Loading summary
Transcript16 lines
- [00:00]
Mark Yagon
What is the Ark of the Covenant? In Judaism, the Ark of the Covenant is the most sacred object of the ancient Israelites. This is the physical manifestation of God. In Catholic theology, there's a belief that the Virgin Mary is the new Ark of the Covenant. The Ark was carried in front of the Israelites as they crossed the Jordan River. As the priest bearing the Ark stepped into the water, the river miraculously parted, allowing the people to cross on dry ground. The most dramatic demonstration of the Ark's power is the conquest of Jericho. The Ark of the Covenant even plays a role in Islam. Islam. And today we're going to go through how it was constructed, what the role of it was, why was it so important to the people of ancient Israel, the stories that exist around it, both in the Bible, but also some lore outside of it, all sorts of wild theories that we'll be breaking down today on this episode of Religion Camp. What's up, people? And welcome back to Religion Camp. My name is Mark Yagon, and welcome to my tent. This is the place where every single Sunday, we explore the most interesting, captivating, controversial stories from all religions from around the world, from all times. I'm joined by my friend Christos. How are you, sir? Doing good. How are you, Mark? I am excellent. Life is great. I. I'm going on the road to Indianapolis this weekend, and it's going to be a wonderful time. But now is not the time for Indianapolis. Today we are talking about one of the most fascinating, strange and revered artifacts through all of the Old Testament. So if you are Christian, if you are Jewish, and even some references in Islam. We're talking about the Ark of the Covenant. Oh, yeah. Ark of the Covenant. This is a fascinating one. This is an ancient artifact that has captivated scholars and theologians for centuries. And today we're going to be going through everything. We're going to go through how it was constructed, what the role of it was, why was it so important to the people of ancient Israel, the stories that exist around it, both in the Bible, but also some lore outside of it. We're even going to go into the significance and why it matters across all these different religious traditions. And most importantly, we're going to discuss what happened to the Ark. I mean, this is the plot of an Indiana Jones movie, right? I think. What is that Indiana Jones movie, Christos? Raiders of the Lost Ark? Or is that a different thing? That's a whole different thing. Damn it. I don't watch enough movies to know, but I do know it's in Indiana Jones. And he goes all the way over there, they find the ark. Apparently the Nazis were trying to get it. We're going to go through everything, what happened to it. This is one of the most important significant artifacts that exists in Israel to the Jews, but also to the Christians. But all of a sudden it vanishes and no one knows. Some people claim that they do know where it is, some people believe that it might be in Ethiopia. All sorts of wild theories that we'll be breaking down today on this episode of Religion Camp. So let's jump in. All right, what is the Ark of the Covenant? All right. This is also referred to as the Ark of the Testimony or the Ark of God. It's described in Jewish and Christian tradition as a gold plated wooden chest constructed by the Israelites at God's command during their exodus from Egypt. According to the Hebrew Bible, it was made from acacia wood and overlaid with pure gold both inside and out. Fun little fact about acacia wood that I find out. Apparently if. If you procure acacia wood and you put it into the right sort of chemical setting, could release dmt. That's just a little interesting fact that some people put out. Apparently acacia wood does have some psychoactive properties if. If procured in the right way. Don't try it at your own risk, that's all I'm saying. But it's just an interesting idea that acacia wood is, you know, so ancient, has been around for such a long time and possibly could get you blasted out of this world. Some people have put those two things together. Not what I'm doing today, but I just wanted to point that out. So, yeah, Criso is pulling it up right here. Acacia is known to contain psychoactive alkaloids. Oh, yeah, I guess perhaps not all acacias. I don't know what this one was built with, but regardless, you take some of this dude, you're going to be. You'll be seeing God, my boy. Right, Christos? Sure. So they take acacia wood, they make this box, line it with gold inside and out, and the ark was topped with a lid that they called the Mercy Seat. This features two golden angels, cherubim technically, and they're facing each other with the wings outstretched, forming a space believed to be the earthly throne of. Of God. Mythbusters actually tested this. They