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SHATNER:
The Ark of the Covenant.
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The sacred golden chest
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that had the power
to level cities.
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In biblical times, it guided and
protected millions of people.
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And then it vanished.
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Throughout history,
many have searched
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for the lost Ark
of the Covenant.
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And who could blame them?
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After all,
according to the Old Testament,
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God himself instructed Moses
to build the Ark.
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And this golden chest
was believed to have held
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the power of the Almighty.
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But how could such
a coveted religious artifact
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just disappear?
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And is there a chance
that the lost Ark
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could actually be found?
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Well, that is what we'll try
and find out.
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♪ ♪
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In this small town located
on the outskirts of Houston
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stands
the King of Saints Church.
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On the surface,
it looks like any number
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of churches scattered
throughout the region.
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But inside, there's something
that makes it stand out
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from the rest.
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Within this church
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is a remarkably accurate
reproduction
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of the Ark of the Covenant.
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STEPHEN MISSICK:
My father and I built this replica of the Ark
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of the Covenant because
it makes the Scripture
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come alive
in a new and unique way,
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because you're not just
reading a description
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in a book or seeing a picture.
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This is 3D-built according
to the specifications
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in the Scripture.
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Exodus chapter 25,
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Moses gives the blueprint
or the detailed instructions
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of how to build the Ark.
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And that's the instructions
we used to build this
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with all the dimensions.
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The Bible describes
two cherubim,
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which are winged sphinxes,
and they're facing each other,
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as we see here
according to the Scriptures,
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and the cherubim
had the body of a lion,
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the face of men,
the wings of an eagle.
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In other depictions
of the Ark of the Covenant,
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you see humanoid angels
with wings, or cherubs,
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but this reflects
the description of cherubim
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as we find
in the Book of Ezekiel.
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And they look upon
the mercy seat,
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which is the cover
of the Ark of the Covenant.
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Our congregation sees
this Ark as a unique way
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to show that God is king
and Lord through the Ark,
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which represents the kingship
of God and also represents
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a way that God spoke spiritually
and through his written word.
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We have this replica
of the Ark of the Covenant
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as a symbol of that importance.
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SHATNER:
Throughout history, the Ark of the Covenant
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has been one
of the most sacred artifacts
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in the Judeo-Christian
tradition.
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But just what exactly
is the Ark?
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BARRY LEFF:
Well, the Ark of the Covenant is fascinating
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because it's the most important
ritual object,
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uh, that Judaism has ever had.
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The Ark is first introduced
scripturally
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in the Book of Exodus, where God
gives Moses instructions
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to build an ark for carrying
the Ten Commandments.
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It has very detailed
instructions.
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It should be
two and a half cubits long,
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like, one and a half cubits tall
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and one and a half cubits wide,
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and it's plated with gold
inside and out.
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The Ark was covered
by this gold lid,
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um, called the mercy seat.
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Now, it's also known
as the throne of God,
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mainly because we have
a passage in 1 Samuel 4:4,
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that mentions how God is
enthroned between the cherubim.
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So this indicates to us
that this mercy seat
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was, in fact, understood
as the throne of God.
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ROBERT CARGILL:
The Ark of the Covenant,
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for a time, was the center
of the Israelite religion.
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It represented the presence
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of the Hebrew god Yahweh
on Earth,
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meaning if there was a question
that needed to be answered,
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the Ark was the place that
you would go and petition God.
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If you went into battle,
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the Ark would be taken,
marched into battle.
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As long as the presence of God,
represented by the Ark,
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was with Israel,
they couldn't be conquered.
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The Ark of the Covenant was God
in the midst of the Israelites.
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SHATNER:
The presence of God himself
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held within a golden chest?
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Certainly a profound notion,
which is perhaps the reason
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why the Ark has long inspired
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worldwide fascination
and reverence.
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The Ark of the Covenant
is arguably the most important
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and intriguing artifact
in human history,
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because we're talking about
something made by human hands
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that contains the power of God.
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In fact, the word "ark"
means "sacred container."
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So, this is fascinating,
this idea
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that humans could build
something that could contain
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or create this kind of
extraordinary divine connection.
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LEFF:
It was an extremely powerful thing.
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When the Israelites
were wandering
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through the desert for 40 years,
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they not only carried
the Ark with them,
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the Ark kind of led the way.
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It was their ancient
navigational device,
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the Israelites' ancient GPS
that showed them where to go.
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And the legend says
it would zoom up into the sky,
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move three days ahead,
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and then the people would-would
follow along behind it.
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CARGILL:
Many people are familiar
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with the famous story
of the parting of the Red Sea
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during the Exodus narrative,
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when the Israelites
were escaping Egypt.
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A lot of people aren't familiar
with the story in Joshua 3,
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of the parting
of the Jordan River.
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The priests who are carrying
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the Ark of the Covenant
just touch their toes
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into the Jordan River, and
the Jordan River itself parts.
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And the Israelites are able
to march into the Promised Land.
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So the whole story is designed
to tell the reader,
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"This is God at work here."
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What's interesting is that
there's this great debate:
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was the Ark of the Covenant
real, or was it just made up?
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I actually think
it was very real,
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and the reason I think it's real
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is that it's such a central part
of the Israelite religion.
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SHATNER:
Did the Ark of the Covenant actually exist?
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Perhaps the answer can be found
by examining
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an archaeological discovery
that was made
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in the heart of the Holy Land.
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Central Israel,
15 miles west of Jerusalem.
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Here, on a small rocky mound,
lie the ruins
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of an ancient Hebrew city
known as Beit Shemesh.
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According to archaeologists,
Beit Shemesh
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has a profound connection
to the Ark of the Covenant.
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CARGILL:
Beit Shemesh has a long history
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of being a religious center.
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According to, uh, the story
that we have in the Bible,
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when the Ark of the Covenant
was taken to Beit Shemesh,
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the Israelites take the Ark,
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and they put it
on a stone table.
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The understanding was that it
was venerated by all Israelites.
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We have this one object,
the Ark of the Covenant,
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that represents God on Earth.
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SHATNER:
Could the Ark of the Covenant have actually been kept
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at Beit Shemesh?
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Well, recently,
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archaeologists have uncovered
evidence which suggests
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that the biblical story
is, in fact, true.
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In 2019, a team led
by archaeologists
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from Tel Aviv University
made a startling discovery.
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They found a room in which
it seems to have evidence
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of where the Ark of the Covenant
was kept
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when it was brought here
at Beit Shemesh.
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There's a big, flat slab
of stone
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that is exactly the same
dimensions, proportions,
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as the Ark of the Covenant.
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This slab of stone
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is not some column
that fell on its side.
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It was deliberately placed here.
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And its dimensions,
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its dimensions fit what
the Book of Exodus tells us
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were the dimensions
of the Ark of the Covenant.
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It says it was
a cubit and a half
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on two cubits and a half.
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A cubit is the size
of a human arm.
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Watch: a cubit and a half...
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on two cubits and a half.
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Just a bit bigger,
maybe by ten, twenty percent.
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So the Ark would be placed on it
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in the most possible,
stable way.
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And everything dates
to the time frame
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of when the Ark was
placed at Beit Shemesh.
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Everything falls into place.
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Not only did
this discovery indicate
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that the Ark was kept here,
it's much more.
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It actually indicates
the Ark existed.
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This discovery is possibly
the most significant find
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ever made in the context
of the quest
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of the Ark of the Covenant.
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If the Ark of the Covenant
was a real artifact
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that was actually kept
at Beit Shemesh,
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then it begs the question,
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where is the Ark now?
