sacrament"). I feel that the new gift of Himself eclipses the old, and so it made sense to me that the passing of old to new would be accomplished in the sacrament of the outpouring of His Blood - sign of the new and living covenant - onto the ancient altar that requested the old and held the venerable gifts. Nothing else, just sacramental closure.
It is a replica because I don't think you could even be in the same room with the real ark. I think the priests wore bells on their robes so others would know he was still alive. No bells meant he died. I think that was the Ark, but I might be thinking of something else.
I believe all that is in the past - under the Old Covenant. The New Covenant of Jesus Christ puts it this way: “However, the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says" - Acts 7:48. The last physical Temple was destroyed in 70 AD. The Ark of the Covenant has seemingly disappeared from history. Was it hid when the Priests realized that the 1st Temple was going to be destroyed? Some believe that the Ark of the Covenant wasn't even in the 2nd Temple (Herods")!
Bingo.
Matthew 23:38: "See, your house is left to you desolate." Jesus issued a devastating but necessary judgment upon the entire temple-priest syndicate, a money changer operation corrupted beyond any spiritual usefulness for God's people.
So many dispensational or Zionist-leaning Christians tend to think there is still some spiritual significance to old covenant paraphernalia, or a certain physical piece of real estate. But they miss the weight of Jesus' words of final judgment in Matt 23. Jerusalem, particularly the temple and priestly system, was supposed to be the spiritual loci for God's people. To gather and commune with a holy God through offerings, sacrifice, worship, and taking refuge in his special but dangerous Glory presence contained in that place and that system.
But Jesus, after final judicial inspection of the fig tree and its being barren of any fruit (Mark 11), announced that Glory presence would once for all abandon that house. "Desolate" = no more specific space and time system of atonement and cleansing from the guilt of sin. From then on, one must come to faith in Jesus Christ through the preaching ministry of his ambassadors the apostles.
That's why the author to the Hebrews wrote something interesting a little later in that same century to Jewish Christians who were considering going back to the old covenant religious practices. The author argued that, since the risen Christ who was the fulfillment of the priesthood and the temple had ascended triumphantly, and once and for all made a sacrifice for sin, that all "Jewish" religious rituals dependent on the old covenant system of altar and sacrifices are DEAD works that must be repented of (Hebrews 6:1). They can only come to Christ in order to be near to God, to receive grace, forgiveness and cleansing from sin.
The ark of the covenant? Long long long long gone and done with. God's intense, holy presence no longer descends upon inanimate objects like that, not since He sent His only begotten Son in flesh and blood.
Why does DJT have a venerated replica of it? Likely due to Chabad family entanglements. Make of that what you will.
Thanks for your excellent summary! When I read comments such as yours I am encouraged in my faith. I realize that I'm not alone in how I view the broad scope of scripture.
I've been in "the Way" for about 42 years. Sadly, for the 1st 20 years of my Christian walk I was a dispensationalist. In fact I taught dispensationalism to junior high, high school and college age young people. I can't believe I missed the clear teachings of scripture for so long. At any rate I've since "repented" of my ignorant and unlearned ways.
Matthew 23 is a powerful condemnation of apostate Israel. The fig tree in Mark 11 along with the olive tree in Romans 11 gives us a picture of the true Israel of God. In Revelation John spoke against those who call themselves "Jews" but are of the synagogue of Satan (Rev. 2:9 & 3:9).
The replica that DJT has could just be for the benefit of dispensational/evangelical Christians who are still tied up with the necessity of a 3rd Temple in Jerusalem. Or a hat tip to his Chabad family entanglements - or both!
Maybe Trump is just a huge fan of Raiders of the Lost Ark? My friend who used to work for McFarlane Toys has a casting from the original gold Hovitos idol prop used in the beginning of the movie.
Good stuff. Yes, I also had my dispensational phase decades ago. And tried to convince others in those errors, ugh. But we can't beat ourselves up too much, the end times campaigns and intricacy with how those Dispie bible teachers isolated and chopped up prophetic sections of scripture seemed so convincing, since they worked without an overarching framework. When there is no sense of the drama and progression of redemptive history from Genesis to Revelation, it's easy to misunderstand or ignore how Paul argued for example in Romans 4 and Galatians 3-4 how the blessings promised to Abraham were meant to be for all nations through the Seed promise fulfilled in Christ.
Thoughtful, although your wall looms ahead - "Do this in memory of me."
Recreating the outward sign of the holy act must be done at a dinner table or altar, right? So it would seem clear that the hidden nature of the hoarding priestly class of the Hebrews was being rebuked, not a blanket condemnation of any sacred space for all time.
Once you've used bread and wine in the doing this in memory of Him, you can't just toss excess things out in the garbage! You need a place to keep the blessed artifacts. Especially since evil sacrilegious people try to steal then to desecrate them, so a secure but visible place, because nothing should be hidden from the faithful... See how this goes?
Way to bring it back to the Word.
No, it’s quite probably kept by the Ethiopians in Axum. No, you and I can’t see it. https://www.sacred-destinations.com/ethiopia/axum-ark-of-covenant
Yes I've heard that's a possibility. Or it's buried under the Temple mount.....or well I believe there's a couple more theories that are thrown out there. I told my wife it she ever runs across a box, at a garage sale, covered in gold, with two angels on the lid to let me know!!!
Was the ark not needed for the new covenant? I'm thinking of Ron Wyatt's talk about the blood of Christ falling through the rent earth and dropping onto the ark, the blood of the covenant fulfilling scripture.
Ark needed for the new covenant? Yes but not in the same fashion as the Old Covenant! Think Jesus...
An interesting word in the Bible is “propitiation.” It is often translated “mercy-seat.” There is a connection between the imagery of the Old Testament system, and our Savior’s role in the redemption of man.
“And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holy of holies; having a golden altar of incense, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was a golden pot holding the manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; and above it cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy-seat; of which things we cannot now speak severally” (Heb. 9:3-5).
What is the significance of this? In the New Testament Christ, is designated as our “propitiation.”
Jesus is the covering for sin, as previewed by these Old Testament prophetic images. By means of his death, and our response to the requirements of “the faith” system, all our past sins are covered.
Later in Romans, Paul pinpoints precisely when this occurs.
Um, the ark wasn't 'needed' for the old covenant, as it was established before the ark was constructed, and the comparison escapes me, sorry. The commandments weren't the covenant, they were symbolic of it, the most direct and lasting gift from God to his chosen nation, held with other sacred relics of His direct aid, in the ark, on an altar. They were outward signs of a divine reality ("sacrament"). I feel that the new gift of Himself eclipses the old, and so it made sense to me that the passing of old to new would be accomplished in the sacrament of the outpouring of His Blood - sign of the new and living covenant - onto the ancient altar that requested the old and held the venerable gifts. Nothing else, just sacramental closure.
Was when they entered the holy of holies. They put a rope around their ankle so if they entered with sin and died, they could get pulled out.