Make sure you read all the way through to the exciting 2013 update at the end!
The Ark of the Covenant was rediscovered through the leading of God. Ron Wyatt, the archeologist whom God had permitted to re-discover a number of significant archeological finds including Noah's ark, the Red Sea crossing site with its encrusted chariot wheels, the real Mt. Sinai with its blackened top and altars, was directed by God to dig in an area outside of old Jerusalem known as the Calvary Escarpment. The place is also known as the place of the Skull, reflecting a pattern in the rock and is fairly close to the Garden Tomb, which turns out to be the legitimate burial places of Jesus (see map below). This was in an area located between the walls of Jerusalem and the Babylonian siege wall during the siege of Jerusalem prior to its fall and destruction around 586 B.C. Permission to excavate was granted by the Israeli government as well as by the owners of the two properties that would be affected.
A lot of rubble was removed from the excavation site and digging commenced. Efforts were fruitless on a number of trips, extending over a 3 year period. Finally the searchers dug into the hill, and found it honeycombed with natural tunnels, most quite narrow.
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At the time of the discovery, the diggers, an Arabian helper and Ron Wyatt came upon a small hole leading into another chamber. The hole was enlarged and the helper crawled into the chamber first, but with a horrified look on his face, rapidly exited, never to return to the honeycombs. Ron enlarged the access hole, entered the chamber, and when he saw the casement and the other sanctuary implements in the chamber and realized that he'd found what he'd been searching for over the past years, he fainted and remained unconscious for around 45 minutes. This was on January 6th, 1982 at approximately 2 o'clock in the afternoon |
The chamber was about 22 feet long by 12 feet wide at one end with a with a flat ceiling about 8 feet high . It was filled to within 18 inches of the ceiling or closer with fist sized rocks and other debris. The sanctuary implements (see list below) were covered with dry rotted wood and animal skins of some sort. At the far end of the chamber was a casement with a lid on it. It was of the right size to just hold an Ark of the dimensions indicated in the Bible.
Ron wondered how he would remove the rubble and expose the Ark. He returned several times to the chamber to attempt to photograph the ark, but none of the photographs turned out with any clarity.
Items later identified in the chamber included:
This find is probably the most significant archeological find in history. A number of dictators, including Adolph Hitler and Mussolini, felt that possessing the Ark would give them power over their enemies and aggressively sought for it. Yet it should be emphasized that the Ark itself has no power except as God's presence is dwelling there.
The Israeli government after examining artifacts brought from the chamber, has confirmed to its satisfaction that the Ark has indeed been found. However, to its credit, the government has been very careful with the release of information to prevent riots and the potential destruction of the Dome of the Rock by Jewish extremists. Some examples of what happened when people misused the ark discovery information.
The Israeli government, satisfied that the Ark has been found, has ordered the tunnel leading to the chamber to be sealed. The one of the tunnels leading to the ark was covered with a steel plate and then covered with 2 feet of rock and dirt. It awaits a more critical time for God to reveal it (see my 2013 update below).
The following graphics are an artist's computerized renditions from Ron's descriptions to Jim Pinkoski and Jim's sketches of the ark of the covenant (click here for details on those first sketches). The ark was initially viewed by Ron Wyatt through a crack running down the casement surrounding the ark (see picture below) and through a colonoscope (a flexible yet controllable fiber optic viewing device normally used for examining the insides of a colon). On Ron's fourth trip to the area, the 4 angels that accompany and protect the ark had cleared the chamber of all debris, removed the casement from around the ark and cleaned it up (other than Jesus blood which I will discuss later on this page). They had also cleared out the tunnels from Zedekiah's cave to the chamber in which the Ark was located. Ron was directed by one of the angels to set up his 8 mm video camera on the tripod he had brought along with him and video record what would happen next. Ron was allowed to see the ark directly, and at the angel's beckoning, to remove the two tablets of stone from the ark with his hands. He also observed the four scrolls of Moses' book in the side of the Ark and identified them as Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy (more details follow). He was also told the Ark would be brought out after certain events had transpired. So Ron had a very clear picture in his mind of what the ark looked like.
