by Belo Alvaran
This exposition is addressed solely to the members of the Worldwide Church of God!
The sixth (6th) angle that we shall view ourselves from against the plummet of Zerubbabel is our role in God’s scheme of things, and that is, we are the hands of Zerubbabel. Probably not many members of the Church of God have even looked at themselves from this angle.
We promised you seven angles, one each for the seven eyes of the LORD in Zech 4:10, but we have delivered only five in a previous article.
Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong had made allusions in his writings that he was the antitype of Zerubbabel. According to him, Zerubbabel was merely a type or forerunner in what he called “Principle of Duality in Prophecy.” Is there really such a thing as duality in prophecy? Assuming there is, what difference would it make to God’s Plan in general and to our calling in particular?
We will verify his claim in this exposition and, in the process, we will also find out what the immediate future holds for us Church of God members taking the Principle of Duality in Prophecy as our guide.
To begin with, let us look up the words “type” and “anti-type”. The fastest way to do that is to click the computer built-in thesaurus. According to Microsoft programmers, a “type” means “an event, figure, or sign taken as foreshadowing something in the future” while an “antitype” means “later of an associated Biblical pair; somebody or something seen as being foreshadowed by or having striking similarities to an earlier person or thing (type) in the Bible”.
These terms “type” and “antitype” are the main elements of Mr. Armstrong’s Principle of Duality doctrine. Here is an excerpt from Mr. Armstrong’s booklet Proof of the Bible:
“There is a principle of duality in…most prophecies, — a type and antitype…Almost no one understands this type and antitype, this duality in the prophecies. You can’t understand prophecy unless you understand it. That is one of the vital keys to Bible knowledge.”
Here is another quote from his article “Why Prophecy?” printed in the June 1960 issue of The Plain Truth:
“Prophecy is DUAL! Notice the THEME of duality running throughout the Bible. There was the first man Adam, and the second Adam, who was Christ (I Cor. 15:45-47). There is the Old Testament, and the New Testament. There was the Old Jerusalem and a new heavenly Jerusalem.”
Here is another quote from Mr. Armstrong’s Divorce and Remarriage booklet:
“[A] type cannot be the type unless CONSISTENT with the antitype.”
Question: Is the Principle of Duality biblical? Let the Apostle Paul answer that:
1Cor 10:11 (KJV, Paul speaking to Gentile converts in Corinth) Now all these things happened unto them (ancient Israelites) for ensamples (margin: types): and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. {ensamples: or, types}
Clearly, Mr. Armstrong’s doctrine has Biblical basis. And clearly, according to Paul, our types were the Israelites. We are therefore modern antitypes of ancient types.
Note that the history of the Israelites was written for our admonition. Admonition means caution or warning. What are we being warned about? From all indications, we are being warned that history, which is fulfilled prophecy, repeats itself — for our guidance and, more important, we are being warned about not making the same mistakes that the Israelites had made which was the reason God had caused them to be recorded.
Those in the teaching profession will agree that repetition is an effective teaching tool. Our loving Father has not left us to write our own history. The Bible is a written history – which is fulfilled prophecy, and prophecy — which is history written in advance. Our Father caused the Bible to be written for our guidance.
Psal 119:105 (KJV) Your word [is] a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
2Tim 3:16 (KJV) All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
The Principle of Duality therefore is an integral part of God’s Plan designed to make us masters of history. For one thing, mastery of the past will certainly keep us from being “tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the sleight of men” (Ephe 4:14). Those who have seen the film DéjàVu (French word meaning “already seen”) featuring Denzel Washington would know the benefits of knowing what happened in the past and avoiding its pitfalls during the repetition.
We are therefore admonished to know our “types.” As Temple workers, our types are the workers of Zerubbabel. We will see in this article that the earlier Temple construction work of the Zerubbabel-led Jewish contingent is now being repeated in the Church of God and that knowing the work of Zerubbabel will enable us to dispel the many wrong notions and cleanse our minds of the not-a-few strange doctrines being peddled by self-styled leaders in various Church of God splinter groups.
Let us now look at the various accounts on that man Zerubbabel and his followers, their commission, their supporters, their adversaries, their shortfalls and their accomplishments to see what admonitions they could offer.