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There are those who believe
that the answer lies...
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15 miles to the east,
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in the holy city of Jerusalem.
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SHATNER:
Since its humble beginnings
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as a small settlement
around 3000 BC,
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the city has been built,
destroyed and rebuilt
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numerous times.
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Today it remains a holy site
for three major world religions,
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Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
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But aside from
its religious importance,
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Jerusalem is also significant
for another reason.
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It is the last known location
of the Ark of the Covenant.
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LEFF:
Jerusalem has been
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the most important place
in-in Judaism
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going back to King David,
1000 years BCE,
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when he decided to move
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the center of the Israel state
to Jerusalem,
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and all worship ended up
being centralized there.
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CARGILL:
David's son Solomon decides to build a temple in Jerusalem.
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The idea behind the temple
is that
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"We are no longer
a nomadic people."
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The Israelites were
no longer a people
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that wanders around
without a land.
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Now that the Israelites
are a landed people,
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they want a landed home
for their God.
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So from Beit Shemesh,
they're going to take,
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ultimately,
the Ark of the Covenant,
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and put it in Jerusalem.
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LEFF:
Solomon built the temple on the Temple Mount,
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and the center of the temple
was the Holy of Holies,
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and inside the Holy of Holies
was the Ark.
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And that was the only thing
that was inside
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that central, most sacred spot.
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SHATNER:
According to the Bible,
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the Ark of the Covenant remained
in the Temple of Solomon
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for nearly four centuries.
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That is, until 586 BC,
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when the Babylonian army
sacked Jerusalem.
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They demolished
Solomon's Temple,
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including the Holy of Holies,
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and the Ark of the Covenant
simply vanished.
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CARGILL:
So, what happened to the Ark of the Covenant?
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It just disappears,
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and we don't have
a biblical record
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of what happened to it,
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leading to all kinds
of speculation
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as to where it went
and where it may be today.
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00:13:01,907 --> 00:13:06,067
One legend is that
the Babylonians took it
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00:13:06,161 --> 00:13:08,787
and they hauled it off
to Babylon.
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00:13:08,872 --> 00:13:10,622
But the reason
why it seems not likely
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it was carried off
by the Babylonians,
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00:13:12,667 --> 00:13:13,875
'cause the Babylonians
made a great inventory
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of everything they took,
and the Ark wasn't on the list.
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00:13:17,506 --> 00:13:19,580
So clearly,
if they took something
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that valuable, that important,
it would have made the list.
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MISSICK:
There's no record in Scripture or in Babylonian texts
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00:13:26,973 --> 00:13:28,807
about the Ark being taken
by the Babylonians
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or being destroyed,
so that means it's possible
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it was taken away and hidden.
247
00:13:33,563 --> 00:13:35,730
SHATNER:
If the Ark of the Covenant was indeed hidden
248
00:13:35,816 --> 00:13:37,941
before the Babylonians
could capture it,
249
00:13:38,068 --> 00:13:42,153
then the question is,
where was it concealed?
250
00:13:42,239 --> 00:13:47,283
It's a question that drives
archaeologists to this very day,
251
00:13:47,410 --> 00:13:48,943
and some believe
the coveted relic
252
00:13:49,037 --> 00:13:50,745
remains hidden in Jerusalem.
253
00:13:50,831 --> 00:13:55,708
Or, to be more precise,
below Jerusalem.
254
00:13:55,794 --> 00:13:57,585
CARGILL:
According to the story,
255
00:13:57,671 --> 00:14:00,296
King Zedekiah,
as soon as the Babylonians
256
00:14:00,423 --> 00:14:03,958
were about to destroy the
temple, hid the Ark somewhere.
257
00:14:04,052 --> 00:14:06,177
Maybe in a vault
beneath the temple,
258
00:14:06,263 --> 00:14:07,929
maybe somewhere else.
259
00:14:08,014 --> 00:14:10,431
We have no idea.
260
00:14:10,517 --> 00:14:14,811
MULLINS:
Jerusalem, particularly around the area of the Temple Mount,
261
00:14:14,938 --> 00:14:19,473
has lots of cisterns, uh, dating
to different periods of history.
262
00:14:19,568 --> 00:14:22,986
There are all kinds
of caves and tunnels.
263
00:14:23,113 --> 00:14:25,989
BENA MANTEL:
There are caves literally everywhere in Jerusalem.
264
00:14:26,116 --> 00:14:28,149
They are littering
the whole city,
265
00:14:28,243 --> 00:14:30,410
on the inside, on the outside,
266
00:14:30,495 --> 00:14:32,486
and those are just the ones
that we know of.
267
00:14:32,581 --> 00:14:34,822
There are probably
many other caves
268
00:14:34,916 --> 00:14:35,832
that we don't even know about,
269
00:14:35,959 --> 00:14:38,626
whether they have been
purposely concealed,
270
00:14:38,712 --> 00:14:42,297
or we just lost the entrances
to those locations,
271
00:14:42,382 --> 00:14:44,591
but they're everywhere.
272
00:14:44,676 --> 00:14:47,302
HERMAN:
One cave, which is really big in size,
273
00:14:47,387 --> 00:14:52,640
north of the Temple Mount
is called Zedekiah's Cave.
274
00:14:54,561 --> 00:14:57,845
By a Jewish tradition,
it's the very cave
275
00:14:57,939 --> 00:14:59,847
King Zedekiah himself used
276
00:14:59,941 --> 00:15:02,016
to sneak,
to escape out of the city
277
00:15:02,110 --> 00:15:04,694
as the Babylonians reached it.
278
00:15:04,821 --> 00:15:09,357
If so, maybe during his escape,
he also made sure
279
00:15:09,451 --> 00:15:14,528
that the most valuable holy item
of Judaism was hidden there,
280
00:15:14,623 --> 00:15:16,706
the Ark of the Covenant.
281
00:15:18,001 --> 00:15:21,535
SHATNER:
Located 30 feet beneath the streets of Jerusalem,
282
00:15:21,630 --> 00:15:24,923
Zedekiah's Cave is believed
to have been first quarried
283
00:15:25,008 --> 00:15:27,708
in the tenth century BC.
284
00:15:27,802 --> 00:15:32,713
Today, many believe that further
exploration of this labyrinth
285
00:15:32,807 --> 00:15:37,268
might reveal the location
of the Ark.
286
00:15:37,354 --> 00:15:40,897
HERMAN:
We are, right now, underneath Jerusalem's Old City.
287
00:15:41,024 --> 00:15:44,150
We know for a fact,
from 19th-century surveys,
288
00:15:44,235 --> 00:15:48,062
that there are about 30
underground water reservoirs
289
00:15:48,156 --> 00:15:50,865
and other facilities
underneath the Temple Mount.
290
00:15:50,951 --> 00:15:54,994
Unfortunately, since then, they
have not been investigated again
291
00:15:55,080 --> 00:15:57,205
nor excavated in any way.
292
00:15:59,042 --> 00:16:01,334
But this site
especially intrigues me
293
00:16:01,419 --> 00:16:04,912
because it is so big,
it has so many passages,
294
00:16:05,006 --> 00:16:08,758
and about a quarter of it is
still waiting to be exposed.
295
00:16:08,885 --> 00:16:11,219
This cave is known
since the mid 19th century,
296
00:16:11,304 --> 00:16:12,420
and to this day,
297
00:16:12,514 --> 00:16:16,683
we still don't know
the full size of this space.