These pictures are adapted from segments of a computerized video clip that is on the Ark of the Covenant CD-ROM (see below).
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As mentioned earlier, when initially rediscovered, the ark was in a mortar casement with a lid on it which was cracked and the smaller part shifted away. (See sketch in a graphic below - also done by Pinkoski). The crack continued through the casement to its base and permitted viewing through the crack, as well as through a colonoscope. The poles were still in place in the rings attached to the ark.
The atonement cover was of solid gold and was encircled by the pomegranates as mentioned in the Bible. The two cherubim (angels), one on either end, had their wings positioned at right angles to the other, one wing covering the back side of the ark, the other at their sides.
A close-up of the
cherubim's face indicated it looked much like we would expect an Levitical priest to
appear, with miter and full beard, not as many artists depict angels today.
"In the back 'side' of the ark is a small cubicle. Only during a subsequent visit into the cavern, after the stone casement was removed, would this become visible. When Ron caught sight of this, his heart almost skipped a beat. The cubicle still contained four scrolls...presumably the original 'Book of the Law' which Moses himself wrote. The books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy were there. 'Perhaps Genesis is there. I don't know.' recalled Ron, after an examination. 'Maybe it's rolled up with one of the others. They are written on split leather scrolls. They are still in wonderful condition, almost as if they'd been made yesterday. They are written on soft leather. Just as the shoe leather of the Israelites did not wear out in the desert, so has this leather remained in perfect condition and shows no deterioration." (Ark of the Covenant p. 343). God had promised the Israelites that during their wanderings in the wilderness, their clothes and sandals would not wear out! (Deut. 29:5)
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During the excavations around the Calvary escarpment,
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While the above may seem too incredible and perhaps like a tabloid story, we recommend that you check it out for yourself (and read the updates following on this page). For many more marvelous details, facts, and pictures, surrounding the Ark rediscovery, order either the marvelous 595 page book by Jonathan Gray, Ark of the Covenant or the CD-ROM with the Ark of the Covenant discovery and many more pictures of the other discoveries mentioned on the Discoveries page.
Update 2008: After Ron's death from cancer in 1999, the leadership of the Wyatt Archeological Research (WAR) attempted to substantiate Ron's testimony regarding his discovery of the Ark. Several attempts were made in 2005 and 2006 to excavate the cross hole area and find the chamber with the Ark. While they found the crack photographed by Wyatt, it appears in the process of doing the excavation, that they destroyed the cross hole and plugged up the crack. Subsequently pouring water over the top of the crack simply caused the water to run down their excavation channel. They also found mollusks (snail-like animal shells) and the dark substance the mollusks emit (Chitin) and concluded that what Ron Wyatt saw and gathered was this Chitin. The speaker in their video, Richard Rives, WAR's President, mistakenly said that Ron never stated that the dark substance was blood (6:21). Thus based upon their lack of finding substantiating evidence, they pulled Ron's materials pertaining to the Ark of the Covenant discovery off of their website.
However, based upon reading Ron's materials, watching updated videos (Dec. 2007) of his sons Danny and Ronnie who assisted with the original digs and discoveries and who share their dismay at the destruction wrought by the more recent excavation efforts, and watching Ron's own testimony on the videos linked to above, this editor finds WAR's conclusions to be questionable at best.
Firstly, Ron gathered the dark substance at its exit from the crack above the Ark of the Covenant, had it tested, and has consistently testified that the lab reported it to be human blood with the characteristics noted in the asterisked (*) footnote. Furthermore, it was clear that Ron was God-led through all his discoveries through the frequent supernatural interventions that played a role in the discoveries (watch his Zedekiah cave videos above). Alternatively, the more recent excavation were not done on faith, but rather to satisfy skeptics. It is evident from their video that they did not locate the exact passageway of the crack to the Ark chamber, and thus could not have obtained a blood sample. As you will find below, God had said the ark would not come forth until a given event had taken place. Their ill-motivated attempt was predestined to fail. Thirdly, while they did gather a dark substance, it was not blood and thus wouldn't have tested as blood.