For a start, let’s review the writings of Mr. Armstrong on the history of the Church of God during his watch. Then let us compare it with the history of the Temple workers during the time of Zerubbabel to see the important dualities. Here’s what Mr. Armstrong said in his Co-Worker Letter dated March 19, 1981:
“I have shown you that the book of Haggai is a PROPHECY. Zerubbabel’s temple, to which Jesus came at His first coming, was a TYPE of the SPIRITUAL TEMPLE (God’s CHURCH) to which, in its resurrected GLORIFIED state, it will be the GLORIOUS TEMPLE to which Christ will come SOON NOW IN OUR TIME.
“Zerubbabel, therefore, was the typical forerunner of one Christ would use to build that GLORIFIED SPIRITUAL TEMPLE — God’s Church of this END TIME.
“In Zechariah 4:6 and 9, God says of this former type: “This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power (humanly), but by MY SPIRIT, said the Lord of hosts.” In Revelation 3:8, Christ says of the leader of today’s Church, “I know your works; behold I have set before you an open door, and no man can shut it: for you have a little strength (only a little strength humanly), and has kept my word, and have not denied my name.” This Work in our day has not been done by human strength or power, but by FAITH and the POWER OF GOD’S SPIRIT.
“Further, “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house (the first temple); his hands shall also FINISH IT!” So far as I know, GOD HAS NOT RAISED UP ANYONE ELSE TO FINISH THIS WORK HE HAS USED ME IN DOING!” (End of quote)
Questions: If Zerubbabel was a type, was Mr. Armstrong INDEED his antitype? Did Zerubbabel’s hands finish what his hands started to do, and did Mr. Armstrong’s hands finish what his hands started to do? We will find that out. At the same time, we will identify the recognizable dualities between the two Zerubbabels.
Let’s begin:
Duality No. 1: God raised the spirit of Zerubbabel and that of his workers. Those workers were individually “called” by God specifically to build His physical House with Zerubbabel as Construction Foreman.
Ezra 1:1 (KJV) Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord through Jeremiah might be fulfilled, THE LORD STIRRED UP THE SPIRIT OF CYRUS KING OF PERSIA, that he made a proclamation throughout his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, Thus said Cyrus king of Persia, The Lord of heaven has given me all the kingdoms of the earth: and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah… (3) Who is there among you of all his people? His God be with him [and indeed God was with them] and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the Lord God of Israel, he is the God which is in Jerusalem…. (5) Then rose up the CHIEF [Heb.rosh, item 7218 in Strong’s, means to shake the head, i.e., someone who can say yes or no for the group] of the fathers of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests (the three tribes that comprise the House of Judah, 1Kings 12:21), with all them WHOSE SPIRIT GOD HAS RAISED to go up to build the House of the Lord which is in Jerusalem…
Similarly, God also raised the spirit of Mr. Armstrong and those of his workers, who are us. We were individually called by God the Father to build His House.
Ephe 1:3 (KJV) Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who had blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly [places] in Christ: 4 According as he had chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
As Mr. Armstrong had said many times, God is building “His House”, i.e., His Family. To remind ourselves of God’s calling, here are Restored Truths Nos. 9 and 3 as printed in the August 25, 1986 Worldwide News:
9) Only those whom God the Father calls and draws to Him can be converted now …Only those God chooses and calls now can come in and become part of (God’s Family)…
3) The purpose of God, that we are going to be born of God and become God. God is reproducing Himself…
Those who doubt the words of Mr. Armstrong, here is the scripture showing God’s plan for mankind which God is pursuing in two phases:
Gene 1:26 (KJV) And God said, Let us make man in our image (clay models, phase 1), after our likeness (spirit beings, phase 2):
Duality No. 2: Zerubbabel did have adversaries, so did Mr. Armstrong:
For Temple workers, there can only be few dull moments, if any. Let’s turn to Ezra 4:4 to see what happened to Zerubbabel’s workers:
Ezra 4:4 (KJV) ” …the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building, 5 and hired counselors against them to frustrate their purpose all the days of CYRUS KING OF PERSIA, even until the reign of DARIUS KING OF PERSIA. 6 and in the reign of AHASUERUS…7 and in the days of ARTAXERXES…
Remember these four Persian kings because their reign will determine the LENGTH OF TIME THE TEMPLE WAS BEING BUILT.
Let us jump to Ezra 5 to see how the people of the land “weaken the hands” of the Temple workers. By this time King Cyrus had been succeeded by King Darius, with at least two less-known kings in-between them.
Ezra 5:2 (KJV) Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God which [is] at Jerusalem…
3 At the same time (when King Darius became king) came to them Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shetharboznai, and their companions, and said thus unto them, Who has commanded you to build this house, and to make up this wall?