saw if they could maybe use an old battery to charge up the Ark of the Covenant. Regardless, we'll get to that in a second. So according to the Book of Exodus and other biblical texts, the ark contained a few sacred objects. Okay. The primary contents were the two stone Tablets inscribed with the Ten Commandments. You all know the Ten Commandments. Moses goes up on the mountain, comes down with the Ten Commandments. Pretty sure he shattered him. He got a second one because he was pissed off they were worshiping false God. Additionally, in the Ark of the Covenant, you have the golden jar of manna. What is manna? It is this food, perhaps a bread that fell from the heavens and nursed the Israelites on their journey in the desert. And this symbolizes God's provision during the Israelite journey in the wilderness. And then, of course, Aaron's rod that had budded, serving as a sign of legitimate priestly authority. These items collectively represented God's law, guidance, and faithfulness to his people. Pretty significant, right? It's also worth noting, in Catholic theology, there's a belief that the Virgin Mary is the new ark of the covenant. Here's how it works. Inside the Blessed Virgin, the Blessed Mother, what do you have? You have Jesus Christ. And what is Jesus Christ to the Catholics? He is the new priesthood. Aaron's rod, he is the new law. That is what Christ says. I am not here to fulfill the law. I am the law myself. He is the new Ten Commandments. And then, of course, he is the bread of life that nurtures all of his people, and that is the manna. So within the Blessed Mother, you have Jesus that symbolizes all three of these things. And so she is the new ark, which is why oftentimes Catholics will say, oh, Jesus, you know, was an only child, didn't have any other kids, because what happened if you touch the Ark, you would die. What happens if you touch the Blessed Mother? You know, in a biblical sense, you would die. That's just what Catholics believe. Just throwing that out there. Kind of an interesting tidbit. So let's go into the etymology. All right. The term Ark of the Covenant comes from the. The Hebrew word meaning chest of the covenant. And this covenant refers to the binding agreement established between God and the Israelites at Mount Sinai. And the ark basically acts as the tangible sign, the physical manifestation of the relationship with God and his people. And the ark's presence signifies, you know, God's promise to guide and protect and dwell with his chosen people conditional upon, you know, their obedience. So in Christian thought, the Ark is seen as this, you know, prefiguration of Jesus Christ and the New covenant. So church fathers such as Thomas Aquinas interprets the Ark's contents as symbolic of Christ's attributes. As I mentioned before. Right. You have man as the Eucharist, Aaron's rod is this priesthood, this new priesthood. And then the tablets of the law fulfilled in Christ. And the ark's construction, wood overlaid with gold was viewed as a metaphor for Christ's dual nature, both human and divine. So how was the ark used for worship? The Ark as we know plays a central role in the Israelites religious life. And it was carried by the Levites at the front of the Israelis procession during their journey through the wilderness and into the promised land, symbolizing God's leadership and his protection. Its presence was associated with a lot of miraculous events such as the parting of the Jordan river and the fall of the walls of Jericho, reinforcing its status as a powerful symbol of, you know, God's involvement in the fate of his people. And there were a ton of regulations around not only the building but the handling of the ark that emphasized the reverence and the holiness. So the ark's origin is rooted in this narrative that we know about in Exodus, right? The Israelites leaving Egypt as it's described in the Hebrew Bible. According to the book of Exodus, it was constructed while the Israelites were camped at the foot of Mount Sinai shortly after their escape from Egypt. And this period, it's, it's significant because it marks a foundational era in Israelite history, right during the time which Moses receives the ten Commandments and other laws from God. The ark was built as a part of a broader effort to establish a system of worship, this tangible sign of God on earth with us, almost as like a proto messiah you could think of it. So the biblical account is clear about the Ark's construction at Sinai. The precise historical dating and the identification of Mount Sinai still to this day remains debated amongst, you know, academics and scholars alike. The traditional location of Sinai is based on later Christian traditions rather than hard archaeological evidence. So the Ark is constructed and it's carried out in a detailed fashion given by God to moses during