The Lost Ark
They sent therefore fifty men. And for three days they sought [Elijah] but did not find him. And they came back to [Elisha] while he was staying at Jericho, and he said to them, “Did I not say to you, ‘Do not go’?” (2 Kings 2:17-18)
It seems the Ark was “taken” like Enoch. If it was carried to Babylon, perhaps it was melted down with other conquered “gods” to contribute to Nebuchadnezzar’s “golden calf.” It fits the pattern if the Ark “died” on the altar of false worship “outside the city.”
As God’s chariot, it ascended to heaven as Elijah (the head), and a double portion of the Spirit was given to Daniel and his friends as Elisha. They did greater works—ruled a greater kingdom—than the “Ark” kings of Israel. They moved the kingdom of God from Land to World, and set the empire bears upon the children of Jezebel.
Then, a generation later, it was the Lampstand, the Spirit-filled body, that conquered Babylon (Daniel 5:5) and returned to the Land. The Ark/throne, the Lion, died as a Lamb and ascended as (Firstfruits) to make Judah’s wolves into shepherds (Pentecost). In this way, by the Word of God, a New Israel was formed and filled. As a flying scroll, the Ark would appear a little while later to Zechariah and a New Jerusalem be established.
And the Word repeated the entire pattern in the first century. After the blood goes up, the Spirit comes down and resurrects the army of God (Trumpets). The ascended Ark then exiles ‘Babylonian’ worship, its evil twin (Zechariah 5, Revelation 18) (Atonement).The saints rule with Christ in a New Jerusalem (Booths).
“…it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you… A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me.” (John 16:7, 16)
Artwork: Elijah and Elisha, Michael D. O’Brien, studiobrien.com