Tatnai, identified in Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, item 8674, as a Persian officer in Samaria (he was a Samaritan, not Israelite, brought there earlier by the Assyrian King Shalmaneser, 2Kings 18:9), the one actively opposed to the Temple construction. He was supported by Shetharboznai, and the Aparsachites his companions. These were merely “types” and, as such, they surely had “antitypes” in Mr. Armstrong’s day. Here was what happened to the Work under the leadership of Mr. Armstrong as detailed in his Co-Worker Letter dated January 3, 1980:
“On January 3rd, 1979…without the legally required prior notice or warning, an armed task force swooped down in a massive surprise attack, in utter violation of the Constitution of the United States, on the headquarters complex of the Worldwide Church of God, Ambassador College, The PLAIN TRUTH and other publications, and the Ambassador International Cultural Foundation in Pasadena, California.
“It illegally and forcibly assaulted, seized possession of and took over control of this long-established Church, College, publications and Foundation.
…“The secretly court-appointed RECEIVER, without a shred of evidence, but on the trumped-up ridiculously false allegations of SIX EXPELLED FORMER MEMBERS, came with an armed task force to take over $80 million worth of headquarters property (including the most beautiful campus in America).” (End of quotes)
The details of what happened could be gleaned from the transcripts of an interview between Messrs. Stanley Rader and Mike Wallace of CBS in his “60 Minutes” TV show as published by Mr. Armstrong himself in his co-worker letter dated April 16, 1979:
MIKE WALLACE INTERVIEW WITH STANLEY RADER, FEBRUARY 7, 1979
S. RADER’S OFFICE, ALLAN BROWNE ALSO PRESENT
ORIGINAL TAPING
WALLACE: Mr. Rader, why is the Worldwide Church of God apparently in such turmoil right now?
RADER: Well, I don’t really feel that the Church itself is in turmoil. I think that the State of California has brought an unjustified legal action against the Church that has caused us some difficulty.
WALLACE: Why would the State of California be interested in causing trouble, if you will, for the Worldwide Church of God – you do good work?
RADER: Of course we do. And that’s what makes their action so unconscionable. But, you must look at the composite, shall we say, picture at this time. You not only have the State of California acting through the Deputy Attorney General but you have a small group of dissenters who would like to change the government of the Church from a hierarchical system to something like a congregational system. Then you have some people such as the plaintiff’s lawyer and others who would like to be receiver who are in it strictly to make money.
Note that a Deputy Attorney General, identified later as Lawrence Tapper, in the State of California was the one behind the prosecution of the Worldwide Church of God in Mr. Armstrong’s day. The Deputy Attorney General therefore was Tatnai’s antitype. Let the interview continue:
WALLACE: The receiver is in it to make money?
RADER: The whole receivership business is a money-making business. They are the vultures of the economic world.
WALLACE: Wait a second. About whom are you speaking specifically?
RADER: I’m talking about the receiver.
WALLACE: Judge Steven Weisman, who just resigned.
RADER: Judge Steven Weisman who just resigned (WALLACE: As receiver?) as receiver was what we considered from a Church standpoint as an abomination, but besides that, he was an economic vulture. He came in here and the first thing he did is he took $150,000 of our tithes and put it into his own pocketbook.
WALLACE: Well, that at the rate of $150 an hour, I believe, (RADER: That’s right.) he was appointed by the court, he didn’t just come in on his own free will and accord.
RADER: No, but he was hand-picked, hand-picked.
WALLACE: By?
RADER: By plaintiff’s counsel. Hand-picked.
WALLACE: And when you say, plaintiff’s counsel, the Deputy Attorney General, Mr. (Lawrence) Tapper and Hillel Chodos, who was deputized as an Attorney General.
BROWNE: Right.
Please note further that there were actually two Deputy Attorneys General: LAWRENCE TAPPER and HILLEL CHODOS. During Zerubbabel’s day, there were also two active officers, namely, Tatnai and Shetharboznai. There was a group of dissidents with Tapper and Chodos. There was also a group of Apharsachites with Tatnai and Shetharboznai.
Ezra 5:6 (KJV) The copy of the letter that Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shetharboznai, and his companions the Apharsachites, which [were] on this side the river, sent unto Darius the king:
Note: According to Thayer’s Concordance, the word Apharsachites means, among others, “causers of division”! Dissidents are also causers of division. Clearly, the “types” are consistent with the “antitypes”!