his 40 day stay on Mount Sinai. These instructions are recorded in Exodus, emphasizing that every aspect of the Ark's design is divinely ordained. The ark is intended to serve as again, this manifestation. So if you're going to have God on earth, it has to be perfect. And the purpose extends beyond the symbolism. It was the locus of divine communication where God would meet with Moses and convey his commandments for the nation. So how do they make it? Acacia wood? Like I'd mentioned before, this is a material that's valued for its durability and its resistance to decay. And this choice of wood is significant. It's, you know, symbolizing the incorruptibility and the enduring nature of the covenant that God has with its people. And then, of course, that pure gold inside and out. I mean, fire, right? Gold wrapped inside, outside. And this is the sacred status and the holiness of God. Gold is obviously a precious and untarnishable metal, and it further underscores the divine purpose that this artifact has, and it separates it from just any other ordinary, you know, piece of or a tool to worship. So the scriptural sources for the measurements of the ark are very specific. Won't go through everything, but just the things you need to know to 2 1/2 cubits in length, 1 1/2 cubits in width, 1 1/2 cubits in height. In modern terms, this is roughly, you know, 45 to 52 inches long and depends on the exact length of the cubit that's used in the calculation. Again, this is disputed over time amongst historians and scholars. And these dimensions were not arbitrary, but they were specific to ensure the ark's proportion reflected its sanctity and the role within sort of the Israelite tabernacle. What's up, guys? Going to take a quick break because I have great news. Religion camp has merch. That's right. We have amazing T shirts like this one you see here. And this one we got hats. All sorts of very interesting designs, not only for Christianity, the one I was raised in, but for all religions. Hinduism, Sikhism, Islam, Judaism, Mormonism. I actually don't know if we have a Mormonism shirt, but maybe we, we can, we can work on that if we got any, you know, Latter Day Saints trying to cop. Anyway, you can catch it all here at this link. Also have it in the description as well as the comments. Get that right now. And peace be with you. All righty. Don't skip forward, guys, because I am on the road. World's fastest ad read coming at you. I'm going to be at Buffalo, Raleigh, Poughkeepsie, Portland, Oregon, Fort Worth, Texas, Austin, Texas, Stanford, Philly, Levittown, Chandler, Arizona, San Diego. I'm also going to be adding Toronto, Montreal, as well as Washington, D.C. and a bunch of other dates. You can get all that@the markagnon.com dates are in the description. Also in probably the comments of this episode. Go see me on the road. Come hang out. I'll be hanging out with everyone after the show. Come shake my hand, call me an idiot, whatever you want to do, I will be there. Additionally, I will be doing my one hour of standup comedy. I'm very proud of this hour, I'm really excited to share with you guys, and it would mean the world if everyone could come on out. And what do you wear to a show on the road? That's a great question. You can go to campgoods co. That's right. We got merch. We got camp merch. We got hats, hoodies, T shirts. A lot of stuff is out of stock. Things have been selling like hot cakes. But we're going to be restocking everything in all the sizes so you can go there right now, get all the merch, get all the coolest clothing in the podcast game. We're going to be updating that site regularly. And if you come out to a show, I'd love to see you sporting some of the threads that we got up online. I'll see you guys there. Let's get back to the show. Pro baller Lonzo ball for Buzzballs. Ready to go. Cocktails take 12. Buzz balls just dropped their biggest blue balls. Script says Biggie's blue balls. Lonzo take 13.
- [12:46]
Christos
Blue balls just drop their biggest buzz balls.
- [12:50]
Mark Yagon
Let's try a vocal exercise. Buzz balls, Biggies.
- [12:53]
Christos
Blue balls.
- [12:54]
Mark Yagon
Buzz balls, Biggies. Bl Balls. Just drop.
- [12:58]
Kaley Cuoco
Get blue balls.
- [12:59]
Mark Yagon
This season with buzz Balls, please drink responsibly. Buzzball's available on spirit wine and malt, 50% alcohol by volume. Buzzballs, LLC. Carrollton, Texas.
- [13:08]
Kaley Cuoco
Summer's here, and Nordstrom has everything you need for your best dress season ever. From beach days and weddings to weekend getaways in your everyday wardrobe, discover stylish options under $100 from tons of your favorite brands like Mango Skims, Princess Polly, and Madewell. It's easy, too, with free shipping and free returns in store, order pickup and more. Shop today in stores online@nordstrom.com or download the Nordstrom app.
