Televangelist Ezekiel Odero, and the Representation of the Ark of the Covenant
Claims by Kenyan televangelist Pastor Ezekiel Odero that he possesses the Ark of the Covenant have ignited a fresh wave of global interest in the legendary artefact.
The claims coincide with the resurfacing of a declassified CIA document detailing Cold War-era investigations into its potential location. Odero, a prominent religious figure in Kenya, stated during a March 23 church service that he acquired the Ark in a rural village near Jesus' birthplace in Jerusalem. He claims to have transported the box-like structure, adorned with golden features and six-winged figures, to Kenya following significant financial expenditure at customs.
The authenticity of Odero's claim has been met with both scepticism and fervent support. Adding a layer of intrigue to the renewed fascination is a declassified 1988 CIA report linked to Project Sun Streak, a clandestine US Defense Intelligence Agency operation. This initiative utilized remote viewing, a psychic intelligence-gathering technique, to investigate distant targets.
The report details a remote viewer's description of the Ark as a container of wood, gold, and silver, decorated with angelic symbols, designed for spiritual and ceremonial purposes. The CIA document suggests the Ark was once housed in the Holy of Holies within the ancient temple in Jerusalem. Its disappearance is believed to have occurred during the Babylonian siege of the city in 586 BCE.
Theories regarding its fate include the persistent claim that it resides in a church in Ethiopia. The declassified report hints at a possible rediscovery in the late 20th century, although without providing definitive proof. The Ark of the Covenant, traditionally described as containing the stone tablets of the Ten Commandments, has long captivated both religious followers and historical researchers.