Let Mr. Rader continue:
RADER: Well, Mr. Tapper would have to approve, it appears, Mr. Weisman as the receiver. Mr. Chodos, on the other hand, undoubtedly, picked him deliberately out of all the other possible receivers.
WALLACE: Ah! Weisman (RADER: Weisman.) for the purpose of?
RADER: Perhaps helping Mr. Weisman. Mr. Weisman is a retired judge, had never had a receivership before, had been seeking work of this kind for some time in the community.
WALLACE: Are you suggesting that Tapper, Chodos, Weisman, are in cahoots, if you will, to milk the Worldwide Church of God, for their own benefit?
RADER: I am more than suggesting, I’m stating it emphatically so no one can misunderstand it.
Let’s skip some details:
WALLACE: Well, now [there are] some people who are not in the so-called dissidents group, who are also disenchanted, who say, ‘Why don’t we simply open up our books, we have nothing to hide.’
RADER: I say that. And I’m certainly not a dissident. I’ve opened up the books of this organization eight separate times to the Internal Revenue Service — eight separate times — and received a complete bill of health.
Let’s skip a few lines.
WALLACE: So you are satisfied that the…there are no financial improprieties (RADER: None.) involved.
RADER: It’s a red herring (i.e., a trick or ploy). A total red herring. And everyone who has been responsible for bringing those false allegations will rue the day that they did.
WALLACE: But, I have here a press release saying on January 3, 1979, signed by Mr. Armstrong, which says if any improprieties have existed in either institution — that’s the Church of God or Ambassador College — ‘I want them to be known and I will take every effort to cooperate with the Attorney General’s office. We are an institution of forty-six years standing …’
RADER: Exactly, and I will state the very same words again and I have shouted them practically from the rooftops and I have laid the gauntlet down at the Attorney General’s feet…(due to lack of space, some minor details have been omitted here)…I welcome [an] investigatory agency of the government as long as they keep their hands and their feet off the Church property. They have no right to try to run this Church and to take the property from the people and from God … THE NEXT DAY, THEY CAME BACK AND THE RECEIVER IN FRONT OF MR. ANTION AND IN FRONT OF MR. COLE AND IN FRONT OF OTHER BRETHREN…FIRED MR. ARMSTRONG, (AND) APPOINTED WAYNE COLE AS THE NEW HEAD OF THIS CHURCH…” (End of quotes.)
The conclusion is undeniable: Wayne Cole was one of the modern Apharsachites! According to researchers, Zerubbabel’s work encountered almost incessant opposition! The workers, however, were persistent:
Duality No. 3: God’s eyes were on the elders of the Jews. Note the reaction of God and those of Zerubbabel’s workers to Tatnai’s interrogation:
Ezra 5:5 (KJV) But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, that they could not cause them to cease…
Please note the phrase ‘elders of the Jews’. The word elders, Heb. seeb, defined under items 7867 and 7868 in Strong’s, means to become AGED, to be GREYHEADED. They were senior citizens, not priests. Today, we also have elders who are not ministers. These are the mature ones mentioned in Isa.28:9. Let’s turn there:
Isa.28:9 (KJV) Whom shall he [God] teach knowledge? And whom shall he make to understand doctrine? Them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.
To be weaned from milk and drawn from the breasts means to be mature, both physically and spiritually. These are the elders. Have we been weaned from milk? Then we are the antitype elders. If we follow our types, then we cannot cease from building the temple.
Let’s continue with Ezra’s account to see what Tatnai and his companions did and whether or not the opposition prospered:
Ezra5:6 The copy of the letter that Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shetharboznai, and his companions the Apharsachites, which [were] on this side the river, sent unto Darius the king:
This letter was in response to the King’s query, who reportedly heard about the “commotion” in Judaea:
7 They sent a letter unto (King Darius), wherein was written thus:
“Unto Darius the king, all peace
“8 Be it known unto the king, that we went into the province of Judea, to the house of the great God, which is builded with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls, and this work goes fast on, and prospers in their hands.
“9 Then asked we those elders, [and] said unto them thus, Who commanded you to build this house, and to make up these walls? 10 We asked their names also, to certify you, that we might write the names of the men that [were] the chief of them.
“11 And thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and build the house that was builded these many years ago, which a great king of Israel builded and set up. 12 But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven unto wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried the people away into Babylon.