- [13:37]
Mark Yagon
So, of course, the ark was also equipped with these long poles that were never to be removed, ensuring that the ark could be transported with reverence and adhering to the strict guidelines. And also so that no one would die. Basically, people had touched the ark, they would be killed instantly. The lid of the ark, also the mercy seat that we had talked about, also pure gold, has these angelic features made of hammered gold. Their wings, you know, outstretched, their faces towards each other. And the space between these angelic beings was regarded as the seat of God. And the mercy seat symbolized both God's judgment and his mercy, forming the focal point of the Israelite atonement rituals. So what are some of the stories about the ark and what does it mean to the People of the time. So in Judaism, the Ark of the Covenant is the most sacred object of the ancient Israelites. This is the physical manifestation of God with his people. It is the sign of the covenant of the people of Israel. So according to the Hebrew Bible, the Ark is constructed at God's command to house the, all you know, the, the rod, the stone and the manna. And the Ark was kept in the inner sanctum of the tabernacle and then later in Solomon's temple, symbolizing again this divine presence. So one of the ways that the Ark was used in the time of the ancient Israelites is that on the day of atonement, the high priest would enter the holy of holies and sprinkle sacrificial blood on the Ark's mercy seat, seeking atonement for the sins of, of the people. A ritual that underscored its role as the meeting point between God and Israel. The Ark of the Covenant even plays a role in Islam. So in Islam, the Ark is known as the Tabut al Sakina. And this is recognized in the Quran and Islamic tradition as a sacred object associated with the prophets Moses and Samuel. The Ark is described as a sign of God's favor and his presence containing these relics from Moses and Aaron and, and is said to have brought reassurance and victory to the Israelites. Islamic sources recount that the Ark was returned to the Israelites during the time of the prophet Samuel as a sign of divine approval for Saul's kingship. While the Ark does not hold the same central role in Islamic worship as in Judaism or Christianity, it is respected as a symbol of God's covenant and guidance. Again, just another thing that sort of, you know, unites the Abrahamic faiths, right, that the Ark is sort of revered and respected within Islam, but then seen as this central part of Jewish, ancient Jewish worship and then seen as this symbolic piece for Christians. And there are very, very many famous stories involving the Ark. So in some of the early battles, this is where the Ark comes in. As, you know, a weapon of, of destruction. The Ark is, you know, obviously not only sacred, but it has a role in these military campaigns. So according to the Hebrew Bible, the Ark was carried in front of the Israelites as they crossed the, the Jordan River. As the priest bearing the Ark stepped into the water, the river miraculously parted, allowing the people to cross on dry ground. This event establishes the Ark as, you know, this piece of, this tool for divine intervention, God's presence to preserve his people. And perhaps the most dramatic demonstration of the Ark's power is the conquest of Jericho. The Israelites, following God's instructions, go around the city walls for seven days with the ark at the center of their procession. And on the seventh day, after circling the city seven times and blowing their horns, the walls of Jericho collapse, allowing the Israelites to capture the city. I mean, that's crazy. They're walking around, process proceeding, you know, with this ark. And on the seventh day, boom, the walls crumble, and the ark doesn't stop just there. You know, obviously it has a presence in battle, but it doesn't necessarily guarantee victory. So during the period of the Judges, the Israelites faced this enemy known as the Philistines. And after suffering defeat in battle, the Israelites decided to bring the ark from its resting place in Shiloh to the battlefield at Ebenezer, hoping that it would, you know, help them win the war. Right. But despite their confidence, the Philistines defeated the Israelites, killed thousands, including the priest Hophni and Phinehas, and captured the Ark itself. That sucks, right? Arc. That's like. That is your. That. I mean, quarterback got sacked on that. Like, you can't let that happen. You got to have a better D line. That's crazy. So this capture the ark was a massive catastrophe, right? And it symbolizes the. You know, the God is lost again. This is not just some type of, like, oh, whoops, we lost our, you know, our little treasure chest. No, this is God manifest with his people, and now it's gone. So the news causes, you know, the high priest Eli to die from shock. And Phinehas's wife goes into premature labor naming her son Ichabod, meaning the glory has departed from Israel. Dang. Naming your son after losing the ark, I mean, that's tough. I mean, that's. Dude, that's. It's like naming your kid south tower, you know what I mean? It's like, you're not going to name after a defeat. That's a bummer, dude. So she names her son the glorious departed from Israel. Tough name, but, you know, the boy named Sue. We move on. The Philistines take the ark to Ashdod, and they place it in the temple of their God. Not the God of Israel, but this God, Dagon. And according to the biblical account, the statue of Dagon was found toppled and broken before the ark. And the cities that hosted the ark were struck by plagues. And after seven months of calamity, the Philistines were like, you know what? You can have your ark back. We don't need all this trouble. Take it. So they returned the Ark to Israel with offerings and acknowledged its power. So after its return, the Ark is then received at Beth Shemesh and later moved to Kiriath Jearim, where it remained for many years. Eventually, King