-------The Ark Of The Covenant-------

Several years ago Steven Spielberg made a very exciting action movie called "Raiders Of The Lost Ark". Indiana Jones discovered the fabled ark of the covenant and Nazis tried to use it for their own power and it ended up destroying the Nazis.

Does the ark still exist? Some Bible students of prophecy believe that Israel is currently in possession of the ark and is just waiting for the temple to be rebuilt. Other students of the prophetic word believe that the ark has been destroyed and will never be seen again.

What does the Bible say? Jeremiah 3:16 states, " 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."

Jeremiah prophesies that when the Israelites are multiplied and increased in the land the ark would no longer be remembered or made. This verse was written before the Babylonian captivity but the contents of the chapter seem to refer to the time when Christ would come as King of kings and Lord of Lords. It is possible that the passage contains references to both eras.

What was the purpose of the ark of the covenant? It contained the ten commandments and the presence of God. Whenever the Israelites had the ark with them and were obedient to the commands of God, they would be victorious in battle as God was fighting for them.

When it was carried into battle, the ark was concealed so the Levites would not have to look upon it and risk instant death due to the unholiness of man. This was portrayed at the end of the "Raiders" movie in which Indiana Jones told his bound companion to not look upon the ark.

There is a story in the bible about Uzzah being killed instantly when he stumbled and used the ark to break his fall causing King David's men to be very afraid of the ark.

When the Babylonians conquered Jerusalem and destroyed the temple, the ark disappeared. Some believe it was destroyed.

There have been many so called clues or discoveries about the location of the ark but they have all proven to be hoaxes. After doing a web search, the most recent so called recovery took place in 2009 and we have yet to see an ark.

It seems likely that the prophesy Jeremiah uttered, "It shall not come to mind, nor shall they remember it, nor shall they visit it (should read "miss it"), nor shall it be made anymore."

If this prophecy was referring to the time when Israel returned to the land after their Babylonian captivity, then the ark has been destroyed and will never be made or seen again.

The ark of the covenant represented the presence of God but we are under a new covenant today. We are not under law (which the ark also represents) but under Grace. The presence of God is no longer housed in a box but in the body's of believers.

The Holy Spirit indwells all who trust in the redemptive work of Christ on the cross. There is no need for an ark.

However, the Jewish people are still awaiting their Messiah and they are going to rebuild the temple at some future date. If Jeremiah's prophecy referred to the time we now live in his prophecy (after all there are more Jewish people in the land of Israel today than ever before), then the ark may still exist.

What is my personal opinion? I feel that it is has been destroyed. Why? It is because God operates on faith, Hebrews 11:6 "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."

How does a person get that faith? Romans 10:17, "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."

If the ark of the covenant was found, it would become an object of worship and a shrine. In essence, to many the ark would become the object of worship and not God. The discovery of the ark would certainly further prove the veracity of God's word, but we do not need an ark to have faith, we need the word of God which is the Holy Bible.

Will the ark be recovered or has it been destroyed already? Only time will tell.