“13 But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon [the same] king Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God. 14 And the vessels also of gold and silver of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that [was] in Jerusalem, and brought them into the temple of Babylon, those did Cyrus the king take out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered unto [one], whose name [was] SHESHBAZZAR, whom he had made governor; {governor: or, deputy, i.e., Deputy for King Cyrus}
SHESHBAZZAR, item 8339 in Strong’s, was ZERUBBABEL’s Persian name.
“15 And (King Cyrus) said unto (Sheshbazzar), Take these vessels, go, carry them into the temple that [is] in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be builded in its place.
16 Then came the same Sheshbazzar [and] laid the FOUNDATION of the house of God which [is] in Jerusalem: and since that time even until now (after 30 years) had it been in building, and [yet] IT IS NOT FINISHED.
Here it is clear in Tatnai’s report to the King that at the time of his writing, ZERUBBAEL HAD LAID ONLY THE FOUNDATION OF THE TEMPLE. Based on the number of years King Cyrus and his successors had reigned, Zerubbabel and his workers had been there for around 37-40 years!
Let Tatnai continue:
“17 Now therefore, if [it seems] good to the king, let there be search made in the king’s treasure house, which [is] there at Babylon, whether it be [so], that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.
(Sgd. Tatnai,
Governor Beyond the River)
Here it is clear in Tatnai’s letter to the King that at the time of his writing, Zerubbabel had laid only the foundation of the temple. This confirms Zechariah’s account:
It could be surmised that, had the decree of King Cyrus not been found, Tatnai’s next step would be to request the king to issue a “restraining order” to stop the Temple construction. That would have the effect of “immobilizing” Zerubbabel and his men. The Receiver also tried to “immobilize” Mr. Armstrong and the entire ministry by “firing” him and appointing Wayne Cole while searching Church records for any wrongdoing.
King Darius responded by authorizing a search at the archives in Babylon:
Ezra 6:1 Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the rolls, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon. 2 And there was found at Achmetha (Archives), in the palace that [is] in the province of the Medes, a roll, and therein [was] a record thus written: 3 In the first year of Cyrus the king [the same] Cyrus the king made a decree [concerning] the house of God at Jerusalem, Let the house be builded, the place where they offered sacrifices, and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid; the height thereof threescore cubits, [and] the breadth thereof threescore cubits; 4 [With] three rows of great stones, and a row of new timber [the old timber had all decayed, but the stones that form the foundation were reusable]: and let the expenses be given out of the king’s house: 5 And also let the golden and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which [is] at Jerusalem, and brought unto Babylon, be restored, and brought again unto the temple which [is] at Jerusalem, [every one] to his place, and place [them] in the house of God.
Duality No. 4: Gold and silver, and the doctrines of God, don’t change. Note that King Cyrus gave the golden and silver furnishings of Solomon’s Temple back to Zerubbabel for reuse in the new Temple.
Similarly, God simply caused His doctrines to be restored in His spiritual Temple through Mr. Armstrong. Those doctrines were the “gold tried in the fire” that God counseled the Laodiceans to buy, but they never did:
Reve 3:18 (KJV, Jesus speaking to his messenger to the Church of the Laodiceans) I counsel you to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that you may be rich…
Prov 25:11 (KJV) A word fitly spoken [is like] apples of gold in pictures of silver. (The DOCTRINES OF GOD always fit for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 2Tim 3:16!)
After verification, and finding that Zerubbabel’s work had authority from his predecessor, King Darius issued the following order:
Ezra 6:6 Now [therefore], Tatnai, governor beyond the river, Shetharboznai, and your companions the Apharsachites, which [are] beyond the river, BE YOU FAR FROM THENCE: 7 Let the work of this house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of God in his place.
Very clearly, Tatnai lost in his efforts to block the temple reconstruction. Most embarrassing, he and his companions were barred from treading the Temple premises.
Now, let Mr. Armstrong describe what happened to the modern “opposition” in his Co-Worker Letter dated January 3, 1980:
“Now, after ONE YEAR, not a particle of wrongdoing of any kind has been found. Meanwhile Church members filled the campus buildings — about 5,000 members, including women with children and babies, so the receiver could no longer gain entrance – unless by force, which he did not choose to use. The receiver resigned, and by a bond supplied by many local members, the receivership was side-tracked, while the case continues on the long drawn-out court procedures, as our attorneys seek to get it up to the state Supreme Court and then to the United States Supreme Court.
