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In 1996 I either heard or was given a thought so strong that to this day I can't decide which. What came to me was "he sitteth in the temple." I immediately recognized this as part of a passage about the Biblical antichrist and a rebuilt temple in Jerusalem that raised the possibility that this persona might actually sit in the Mercy Seat of the Ark of the Covenant. Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. (2 Thessalonians 2:1-4) How I grasped this concept so quickly was the result of two things; an unencumbered familiarity with the King James Version of the Bible and a knowledge that the Mercy Seat over the Ark of the Covenant is an actual seat or throne and not like the music box lid as traditionally depicted. After reading the subject verses I also remembered that the term son of perdition is only used twice in the Bible. Jesus referred to Judas as the son of perdition and we're told that Satan entered into him to betray Jesus. The term is used once again for this other antichrist figure. This began, for me, a study of this Bible subject that continues to this day. How this event could come about took studying backward from the event in prophetic time. For this to happen would require many parts, like pieces of a puzzle, to be in place and have been arranged. A rebuilt temple in Jerusalem has to be in place. The Ark of the Covenant and Mercy Seat would need to be recognized in the eyes of the world as the object representing the power of the Biblical God for the action to have the meaning described and significance defined as exalting himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped and he as God sitting in the temple showing himself to be the God associated with the throne. After a time of study I wrote a novel "The Throne of God," for which this website is named, to promote the possibility of this scenario and to spread news of the actual discovery of the Ark and Mercy Seat. My studies led me to Ezekiel, Chapters 38 and 39 which tells of certain nations joining forces against Israel after Israel returns to a portion of the land God had given their tribes and ancestors. The subject of the novel was about a Russian-Muslim coalition staging, surrounding and clandestinely attacking Israel then being destroyed supernaturally while in the mountains surrounding Jerusalem. The hardest part of writing the book was trying to explain how Russia could possibly team up with Muslim nations and stage sufficient forces for attacking Israel without giving warning of their intentions. Russia, home to more than 20 Million Muslims, just last year opened one of the largest mosques in Europe with Vladimir Putin attending the dedication. Russian President Putin is ex-KGB meaning he is one of the most intelligent and highly trained strategic minds in the world. Recognizing the immense opportunity to use the current state of Islamic turmoil in the middle east for his own purposes may lead to the evil thought mentioned in Ezekiel 38. Thus saith the Lord GOD; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought: And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates, To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land. And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes. (Ezekiel 38:10-12 & 16) Destruction of this Russian-Muslim coalition witnessed by the whole world would lead Israel to immediately take full possession of Jerusalem and to begin rebuilding the temple. Scripture also indicates a time and event like this found in Jeremiah, Chapter 16 when the children of Israel have been brought back to the land, still in iniquity, denial of Messiah and afflicted by enemies. The Lord uses this coalition for judging Israel and just on the brink of total destruction He becomes their strength and refuge destroying the attackers causing the nations to recognize how insignificant their own gods and idols truly have been. Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that it shall no more be said, The LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; But, The LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north, and from all the lands whither he had driven them: and I will bring them again into their land that I gave unto their fathers. Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith the LORD, and they shall fish them; and after will I send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks. For mine eyes are upon all their ways: they are not hid from my face, neither is their iniquity hid from mine eyes. And first I will recompense their iniquity and their sin double; because they have defiled my land, they have filled mine inheritance with the carcases of their detestable and abominable things. O LORD, my strength, and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction, the Gentiles shall come unto thee from the ends of the earth, and shall say, Surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit. Shall a man make gods unto himself, and they are no gods? Therefore, behold, I will this once cause them to know, I will cause them to know mine hand and my might; and they shall know that my name is The LORD. (Jeremiah 16 14-21) Another aspect of this event is that at this point whoever could represent the Gentile nations and successfully deliver a peace treaty with Israel would be looked upon as having the ability to successfully negotiate in the same arena of the revealed power of Israel's God and would be given great position and authority and possibly become looked upon as a god man himself. This psuedo peace could support Israel's desires and may be the seven year peace treaty, in the book of Daniel, so often mentioned by prophecy expositors. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. (Daniel 9:27) This seven year covenant has always been associated with the beginning of a seven year tribulation period otherwise known as the Time of Jacob's Trouble. It is the midway point of this period when this antichrist figure, with great authority, goes into a rebuilt temple demonstrating himself to be the very god the nations have become familiar with. What made me believe that the Ark of the Covenant might play a role in this scenario is the knowledge that it still exists and scripture that suggests that it might be made known again prior to Christ's physical return to earth. And it shall come to pass, when ye be multiplied and increased in the land, in those days, saith the LORD, they shall say no more, The ark of the covenant of the LORD: neither shall it come to mind: neither shall they remember it; neither shall they visit it; neither shall that be done any more. At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the LORD; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the LORD, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart. (Jeremiah 3:16, 17) The passage and depictions below describe how the Mercy Seat was once the Throne of God on earth. And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel. (Exodus 25: 18) 
 Whether the Ark of the Covenant and Mercy Seat are brought out as a representative object of the power of the God of Israel or not, this scenario of Biblical prophecy is upon us with events lining up as prophesied in Ezekiel. Twenty years ago few were interested in such a scenario since the principles and leading events were nowhere near being in place to support it. Today, everything is in place and actually poised for events to happen just as the Bible predicts. The knowledge of these events are largely hidden from Americans by humanistic religion, evolutionary education, virtual mind-deadening entertainment and journalistic pablum. And, sadly enough these days, even few in the churches ever teach of such things actually happening. What I have also recognized over these last twenty years is that the message "he sitteth in the temple" also appears to mirror the message of the book of Jude, which coincidentally, immediately precedes the book of Revelation. The KJV vernacular of the word "sitteth" brought this to my attention and combined with the logic that the Creator of the Universe has the power and ability to preserve and present His words in every tongue. This logic is also supported first by Solomon, with wisdom from God, and then by Jesus called the Word of God. Since they confirm the purity and all importance of every word then all of God's words must be available in every tongue in singular form. Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. (Proverbs 30:5) But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. (Matthew 4:4) Jude first exhorts believers to earnestly contend for that faith once delivered to the saints and then defines how that pure faith is attacked. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ (Jude 1:4) In examining this method of introducing corrupting influence, these certain men have mixed in unknown to the believers, as tares among the wheat, and must use either use the word of God or the hearing of the word of God for subverting the faith. This can be deduced from Romans 10:17. So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Rom 10:17) The end result, of turning God's grace into lasciviousness and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ, would nomally be recognized immediately within an assembly of believers and those espousing these ideals would be rejected. No one could keep their cover denying God and His Christ among believers. So this can only be deduced to mean one thing; insertion of the traditions of men. Only by creating a grace plus works doctrine can this be accomplished. This denies the sufficiency of God and negates the sacrifice of His Son. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (2 Cor 12:9) God's grace is totally sufficient. It is liberating concept that allows believers to walk with God and put their trust in His goodness and not their own. So the lack of believers earnestly contending for the pure words of God has allowed men to subtly introduce the leaven of change producing private interpretations, whether for preference or agenda, that permits any lifestyle or wind of doctrine. Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. (2 Tim 4:2-4) For a time generations of Americans were taught from the KJV English Bible that God created everything for man in six days as written, and even defining the literal day used, in the Ten Commandments. Modern interpretations have compromised the words until these New Age Bible versions support vast amounts of time for earth formation and eroded confidence in God's intelligent design. The KJV translators were men who lived in a time when burnings of Bibles and martyrs was a weekly occurrence. Many at that time were burned at the stake for their faith and protection of the pure Word of God. Most spoke and could translate in multiple languages and had scripture available in many tongues initiated from Pentecost. They divided themselves into six groups each taking a portion of scripture to translate and compare with manuscripts of all languages available. Each man would personally translate the entire scripture assigned to the group and then bring together to compare with each other and the other more pure translations of their day. The group would have to unanimously agree on all words of the text before passing on to the next group to do the same. One dissenting voice stopped the cycle until all were in agreement. Once the text passed through all groups, they all came together for unanimous approval; again with one dissenting voice able to stop the process. These men were given their wisdom and inspiration from God. The Revised Version of 1881 informed readers that all changes to the text were agreed upon by 2/3rds majority of their committee. All other versions and especially the new age lexicons from which they written are of the majority or of the few or of the one. Under the guise of making the text easier to understand than the fifth grade level of the KJV, men wrote New Testament lexicons using mainly two manuscripts made available in the 1800's. The Sinaiticus was discovered at a monastery at the counterfeit Mount Sinai. Vaticanus was released