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The Copper Scroll: Temple Treasures
By Joseph Chambers
In 1952 one of the greatest discoveries of an ancient script, which was written on copper, was found near Qumran. It took several years to open or unroll the scroll in order for the deciphering of the text to begin. Because it was a very fragile document — nearly two thousand years old – there was a great fear that it would be destroyed before it could be translated. The disagreements of the assigned scholars and the intrigue of such a valuable possession led to years of delay. There are still differences of opinions, but a fairly solid consensus is that the treasures noted in this scroll are indeed from the Jewish temple and that they do exist.
The entire world is watching every event and every idea that relates to Israel. Numerous Bible prophecies concerning this chosen nation are emerging, this Copper Scroll being one of them. The leaders of Gog and Magog as named in the Bible are each in place and bellowing out their plans. Thirty years ago Persia (Iran) was our ally, but Bible prophecy scheduled that historic part of the world for a different course. For Biblical truths to be fulfilled, people of many stripes are used — often or actually in most cases — without one iota of understanding about their role. Persia/Iran has been completely transfigured until they are ready to be the point nation leading the war to their own holocaust. Gog and Magog may well occur in 2010.
Nothing relating to Israel is more exciting than their talk of the coming Messiah. Their speaking about the Jewish Messiah cannot be separated from talk about their temple in Jerusalem. Yet, that temple site is already occupied by an opposing religious strategic center. Well over one billion adherents to that religion would fight to the death to stop a Jewish temple. This issue between the Islamic religion and Israel's preparation to build their temple is one of the world's hottest subjects. Only the Sovereign God can possibly solve this problem and He will.
The Copper Scroll treasures contain almost enough gold and wealth to rebuild the temple. A Catholic priest, Josef Milik, was assigned as the research scholar responsible for writing the official findings. He said that the gold and silver represented over 200 ton or 400,000 pounds. The entire treasure was estimated to be valued at two to three billion dollars. Of course, these estimates are considered too small by some scholars and too large by others. There is some speculation that the final Copper Scroll — part of the last location — will identify the location of the "Ark of the Covenant."
Hershel Shanks, the editor of the Biblical Archaeological Review, tells about a meeting of scholars and experts in which the majority agreed that the treasure is real and that it all came from the Jerusalem Temple. (The Copper Scroll, Hershel Shanks, p. 51.) It is believed that before the Romans finally took and destroyed the Temple in AD 70 that this wealth of gold and treasures was hidden from them. Whether or not the "Ark of the Covenant" is part of this trove of temple treasures does not mean the ark has not been preserved.
The Copper Scroll treasures were from the Second Temple, but the "Ark of the Covenant" was from the First Temple. It seems certain that faithful priests had hidden the ark when Nebuchadnezzar was camping beyond Jerusalem's Walls in preparation to destroy the city. This was 586 BC. From research, it is evident that Nebuchadnezzar sought diligently to save the Temple of Solomon, probably for Daniel's and Jeremiah's sake. Nebuchadnezzar's general was instructed to take Jeremiah from among the captives and protect him. He was allowed to either stay in Israel and return to his own estate or go to Babylon to be cared for by his own people. The Ark of the Covenant has not been officially located since that date of 586 BC.
The Copper Scroll reveals the hidden place of sixty-four different troves or groups of treasures. Here are two of those locations, along with the list of items included: "In the basin that is in the valley of […], in the tomb of its source, a black stone 2 cubits (away); it is the entry: 300 talents of gold and 20 indemnity vessels." (Location 49, p. 100.) "In a cavity that is in the bright place north of Kohilt, opening to the north, and (where there are) graves at its entrance a duplicate of this document and an explication and their measurements and a detailed inventory of everything, one by one." (Location 64, pg 101.) In the location of the 62nd group, the amount of gold and silver is 600 talents (45,000 pounds).
When will this great abundance of treasuries be discovered? Actually, there is no need for this discovery until the Temple Mount is purified and vacant. I am convinced that most if not all of these temple items, along with the wealth of gold and silver, is hid beneath the exact location of the ancient Temple of Solomon. If the Ark of the Covenant was directly beneath the second temple, Holy of Holies, in Christ's day the priest could have offered the Blood sacrifice behind the veil and above the ark. This would be the reason that the veil was rent when the Son of God died at Calvary.
It seems fitting that the firestorms that will destroy the armies of Gog and Magog and obliterate the Islamic religion will also sweep the Temple Mount and purify it with the fire of God. The promise of God's defense of Israel includes, "Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel" (Ezekiel 38:19b). Ezekiel further prophesied, "And the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground" (Ezekiel 38:20b). I add this possibility, "All the treasures of God's temple shall be revealed." When the war of Gog and Magog is finished, it will be time for Israel to build their temple.
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