It appears that God has hidden the Ark from current eyes, as the search was not conducted in faith, but rather to please skeptics. Beside the evidence presented to the Israeli Antiquities Department at the time of Ron's original discovery, there is evidence outside of hard evidence including the veracity of the witnesses. Ron's sons and a profile of Ron's humility testify to his honesty and truthfulness. This editor stands fully behind Ron and his discoveries. God Almighty will bring out the Ark is His appointed time and not before then.
A number of people have asked the question, "Why not send some Levites in to get the Ark?" According to a section of the Ron's sons' Zedekiah cave video (4:43-6:35) (and alluded to in Ron's Zedekiah cave video part 7), they mention an incident in which the Israeli government sent 6 supposed Levites into the tunnel system (via Zedekiah's cave) towards the Ark. All 6 were struck dead and Ron had to fly to Israel to assist with removing the bodies from the cave. God has permitted Ron to behold and report what He will not allow others to do or see and this was recorded on a video that will be brought out with the Ark. The Ark is very sacred and still holy, set apart and protected. Woe be to those who try to mess around with it, who are not commissioned by God to do so. Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!
According to a contemporary messenger from the Lord who has had over 65 public dream messages from the LORD, the Ark of the Covenant will be brought forth in the future at the right time (I will quote the exact words below). Ellen White, another messenger of the LORD's made the following comment:
"Four heavenly angels always accompanied the ark of God in all its journeyings, to guard it from all danger, and to fulfill any mission required of them in connection with the ark." White, Sprit of Prophecy Vol 1, p. 399.
Ron mentioned seeing these four beings during several of his trips into the cave system and they greeted him. He was also permitted to video the Ark and the Ten Commandments, and to remove the tables of stone from the Ark. The angels also told him a number of things (see transcription of his final interview here). Afterwards, Ron exited for the first time through the original passageway which had also been cleared, passing through a maze of tunnels and then finally through Zedekiah's Cave also known as Solomon's Quarries. Ron took the 8 mm video back to his room and watched it. He verified that the video came out clear, but then remembering the angel's admonishment, decided to return the video tape to the cave, where an angel set it on top of the tables of stone. When the ark is brought forth by these angels in the form of men, they will carry the video tape with them. The angels promised that they would bring forth the Ark of the Covenant, the tables of stone and the video tape when the Sunday law (also known as the mark of the beast law) was in place. Here is the exciting prophecy:
Once again, the Herald§ takes me higher and I watch the earth spin quickly, then slow down to its normal speed. He informs me that now he will show me something that will fulfill an unconditional promise. However, no one is to know the date when it will happen.
We descend to a rocky area near the ancient city of Jerusalem. Worldwide television stations have set up cameras to broadcast a special event. Several news reporters announce that the world stands ready for the unveiling of the newly-discovered Ark of the Covenant. Stations present programs on its history, and there is much excitement and discussion. Many speculate regarding the validity and condition of such a great archeological find. As the exact time nears for the Ark to be brought out from its hiding place, the world is focused on the news. Suddenly, we hear an announcement that there is movement deep inside the cave from where the Ark will be carried out for the world to see. Four men are seen slowly and very carefully carrying out the Ark. The man on the right front corner of the Ark is holding a package in his right hand that contains a video. The Ark is very bright, shiny, and clean. Along each of the two longest sides of the Ark, there is a long pole. The four men carry the Ark by holding onto the ends of the poles. Next, they all stand before a large cluster of microphones. I notice that armed guards quickly surround the Ark and the four men.
One at a time, each of the four men speaks. They do not talk about themselves but rather about the items they have brought out. They mention that Ron Wyatt, an archeologist from the United States, discovered the Ark and video recorded his find. One of the same four men assured Ron that his video would be shown worldwide.
A journalist now asks for the names of the four men. As if of one mind, the first man says, "Who we are," and the second man says, "is not important." The third man says, "The only name that all should have on their lips is," and the fourth individual says, "Jesus, Jesus Christ." Then in one voice, all four men simultaneously state, "The most wonderful, the most beautiful name in all the universe."
