Standard Flag Ensign
PEGGY's STUDY [HERE]
Dual Plan
"And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse (the branch of David), which shall stand for an ensign of the people, to it shall the Gentiles seek; and his rest shall be glorious. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people And he shall set up an ensign for the nations and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth." (Is. 11: 10 12.)
The ensign signifies a national standard, similar to the emblems which constitute the flags of the different nations. That ensign will be raised in honour of the heavenly King, and his people will gather around it as the people of a nation gather around the national emblems or colors.
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The Lord will make Zerubbabel a signet at the time he shakes heaven and earth. At what time will he shake heaven and earth? We find the answer in Hebr. 12: 25-29. He will do it when he overthrows the kingdom of Baal in order to establish the kingdom of the Messiah; he will speak from heaven with such a tremendous voice that heaven and earth will tremble. As the kingdoms of the nations still stand on the earth, we know that such a shaking has not occured yet. But we are nearing the time when the prophecy concerning the overthrow of the nations will unfold itself, in the way announced by the prophets. (See Zeph. 3: 8, etc.)
Who, then, is Zerubbabel? Zerubbabel was the leader in the movement of the two tribes out from the typical Babel. That movement was a typical movement—a shadow cast from the great movement out from the mystical Babel. Hence, Zerubbabel typified the leader of this final movement. Zerubbabel also built or worked on the temple at Jerusalem and his leadership constituted a prefigure of the movement now pending.
The name Zerub-Babel signifies a cherub in Babel. By comparing Zech. 4 with Rev. 11: 1-6, the prophetic signification of the name and the mission connected therewith becomes apparent. Concerning the great Babel-mountain, which includes all the kingdoms, the Lord says that before Zerubbabel it shall become a plain. (Zech. 4: 7.) This shows that the prophecy concerning the real or complete missign of Zerubbabel belongs to the time when the Messianic kingdom is to be set up.
The prophet shows further that Zerubbabel shall build the temple of the Lord by the power of the "seven," which are called "the eyes of the Lord." The figure seven belongs to the act of completion. By comparing Rev. 4: 5, we find that the same power is spoken of there and is called the "Seven Spirits of God"—the Spirit of God with sevenfold power.
The prophet is led onward, as it were, and finally the prophetic development presents itself before his mind as being represented by two beings, of whom the revealing angel says, "These are the two anointed ones that stand by the Lord of the whole earth." (Zech. 4: 9-14.) In John's vision, these two beings were also revealed in connection with the temple, and the Lord himself says of them: "These are the two olive trees (branches) and the two candlesticks (which the prophet. describes), standing before (or by) the God of the earth." (Rev. 11: 4.)
Thus, we see that the name Zerubbabel, in its prophetic signification, is applicable to these special witnesses of Jesus in the concluding movement. These two anointed (or children of oil) are also connected with the spiritual Mountain of Olives, from which the great spiritual (or personal) train starts on its way to the New Jerusalem. They give the midnight-cry and arouse the sleeping virgins with their trumpet-sound, "Behold, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him !" Then the oil-question arises, and the mass of inquirers and light-seekers form the mountain of the personal Olives.
The great train moves on and finally the people anticipate that the kingdom is about to become a reality. Such prophecies as Is. 52; Jer. 31: 1-11; Hosea 1: 10, 11; 3: 4, 5, etc., become fulfilled, and the people rejoice over the prosperous movement.
The candidates for the offices of priests and kings in the new kingdom develop during this wonderful progress; the hope runs high and the joy is great in the camp of the saints. The living temple is then built up of the children of faith, under the guidance of the two witnesses, into a powerful structure. Jubilee-songs are heard everywhere among the masses, and people gather around the standard of Zion from all parts of the earth.
But then comes the scene of dissappointment and confusion. The beast ascending from the bottomless abyss makes war against the two witnesses, overcomes and kills them. (Rev. 11: 7.) Then is fulfilled what the angel revealed to John:
XX. MICHAEL AND THE WAR IN HEAVEN
1. Michael, the Great Prince.
The name Michael means like God and it refers to one of the angels—an angel that leads the heavenly host in times of war. Undoubtedly it was the same angel who followed Israel on their way out of Egypt. God warned Moses to take heed to the angel's voice, "for my name is in him," he said. (Ex. 23: 21.) Joshua met him on the plain outside of Jericho. (Josh. 5: 13.) Now, this same angel will lead the heavenly host in the warfare against the nations when the seed of Jacob is on its way to the promised possession. He seems-to be the guardian angel and the representative of Israel as God's people. The prophet says:
"And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse (the branch of David), which shall stand for an
of the people, to it shall the Gentiles seek; and his rest shall be glorious. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people And he shall set up an ensign for the nations and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth." (Is. 11: 10 12.)
The ensign signifies a national standard, similar to the emblems which constitute the flags of the different nations. That ensign will be raised in honour of the heavenly King, and his people will gather around it as the people of a nation gather around the national emblems or colors.
The revealing angel, in referring Daniel to the closing up of the prophetic wonders, says:
"And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince, which standeth for the children of thy people; and there shall be a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation, even to that same time; and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book." (Dan. 12: 1.)
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Various Questions and Answers
#22 - 1925
#16 -1924