298
00:16:16,768 --> 00:16:19,427
And maybe,
if this cave was in use
299
00:16:19,521 --> 00:16:22,063
in the time of King Zedekiah,
300
00:16:22,148 --> 00:16:25,400
it could have been used also for
hiding the Ark of the Covenant.
301
00:16:27,404 --> 00:16:29,237
LEFF:
If you go exploring
302
00:16:29,322 --> 00:16:31,772
under the Temple Mount,
and I've been back
303
00:16:31,866 --> 00:16:34,325
in some of the caves
under the Temple Mount,
304
00:16:34,411 --> 00:16:36,911
there are miles of these caves
filled with tons of rubble.
305
00:16:36,997 --> 00:16:39,947
And especially since
it's sitting
306
00:16:40,041 --> 00:16:42,542
right under the third-holiest
site in Islam,
307
00:16:42,627 --> 00:16:45,453
we can't go digging around
under there looking for it,
308
00:16:45,547 --> 00:16:49,048
because it would create
a major international incident.
309
00:16:49,134 --> 00:16:53,970
So I totally believe the Ark
could easily be hidden
310
00:16:54,097 --> 00:16:56,305
in one of these caves
or tunnels under there.
311
00:16:59,227 --> 00:17:00,968
Was the Ark of the Covenant
312
00:17:01,062 --> 00:17:04,972
once hidden in a cave
deep below Jerusalem?
313
00:17:05,066 --> 00:17:06,974
It's a distinct possibility,
314
00:17:07,068 --> 00:17:11,145
and archaeologists exploring
the very same network of caves
315
00:17:11,239 --> 00:17:14,866
recently made
a compelling discovery.
316
00:17:16,327 --> 00:17:18,453
A discovery which
not only suggests
317
00:17:18,538 --> 00:17:21,414
that the Ark
may have been kept there
318
00:17:21,499 --> 00:17:24,876
but also offers
tantalizing clues
319
00:17:24,961 --> 00:17:28,212
as to where it might have
been taken next.
320
00:17:34,304 --> 00:17:36,220
SHATNER:
Almost 1,700 years
321
00:17:36,306 --> 00:17:38,556
after Jerusalem was conquered
by the Babylonians,
322
00:17:38,641 --> 00:17:42,310
the holy city
once again is occupied,
323
00:17:42,395 --> 00:17:46,064
this time by an army
of European Crusaders
324
00:17:46,149 --> 00:17:49,108
known as the Knights Templar.
325
00:17:49,194 --> 00:17:50,568
TIM McMAHON:
The Knights Templar were
326
00:17:50,653 --> 00:17:53,521
an order of holy warriors,
essentially,
327
00:17:53,615 --> 00:17:56,023
set up during the Crusades.
328
00:17:56,117 --> 00:17:57,691
And from the very beginning,
329
00:17:57,786 --> 00:18:00,495
they were noted
for their secrecy,
330
00:18:00,580 --> 00:18:02,580
for their secret
initiation rites,
331
00:18:02,665 --> 00:18:05,625
for the mystery that surrounded
their activities.
332
00:18:05,710 --> 00:18:08,702
They set themselves up
to protect pilgrims
333
00:18:08,797 --> 00:18:12,706
coming into Jerusalem
from attack by bandits,
334
00:18:12,801 --> 00:18:16,544
but they also insisted on being
based on the Temple Mount,
335
00:18:16,638 --> 00:18:19,347
which they believed
was the remains
336
00:18:19,432 --> 00:18:21,641
of the Temple of Solomon.
337
00:18:21,726 --> 00:18:24,560
And why was the Temple
of Solomon important?
338
00:18:24,687 --> 00:18:27,313
Because it had a room
within the temple
339
00:18:27,398 --> 00:18:31,025
where the Ark of the Covenant
was kept.
340
00:18:32,278 --> 00:18:35,071
KATHLEEN McGOWAN:
The Knights Templar home base was the Temple Mount.
341
00:18:35,198 --> 00:18:37,064
But it wasn't just
their home base.
342
00:18:37,158 --> 00:18:39,742
They were looking for something.
343
00:18:39,869 --> 00:18:43,454
The Templars were obsessed
with finding spiritual relics.
344
00:18:43,540 --> 00:18:45,665
Relics related to Christianity,
345
00:18:45,750 --> 00:18:48,409
but also relics
of the original temple.
346
00:18:48,503 --> 00:18:51,129
Of all the artifacts
347
00:18:51,214 --> 00:18:53,414
that the Knights Templar
were looking for,
348
00:18:53,508 --> 00:18:56,634
I think it's safe to say
that their greatest obsession
349
00:18:56,719 --> 00:18:59,086
was with finding
the Ark of the Covenant.
350
00:19:00,056 --> 00:19:01,806
SHATNER:
The Knights Templar occupied Jerusalem
351
00:19:01,891 --> 00:19:04,425
for almost 100 years.
352
00:19:04,519 --> 00:19:06,352
During this time,
they controlled not only
353
00:19:06,437 --> 00:19:11,765
the Temple Mount
but also the area below it.
354
00:19:11,860 --> 00:19:13,434
One of the fascinating secrets
of the Templars
355
00:19:13,528 --> 00:19:14,652
is their use of tunnels.
356
00:19:14,737 --> 00:19:18,072
So we know now, through
a lot of archaeological digs,
357
00:19:18,158 --> 00:19:20,074
uh, both in the Middle East
and in Europe,
358
00:19:20,160 --> 00:19:22,451
that there are tunnels
that were connected
359
00:19:22,579 --> 00:19:26,247
to Templar sites, particularly
Templar strongholds,
360
00:19:26,332 --> 00:19:30,117
for potentially hiding treasure
or for moving treasure.
361
00:19:30,211 --> 00:19:33,287
SHATNER:
One of the secret tunnels in cave systems
362
00:19:33,381 --> 00:19:38,301
used by the Templars was none
other than Zedekiah's Cave,
363
00:19:38,428 --> 00:19:40,928
and recently,
archaeologists discovered
364
00:19:41,014 --> 00:19:45,466
a Templar structure
located within the cave.
365
00:19:45,560 --> 00:19:48,311
This is, undoubtfully,
work of the Crusaders.
366
00:19:48,438 --> 00:19:52,899
This style of architecture,
these slits for the arrows.
367
00:19:54,569 --> 00:19:57,978
This is not
a ventilation window.
368
00:19:58,072 --> 00:20:00,364
This is definitely
a tactical window,
369
00:20:00,450 --> 00:20:03,659
so you could, uh, shoot arrows
370
00:20:03,786 --> 00:20:06,037
towards an enemy
approaching you.
371
00:20:08,708 --> 00:20:11,158
This definitely had
a protective purpose,
372
00:20:11,252 --> 00:20:15,254
like a guardhouse in the middle
of Zedekiah's Cave.
373
00:20:15,340 --> 00:20:18,007
The Crusaders definitely
created this
374
00:20:18,134 --> 00:20:20,501
to protect their way
out of Jerusalem
375
00:20:20,595 --> 00:20:23,837
and perhaps, also,
a passage to a place
376
00:20:23,932 --> 00:20:28,017
where they could hide
their most valuable items.
377
00:20:28,144 --> 00:20:30,844
We know for a fact
that the Templars was
378
00:20:30,939 --> 00:20:34,181
a military order
that held the Temple Mount,
379
00:20:34,275 --> 00:20:36,567
which is at the end
of this cave,
380
00:20:36,653 --> 00:20:38,686
and on the surface.
381
00:20:38,780 --> 00:20:41,689
While the Templars were
controlling the Temple Mount,
382
00:20:41,783 --> 00:20:43,866
they probably poked around it.
