Which probably means, if they really know where it is, they won't show it until they are secured from attack. Which probably means, it won't be shown until the meltdown begins. So hope no one is waiting to make a choice dependent upon the ark being shown, because it will be too late.

I do believe Ron Wyatt was a fraud about the Ark of the Covenant. I believe he was very mistaken about Noah's Ark. But, Ron Wyatt brought the very best answer so far as to the Red Sea Crossing and the location of Mt. Sinai.

As far as Sodom and Gomorrah is concerned; even though I tend to agree with Ron Wyatt on this assessment, I am not aware of definitive proof that they were located where the Dead Sea is now.

It just occurred to me that where they were may be impossible to determine, on the basis that there may be nothing at all left to find.

When describing the fire from heaven at Mount Carmel the Bible says that even the stones were consumed. "Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench." (1 Kings 18:38)

The Bible then further compares the ultimate destruction of all the wicked to what happened to Sodom and Gomorrah, pointing out that the cities were turned into ashes. "And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;" (2 Peter 2:6)

There has been much discussion concerning the ARK OF THE COVENANT. Much of the previous discussion concerned one person's claims. Let's not focus on Wyatt's claims -- he was just a man looking for answers, who had some things wrong and some things right. As far as the Ark of the Covenant's present location, it appears he was wrong, his "find" mere speculation, and not to regarded as any type of "proof".
This isn't about him.

So let's look at this subject of the ARK OF THE COVENANT objectively. There are many other sources, historical records, opinions, and claims, and suppositions, so lets not base our search for truth on Wyatt's suppositions, or character, leave him out of the discussion.

What do we know about the Ark of the Covenant, and it's purpose and meaning for us today.

To review and focus on the subject as to where the ark of the covenant may be, and what it's role in the future is, let's first look at inspired texts and Prophetic comments,

Let's first look at inspired texts and Prophetic comments.

1. There are two Ark's of the Covenant!
The original, heavenly Ark of the Covenant, and a replica ark of the Covenant on earth.

Exodus 25:9 (God says to Moses) According to the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments, all that I show thee, even so shall you make it.
Duet: 10:4-5 And He (the LORD) wrote on the tables, according to the first writing, the ten commandments, which the LORD spake unto you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly: and the LORD gave them unto me. And I turned myself and came down from the mount, and put the tables in the ark which I had made; and there they be, as the LORD commanded me.
Duet. 31:25026 Moses commanded the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, saying, Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God,

Hebrews 8:5 ...(The earthly replicas) Serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, see, saith He, that thou make all things according to the pattern showed to thee in the mount.
Revelation 11:19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: .



2. Where does the Bible apply blood to the Mercy Seat? (whose blood)

The earthly mercy seat upon the ark of the covenant had animal blood sprinkled upon it on the day of atonement.
The heavenly tabernacle, Christ enters with His own blood.

Lev. 6:14-15 (On the Day of Atonement) he (the earthly High Priest) shall take of the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle [it] with his finger upon the mercy seat eastward; and before the mercy seat shall he sprinkle of the blood with his finger seven times.
Then shall he kill the goat of the sin offering, that [is] for the people, and bring his blood within the veil, and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat:

Hebrews 9:11-12 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;
9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy places, having obtained eternal redemption [for us].



3. What happened to the earthly Ark of the Covenant -- when did it disappear?

The ark was in Solomon's temple, in the Most Holy Place, until the Babylonian captivity.
Then, according to many different accounts, the prophet Jeremiah had the ark secreted away in a safe place (accounts vary as to the place) but all seem to agree that Jeremiah had it hidden. The restored temple, after the Babylonian exile, did not contain the Ark of the Covenant.
It's greater glory was the Presence of Jesus Himself, the Son of God in human form. But the ark was never brought forth after the Babylonian captivity.



4. The Ark never again occupied the earthly Most Holy Place in an earthly temple in Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile, and it never will in the future.

Jeremiah predicts that the earthly ark will never again occupy the earthly temple.
Jere. 3:16 And it shall come to pass, when ye be multiplied and increased in the land, in those days, saith the LORD, they shall say no more, The ark of the covenant of the LORD: neither shall it come to mind: neither shall they remember it; neither shall they visit it; neither shall that be done any more.

Ezekiel?s depiction of a temple presumably after the exile (Ezekiel 40-48) includes an altar and inner sanctuary, but no Ark. Haggai foretells a greater glory (Haggai 2:9) without listing the Ark among restored vessels.

What do we know about the Ark of the Covenant, and it's purpose and meaning for us today.

Really -- it's present location isn't the important thing. There are so many stories as to where it might be, each with it's own supposed reasons for believing it's location is the key.

But why are people so interested in this ancient artifact?

According to the Bible, it represents the link between the Creator God and His people. It's about God dwelling with His people. It's about the covenant of grace through which we become God's people. The law within it, is not just some rules, it represents the character and transformation of sinful humans into people in love with God and letting His love flow through their whole lives and relationships with others. That law (and all it implies) in the heart of the ark of the covenant, is part of the love of God, and what He wants to write in the heart of each of His followers

When Jesus walked into the temple in Jerusalem, that temple structure had lost it's true glory symbolized by the lost ark, not so much because the symbol representing His glory had departed, but because the relationship it was meant to draw them into, had been largely rejected. Jesus was everything that ark pointed to -- He brought the glory of God to earth. He was Immanuel "God with us".

But why is the interest in finding this ark so high --
-- Jews see it as essential to the restoration of their nation, culture and worship.
-- Evangelical Christians see it as part of the re-establishment of the third temple and it's services which they seem to believe is necessary to take place before Christ sets up His kingdom on earth.


Many Adventists have seen finding the ark as some kind of milestone in their desire to establish timelines in order to predict Christ's return. Or to prove Sabbath observance.

Basically it seems religious motivations have driven many to take risks and find something, that to them seems evidence, which has caused people to argue over their supposed success and defeats.

But what would discovering the ark of the covenant really mean in our world today?

I tend to belong to the group that believes that it was destroyed around the time of Manasseh, but as you said there are many theories.

I think that like Noah's ark, people want these arks found with some sort of "proof" that the Bible is true and will FORCE people to believe.

I side with what Jesus said in Luke 16, that if they don't believe Moses and the prophets neither will they believe if someone was raised from the dead... we can add to this, neither will they believe if one or both arks are found.

I also believe that how the wish to find these arks is to want to use external control psychology on to others, which I fear would do more supporting ourown sinful nature and using this force to replace the sharing of the gospel.

While I believe the ark is hidden, not destroyed, I fully agree with the rest of what you wrote.

If it is ever "brought forth" it would be used in wrong ways.
Like Jesus said, "if they don't believe Moses and the prophets neither will they believe if someone was raised from the dead".

That was demonstrated when a man, (with the same name as the man in the Luke 16 parable) Lazarus, was raised from the dead. The unbelieving Jews sought the more to kill both Jesus and the risen Lazarus.

To have the ark of the covenant brought forth would be like raising something from the dead. But I can visualize how it would be used to push the end time agenda. Though for a small group of believers, it would be confirmation of truth, but for the powerful and influential and all their followers, it would not lead them to worship in spirit and truth, but they would use it as a means to enforce their agenda.