David brings the Ark to Jerusalem. And there's a bunch of fanfare. People are stoked, like, oh, man, we got the Ark. Let's freaking go. And now this is a central symbol of Israel's religious and national identity. David's son Solomon later placed the Ark in the Holy of Holies within the first Temple, where it remained until its disappearance. This is likely to have occurred during the Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem in the 6th century BC. So this is where the legend begins. Centuries after the disappearance, the Ark of the Covenant. Right. The most holy artifact in Jewish history, potentially Christian history, is gone. So what do people do? They try to find it. And this really picks up in the medieval period. So the Knights Templar, this is a Christian military order established during the Crusades. They are linked to the Ark in a lot of popular lore. And there are theories to suggest that they were very interested in finding not only the Ark, but many religious artifacts. Some theories suggest that the Templars, while headquartered at the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, sought the Ark, believing that hidden beneath, you know, these ancient ruins of Solomon's Temple, the Ark may still be there. There is, however, no historical evidence that the Templars ever found or actually possessed the Ark. Other conjecture claims that that the Templars may have pursued the Ark in Ethiopia or even transport it to Europe with, you know, some authors have proposed that the Templars brought, you know, sacred relics, possibly including a chest that resembled the Ark, to England or France. And, you know, these stories are based on, you know, some legends and, you know, maybe interpretations of medieval documents and some speculative connection rather than historical records. However, the belief still maintains. Mainstream historians and religious scholars agree that while the Templars were interested in holy relics, there's no evidence linking them necessarily directly to the Ark of the Covenant. So what are some of the last biblical references and this Babylonian conquest that we talked about? Okay, the last clear mention of the Ark of the Covenant is in the Hebrew Bible. During the reign of King Josiah of Judah in the late 7th century BC Josiah orders that the Levites. Again, these are people that, you know, walk around with the Ark that are in possession of it to return the Ark to the Temple in Jerusalem. This is the last time that the Ark's location is explicitly stated in any biblical records. About 40 years later, the Babylonian empire, you know, under King Nebuchadnezzar sacks Jerusalem, destroys the city, burns down the First Temple, while the Babylonians are described as having taken the sacred vessel from the Temple. The fate of the Ark itself is not detailed in these accounts at all. This silence, you know, obviously leads to a lot of speculation over the years. It is important to note that there is this absence in the Second Temple period. It's widely agreed amongst Jewish scholars and religious authorities that the Ark was never present in the Second Temple, which was later built after the return from Babylonian exile. The Mishnah and the Talmud both attest to its absence. And the Holy of Holies. And the Second Temple stood empty or contained only symbolic stone markings as to the original site of the Ark. This further supports the view that the Ark was lost or, you know, hidden or destroyed prior to Babylonian destruction, and it was never really recovered or replaced in these subsequent generations. So modern historians and archaeologists generally agree that there's no reliable records regarding the Ark's fate after the Babylonian conquest. It's just gone. And despite numerous theories and claims, no physical evidence has ever been found to confirm that the Ark was destroyed, captured, or survived. And the disappearance of the Ark remains one of the greatest unsolved mysteries of the ancient world. So where do some people believe that it could be? One of the more prominent theories amongst Jewish scholars states that the Ark of the Covenant was hidden somewhere in Jerusalem, specifically beneath the the Temple Mount. Before the Babylonian conquest of the 6th century, Rabbinic literature and historical sources suggest that King Josiah, anticipating the destruction of the Temple, ordered the Ark to be concealed in a secret chamber carved into the bedrock under the Temple. And this belief is supported by passages in the Mishnah and has been a big focus of a lot of Orthodox Jewish groups preparing for this third Temple that they're hoping to build at some point in Israel. However, archaeological exploration beneath the Temple Mount is highly restrictive. And due to the religious and the political sensitivities of the region, there's no definitive evidence that, you know, can confirm this theory. What's up, people? Quick announcement. If you are a fan of Camp Gagnon or religion camp, I have great news, because we are dropping History Camp. That's right. This is the channel. We're going to be exploring the most interesting, fascinating, controversial topics from all time throughout all history. Right. You probably know about Benjamin Franklin, I don't know, Thomas Jefferson, Nikola Tesla, interesting figures from history and you probably learned about in school, and they were pretty boring. But not here. No. As you know, I was raised by a conspiracy theorist, so I'm going to be diving deep into all of the interesting, strange, occult and secretive societal relationships that all of these famous, influential men from our shared past have. So if you're interested, please go ahead and subscribe to the YouTube channel. It will be pinned in the description as well as the comments. And if you're on Spotify, this doesn't really apply to you, but these episodes will be dropping as well. Just go ahead and give us a high rating because it really helps the show. Here is a bullet. Imagine this.