383
00:20:43,993 --> 00:20:46,527
Who knows what they
may have found?
384
00:20:46,621 --> 00:20:50,248
Some scholars suggest that they
may have even found the Ark.
385
00:20:51,292 --> 00:20:53,200
SHATNER:
Is it possible that the Knights Templar
386
00:20:53,294 --> 00:20:56,671
discovered the Ark of the
Covenant in Zedekiah's Cave?
387
00:20:56,756 --> 00:20:59,882
And if so, could this
fortified structure
388
00:21:00,009 --> 00:21:03,711
be the place where they kept
and protected it?
389
00:21:03,805 --> 00:21:08,724
Some scholars theorize that
if the Templars found the Ark,
390
00:21:08,851 --> 00:21:10,977
they would have brought it
to the very heart
391
00:21:11,062 --> 00:21:14,188
of the Catholic Church:
392
00:21:14,274 --> 00:21:16,148
Rome.
393
00:21:18,152 --> 00:21:20,611
McMAHON:
The Knights Templar were answerable
394
00:21:20,697 --> 00:21:23,406
directly to the pope himself.
395
00:21:23,533 --> 00:21:26,066
You have to remember
that the Vatican is sitting
396
00:21:26,160 --> 00:21:29,903
on 2,000 years' worth
of treasures,
397
00:21:29,998 --> 00:21:32,239
documents and secrets,
398
00:21:32,333 --> 00:21:36,243
and it's under no obligation
to share any of that with us.
399
00:21:36,337 --> 00:21:39,714
And documents that have been
kept under wraps for centuries,
400
00:21:39,799 --> 00:21:43,417
including details
on the Knights Templar,
401
00:21:43,511 --> 00:21:46,587
have only recently
came fully to light.
402
00:21:46,681 --> 00:21:49,473
McGOWAN:
The Catholic Church has lots of secrets. It always has.
403
00:21:49,559 --> 00:21:54,520
We can't even begin to guess
at what is happening
404
00:21:54,605 --> 00:21:56,522
in the basement
of the Vatican Library,
405
00:21:56,607 --> 00:21:58,098
held under Saint Peter's,
406
00:21:58,192 --> 00:22:00,151
and all of these other locations
in the Vatican.
407
00:22:00,236 --> 00:22:02,936
And certainly, if the Church
wanted the Ark of the Covenant
408
00:22:03,031 --> 00:22:05,323
and were aware that
the Templars had found it,
409
00:22:05,408 --> 00:22:08,284
they certainly would have
been able to obtain it.
410
00:22:09,245 --> 00:22:11,162
SHATNER:
Did the Knights Templar bring
411
00:22:11,247 --> 00:22:14,114
the Ark of the Covenant to Rome?
412
00:22:14,208 --> 00:22:19,420
Well, in 2019,
a surprising clue was unearthed
413
00:22:19,505 --> 00:22:22,048
in the pages
of a medieval manuscript
414
00:22:22,133 --> 00:22:25,926
that connects the Ark
directly to the pope.
415
00:22:26,012 --> 00:22:29,963
According to the text,
starting around the year 1100,
416
00:22:30,058 --> 00:22:34,602
the Ark was kept at the Saint
John Lateran Church in Rome.
417
00:22:36,981 --> 00:22:39,565
McGOWAN:
The Church of Saint John Lateran is arguably
418
00:22:39,650 --> 00:22:42,526
the most important church
in Rome.
419
00:22:42,612 --> 00:22:43,986
Most people don't think that.
420
00:22:44,113 --> 00:22:45,145
Most people think
of Saint Peter's
421
00:22:45,239 --> 00:22:46,146
as the most important church,
422
00:22:46,240 --> 00:22:48,491
but Saint John Lateran
is actually
423
00:22:48,618 --> 00:22:53,871
the seat of the bishop of Rome,
which is, in fact, the pope.
424
00:22:53,956 --> 00:22:57,833
The Church of Saint John Lateran
is an archbasilica.
425
00:22:57,960 --> 00:23:00,795
This designation
of a basilica means
426
00:23:00,880 --> 00:23:04,331
that an important relic
exists within this church.
427
00:23:04,425 --> 00:23:06,801
So if the church had
obtained the Ark,
428
00:23:06,886 --> 00:23:08,719
then it makes sense
that they would have taken it
429
00:23:08,805 --> 00:23:10,971
to Saint John Lateran.
430
00:23:11,057 --> 00:23:13,766
The legend is that the Ark
of the Covenant was there
431
00:23:13,851 --> 00:23:15,976
for 600 years.
432
00:23:16,854 --> 00:23:19,814
McMAHON:
And then, in the year 1745,
433
00:23:19,899 --> 00:23:23,684
Pope Benedict XIV turns up
at Saint John the Lateran
434
00:23:23,778 --> 00:23:25,319
on a pastoral visit,
435
00:23:25,405 --> 00:23:28,689
and he sees the Ark of
the Covenant under a glass case.
436
00:23:28,783 --> 00:23:31,325
For some reason,
he didn't like what he saw,
437
00:23:31,411 --> 00:23:33,861
and he ordered it
to be taken away,
438
00:23:33,955 --> 00:23:37,531
and it was never returned
and it disappeared.
439
00:23:37,625 --> 00:23:40,751
McGOWAN:
All evidence of the Ark of the Covenant
440
00:23:40,837 --> 00:23:43,036
ever even being
in Saint John Lateran
441
00:23:43,131 --> 00:23:44,880
completely disappears
the next day,
442
00:23:45,007 --> 00:23:49,042
and no one ever
speaks of it again.
443
00:23:49,137 --> 00:23:51,220
So this question
of Pope Benedict XIV
444
00:23:51,347 --> 00:23:53,097
removing the Ark
from Saint John Lateran
445
00:23:53,182 --> 00:23:55,549
is-is a really fascinating one.
446
00:23:55,643 --> 00:23:59,603
Did he remove this artifact,
which may have been the Ark,
447
00:23:59,689 --> 00:24:03,983
because he was protecting it,
because he wanted to possess it,
448
00:24:04,068 --> 00:24:06,735
because he wanted to take it
somewhere else?
449
00:24:07,780 --> 00:24:09,029
We don't know.
450
00:24:10,700 --> 00:24:12,992
The idea that the Ark
of the Covenant
451
00:24:13,077 --> 00:24:18,831
was secretly kept
within a basilica in Rome
452
00:24:18,916 --> 00:24:23,085
for 600 years,
it's a fascinating notion.
453
00:24:24,839 --> 00:24:27,247
But the search for the Ark
is not only motivated
454
00:24:27,341 --> 00:24:30,634
by the desire to find
where it's located,
455
00:24:30,720 --> 00:24:35,088
it's also a quest to rediscover
its awesome power,
456
00:24:35,183 --> 00:24:40,811
a power that some want
to harness as a weapon.
457
00:24:44,525 --> 00:24:46,692
SHATNER:
Southwest France.
458
00:24:46,777 --> 00:24:50,103
This mountainous region
is more than 500 miles from Rome
459
00:24:50,198 --> 00:24:52,698
and almost 2,000 miles
from Jerusalem.
460
00:24:53,743 --> 00:24:56,619
According to yet another legend
about the Ark of the Covenant,
461
00:24:56,746 --> 00:24:59,780
the Ark was once hidden
not in Rome
462
00:24:59,874 --> 00:25:03,116
but in a 13th-century
French fortress
463
00:25:03,211 --> 00:25:05,211
located in this remote area,
464
00:25:05,296 --> 00:25:08,839
the Château de Montségur.
