When we look at history we often find more questions than answers. One question I had took several weeks of searching to find what I think is the correct answer. During the second temple period where was the blood of the red heifer and the goat sprinkled since there was no ark in the Holy of Holies? In that space there was a foundation stone, a slightly raised stone where the ark would have been. The High Priest would have stood in the proper place and he then sprinkled the blood where the ark would have been. Although there was no mercy seat, the act of continued faithfulness was accepted by our Creator, displaying His ultimate mercy.