- [25:20]
Narrator
You're 30ft underground, digging through frozen earth with spoons and mess hall plates. Nazi guards patrol overhead. One wrong move, one loose pebble, and it's over. But on this night in 1944, 76 Allied prisoners would attempt the impossible, tunneling their way to freedom. And in the largest prisoner of war escape of World War II and centuries earlier, in a cold stone chamber, a teenage girl in armor stood before her accusers. Her crime, leading armies, speaking to angels, and daring to challenge the most powerful men in Europe. Joan of Arc's trial would become one of history's most infamous moments. These are just two stories from Today in History, the newsletter that brings you the most famous, fascinating events from the past, delivered fresh to your inbox. From epic wars to religious rebellions, ancient mysteries to modern marvels, don't miss another piece of history. Scan the QR code now or click the link in the description to sign up for Today in History.
- [26:21]
Kaley Cuoco
This episode is brought to you by State Farm. Knowing you could be saving money for the things you really want is a great feeling. Talk to a State Farm agent today to learn how you can choose to bundle and save with with the personal price plan. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. Prices are based on rating plans that vary by state. Coverage options are selected by the customer availability, amount of discounts, and savings and eligibility vary by state.
- [26:47]
Christos
Hey there travelers. Kaley Cuoco here. Sorry to interrupt your music great artist BT Dubs, but wouldn't you rather be there to hear it live? With Priceline, you can get out of your dreams and into your dream concert. They've got millions of travel deals to get you to that festival, gig, rave, sound bath or sonic experience you've been dreaming of. Download the Priceline app today and you can save up to 60% off hotels and up to 50% off flights. So don't just dream about that trip. Book it with Priceline.
- [27:13]
Kaley Cuoco
Go to your happy price. Priceline.
- [27:16]
Mark Yagon
So, another theory that some people like to bring up. I brought this one up a little bit earlier. The Ethiopian claim Which I find fascinating. There is some belief, According to Ethiopian orthodox tradition, that the ark was brought to aksum by menelik the first. This is the son of king Solomon and the queen of sheba. The church of our lady of mount zion in axum Claims to house the ark Guarded by a single appointed monk, who alone may view it. This tradition is deeply embedded in the Ethiopian religious identity, and replicas of the ark, called tabots, Are kept in every ethiopian orthodox church. While the kebra nagast and other sources Narrate this story. And the claim is supported by the ethiopian church. No outsider has ever been allowed to examine the ark, and scholars who have viewed the objects in axum Describe it as a medieval construction Rather than the biblical artifact. There's no archaeological evidence to substantiate the ethiopian claim, but it remains, you know, One of the most enduring and influential myths. Some of the additional theories propose that the ark was hidden in caves around Jerusalem or even jordan. The apocryphal book of second maccabees Claims that the prophet Jeremiah Hid the ark in a cave on mount nebo, Intending for it to remain concealed Until a future time of restoration. Some researchers have speculated that the copper scrolls, One of the dead sea scrolls, May refer to the ark being hidden in a cave near the dead sea or elsewhere in the judean wilderness. And despite numerous expeditions and investigations, no physical trace of the ark has ever been publicized or found in these locations. So despite this, the enduring mystery of the ark of the covenant has become a powerful symbol in not only movies, but books and just pop culture in general. It's inspired countless numbers of, you, know, pieces of art that either are trying to find the ark, Describe the ark, most famously raiders of the lost ark, which blends this historical speculation and this, you, know, storytelling. The ark's legendary status Continues to capture a lot of people around the world, I mean, myself included. And the fate and the location of the ark Remains a mystery. Theories range from secret chambers to distant lands, but ultimately, the symbolic power endures in religious thought. And maybe one day we're going to find it. I mean, many people have. Have tried. So there have been some modern attempts to find it, and some pretty strange and morbid folks have set out on their conquest. So the Nazis infamously have been theorized to have been fascinated by these types of, sort of religious