CHAPTER X
VESSELS
(ZECHARIAH, CHAPTER 12)
JEHOVAH is the Great Potter who prepares his vessels for his use. Some vessels honor him, while others, because of stubbornness and lawlessness, dishonor him. (Rom. 9: 21) One who is made a member of the royal house of Jehovah must be willingly submissive to the hand of the Lord, even as clay is submissive in the hand of the potter. (2 Tim. 2:19-21) A vessel is an implement, equipment or weapon prepared for use. "Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer. Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness." (Prov. 25:4,5) Jehovah's organization, built up and equipped, is an instrument, implement or weapon used to accomplish his purpose.
The twelfth chapter of Zechariah's prophecy deals with the prepared or equipped vessels of the Lord God and the use to which they are put. Says the prophet: "THE BURDEN OF THE WORD OF THE LORD FOR [A.R.V., CONCERNING] ISRAEL, SAITH THE LORD, WHICH STRETCHETH FORTH THE HEAVENS, AND LAYETH THE FOUNDATION OF THE EARTH, AND FORMETH THE SPIRIT OF MAN WITHIN HIM." (12:1) The word "burden" used in this text means "a weighty utterance" (Hebrew). According to Leeser it is "PROPHECY"; Rotherham,
"ORACLE," It is a grand and weighty prophecy given for the encouragement of the faithful remnant people of God in the last days. "THE HEAVENS" and "THE EARTH" here refer to the "new heavens" and "new earth", which Jehovah plants at the building up of Zion. — Isa. 51:16; Rev. 21:1.
In this prophecy Jehovah pictures "MAN" as an inanimate body, as Adam was when formed and before He breathed into him the breath of life; and now God is energizing it and making it live and act in harmony with him and his purpose. Such action was necessary to bring 'The valley of dry bones' and God's "two witnesses" to life and put them into service. (Ezekiel 37; Revelation 11) Since 1918 the Great Potter, Jehovah, has been at the temple in the representative capacity of Christ Jesus, and has been fashioning, molding and forming the proper spirit of love and of power and of a sound mind within his man, the remnant, while still in the flesh. (2 Tim. 1:7) He has been preparing the remnant as instruments or vessels for his use. In due time all who will get life on earth must be fashioned or molded by the Lord as vessels of less honor for his use.
Jerusalem restored, and the temple built up, represented God's organization. It was after Jerusalem and the temple were built up that Zechariah prophesied and said: "BEHOLD, I WILL MAKE JERUSALEM A CUP OF TREMBLING UNTO ALL THE PEOPLE [PEOPLES] ROUND ABOUT, WHEN THEY SHALL BE IN THE SIEGE BOTH AGAINST JUDAH, AND
AGAINST JERUSALEM." (12: 2) The prophecy here must refer to God's organization when he builds it up and appears in his glory. (Ps. 102:16) As "JERUSALEM" includes the remnant now on the earth, because they do God's work on earth, these are the only things in God's organization which the earthly nations or peoples can attack. Jehovah, as the Great Potter, says he will make his organization a "CUP OF TREMBLING [margin, POISON; Roth., REELING]". What God's organization is now dealing out and will make the nations drink will surely poison them and make them reel and slumber. His organization is the cup or vessel containing a strong, bitter and poisonous potion for Satan's crowd on the earth. The remnant now notify "ALL THE PEOPLES" of the cup that they are to drink, but the nations continue to prepare for the siege of war against God's organization. The remnant will not be terrified by the opposing forces and the blustering of the enemy, because the Lord says to them: "And in nothing terrified by your adversaries; which is to them an evident token of perdition [to themselves], but to you of salvation, and that of God." — Phil. 1:28.
The enemy makes war "BOTH AGAINST JUDAH AND AGAINST JERUSALEM": "AND ALSO AGAINST JUDAH, WHO WILL HAVE TO BE AT THE SIEGE AGAINST JERUSALEM." (Leeser) "JERUSALEM," as here used, meaning, of course, the new Jerusalem, applies more particularly to the invisible part of Jehovah's organization, that is, to Jesus and his resurrected body members. "JUDAH," being
merely the chief tribe from which the royal line is extracted, applies in this prophecy to the remnant, or earthly part of God's organization, which are the last members of The Christ on earth. In verse seven of this same chapter Judah is described as dwelling in tents, meaning, temporarily or in a transient condition outside of the city, that is to say, on earth and in the flesh, and in this condition performing their part in the war. From this prophecy it would appear that the faithful remnant must be alive and in the flesh during the battle of the great day of God Almighty. The remnant must endure the stress of that siege while in the flesh, and Jehovah will provide all needed strength and protection for them. They are vessels for his use in the war. That at least a part of the remnant will be on earth during Armageddon is supported by numerous scriptures.