“Meanwhile, God had led me, without my realizing His hand in it, to take a residence in Tucson, Arizona, the year before. When I sent a letter to members and regular contributors requesting emergency funds for legal expenses to free us from the receivership, on January 4th, the receiver managed to stop the letter from going out at the Pasadena Post Office. Consequently I have incorporated in this state as a corporation sole, as custodian for our organizations. I have moved the necessary portion of our Mail Processing Department here, and opened a Mail Processing office in Tucson to receive and process mail, and protect incoming funds in local banks in Tucson.
“Since we put up the bond, the court has not appointed any further receivers. The case is now, as it were, shoved on the back burner. We are thus enabled to carry on God’s Work, although until a higher court discharges this whole thing, the case hangs over our heads.
In short, the “Receiver” failed, to his shame, to stop the Work of God led by Mr. Armstrong, just as Tatnai failed to stop the work at the Temple led by Zerubbabel.
Let’s see further what happened to Zerubabbel. The construction work at the Temple did not proceed smoothly, not only because of the opposition, but also due to ‘financial constraints’. King Darius also addressed that problem in his decree:
KING DARIUS ISSUES A DECREE
Ezra 6:8 Moreover I make a decree what you (Tatnai) shall do to the elders of these Jews for the building of this house of God: that of the king’s goods, [even] of the tribute (taxes) beyond the river, forthwith expenses be given unto these men, that they be not hindered. (Clearly, the cause of delay in Temple reconstruction was lack of funds.) 9 And that which they have need of, both young bullocks, and rams, and lambs, for the burnt offerings of the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the appointment of the priests which [are] at Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day without fail:
The King’s money came from the people’s taxes. Taxes were the equivalent of tithes during WCG days. Zerubbabel’s workers themselves gave donations.
Let’s rewind a little to Ezra 3:
Ezra 3:7 (KJV) They (the workers of Zerubbabel in Jerusalem) gave money also unto the masons, and to the carpenters; and meat, and drink, and oil, unto them of Zidon, and to them of Tyre, to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea of Joppa, according to the grant that they had of Cyrus king of Persia.
Duality No. 5: King Darius financed the work of Zerubbbel just as our King in Heaven financed the Temple construction from the people’s tithes.
Let Mr. Armstrong continue with his Co-Worker Letter dated January 3, 1980:
“Actually, God has blessed us so that the income for carrying on the Work of God has continued, and has shown enough increase through 1979 to offset inflation…
“So the living Jesus Christ has protected God’s Work completely, and given it great advances, in spite of the state’s attack. The state’s lawsuit is actually a matter of “WHO is LORD—Caesar or CHRIST?” The Constitution gives the church separation from the state—and so the issue eventually must be decided.
“It has been a momentous decade—that of the 70s.”(End of quotes.)
Let King Darius conclude his decree:
Ezra 6:12 And the God that has caused his name to dwell there destroy all kings and people, that shall put to their hand to alter [and] to destroy this house of God which [is] at Jerusalem. I Darius have made a decree; let it be done with speed.
13 Then Tatnai, governor on this side the river, Shetharboznai, and their companions, according to that which Darius the king had sent, so they did speedily.
Duality no. 6: God relieves Zerubbabel. After King Darius overruled Tatnai’s legal maneuverings, something happened to the workers. Zerubbabel’s men suddenly stopped working at the Temple and stayed in temporary dwellings or “cieled houses”. We can get a glimpse of what happened in the writings of Haggai the prophet. In Haggai 1:4, God asked the workers,
Hagg 1:4 (KJV) Is it time for you, o you, to dwell in your cieled houses and this House (the Temple) lies in waste?
Cieled, item 5603 in Strong’s, Heb. Safan in Hebrew, means “roof to hide, to reserve, cover, seated”. The crew apparently erected sheds in their camps and stayed there. Remember that the workers of Zerubbabel were scattered, some in Jerusalem, some in Zidon, and some in Tyre. The sheds were meant for the workers to sit under, not to live in luxury homes, as some Bible commentators suggested.
Why they stayed in sheds was not clear. The Bible, and ancient Jewish writers like Josephus, did not give details of what happened. Indications were that Zerubbabel was taken away. Note that as punishment for the dilly-dallying workers, God called for a severe drought so that food and water were in short supply.
Hagg 1:11 (KJV) And I (God) called for a drought upon the land, and upon the mountains, and upon the corn, and upon the new wine, and upon the oil, and upon that which the ground bringeth forth, and upon men, and upon cattle, and upon all the labour of the hands.