or occult artifacts. So during the third reich, Some of the nazi leadership, Particularly figures like Heinrich himmler, Had this fascination with the occult and these artifacts, including the ark of the covenant. And this obsession Was not merely A product of fiction like, you know, depicted in films like Indiana Jones, but reflected genuine interest within some of the Nazi high brass. Himmler and other high ranking Nazis established organizations such as the Anna Bay, which embarked on these sort of semi archaeological, mostly pseudo scientific expeditions across Europe, in the Middle east and even Asia in search of objects that could supposedly validate Aryan supremacy or potentially, potentially even grant mystical power. So one of the things they always talked about was, you know, Thor's hammer or, you know, the, the Holy Grail chalice that Christ drank out of, or maybe even some Egyptian artifacts. And there's no historical evidence that the Nazis specifically mounted an expedition for the Ark itself. Their documented hunts for other relics like, you know, the, the Holy Spear, the Spear of Destiny, the Spear of Longinus, or the Holy Grail demonstrate their belief in these potential, you know, artifacts to maybe confer a strength or a legitimacy to their, you know, ideological, you know, pursuits. And the Nazi interest in the Ark is, you know, both fueled by ideological and some of these practical motives. So ideologically appropriating a central symbol of Jewish heritage would have been a powerful propaganda tool undermining Jewish identity while claiming to find favor, you know, for the Nazi cause practically. Some Nazi leaders believe that ancient relics might actually have a real power. And this blend of like pseudo science, archaeology, occultism and anti Semitism led to a climate where these expeditions, conditions for legendary treasures were not only tolerated, but encouraged by some members within the regime. I mean, by the end of his life, it seems like Hitler kind of was over it with a lot of this occult stuff. But Himmler held strong. He even developed a castle at this place called Wewelsberg, where he was trying to house all of these different relics and was also a training center for many of the ss. While the Ark of the Covenant was never found or credibly pursued by the Nazis, their broader obsession remains, you know, somewhat well documented within many of the, many of the documents that we have. I actually did an episode on this with a scholar named Eric Kerlander, who wrote a book detailing a lot of the strange Nazi obsession with the occult. But the Nazis weren't the last ones. Turns out in 1988, the CIA carried out an experiment using individuals who possess what they call remote viewing. These are sort of psychic abilities, you could say, to receive information about distant locations or events or people through this extrasensory perception. Basically being able to see through walls or even across large distances just by basically meditating and tapping into some type of psychic ability. This is popularized through movies like Stranger Things that kind of show this girl 11 being able to see different places and see what's happening in not only our realm, but other realms through these psychic abilities. And. And it seems like the CIA has some type of strange fascination with remote viewing and used it on the Ark of the Covenant. One of the experiments, a person identified only as remote viewer 032 was given coordinates to a location on an unknown target. Without being told what the target was, he began to describe a container which, according to the document, matches the descriptions of the Ark of the Covenant. One of the most fascinating details in the document says that the target is protected by entities and can only be opened by those authorized to do so. This container will not. Will not open until the proper time arrives. The viewer even warned that anyone who tries to force it open or break into it would be destroyed by these unknown entities that guard it using a force unknown to us. So I'm pulling up some of the documents right here. This comes from CIA.gov, why this is published, I have no idea. But it says here that the date of the session is the 5th of December, 1988. And it says in the evaluation with viewer 032, it says the viewer attained excellent site contact, doing very well. The viewer exhibits the ability to keep AOL to a minimum, having been careful with editing. Though this does not seem to be a problem at this time, just something to watch for. It goes on to state that the target is a container. This container has another container inside of it. The target is fashioned of wood, gold and silver. The target