from the Vatican. Both were in time for textural criticism classes at the newly formed seminaries that also started in the 1800's. The New Testament was relegated to one basis tongue; Greek and the new manuscripts gleaned for pacifying the new science coming on the scene in the same century. Darwin's evolutionary "Origin of the Species" and the circular reasoning of the newly invented geological model sent Bible expositors and teachers headed for the hills looking for solutions. The new versions gave them the out they needed; the gap theory representing creation with an indefinite length of time between Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:2. The other problem seminaries created was that Christians abandoned the great universities founded on Judaic Christian law and liberty. Light left and darkness filled the void until today these same buildings with scripture engraved in their stone are the foremost producers of liberalism until America resembles what the scriptures predicted. Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.(Amos 8:11, 12) New Bible versions may change that one word considered archaic in eight thousand in the KJV but they must change many other words to obtain their copyright actually making it more difficult to read. And it's interesting they are all considered "derivative works" of the KJV. I believe the Lord inspired and provided His Word for the common man in every tongue. You don't need to be told what it means in Greek. You can read it for yourself. I believe this is Jude's first appeal to believers because of the pure logic of it, his description of how the faith is undermined, the founding of the once greatest Christian and evangelistic nation on the planet and the scriptures that instruct us. Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. (1 Corinthians 1:10) An example of how words can be subtly changed, thus their meaning, is in the passage in question. King James Version - "so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God." English Standard Version - "so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God."(1) New American Standard - "so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God."(1) New International Version - "so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God."(1) The difference being "as God sitteth" or where God had once met with Man. Taking "his seat" or omitting "as God" sitting in the temple does not support the ancient throne of God being in the temple as the object of the antichrist's laying claim to that throne. The wording, thus the meaning makes all the difference. The second call of Jude is to remember those things which ye once knew and believed in. The discoveries presented by Ron Wyatt over the last 40 years are evidences of those events named by Jude and are ensamples, or examples that can be witnessed in the physical universe, no matter what the detractors say. Those that know the Word of God and truly believe its narrative have and will continue to recognize them. Two of those events are specifically named; the Exodus out of Egypt and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. To me, these are interesting examples representing escape from the slavery of the traditions of men before those who are found not to believe are destroyed. Paul does tell us that "the preaching of the cross is foolishness to those that perish." However, the Bible gives us instruction not to be foolish. I was once told, "I don't need Noah's Ark, I have faith." There is enough wrong with that statement for an entire conference on self-righteousness. Yet that has been the general reaction of many believers to news of the discoveries. I would suggest that since the Lord has presented the world with evidences of many events from the Bible narrative to such a degree and in so short of a time that it can only be explained as His revealing them for a purpose, you might want to take a look. That purpose is found in the book of the Bible immediately preceding the book of Revelation as a last call to believers to remember the words of the Lord. And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. (Luke 21:34-36) There is a third set of instructions from Jude. The first instruction is keeping oneself in the mercy and care of God. After this is caring for the needy for sharing of the good news, warning the worldly of the judgment coming and even hating the overspreading of evil influence. Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. (Jude 1:21-23) I began writing a book in detail on all the subjects stimulated by the Bible study of "he sitteth in the temple," and the subsequent study of how it relates to the message of Jude. However, because of the obvious gathering storm in the Middle East I feel a sense of urgency for the message and decided to put out this page as soon as possible. This page will continue as a work in progress and I will put the efforts here for those wanting to share or print for others. My philosophy for presenting the evidences featured at this website has always been as I was given opportunity to state when interviewed; "Read the Bible for yourself and look at these things. That's what makes it simple." But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand. (Ezekiel 33:6) One aspect of all this for me has been a knowledge of the Watchman on the Wall as described in the Bible. Since learning of the evidences through the presentations of Ron Wyatt, as documented at this website, I've always promoted the evidential information as its main subject and purpose in a nondenominational fashion and without further agenda. I've tried to keep from projecting myself as anything other than a supporter and researcher. However, because of the warning to the Watchman and the nature, evidence and timing of Jude's message, I conclude I must sound the alarm. So let us all take up the call of the Watchman and use the opportunities the Lord has provided for us to show our neighbors His evidences "and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear." Ark of the Covenant drawings courtesy of Jim Pinkoski |