Note that the drought was “upon all the labour of the hands”. This covers all forms of activities, from blue collar to white collar jobs! This means economic crisis! The reason for the drought was in verse 9:
9 You looked for much, and, lo, it came to little. And when you brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? said the Lord of hosts. Because of mine house that is waste, and you run every man unto his own (ceiled) house.”
Duality No. 7: Church of God members are now in a situation similar to what the workers of Zerubbabel went through: there are crises worldwide, and we are gathered under the roofs of various splinter groups.
Duality No. 8: During the time of Moses, God did not speak to the people, but to Moses only, thus establishing Moses’ leadership over the people.
Exod 19:9 (KJV) And the LORD said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto you in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and believe you forever.
In the latter part of Zerubbabel’s work, God addressed the people directly, indicating that God asserted His leadership over them and that He had taken over the command from Zerubbabel.
Hagg 1:3 (KJV) Then came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet, saying, 4 [Is it] time for you, O you (workers), to dwell in your cieled houses, and this House [lies] waste?
This was a dressing down! Note that God was not addressing Zerubabbel but all the workers.
Duality No. 9: ZERUBBABEL FAILS TO FINISH THE TEMPLE. God’s statement in Zechariah 4:9 that said: “The hands of Zerubabbel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it” was therefore not a compliment, but more of a chastisement! Now we know what happened to Zerubbabel: he never finished the Temple — God took over from Zerubbabel the supervision over its construction.
That action of God was a precedent, a TYPE! After the death of Mr. Armstrong, following the duality principle, God also took over the supervision over the construction of His spiritual Temple. This is important to remember: God is now the Construction Foreman at His Temple, not any of Mr. Armstrong’s self-appointed successors.
Zech 6:12 (KJV) …Thus speaks the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name [is] The BRANCH…13 …He (not Zerubbabel nor his antitype) shall build the Temple of the LORD…
Duality No. 10: Like Zerubbabel’s volunteer workers, we are a crew of volunteers. As in Zerubbabel’s time, there is now a drought in the land. Like the workers of Zerubbabel, we should be a self-help group, which is a characteristic of Philadelphians.
God issues orders. Speaking to Zerubbabel’s men, God told them:
Hagg 1:8 (KJV) Go to the mountains and bring wood, and build the house…
Note that God issued a direct command! In verse 13, He told the workers that “I am with you” indicating He was now their immediate supervisor:
Hagg 1:13 (KJV) Then spoke Haggai the LORD’S messenger in the LORD’S message unto the people (not to Zerubbabel) saying, I [am] with you, said the LORD.
In short, God roused them up from their sheds and practically drove them back to work. Let’s pick up the continuation of the story in Ezra 6:14:
Ezra 6:14 (KJV) And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they BUILDED, AND FINISHED [IT], according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia. {commandment: Chaldee, decree}
NOTE THAT THE NAME OF ZERUBBABEL HAD BEEN OMITTED IN THIS VERSE. Why, because God was the one in command. Similarly, we must realize that God is now in command over us. We could only surmise that Zerubbabel died without seeing his work to completion considering that he must have been middle-aged to be appointed governor by the time he returned to Jerusalem and, his work, from the time of King Cyrus up to King Darius, lasted for approximately 44 years!
We don’t need the two prophets because their words were already written in the Bible for us to read!
15 And this house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king.
Thus ended the work on the temple that was started by the “hands” of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel. The point to remember is: Zerubbabel and his “hands” did lay the foundation of the temple, and his “hands” did finish it, but Zerubbabel himself was relieved by God.
Duality No. 11: We are the ‘HANDS OF ZERUBBABEL’. The word “hands” in Zech.4:9 is worth looking up. The Hebrew word used is “yad”, item 3027 in Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, which means an open hand, indicating among others, “power, direction, both near and far, charge, custody, fellowship, handiwork, ministry”. Those of us who are holding fast the teachings of Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong and keeping his charge are his handiwork, his fellowship, and his ministry! The original Zerubbabel did not do the work alone; the Jews — “his hands” — helped him. We are spiritual Jews. We are therefore “the hands” of Zerubbabel. And if we are “hands” then we need to build the temple!
