[dana.acker]

Thanks, the Stalin/HG Wells story is pretty wild. But then again, the Nazis travelled the known world in search of religious artifacts, in hopes their “powers” could be weaponized. A half man, half ape super soldier would be no match (in Nazi thinking) for the Ark of the Covenant blasting out death rays. Of course nowhere in the Hebrew Old Testament Scriptures, the New Testament, or the 2nd Temple Jewish writings or Dead Sea Scrolls, is the Ark of the Covenant portrayed, or described as a weapon. Its significance was always spiritual, never military. It was the place where God’s presence dwelt with His people. Somehow that has been bastardized into lethality in battle. Now some will counter that it is recorded that someone touched it once and died. True, but, not because the Ark was a death machine, but because there were very strict rules regarding the Ark’s transport. It was only to be carried by priests. The incident in question took place when the Ark was placed on an ox cart and someone put their hand on it to steady it. Big mistake. But it was never a weapon. When it was carried into battle situations it went before the army as a reminder of God’s leading.