Another journalist asks what is inside the Ark. One of the men responds that they will open the Ark for the world to see. Another one states that on top of the Ark is the blood that flowed from the side of Jesus while He hung upon the cross and a soldier thrust a spear into His side. Another says that Ron took a sample of the dried blood to a laboratory for testing, and he goes on to share the test results.
Then each of the four men go to a corner of the Ark and lift off the lid. Reaching inside, one of the men brings out a large, rectangular stone, and another brings out a second stone. Each holds the stone in front of himself. The other two men stand to their left and right. As I observe the two tablets of stone, which are the Ten Commandments, I notice distinct engraving on each one. The lettering looks as if someone had used their finger to write on softened butter. The first letter of each commandment is larger and more deeply engraved. The first tablet displays the first three commandments in a dark purple light. The second tablet displays the last six commandments in a dark blue light. Looking back at the first tablet, I notice that the first three commandments are separated from the fourth commandment, which appears written in a very bright, white light. Now all the colors become brighter.
Commenting on the Ten Commandments, a news reporter states that they appear to be written in ancient Hebrew. Suddenly, those who are looking at the tablets, whether in person or through the media, notice that they can read the letters in their own language. These Ten Commandments, written by the holy finger of God Himself, are understood by every living soul who is watching anywhere on earth.
After a little time passes, the last six commandments and then the first three become less bright. However, the fourth commandment becomes brighter and larger in size, and everyone keeps his eyes fixed on it. The letters continue to become a brighter white.
Next, I am made to know that people in other parts of the world who are sleeping are being shown what is transpiring while they sleep. Many wake up and watch the news on television or via the Internet. Others who do not have that opportunity, such as those camping in the wilderness, in prison, and even the blind, are enabled to see clearly what the fourth commandment states.
"Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it."
No man, woman, or child on earth, regardless of age or education, will be able to say that he or she had no knowledge of God’s Ten Commandments, especially the fourth. The first three show how we are to reverence God, and the last six show how we are to treat each other. However, the fourth commandment speaks about our Creator and the day that will be kept holy throughout eternity.
Dream: FINAL EVENTS AND THE FIRST SUPPER. Posted December 12, 2012
. By Ernie KnollA dream where the angel talks about the coming of the false Christ and his command to keep Sunday holy can be found via The Great Test link below. The following dream messages give other important messages pertaining to this Sabbath vs. Sunday controversy and the coming Sunday law.
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So Ron's testimony is accurate and true and the promise made to him will be fulfilled! Let us prepare our hearts now, and not be found of little faith or obedience.
There should be no doubt which day is the Sabbath simply by a study of the languages of the ancient and modern world. In over in 108 of the 160 languages of mankind, the seventh day is called "the Sabbath." Here is a web page that shows the name of the seventh-day of the week as a variant of Sabbath in over 100 languages.
*Counting of the chromosome under an electron microscope (which was video taped) showed that the cells had only 24 chromosomes, 23 X-chromosomes from the woman, and one Y-chromosome (from God or the Holy Spirit). The usual number of chromosomes is 46, 23 X-chromosomes from the woman and 23 X or Y-chromosomes from the man. This condition is extremely rare, if present at all in other than this blood. An article entitled, The boy whose blood has no father published by David Bonthron and his colleagues at Edinburgh University in Nature Genetics (Vol. 11, p 164) talked about a 3 year old boy whose white blood cells had only X chromosomes, normally a signal for a female (a skin sample showed normal chromosome counts). Normally haploidy individuals cannot survive (as opposed to duploidy, having two sets of chromosomes). At least one Y-chromosome is required to trigger the production of a male.
§ The Herald (a title) humbly never discloses his name in all the dream messages, but in one of the messages, Jesus declares that the Herald is the angel of the Lord, the one sent to Mary, to Zechariah, to John the revelator and to Daniel, the angel who most know as Gabriel.
Some of the photos are copyrighted by MindVision
Interactive Pty Ltd., Adelaide, South Australia and Jonathan Gray.
The last one is from the www.formypeople.org
website.
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