Duality no. 12: God commanded Zerubbabel’s workers to bring wood. Since they were our types, then THEIR MANDATE IS NOW OUR MANDATE so that today, we are also commanded to bring wood. The word “wood” in Haggai 1:8 quoted above, Heb. ets, item 6068 in Strong’s, means tree, timber. The timbers used in the Temple were cedars of Lebanon. They were used as pillars. We are therefore commanded to produce pillars for the Temple. How? By overcoming:
Reve 3:12 (KJV) Him that overcomes will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, [which is] new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God: and [I will write upon him] my new name.
As pillars, we have to measure up to the “stature and fullness of Christ” (Eph 4:13). Pillars are steady. They cannot be “carried about with every wind of doctrine”:
Ephe 4:13 (KJV) Till we all come in (into) the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature (Strong’s: adult age) of the fullness of Christ: {in: or, into} {stature: or, age}14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men…
To summarize at this point, we have established the following:
- There is indeed a Principle of Duality in Prophecy;
- Prophecy is history written in advance, while history is fulfilled prophecy;
- We are expected to be masters of the history of and prophecy for the Israelites and to avoid their mistakes;
- We are the “hands of Zerubbabel” and that we should not cease from building the spiritual Temple of God;
- After spending our younger days under the tutelage of Mr. Armstrong, we are now the elders of spiritual Jews. No one should be able to cause us to cease in this task of Temple building. What we are building is holy, righteous character that makes us reliable Temple pillars. And God is with us as He was with our types.
After knowing the above dualities in prophecy, the “testimony of Jesus Christ” which is the “spirit of prophecy” has never been more relevant:
Reve 19:10 (KJV) And I (John) fell at his (i.e., the angel’s) feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See [you do it] not: I am your fellowservant, and of your brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
In the context of all that we have discussed, having the “testimony of Jesus” therefore simply means having extensive knowledge of the Bible where God’s prophecies are written. We are expected to “show ourselves approved unto God” through our own Bible study, not through the spoon-feeding of ministers:
2Tim 2:15 (KJV) Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Those being spoon-fed by self-styled shepherds will be well advised to heed God’s statements in Haggai:
Hagg 1:9 (KJV) You looked for much, and, lo, [it came] to little; and when you brought [it] home, I did blow upon it (margin: blow it away). Why? said the LORD of hosts. Because of mine house that [is] waste, and you run every man unto his own house (ceiled house or shed in v. 4) 10 Therefore the heaven over you is stayed from dew, and the earth is stayed [from] her fruit. 11 And I called for a drought upon the land (land, Heb. erets, means the earth) and upon the mountains, and upon the corn, and upon the new wine, and upon the oil, and upon [that] which the ground brings forth, and upon men, and upon cattle, and upon all the labor of the hands.
Duality No. 13: The drought in Haggai’s time was apparently a combination of natural and man-made disasters. There is no mistaking that its antitype today is the combined global warming and financial meltdown and man’s experiments in viruses! It can be said therefore that God has called for a drought today because there are many of us sitting, nay, sleeping, under ceiled houses in the splinter groups.
CONCLUSION: This worldwide crisis is unmistakably meant for us. God is rousing us from slumber in ceiled houses in various splinter groups. Those ceiled houses are not clean:
Isai 28:7 (KJV) …the priest (or minister) and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble [in] judgment. 8 For ALL tables are full of vomit [and] filthiness, [so that THERE IS] NO PLACE [CLEAN].
We are supposed to cleanse ourselves by getting out in the sun and working out our own salvation:
Isai 16:3 (KJV) Take counsel, execute judgment; make your shadow as the night in the midst of the noonday (how? By coming out of ceiled houses!)…
Phil 2:12 (KJV) Wherefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
Duality No. 14: The Jews resorted to synagogues, the equivalent of home churches, after the destruction of Solomon’s Temple. The synagogue was where Christ found them the first time He came while Zerubbbel’s temple was still standing.
Our spiritual Temple, the Church of God, is now destroyed. Following our type, we need to organize into home churches, and there study the bible intensively until Christ comes back to make us Temple pillars. Like pillars still in storage, we need to be constantly sprinkled with mist or soaked in water to prevent the growth of molds.
Whether we like it or not, the community lockdowns imposed in many countries are, from all indications, God’s way of compelling us to form home churches. The home church is the place for soaking in the word of God. It is the proper storage place for pillars – the true spiritual Jews! Let us use our time wisely while in quarantine!
Watch for our articles on God’s covenant with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the Israelites to be serialized on this website. They contain good materials for our review course!