465
00:25:08,925 --> 00:25:11,625
Throughout France, there are
legends from north to south
466
00:25:11,719 --> 00:25:14,970
about the Ark of the Covenant
being in the land there
467
00:25:15,097 --> 00:25:16,722
at different periods of time.
468
00:25:18,226 --> 00:25:20,476
One of the potential
resting sites
469
00:25:20,603 --> 00:25:22,636
of the Ark of the Covenant
in France
470
00:25:22,730 --> 00:25:25,523
was on the mountaintop
of Montségur,
471
00:25:25,608 --> 00:25:30,653
and it was a stronghold
of the Cathar people.
472
00:25:30,780 --> 00:25:32,988
Now, the Cathars
were a Christian sect
473
00:25:33,115 --> 00:25:34,982
that lived in France
in the Middle Ages
474
00:25:35,076 --> 00:25:38,702
and they had strong
spiritual convictions.
475
00:25:38,788 --> 00:25:42,039
So there is an idea
that because these treasures
476
00:25:42,124 --> 00:25:44,625
that were brought back from
the Holy Land were spiritual,
477
00:25:44,710 --> 00:25:47,586
and the Cathars were
deeply spiritual people,
478
00:25:47,672 --> 00:25:50,130
that the Church may have
brought these treasures,
479
00:25:50,216 --> 00:25:52,341
including the Ark
of the Covenant,
480
00:25:52,468 --> 00:25:55,261
to the Cathar people.
481
00:25:55,346 --> 00:25:59,506
The Ark of the Covenant
in Southern France?
482
00:25:59,600 --> 00:26:01,725
It's an intriguing possibility,
483
00:26:01,811 --> 00:26:05,012
one that, in 1936,
caught the attention
484
00:26:05,106 --> 00:26:09,316
of the second most powerful man
in Nazi Germany,
485
00:26:09,402 --> 00:26:11,852
Heinrich Himmler.
486
00:26:11,946 --> 00:26:16,574
Himmler and Hitler were both
obsessed with obtaining relics.
487
00:26:16,659 --> 00:26:19,368
During the occupation of France,
488
00:26:19,495 --> 00:26:21,704
there were a number
of Nazi brigades that were
489
00:26:21,831 --> 00:26:25,624
actually dispatched throughout
the region of the Pyrenees
490
00:26:25,710 --> 00:26:29,295
into Montségur in search
of the Ark of the Covenant.
491
00:26:29,380 --> 00:26:32,339
There are still tracks
in the mountains today
492
00:26:32,425 --> 00:26:34,258
from where the Nazis
were mining,
493
00:26:34,343 --> 00:26:37,210
essentially, in the mountains,
494
00:26:37,305 --> 00:26:39,713
looking for these
potential artifacts.
495
00:26:39,807 --> 00:26:41,682
They truly did believe
that the Ark
496
00:26:41,767 --> 00:26:44,351
may have still been there
in those mountains.
497
00:26:44,437 --> 00:26:48,439
McMAHON:
Heinrich Himmler was obsessed with occultism,
498
00:26:48,524 --> 00:26:50,891
and you have to remember
that the occult
499
00:26:50,985 --> 00:26:54,561
had had a massive influence
on Nazi ideology.
500
00:26:54,655 --> 00:26:57,072
And it may seem crazy,
but he sent people out
501
00:26:57,199 --> 00:27:01,118
of these quests
to find these sacred items.
502
00:27:01,203 --> 00:27:05,238
SHATNER:
The Nazis never found the Ark at Montségur.
503
00:27:05,333 --> 00:27:07,041
But what compelled them
to invest
504
00:27:07,126 --> 00:27:10,419
so much time and effort
into finding it?
505
00:27:10,546 --> 00:27:14,006
Were they simply trying to find
a magnificent golden chest?
506
00:27:14,091 --> 00:27:17,584
Perhaps, but there are many
who believe
507
00:27:17,678 --> 00:27:21,889
that the Nazis
had an ulterior motive.
508
00:27:21,974 --> 00:27:23,724
McMAHON:
The Ark of the Covenant
509
00:27:23,809 --> 00:27:25,926
was particularly coveted
by Heinrich Himmler
510
00:27:26,020 --> 00:27:29,021
because it possessed
enormous power,
511
00:27:29,106 --> 00:27:32,441
and it was carried
by the Israelites
512
00:27:32,568 --> 00:27:35,268
in the long exodus
to the Promised Land.
513
00:27:35,363 --> 00:27:37,771
So when they fought
their enemies
514
00:27:37,865 --> 00:27:39,907
in order to establish
their homeland,
515
00:27:39,992 --> 00:27:42,910
the Ark of the Covenant
would be carried before them
516
00:27:42,995 --> 00:27:49,449
and would emit terrible power,
smiting their enemies.
517
00:27:49,543 --> 00:27:51,251
It brought down
the Walls of Jericho
518
00:27:51,337 --> 00:27:53,453
simply by its presence.
519
00:27:53,547 --> 00:27:56,456
It emitted thunderbolts
at the enemy,
520
00:27:56,550 --> 00:27:59,885
and in the eyes of a Nazi,
what was not to like?
521
00:27:59,970 --> 00:28:05,516
They believed that this would
usher in the 1,000-year Reich.
522
00:28:05,601 --> 00:28:07,643
LEFF:
If you watch the movie
523
00:28:07,770 --> 00:28:10,688
Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark,
524
00:28:10,773 --> 00:28:13,306
all that magical stuff
the Ark does, you know,
525
00:28:13,401 --> 00:28:15,192
Steven Spielberg
didn't make that up.
526
00:28:15,277 --> 00:28:18,812
That's all in the Midrash.
That's all in Jewish legends.
527
00:28:18,906 --> 00:28:20,480
It's like a nuclear weapon.
528
00:28:20,574 --> 00:28:25,819
So by legend, the Ark had
these tremendous powers.
529
00:28:25,913 --> 00:28:28,497
And that's why people wanted to
take it with them into battle,
530
00:28:28,624 --> 00:28:32,659
because it was powerful
and dangerous.
531
00:28:32,753 --> 00:28:35,662
According to, uh, the story
that we have in the Bible,
532
00:28:35,756 --> 00:28:38,665
when the Ark is coming up
to Jerusalem,
533
00:28:38,759 --> 00:28:41,009
this cart that it's on
hits a bump or something
534
00:28:41,137 --> 00:28:42,469
and it starts to tip.
535
00:28:42,555 --> 00:28:45,005
And this nice guy
named Uzzah reaches out
536
00:28:45,099 --> 00:28:49,852
to keep it from tipping over,
but because he touched the Ark,
537
00:28:49,979 --> 00:28:51,603
God strikes him dead,
538
00:28:51,689 --> 00:28:54,514
so everybody
is terrified of this thing.
539
00:28:54,608 --> 00:28:58,018
It has so much power
it can just zap people dead.
540
00:28:58,112 --> 00:29:02,189
SHATNER:
Struck down by the wrath of God?
541
00:29:02,283 --> 00:29:04,357
Perhaps.
542
00:29:04,452 --> 00:29:07,494
But there are some who claim
that there is a more
543
00:29:07,580 --> 00:29:09,163
scientific way to explain
544
00:29:09,248 --> 00:29:12,124
this extraordinary account
from the Bible.
545
00:29:12,209 --> 00:29:15,702
TRAVIS TAYLOR:
The Ark of the Covenant is a fascinating story
546
00:29:15,796 --> 00:29:17,204
and concept, for that matter.
