THE POPULAR ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIBLE PROPHECY

ARK OF THE COVENANT Part II

PROPHETIC SIGNIFICANCE REVEALED

The prophets spoke of the ark as a symbol of God’s discipline and His restoration of the temple and national Israel. In Ezekiel’s prophecy, the departure of the presence of God from the ark and the Temple foreshadow the Temple desecration and destruction ( Ezekiel 10:4 – 11:23 ). In Like manner, his prophecy of the return of God’s presence to the final Temple, and presumably to the ark with in it ( Ezekiel 43: 1 -7). Promises the Temple rebuilding and rededication. When Gods restore Israel. He will set his glory among the nations and restored Israel blessing. ( Ezekiel 39: 21-26 ). This description seems to record the functions of the ark: God’s glory attended the ark ( 1 Samuel 4:21 ) and therefore it brought blessing to Israel ( 2 Samuel 6: 11- 12 ) securing Israel in its Land ( Number 10:33 – 36 ). Such language may imply that the ark will indeed be present in the last days. When God’s glory previously fill the temple, it followed the installation of the ark ( 1 King 8: 4 -12 ) constituting the ark of God’s throne ( see 1 Samuel 4: 4; 2 Samuel 6:2; 2 Kings 19:15; Isaiah 37: 16; Psalm 80:1; 99:1 ) and the place where he would dwell forever with Israel ( Psalm 132:7-8,13; Ezekiel 37:26-28). Where else would Ezekiel Audience have expected God’s glory to have returned but to the ark ( see exodus 25:22 )? Would they have considered the restoration program complete if the final Temple did not have what the first Temple lost? Even thought the ark is not explicitly mentioned in Ezekiel’s final Temple, it seem to be explicit in others statements that require its presence to properly fulfill ritual functions such as the day of atonement ( included in the “all my appointed feasts”of Ezekiel 44:24). Other items of Temple furniture are mentioned, such as the priestly garments( Ezekiel 42:14 ), the altar of burnt offering ( Ezekiel 43: 13- 27), and table of showbread ( Ezekiel 41: 22; 44:16), while other of Important are not ( such as the alter of Incense and the menorah). The inclusion of some furniture implies the inclusion of all because this Temple appears as a fully functioning Temple.

PROPHETIC PASSAGES EXAMINED

The Book Of Revelation

The Book Of Revelation shows judgement coming from the heavenly Temple and the ark in response to the desecration of the earthly temple during the tribulation period. Revelation 11: 1-2 predicts that the earth temple’s outer court will be trampled by the Antichrist ( see Daniel 11: 45 ). This desecration is apparently connected with the abomination of desolation prophesied by the prophet Daniel ( Daniel 9:27; 12:11), Jesus( Matthew 24:15; Mark 13:14 ) and Paul ( 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4). In response to this act of declaration on earth, God’s heaven temple opens, and the ark appears with signs of wrath( Revelation 11:19 ). This correspondence may imply that the tribulation Temple will again house the ark, which would, like the Temple itself, be subject to ritual violation. Second thessalonians 2:4 may also imply the existence of the ark in the tribulation Temple. “The wing of abominations” ( Daniel 9:27 ) may suggest the precise place where the abomination of desolation occurs- near the winged cherubim on the ark. Paul explanation of this desecration in 2 Thessalonian 2:4 shows the “man of lawlessness” ( the Antichrist ) seating himself in the innermost part of the Temple as an act of divine enthronement, “displaying himself as God.” This act of self-deification in the Holy of Holies would only make sense if it follow the precedent of God’s display of his divine presence at the ark ( Exodus 25:22; Psalm 80:1; 99:1 ).