Daniel prophesied of the "stone . . . cut out of the mountain without hands". (Dan. 2:34, 44,45) That Stone is the Chief One of God's capital organization, Christ Jesus. In harmony with this Zechariah prophesied: "AND IN THAT DAY WILL I MAKE JERUSALEM A BURDENSOME STONE FOR ALL PEOPLE : ALL THAT BURDEN THEMSELVES WITH IT SHALL BE OUT IN PIECES, THOUGH ALL THE PEOPLE OF THE EARTH BE GATHERED TOGETHER AGAINST IT." (12: 3) Christ is a "stone of stumbling" and a "rock of offense" to "Christendom". (Ps. 118: 22; Isa. 8:14) This Stone is the foundation and chief corner stone of God's capital organization. (Zech. 3:9; Matt. 16:18; Rev. 21: 9,
10,14) God's temple or kingdom, which shall become a house of prayer for all who get everlasting life, is a burdensome thing to "Christendom" now, because it is not operated according to the policy of "Christendom", nor with any of that crowd now in power. The kingdom is here, and when "Christendom" tries to meddle with it or put it out of their way it is a very great burden to them, as the prophecy of Zechariah discloses. This is particularly shown by the efforts of "Christendom" to stop Jehovah's witnesses from carrying the message of the truth to the peoples. The meddlers hurt themselves, instances of which are noted in many parts of the United States, Canada, Germany, Switzerland and other places. All the nations under the leadership of Gog, which include, of course, the League of Nations and all others combined against God's organization, all these will be "CUT IN PIECES" in the end, as the prophecy discloses.
The enemy is equipped and prepared for the war, and this is pictured by the "horse" and the "rider". Says the prophet Zechariah: "IN THAT DAY, SAITH THE LORD, I WILL SMITE EVERY HOUSE WITH ASTONISHMENT [DIZZINESS, Leeser; TERROR, Roth.; crazy madness], AND HIS RIDER WITH MADNESS ; AND I WILL OPEN MINE EYES UPON THE HOUSE OF JUDAH, AND WILL SMITE EVERY HORSE OF THE PEOPLE WITH BLINDNESS." (12:4) The military preparation of Satan's "beast" and "false prophet" will prove entirely in vain. Smitten with craziness and terror their commanders lose rea-
son, and they and their armies fight each other. — Rev. 19:19,20.
Jehovah smites them with blind terror. (2 Ki. 6:18; 7: 6, 7; Ezek. 38: 3-20; Vindication, Book Two, pages 309-334) During the preparation and during the fight Jehovah has his eyes on his faithful organization, and he keeps his eyes opened and will safeguard the interest of his own. (Ps. 11:4, 5; Isa. 37:17; Dan. 9:18) "THE HOUSE OF JUDAH," that is, the remnant on earth, will be under Jehovah's inspection as to their conduct and activity during the stress of the siege, and he will provide all the needs of the faithful. Every part of the enemy organization God will smite with blindness. In fact, Jehovah is now smiting the enemy 'horses and riders' with blindness by keeping the door open for his witnesses to proceed with the testimony work. It will grow worse for the enemy henceforth.
Some of the vessels of the Lord occupy a place of relatively more importance than others, and such were foreshadowed by Mordecai (Esther 2: 5-7); and hence it is the privilege of such to lead and to encourage others. Concerning this the prophet says: "AND THE GOVERNORS [R.V., CHIEFTAINS; Roth., CHIEFS] OF JUDAH SHALL SAY IN THEIR HEART, THE INHABITANTS OF JERUSALEM SHALL BE [R.V., ARE] MY STRENGTH IN THE LORD OF HOSTS THEIR GOD." (12:5) The root thought of the word "GOVERNORS" is, "To associate with" and thereby "to learn", that is to say, 'to have walked with Jesus and learned of him'; and hence they are not sissies or pussy-
footers, but are bold to declare the word and the praise of Jehovah. (Acts 4:13; 1 John 4:17,18) Without the support and strength of the invisible army of Jehovah the remnant could neither stand nor serve; and Jehovah of hosts is the strength of his entire army, but especially is that true of that part on earth who have received the name of Jehovah. "The name of Jehovah is a strong tower; the righteous runneth into it, and is safe." — Prov. 18:10, A.R.V.
