What does the Ark of the Covenant look like?
In Exodus 25:10-21; 37:1-9; and in Ezekiel 1:11 we find quite a detailed description of what it looked like. It was a rectangular box 2 1/2 cubits in length, 1 1/2 cubits wide, and 1 1/2 cubits high (1.11m x 0.67m x 0.67m), made of shittim wood and overlaid inside and out with pure gold, and a crown of gold around the top. Four rings of gold were made for the four corners, two on each side. Also staves of shittim wood were made and overlaid with gold. These were placed in the rings on each side and were never to be removed. A Mercy Seat of pure gold was made, 2 1/2 cubits long and 1 1/2 cubits wide (1.11m x 0.67m), and two cherubims were made upon each end, one on this side and one on that side with their heads turned towards each other and looking down towards the Mercy Seat. With one wing each they covered the Mercy Seat and with the other wing they covered their body in reverence. They were beaten out of the same piece of pure gold that the Mercy Seat was made from. (Signs of the Times, 24-6-1880, by E.G.W.) Note that the cherubims are standing on top of (Patriarchs and Prophets by E.G.W. page 348) and on each side at each end (opposing corners) of the Mercy Seat, and were made of solid gold (Great Controversy by E.G.W. page 412).
Where was it placed in the Sanctuary?
Exodus 26:33 "And thou shalt hang up the veil under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within the veil the ark of the testimony: and the veil shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy."
This drawing of the Sanctuary is not done to scale.
After the children of Israel settled in Cannan did the ark get a permanent home?
2 Chronicles 3:1 "Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem in mount Moriah, where the Lord appeared unto David his father, in the place that David had prepared in the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite."
1 Kings 8:4 & 6 "And they brought up the ark of the LORD, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and all the holy vessels that were in the tabernacle, even those did the priests and the Levites bring up. . .And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the LORD unto his place, into the oracle of the house, to the most holy place, even under the wings of the cherubims."
Was it ever permanently removed from here? Was it to be used again by the Jews?
Prophets and Kings by E.G.W. page 453 "Among the righteous still in Jerusalem, to whom had been made plain the divine purpose, were some who determined to place beyond the reach of ruthless hands the sacred ark containing the tables of stone on which had been traced the precepts of the Decalogue. This they did. With mourning and sadness they secreted the ark in a cave, where it was to be hidden from the people of Israel and Judah because of their sins, and was to be no more restored to them. That sacred ark is yet hidden. It has never been disturbed since it was secreted."
Jeremiah 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."
Did the Shekinah Glory of the Lord ever leave the Ark of the Covenant?
Ezekiel 8:6 "He said furthermore unto me, Son of man, seest thou what they do? even the great abominations that the house of Israel committeth here, that I should go far off from my sanctuary? but turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations."
Ezekiel 11:22 & 23 "Then did the cherubims lift up their wings, and the wheels beside them; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above. And the glory of the LORD went up from the midst of the city, and stood upon the mountain which is on the east side of the city."
Desire of Ages by E.G.W. page 829 "The holy Shekinah, in departing from the first temple, had stood upon the eastern mountain, as if loath to forsake the chosen city."
