History and Location of the Ark of the Covenant

The ark of the covenant is a sacred chest of precious wood overlaid with pure gold that serves as the dwelling place for the Ten Commandments and a symbol of God's presenceGC 412.2+2. 🌟

What the Ark Was and its Purpose

The ark was a small chest constructed of shittim wood, approximately four feet six inches in length and two feet six inches in height and width, overlaid within and without with pure goldS23D 48.1+1. Its primary purpose was to serve as the depository for the two tables of stone containing the law of GodGC 412.2+1. On top of the ark was the mercy seat, a magnificent piece of solid gold where the divine presence was manifested as a cloud of glory between two cherubimGC 412.2+1. This sacred object was the heart and center of religious worship, representing the divine source of the law and God's desire for obedienceASLD 19.1+1.

Origin and Historical Existence

The ark first existed around 1490 years before Christ when it was built by Moses in the wilderness of Sinai according to a pattern showed to him in the mountSTTHD 129.1+1. It was placed in the Most Holy Place of the earthly sanctuary on the first day of the first month in the second year after the Israelites departed from EgyptARSH August 4, 1863, page 77.10+1. Throughout its history, it was kept in various locations, including the house of Obed-edom for three months and the house of Abinadab for twenty years, before Solomon eventually placed it in the temple he built in Jerusalem4aSG 111.2+2.

Where the Ark is Now

While the earthly ark is currently hidden in a cave, having been secreted there by righteous men before the destruction of the first temple to protect it from being restored to a sinful people, its heavenly original remains in the sanctuary aboveSR 195.1+1. 🏛️ The earthly ark was not present in the second temple built after the Babylonian captivitySS 308.1+1. Today, we look by faith to the "true tabernacle" in heaven where the original ark of God's testament is locatedBIAD 151.2+2.

Contents of the Ark

The ark was made for the express purpose of containing God's lawS23D 48.1+1.

• The Ten Commandments: The ark contained the two tables of stone on which God inscribed the Decalogue with His own fingerGC 412.2+2.

• Other Items: At various times, it was noted to contain the golden pot of manna and Aaron's rod that buddedBIAD 151.2+1.

• Distinction of Laws: While the Ten Commandments were inside the ark, the book of the law containing ceremonial statutes was placed in the side of the arkPP 466.1+1.

Evidence of the Heavenly Ark

Our evidence for the existence of the ark in the heavenly sanctuary is derived from both prophetic vision and biblical typesBIAD 151.2+1.

• Prophetic Vision: The apostle John was granted a view into heaven where he saw the temple of God opened and "there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament" Revelation 11:194BC 1152.4+2.

• The Pattern System: The earthly sanctuary and its furniture were "patterns of things in the heavens," meaning the earthly ark was a copy of the true ark in the heavenly sanctuary Hebrews 9:23PP 356.1+1.

• Current Ministration: Christ entered the Most Holy Place of the heavenly sanctuary in 1844 at the end of the 2300-day prophecy to minister before the ark on our behalf4SP 273.2+2.

• Angelic Witnesses: Visions of the heavenly sanctuary describe living angels standing beside the heavenly ark, overshadowing the mercy seat with their wings1BC 1107.6+1.

The presence of the ark in heaven ensures that the holy Sabbath and the other precepts of the law remain unchangeable and eternalCET 93.1+2. 🕊️