547
00:29:17,298 --> 00:29:20,132
You have,
in the biblical Scripture,
548
00:29:20,217 --> 00:29:23,210
a description of a device.
549
00:29:23,304 --> 00:29:26,880
It's got specific dimensions,
specific materials
550
00:29:26,974 --> 00:29:29,892
and specific structures
and shapes.
551
00:29:30,019 --> 00:29:34,354
So what the device is for
is a whole other question,
552
00:29:34,440 --> 00:29:36,389
but it sounds like
a technological device
553
00:29:36,484 --> 00:29:39,059
to store energy,
like a modern-day capacitor,
554
00:29:39,153 --> 00:29:42,529
because it is coated
with a conductor, gold.
555
00:29:42,615 --> 00:29:45,282
Then there is another
material inside that
556
00:29:45,367 --> 00:29:47,659
that is a nonconductor, wood.
557
00:29:47,745 --> 00:29:51,121
And then it's got another layer
of gold on the inside.
558
00:29:51,207 --> 00:29:54,458
And that's exactly
how we build capacitors.
559
00:29:54,543 --> 00:29:56,585
There's a conductor,
an insulator, then a conductor.
560
00:29:56,712 --> 00:29:59,379
And then, on top of the Ark
561
00:29:59,465 --> 00:30:02,249
are these wing-shaped
pointing structures.
562
00:30:02,343 --> 00:30:04,417
If you look
at modern-day Tesla coils
563
00:30:04,512 --> 00:30:06,053
and Van de Graaff generators,
564
00:30:06,138 --> 00:30:08,514
we always put a probe
on the top of it,
565
00:30:08,599 --> 00:30:10,849
like a little needle
or a little metal arm,
566
00:30:10,935 --> 00:30:13,060
so that lightning
can jump off of that.
567
00:30:13,145 --> 00:30:16,396
It's a point of which
the energy is transmitted from.
568
00:30:16,482 --> 00:30:19,599
This sounds a lot like
the Ark of the Covenant.
569
00:30:19,693 --> 00:30:23,403
ARIEL BAR TZADOK:
It has long been believed that the Ark of the Covenant
570
00:30:23,489 --> 00:30:27,941
had some type
of electromagnetic energy.
571
00:30:28,035 --> 00:30:30,077
A power that is not supernatural
572
00:30:30,162 --> 00:30:35,874
or spiritual in nature
but very much technological.
573
00:30:35,960 --> 00:30:38,418
So, the powers that it had,
574
00:30:38,504 --> 00:30:41,454
the abilities that it was
able to manifest,
575
00:30:41,549 --> 00:30:45,342
to this day, is still a mystery.
576
00:30:46,470 --> 00:30:49,963
Was the Ark of the Covenant
a piece of ancient technology
577
00:30:50,057 --> 00:30:52,966
that was thousands of years
ahead of its time?
578
00:30:53,060 --> 00:30:57,637
Perhaps, but according
to the members of a church
579
00:30:57,731 --> 00:31:01,775
located in Ethiopia,
580
00:31:01,861 --> 00:31:04,611
the mysteries of the Ark
can be best understood
581
00:31:04,697 --> 00:31:07,364
not by turning to science
582
00:31:07,449 --> 00:31:11,785
but rather by embracing faith.
583
00:31:15,457 --> 00:31:16,832
(gunfire)
584
00:31:19,753 --> 00:31:22,838
SHATNER:
A bloody civil war rages across the nation between
585
00:31:22,965 --> 00:31:25,632
government soldiers
and rebel militia.
586
00:31:26,802 --> 00:31:30,503
The fiercest fighting
is in the northern city of Axum,
587
00:31:30,598 --> 00:31:34,266
where 800 Ethiopians
give their lives
588
00:31:34,351 --> 00:31:37,519
defending the Church
of Our Lady Mary of Zion.
589
00:31:39,607 --> 00:31:42,065
But why did so many
590
00:31:42,151 --> 00:31:44,818
give their lives
to protect the church?
591
00:31:44,904 --> 00:31:49,448
Their sacrifice was made
to defend an important relic
592
00:31:49,533 --> 00:31:51,825
believed to be kept
within a small chapel
593
00:31:51,911 --> 00:31:54,411
adjacent to the church,
594
00:31:54,496 --> 00:31:57,331
the Ark of the Covenant.
595
00:31:59,627 --> 00:32:01,201
MISSICK:
The Ethiopian Christians
596
00:32:01,295 --> 00:32:03,203
claim to have the Ark
of the Covenant
597
00:32:03,297 --> 00:32:06,048
in the Church of--
called Saint Mary of Zion,
598
00:32:06,175 --> 00:32:08,258
and their tradition
of how the Ark of the Covenant
599
00:32:08,344 --> 00:32:10,710
made its way to Ethiopia
600
00:32:10,804 --> 00:32:13,805
is found in ancient texts
called the Kebra Nagast.
601
00:32:14,975 --> 00:32:19,353
The story is that the Queen
of Sheba is Ethiopian,
602
00:32:19,438 --> 00:32:22,389
and she hears of the wisdom
and power of Solomon,
603
00:32:22,483 --> 00:32:26,401
so she goes to the land
of Israel to try him
604
00:32:26,528 --> 00:32:30,364
with hard questions,
and she is seduced by Solomon
605
00:32:30,449 --> 00:32:32,616
and impregnated by him,
606
00:32:32,701 --> 00:32:36,244
and she goes back to Ethiopia
and has a son named Menelik,
607
00:32:36,372 --> 00:32:38,905
who becomes the emperor.
608
00:32:38,999 --> 00:32:42,242
COLLINS:
The story that the Ethiopians tell us is that
609
00:32:42,336 --> 00:32:45,879
when Menelik came of age,
he returned
610
00:32:45,965 --> 00:32:49,466
from his homeland
of Ethiopia, uh,
611
00:32:49,551 --> 00:32:52,594
to see his father,
to meet his father,
612
00:32:52,721 --> 00:32:56,890
and eventually,
Menelik took the Ark
613
00:32:56,976 --> 00:33:01,937
back to Ethiopia, which is where
it remains to this day.
614
00:33:03,691 --> 00:33:05,932
BOB CORNUKE:
The last emperor, Haile Selassie,
615
00:33:06,026 --> 00:33:07,767
builds this bunker-like building
616
00:33:07,861 --> 00:33:10,320
that they call Saint Mary's
of Zion Church,
617
00:33:10,406 --> 00:33:13,198
and that's where the Ark
is resting today.
618
00:33:13,283 --> 00:33:14,908
They say.
619
00:33:14,994 --> 00:33:17,244
Now, do they have the Ark?
620
00:33:17,329 --> 00:33:19,446
That's the,
that's the big question.
621
00:33:19,540 --> 00:33:23,291
We don't know. That's the
biggest mystery of all time.
622
00:33:23,419 --> 00:33:25,752
I think they have something
that they believe to be the Ark,
623
00:33:25,838 --> 00:33:27,454
and they believe it
with all their souls,
624
00:33:27,548 --> 00:33:29,256
and they believed it
for a couple thousand years.
625
00:33:29,341 --> 00:33:31,291
So they have something
that they believe.
626
00:33:31,385 --> 00:33:33,793
(people chanting)
627
00:33:33,887 --> 00:33:36,221
SHATNER:
There are more than 30 million Christians
628
00:33:36,306 --> 00:33:38,631
living in Ethiopia today,
629
00:33:38,726 --> 00:33:42,561
and they strongly believe
that the Ark of the Covenant
630
00:33:42,646 --> 00:33:45,188
is kept in Axum.
