What Is the Ark of the Covenant?

Does the ark of the covenant exist today?

There is no evidence that it does. The Bible shows that the Ark is no longer needed because the covenant associated with it has been replaced with "a new covenant," one based on Jesus' sacrifice.  (Jeremiah 31:31-33; Hebrews 8:13; 12:24) The Bible thus foretold a time when the ark of the covenant would be no more, yet God's people would not miss it. -Jeremiah 3:16. 

In a vision given to the apostle John after the new covenant was established, the ark of the covenant appeared in heaven. (Revelation 11:15, 19) This symbolic Ark represents God's presence and his blessing on the new covenant. 

Did the Ark serve as a sort of magic charm?

No. Possessing the ark of the covenant did not guarantee success. For example, the Israelites had the Ark in their camp when battling the city of Ai, yet the suffered defeat because of one Israelite's unfaithfulness.  (Joshua 7:1-6)  Later, they were defeated by the Philistines despite taking the ark of the covenant to the battlefield. That conquest was due to the wickedness of the Israelite priests  Hophni and Phinehas.  (1 Samuel 2:12; 4:1-11) The Philistines captured the Ark in that battle, but God struck them with plagues until they returned it to Israel.  -1 Samuel 5:11-6:5. 

History of the ark of the covenant

Year
(B.C.E)     
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1513   Made by Bezalel and his assistants using materials contributed by the Israelites. -Exodus 25:1, 2; 37:1.

1512      Inaugurated by Moses along with the tabernacle and priesthood.  -Exodus 40:1-3, 9, 20, 21. 

              Moved to various locations. -Joshua 18:1; Judges 20:26, 27; 1 Samuel 1:24; 3:3; 6:11-14; 7:1, 2.
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After  1070   Brought to Jerusalem by King David. -2 Samuel 6:12.

1026               Moved into Solomon's temple in Jerusalem. -1 Kings 8:1, 6. 

642                  Returned to the temple by King Josiah. -2 Chronicles 35:3. 


Before 607     Apparently removed from the temple. It is not mentioned in the                                 inventories of the articles taken to Babylon when the temple was                                destroyed in 607 B.C.E. or of those articles later returned to 
                             Jerusalem. - 2 Kings 25:13-17; Ezra 1:7-11.

63                         Declared to be missing by Roman General Pompey when he                                         conquered Jerusalem and inspected the Most Holy of the                                              temple.


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