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Ark of God and the Fortunes of Israel
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Because of the sins of Israel the calamity which God said should
come upon the temple if His people departed from Him was fulfilled
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some hundreds of years after the temple was built. God promised
Solomon, if he would remain faithful, and his people would obey all
His commandments, that that glorious temple should stand forever in
all its splendor, as an evidence of the prosperity and exalted blessings
resting upon Israel for their obedience.
The Captivity of Israel
Because of Israel’s transgression of the commandments of God
and their wicked acts, God suffered them to go into captivity, to
humble and punish them. Before the temple was destroyed, God
made known to a few of His faithful servants the fate of the temple,
which was the pride of Israel, and which they regarded with idolatry,
while they were sinning against God. He also revealed to them the
captivity of Israel. These righteous men, just before the destruction
of the temple, removed the sacred ark containing the tables of stone,
and with mourning and sadness secreted it in a cave where it was to
be hidden from the people of Israel because of their sins, and was to
be no more restored to them. That sacred ark is yet hidden. It has
never been disturbed since it was secreted.
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