631
00:33:45,274 --> 00:33:47,640
They also practice many
of the same traditions
632
00:33:47,735 --> 00:33:49,609
that the ancient Israelites did
633
00:33:49,695 --> 00:33:53,989
in order to show their reverence
for the Ark.
634
00:33:54,116 --> 00:33:56,816
MISSICK:
Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity
635
00:33:56,910 --> 00:33:58,535
has strong Jewish links,
in their language,
636
00:33:58,620 --> 00:34:00,454
which is a language
closely related to Hebrew,
637
00:34:00,539 --> 00:34:01,538
but also in their culture,
638
00:34:01,623 --> 00:34:03,323
they preserve
many ancient Jewish texts.
639
00:34:03,417 --> 00:34:06,585
They claim to be
of Jewish descent themselves,
640
00:34:06,670 --> 00:34:08,920
and they keep
other Jewish traditions.
641
00:34:09,006 --> 00:34:12,924
The Ethiopian language
is called Ethiopic or Ge'ez.
642
00:34:13,010 --> 00:34:16,002
Their language is very similar
to Hebrew and Aramaic,
643
00:34:16,096 --> 00:34:18,430
the languages
of the Old Testament.
644
00:34:18,515 --> 00:34:21,391
A lot of ancient,
lost Jewish texts
645
00:34:21,477 --> 00:34:23,977
that used to be part of the
Bible, like Enoch and Jubilees,
646
00:34:24,063 --> 00:34:26,480
were preserved
by the Ethiopian Christians.
647
00:34:26,565 --> 00:34:29,182
And they also claim
to preserve and keep
648
00:34:29,276 --> 00:34:31,568
the one true Ark
of the Covenant.
649
00:34:32,613 --> 00:34:34,696
SHATNER:
Is it possible that the Ark of the Covenant
650
00:34:34,823 --> 00:34:38,992
is kept within the Church of
Saint Mary of Zion in Ethiopia?
651
00:34:39,078 --> 00:34:42,028
That's a fascinating idea.
652
00:34:42,122 --> 00:34:44,247
But one that is hard to prove,
653
00:34:44,333 --> 00:34:49,002
because Ethiopians believe
that only one person
654
00:34:49,088 --> 00:34:52,372
should be allowed to be
in the presence of the Ark,
655
00:34:52,466 --> 00:34:56,593
a belief that was also held
by the ancient Israelites.
656
00:34:58,639 --> 00:35:00,880
What the Ethiopians have done
is they've copied everything
657
00:35:00,974 --> 00:35:01,881
that's in the Bible.
658
00:35:01,975 --> 00:35:04,884
They mirror
everything in history
659
00:35:04,978 --> 00:35:07,053
that the ancients did
in the temple,
660
00:35:07,147 --> 00:35:10,390
and they do it the same way.
661
00:35:10,484 --> 00:35:13,059
So they have one man,
the guard of the ark.
662
00:35:13,153 --> 00:35:15,904
He never leaves
Saint Mary's Zion Church.
663
00:35:16,031 --> 00:35:19,491
His job is to be
the guardian of the Ark.
664
00:35:19,576 --> 00:35:21,901
And he's sort of
the representative
665
00:35:21,995 --> 00:35:24,737
of what the high priest
would be.
666
00:35:24,832 --> 00:35:27,574
LEFF:
In the Jewish tradition, the only person
667
00:35:27,668 --> 00:35:30,752
that was allowed into
the presence of the Ark
668
00:35:30,879 --> 00:35:33,913
was the Kohen Gadol,
the high priest.
669
00:35:34,007 --> 00:35:36,416
The high priest had a very,
very special uniform
670
00:35:36,510 --> 00:35:39,344
that he used, and he had
671
00:35:39,429 --> 00:35:42,430
a very, very elaborate ritual
he had to go through.
672
00:35:42,558 --> 00:35:45,258
He'd have to immerse
in a ritual bath multiple times,
673
00:35:45,352 --> 00:35:47,060
he'd have to be in a state
674
00:35:47,146 --> 00:35:49,896
of perfect physical
and spiritual purity
675
00:35:49,982 --> 00:35:55,101
before entering into
the presence of the Ark.
676
00:35:55,195 --> 00:35:58,938
CARGILL:
This high priest would go in to visit the Ark of the Covenant
677
00:35:59,032 --> 00:36:01,941
one day a year, and that was it.
678
00:36:02,035 --> 00:36:04,611
No one else was supposed
to go into--
679
00:36:04,705 --> 00:36:08,540
upon pain of death--
uh, see the Ark of the Covenant.
680
00:36:08,625 --> 00:36:11,334
And this is part
of this tradition
681
00:36:11,420 --> 00:36:14,713
of this sacredness of the Ark
682
00:36:14,798 --> 00:36:18,791
that we, the profane, right,
we people can't touch
683
00:36:18,886 --> 00:36:22,554
even the object
that represents God on Earth.
684
00:36:22,639 --> 00:36:24,890
CORNUKE:
The Bible says the one thing about the Ark
685
00:36:24,975 --> 00:36:27,767
is that God had it
specifically made
686
00:36:27,853 --> 00:36:30,020
in the way he wanted it,
and he wanted it to be used
687
00:36:30,105 --> 00:36:31,521
the way he wanted it.
688
00:36:31,607 --> 00:36:34,307
And the Ethiopians
really accept this,
689
00:36:34,401 --> 00:36:37,027
because they have been told
since they've been little kids
690
00:36:37,112 --> 00:36:39,946
that this is from God.
691
00:36:40,032 --> 00:36:43,742
According to the writings,
this object has been given
692
00:36:43,827 --> 00:36:46,745
to the Ethiopians
693
00:36:46,830 --> 00:36:51,291
and they are the holy keepers
of the Ark,
694
00:36:51,376 --> 00:36:54,920
and they are willing
to give their lives that fast
695
00:36:55,005 --> 00:36:56,504
if someone is gonna
come and try and take
696
00:36:56,632 --> 00:36:58,665
the Ark of the Covenant.
697
00:36:58,759 --> 00:37:00,667
That's exactly what happened.
698
00:37:00,761 --> 00:37:04,638
Military went in there with
the guns and the people rallied.
699
00:37:05,641 --> 00:37:09,768
People came by the hundreds to
protect the Ark of the Covenant.
700
00:37:09,853 --> 00:37:15,181
The Ethiopians believe
with all their mind, heart, soul
701
00:37:15,275 --> 00:37:20,695
that this is
a holy object of God.
702
00:37:21,740 --> 00:37:24,857
If the Ark reveals its secrets
only to those
703
00:37:24,952 --> 00:37:27,360
who are trained to be
in its presence,
704
00:37:27,454 --> 00:37:30,497
perhaps that explains why
it has remained so well hidden
705
00:37:30,582 --> 00:37:32,415
for thousands of years.
706
00:37:32,501 --> 00:37:35,335
But what would happen
707
00:37:35,420 --> 00:37:38,672
if the Ark
is actually rediscovered?
708
00:37:38,757 --> 00:37:41,207
Perhaps the answer
can be found by examining
709
00:37:41,301 --> 00:37:45,136
an ancient biblical prophecy
710
00:37:45,222 --> 00:37:49,599
which claims that the Ark
will soon return.
711
00:37:54,481 --> 00:37:56,773
SHATNER:
Although the search for the lost Ark of the Covenant
712
00:37:56,858 --> 00:38:00,568
continues all over the world
to this day,
713
00:38:00,696 --> 00:38:03,730
many believe that our best hope
of finding the Ark
714
00:38:03,824 --> 00:38:06,232
is by not looking for it at all.
