Frank:
Regarding the mystery as to the whereabouts of the stones for the Third Temple, it was my first extended search effort when I got my first PC in 1996. I must have researched six months with little definitive results. I began to write different organizations such as: BAR - the Biblical Archeological Research Society, even the Massachusetts Grand Lodge of Freemasonry, all with little response. Most replies were "we don't know anything about what went on in 1967.
By the time the early 1990's rolled around it became obvious this had become a "state" secret. When 'Christianity Today' published the story in its August 4, 1967 issue, Israel had its enemies on the ropes from the six day war and any reference to the rebuilding of the Temple was not a matter of great secrecy. Israel was elated and the Muslims were in disarray. As the years dragged on after Rabin gave the Temple Mount back to its adversaries following the 1972 war, things went dark. The low-key mum's the word prevailed so as not to antagonize the Muslims and Palestinians.
My best guess is the stones are sitting in one of the underground air bases. The IDF has seventeen airbases, several with underground tarmacs. What better location than to hide stones in a secure underground air force base. It is out of sight and view of reconnaissance satellites. IDF F-16s have a light on the cockpit panels that goes green as they clear the exit where the exposed runway begins. When the light goes green in that split second, the pilots and their F-16's go vertical. But this is strictly a guess on my part.
Like you, I believe the Ark of the Covenant is somewhere close by to the Dome of the Spirits. I have a DVD that Michael Rood did an interesting explanation on Herod's Temple showing how the Temple priests spirited away the Ark of the Covenant. The two pillars outside were filled with sand and were an integral intricate system of double-reverse counter-lever. From the dumb-elevator the Ark was taken to a cavern away from the Temple above. According to Ron Wyatt and other sources, the Ark and the Mercy Seat were placed in a cave beneath Golgotha above where Jesus Christ was crucified. The blood dripped down his legs onto the cross vertical portion into the stone socket that held the stone. When the Lord died, the ground quaked, causing a fissure in the socket holding the cross and the porous sand stone, and the blood dripped onto the Mercy Seat, I believe it was the right side and thus completed the symbolical meaning of the atonement "sprinkling the blood of the lamb" on the Holy of Holies - Ark of the Covenant, which completed the sacrificial atonement of the true Lamb of God.
Another source of this report was from the late Grant Jeffreys. At one point in my life, I was doing graduate work and employed as a store manager for FBS - Family Book Stores, later they changed their name to Family Christian Stores. Grant was in the Pittsburgh area on a book promotion tour and spent a day at my store. In our conversation time, I shared with him my experience of the "stones" in route by rail car to Israel.
Over the Memorial weekend I was talking to my oldest son, who used to go with me to the Pennsylvania Railroad yard in Pitcairn, PA to watch the morning railroad traffic. We were chatting about those days when he would stand on the front seat leaning on my shoulder (before the era of click it or ticket) and watching the trains at the busy yard. He reminded me of something that I did not mention in my post, that being each stone was spray-painted in light blue paint, an alpha-numerical symbol or marking on the top portion of the stones. I had completely forgotten that when I shared my experience in my post. When I photographed the rail cars with their loads of cut stones, we stood on an overhead bridge. He would watch through the iron railing openings as I would take pictures.
When the invaders came to steal the Temple treasure, the text says they found nothing. Michael Rood notes in his DVD that Scripture notes the length of the capitals and the columns are different in size. The reason being was that the cast bronze columns contained sand that activated the counter-lever system to lower the Ark of the Covenant and its table. I believe he said this is recorded in the Kings. I'm going to dig out the DVD and watch it again since it has been five years since I bought it. It was Grant Jeffrey's opinion that the golden menorah was taken back to Rome based on the engravings on the Arch of Titus. The Arch which stands in Rome pictures Roman soldiers carrying the Menorah following in 71 AD. The Arch was erected in 80 AD. He was firmly convinced that it was in the bowels of the Vatican's archives. Titus' Arch is a pretty good indicator Rome has the golden menorah. Google "Titus Arch" and you will find pictures of the engraved section showing the soldiers carrying the Menorah and its table base.
I'm of the view that it will not be long before the world will be awed by the unveiling of these religious treasures. The evidence supports the belief that the Ark itself is hidden today beneath the Temple Mount, where it's location is secure and monitored by the best that Diebold Security can offer.
The Vatican, the Jesuits, the Jews, the Masonic Lodge all want a Temple ASAP, each for slightly different reasons. The four named parties are for all intent and purpose the same Cabal, merely working their own script on the larger agenda, but functioning as so-called "independent" organizations.
The RCC will move its headquarters to Jerusalem, possibly as early as the beginning of the Tribulation. I monitor 12 global news sites, and scan or read about 1,200 news stories daily. I know that a lot of people don't want to hear about the building of a Third Temple, but the known evidence and facts are irrefutable. Architects and engineers are on public record the new temple can be built, dedicated, and begin animal sacrifice in 18-22 months.
There will be a Third Temple (Antichrist's) very soon, very soon. I have a 'Time' magazine article that I printed out on Memorial Day, entitled: "The Pope offered the parties a deal they can't turn down". Coming from 'Time' magazine there is a lot more to this story than what is reported!
God bless,
Pastor Bob