Robert Rite (02/18/2016): The Ark of the Covenant is one of the most mysterious artifacts in all of Christianity and Judaism. In this report we will unlock the secrets regarding its apparent 
disappearance and its divine significance for history – past, present and future.
What happened to the Ark of the Covenant?
Around 621 BC the Ark was put to rest in Solomon’s temple. This occurred about 35 years before the destruction of Jerusalem and Solomon’s temple by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon (1 Chronicles 22:19; 2 Chronicles 5:2; 5:7; 5:10; 35:3; and 6:11). Solomon’s temple was the first of two Jewish Temples.
The ark is never seen again after the Babylonian invasion. It was not among the artifacts seized by Babylon, and scriptures indicate that the Ark was hidden just before the invasion (2 Kings 25:13-17; Jeremiah 3:17, Jeremiah 28:3). Some bible scholars believe that the Ark will never be found; at least not until Messiah sets up His everlasting kingdom. I believe that the Ark was hidden by divine order (Jer. 3:17) since Jesus Christ is now our Ark of the Covenant.
Another ancient writing hints that the prophet Jeremiah had indeed hidden the Ark to protect it from the invading armies, just before Solomon’s temple was destroyed. Let’s read from the apocryphal book 2 Maccabees 2:4-8:
“It was also in the writing that the prophet (Jeremiah), 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. And Jeremiah came and found a cave, and he brought there the tent and the ark and the altar of incense, and he sealed up the entrance. Some of those who followed him came up to mark the way, but could not find it. When Jeremiah learned of it, he rebuked them and declared: “The place shall be unknown until God gathers his people together again and shows his mercy. And 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 2:4-8
What items were placed inside the Ark of the Covenant?
The ark represents the glory of God and His throne in heaven. What is contained inside of the ark is also significant. Interesting, how only 3 items were placed inside the Ark of the Covenant (Hebrews 9:4). These are the 3 items:
1) A golden jar of supernaturally preserved; incorruptible Manna (Exodus 16:33-34).
2) Aaron’s staff (Numbers 17:10)
3) The 2 tablets of stone where God inscribed the Ten Commandments.
It also contained a copy of the law written by Moses (Ex. 25:21; Ex. 25:16; Deuteronomy 31:26; 2 Kings 22:8).
Why these artifacts?
Because they point to Jesus Christ as Messiah! For example, Jesus is symbolic of manna (bread), specifically incorruptible bread. The scriptures refer to him as the bread that came down from heaven. In John 6:58 Jesus reveals: “This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” Read also John 6:41 and John 6:51.
The tablets bearing the Ten Commandments are symbolic of the word of God – Jesus is the Word of God.
The Mystery of the Lost Ark of the Covenant Finally Revealed
The account of the empty tomb is the propitiation of the mercy seat of the Ark of the Covenant. As we read in John 20:12, there are 2 angels on each side of a rectangular tomb, just like the 2 Cherubim that cover the Mercy seat atop the Ark of the Covenant. Jesus blood would become the substitute for the blood that the High Priest at the temple would sprinkle on the Mercy seat of the Ark. As the high priest of heaven Jesus has poured out His own blood as the final atonement sacrifice.
The Ark of the Covenant was vital in its time since Jesus had not yet died for the redemption of sin, and the Hebrews needed a vessel of purification and redemption where God could manifest and forgive man’s sins. But today it has been replaced with the Holy Spirit where God can dwell in us and guide us towards eternal life. In essence, we have become the vessel that hosts the Holy Spirit of God.
The pouring out of the blood over the mercy seat during the high holy Day of Atonement was a shadow of the sacrifice that Messiah would make at the crucifixion! Christ would become the final sacrifice upon the mercy seat of judgment!
This is why the Ark remains concealed and why animal sacrifices or a Jewish Temple is no longer required (read Jeremiah 3:16)! Jesus Christ is our High Priest who makes atonement for our sins before the Holy of Holies; the heavenly throne of the Sovereign God of the universe.
When we are covered in His blood, we are forever atoned of our sins. His blood covers our sins and God sees them no more! Just like the blood of the sacrificial lamb which was placed on the doorposts to keep out the angel of death during the first Passover feast, so does the blood of the Lamb of God throw out the death penalty of sin – for those who accept His sacrifice. The Ark of the Covenant has been concealed because a greater substitute has been revealed for mankind; Jesus Christ – our spiritual substitute for the Ark of the Covenant!