715
00:38:06,326 --> 00:38:09,703
Instead, all we need
to do is wait,
716
00:38:09,788 --> 00:38:12,747
because according
to a biblical prophecy,
717
00:38:12,874 --> 00:38:17,002
one day, the Ark will return.
718
00:38:17,087 --> 00:38:18,753
MISSICK:
It's interesting
719
00:38:18,880 --> 00:38:21,089
that the Ark of the Covenant
is not just mentioned
720
00:38:21,216 --> 00:38:22,582
in the Old Testament,
721
00:38:22,676 --> 00:38:24,384
it's mentioned
throughout the Bible.
722
00:38:24,469 --> 00:38:26,419
It's found in
the Book of Hebrews but also
723
00:38:26,513 --> 00:38:28,254
in the last book of the Bible,
the Book of Revelation,
724
00:38:28,348 --> 00:38:30,056
where the Ark
of the Covenant appears
725
00:38:30,142 --> 00:38:33,259
as a testament to the revelation
and the end of the world
726
00:38:33,353 --> 00:38:35,261
and the culmination
of all things.
727
00:38:35,355 --> 00:38:38,315
MULLINS:
According to the Book of Revelation,
728
00:38:38,400 --> 00:38:40,600
chapter 11, verse 19,
729
00:38:40,694 --> 00:38:42,819
the Ark of the Covenant
will not be revealed
730
00:38:42,904 --> 00:38:44,988
until the end times.
731
00:38:45,073 --> 00:38:48,775
Revelation 11:19,
"Then God's temple in Heaven
732
00:38:48,869 --> 00:38:51,202
"was opened, and within
his temple was seen
733
00:38:51,288 --> 00:38:53,279
"the Ark of his testament.
734
00:38:53,373 --> 00:38:55,915
"And there came flashes
of lightning, rumblings,
735
00:38:56,001 --> 00:38:59,461
peals of thunder and earthquake,
and severe hailstorm."
736
00:38:59,588 --> 00:39:04,049
In that passage, um,
the Book of Revelation describes
737
00:39:04,134 --> 00:39:07,260
the lightning, the thunder
that'll take place
738
00:39:07,346 --> 00:39:10,013
when the Ark of the Covenant
is revealed.
739
00:39:10,098 --> 00:39:12,932
MISSICK:
In Israel, there's a place called Tel Megiddo,
740
00:39:13,018 --> 00:39:15,769
which is also known
as Armageddon, right?
741
00:39:15,854 --> 00:39:18,063
This is the place where
the end-of-the-world battle
742
00:39:18,148 --> 00:39:19,138
is supposed to take place.
743
00:39:19,232 --> 00:39:20,973
So at the city, from the time
744
00:39:21,068 --> 00:39:22,475
of the judges
in the Old Testament,
745
00:39:22,569 --> 00:39:24,611
many people feel
that in the last days,
746
00:39:24,696 --> 00:39:26,979
the Ark of the Covenant
will be rediscovered there
747
00:39:27,074 --> 00:39:29,449
in fulfillment of the--
these, uh, ancient prophecies.
748
00:39:29,534 --> 00:39:32,869
SHATNER:
Is this the place where the Ark of the Covenant
749
00:39:32,954 --> 00:39:35,822
will one day reappear?
750
00:39:35,916 --> 00:39:38,491
Only time will tell.
751
00:39:38,585 --> 00:39:42,545
But if and when
that day ever comes,
752
00:39:42,631 --> 00:39:44,163
one thing is certain,
753
00:39:44,257 --> 00:39:48,000
the world would
never be the same again.
754
00:39:48,095 --> 00:39:50,470
The world that we live in today,
we must remember,
755
00:39:50,555 --> 00:39:52,931
is not a world
that believes in miracles.
756
00:39:53,016 --> 00:39:56,342
By and large, this Western
society that we're a part of
757
00:39:56,436 --> 00:39:58,353
does not believe that the Ark
has the ability
758
00:39:58,480 --> 00:40:02,181
to flatten mountains down
and kill all the enemies.
759
00:40:02,275 --> 00:40:05,017
So if the Ark is found today,
760
00:40:05,112 --> 00:40:09,155
and it actually carries
any kind of divine properties,
761
00:40:09,241 --> 00:40:11,691
this is gonna have
some monumental effect
762
00:40:11,785 --> 00:40:13,410
on the way that we see
763
00:40:13,495 --> 00:40:15,787
and think about the world
that we live in.
764
00:40:17,332 --> 00:40:18,832
CARGILL:
I think the reason
765
00:40:18,917 --> 00:40:21,534
that people are always
looking for relics,
766
00:40:21,628 --> 00:40:23,703
objects, the Holy Grail,
the Ark of the Covenant,
767
00:40:23,797 --> 00:40:25,296
Noah's Ark,
768
00:40:25,382 --> 00:40:27,215
is they're looking
for tangible evidence
769
00:40:27,342 --> 00:40:29,134
that will confirm their faith.
770
00:40:29,219 --> 00:40:32,637
We have archaeology,
and sometimes,
771
00:40:32,722 --> 00:40:35,181
archaeology confirms
the stories in the Bible,
772
00:40:35,267 --> 00:40:36,724
and sometimes it doesn't.
773
00:40:36,852 --> 00:40:38,217
But if we had the Ark,
774
00:40:38,311 --> 00:40:41,729
somehow, people feel
that that would just say,
775
00:40:41,857 --> 00:40:45,066
"Aha, now I know
that my faith is true,
776
00:40:45,193 --> 00:40:47,226
that it's real,
that it's confirmed,"
777
00:40:47,320 --> 00:40:49,028
and people want that.
778
00:40:50,073 --> 00:40:52,866
McGOWAN:
I think, for all people of faith around the world, it would be
779
00:40:52,951 --> 00:40:55,326
a-a fascinating experience
780
00:40:55,412 --> 00:41:00,123
to see this idea that
something made by human hands
781
00:41:00,208 --> 00:41:04,169
was able to contact God or even
to possess the power of God.
782
00:41:04,254 --> 00:41:07,079
But on the other hand,
are we ready
783
00:41:07,174 --> 00:41:09,466
to possess the power of God?
784
00:41:09,551 --> 00:41:11,584
Is it a good thing
in this day and age
785
00:41:11,678 --> 00:41:16,088
to even play with the idea
that such an artifact exists
786
00:41:16,183 --> 00:41:18,391
that could have
that kind of power?
787
00:41:18,477 --> 00:41:23,021
Maybe it's for the best
that the Ark remains hidden.
788
00:41:26,526 --> 00:41:29,235
What do you believe?
789
00:41:29,321 --> 00:41:31,938
Is the Ark of the Covenant
a divine object
790
00:41:32,032 --> 00:41:35,074
that contains the power of God,
791
00:41:35,160 --> 00:41:37,610
or is it a myth,
792
00:41:37,704 --> 00:41:41,206
designed to inspire
reverence for the Almighty?
793
00:41:41,291 --> 00:41:43,833
Well, it's safe to say
that no matter where
794
00:41:43,919 --> 00:41:47,453
the Ark is, or what it is,
795
00:41:47,547 --> 00:41:52,458
people will continue searching
for it in the hope that someday,
796
00:41:52,552 --> 00:41:57,180
the mystery of the lost Ark
will no longer be...
797
00:41:57,265 --> 00:41:59,298
unexplained.
798
00:41:59,392 --> 00:42:01,184
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