is similar in shape to a coffin and is decorated with seraphim. Could you pull up a picture of seraphim? So these seraphim are angels, which is a. A pretty good description. I mean, that's basically the Ark of the Covenant. The target is located somewhere in the Middle east, as the language spoken by individuals present seems to be Arabic. Visuals of the surrounding buildings indicate the presence of mosques of mosque domes. Individuals in the area were clothed in virtually all white, had black hair and dark eyes. One figure I homed in on wore a mustache. The target is hidden underground. Dark and wet were all aspects of the location of the target. If it goes on to even say the purpose of the target is to bring people together, it has something to do with ceremony, memory, homage, the resurrection. There is an aspect of spirituality, lessons and historical knowledge far beyond what we know now. The target is protected by entities and the container will not slash, cannot be opened until the time is deemed correct. What the hell? What is this? Why would The CIA put this out. This is so strange. The individuals open the container by prying are destroyed by the container's protectors through the use of power unknown to us. I mean, bizarre. And there's more documents that kind of show, like sort of random sketches and things like that. But what a bizarre document. I mean, that is strange that the CIA would put this out. I mean, just very strange. I mean, so bizarre. Like, I wonder, like, part of me, you know, the CIA puts out these docs on remote viewing and this program that they were apparently doing in the 80s. So on the one hand, you're like, all right, that's strange. Why would the CIA do this? You know, it's low cost, high impact, a few thousand dollars. You can do this remote viewing stuff, see if you get anything from it. Okay, that's one option. Option two, remote viewing is real. And people are using this psychic ability to, like, you know, find targets beyond, you know, human intelligence, surveillance, anything like that? Unlikely, but maybe. I'm not going to say no. I mean, maybe the CIA wants this to be out or something. Maybe to, like, justify some type of invasion or a conflict or something. I mean, why would they put it out? So strange. I mean, Karisa, have you ever heard this before? The CIA use remote viewing to find the Ark of the Covenant? I haven't, but I don't dig deep into these kind of things. I mean, whoa, that is strange. So there you have it. Maybe the Ark has been found after all. So this Ark, you know, it remains one of history's greatest mysteries and symbolizes God's presence in the Covenant with his people. It does everything. So the exact fate after this Babylonian conquest is unknown. The significance endures across all the Abrahamic religions to this day. So what do you think happened? Share your thoughts. Comment below. I would love to know what you think. Is the Ark maybe stored underground? Is it underneath the Temple Mount? Was it destroyed by the Babylonians? Is it hidden in a mountain somewhere? Did the CIA found it? Or was it Indiana Jones after all? Maybe it's truly stored in a warehouse somewhere deep in Washington, D.C. maybe we'll never know. But I'd love to know what you think. Please drop a comment. Fill me in. I'd love to hear your thoughts. If I got anything wrong in this episode, my apologies. Okay, I'm not a religious expert, just a curious guy that likes to dig deep on weird stuff on the Internet. So drop a comment. I read all of them. And please subscribe. We do this every single Sunday. A new episode about some of the strangest, most bizarre things about every religion across the world. And we'll see you guys next time. Peace be with you. If you've made it to the end.
- [38:36]
Narrator
Of this episode, you are clearly someone who understands that beneath every historical event lies a deeper truth waiting to be uncovered. You're the type of person who knows that real history is more fascinating than any fiction, and we deeply appreciate that about you. I'll be honest, that's exactly why I personally invite you to sign up for Today in History, our free newsletter that goes beyond the surface of historical events. We dive into the stories that textbooks never told you, the secrets that challenge the course of nations, and the forgotten tales that deserve to be remembered. Let's continue this journey of discovery together. Take the conversation from your headphones into your inbox. Sign up now through the QR code or link in the description Today in History. Because every day holds a secret waiting to be revealed. Thank you for being part of our historical journey.
- [39:25]
Mark Yagon
We'll see you next time.