Further speaking for the encouragement of his vessels on the earth Jehovah by his prophet says: "IN THAT DAY WILL I MAKE THE GOVERNORS [R.V., CHIEFTAINS; Roth., CHIEFS] OF JUDAH LIKE AN HEARTH OF FIRE AMONG THE WOOD, AND LIKE A TORCH OF FIRE IN A SHEAF [R.V., AMONG SHEAVES; Roth., LIKE A PAN OF FIRE AMONG STICKS AND LIKE A TORCH OF FIRE IN A SHEAF] ; AND THEY SHALL DEVOUR ALL THE PEOPLE ROUND ABOUT, ON THE RIGHT HAND AND ON THE LEFT; AND JERUSALEM SHALL BE INHABITED AGAIN IN HER OWN PLACE, EVEN IN JERUSALEM." (12:6) This harmonizes with Ezekiel's prophecy wherein the remnant is commanded to 'go in between the wheels, under the cherub, and fill their hands with coals of fire, and scatter them over the city'. (Ezek. 10:2-6; Isa. 10:16-18) "Our God is a consuming fire," says the apostle. (Heb. 12: 29) "And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble, and they shall kindle in them, and devour them; and there shall not
be any remaining of the house of Esau; for the Lord hath spoken it." — Obad. 18.
The remnant now is casting forth or scattering the fiery message on the right hand and on the left hand over the earth, but the invisible part of the army of Jehovah will do the actual devouring later. In the type not all of the governors of Jerusalem were out in the field or even seen; and so these in the antitype would represent Jesus and those resurrected with him as being the real devourers.
The Revised Version rendering is: "JERUSALEM SHALL YET AGAIN DWELL IN HER OWN PLACE." This certainly must apply after the siege is done and the enemy destroyed. Jerusalem's own place is that of Jehovah's capital organization governing all the earth. (Mic. 4: 8, R.V.) The "abomination of desolation" (Matt. 24:15), erected by the seventh world power, will then have been cleared out, and no longer will false claims be made that it is the "political expression of God's kingdom on earth". God's kingdom will then be without a rival claimant and will then occupy the right place before all creation.
The remnant are now members of God's organization, because the Lord counts them as such, but at the end must be brought actually into the heavenly city. Now they dwell temporarily on earth, which is pictured by the fact that they are in "tents"; and concerning such the prophet writes: "THE LORD ALSO SHALL SAVE THE TENTS OF JUDAH FIRST, THAT THE GLORY OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID AND THE GLORY OF THE IN-
HABITANTS OF JERUSALEM DO NOT MAGNIFY THEMSELVES AGAINST JUDAH." (12:7) Like Abraham, the remnant by faith now dwell in tents. (Heb. 11:9,10) It was in 1919 that the "Judeans" that were pleasing to God were delivered from Babylon's restraint; hence from that time it may be well said that "THE TENTS OF JUDAH" were preserved in this saved condition. Such then responded to the call for service, and the Lord covered them with "the garments of salvation". (Isa. 61:10) Christ then sent them forth as his body members, clothed with "the garments of vengeance", that is to say, identified with Him who will vindicate Jehovah's name and who now declares God's purpose so to do. (Isa. 59:17) This shows that the remnant must first be saved from Babylon and prepared before the battle of Armageddon is fought.
When the prophet says "GLORY OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID", evidently the meaning is, Jesus and his risen saints united with him. The temple is "the house of my glory". (Isa. 60: 7; 62: 3) The "glory of the house of David" appears to be active privileges according to the covenant with Jehovah for the kingdom. "THE INHABITANTS OF JERUSALEM" include all the angels with Christ Jesus. Neither 'MAGNIFIED THEMSELVES AGAINST JUDAH', the earthly remnant, for the reason that all are at unity, hence all one. The heavenly and earthly parts of the organization under Christ are in full harmony. (John 17:21-23; Eph. 1:10; 4:13) Jehovah has brought his remnant into unity with Christ Jesus, and he gives them his
name (Rev. 3:12), and they drink the new wine in the kingdom with Christ Jesus, representing their joy in the Lord. All sing the praises of Jehovah. This honor have all the saints, whether resurrected or now dwelling in the temple condition on earth. (Ps. 149: 9) None can magnify himself above another, but all the glory is for Jehovah. — 1 Cor. 1:29; Ps. 126:1-3, margin; Isa. 52:1-7.
Although dwelling temporarily in the flesh the faithful remnant are a part of Jehovah's organization, that is, Jerusalem, and therefore Jehovah defends them. (12: 8) The remnant need Jehovah's protection and defense. The "FEEBLE AMONG THEM" were made so during the trials that ended in their release in 1919 and other trials that have come upon them since. (Isa. 35:3) They are "AS DAVID", because they become parties to the covenant Jehovah makes with the antitypical David, Christ, for the everlasting kingdom (Isa. 55: 3); hence the joy of the Lord becomes their strength, and they shall be like David when he slew Goliath, because they fight against Satan and his organization; hence it is written: "Each one resembled [margin, according to the form of] the children of a king." (Judg. 8:18) "THE HOUSE OF DAVID SHALL BE AS GOD [Elohim]," that is, like divine creatures. Jesus is now called by the name "The mighty God". (Isa. 9: 6) Those who died faithful were sown in weakness and have been raised in power. (1 Cor. 15:43) They have been raised in "the power of his resurrection" and have become
"like him". (Phil. 3:10; 1 John 3:2) "AS THE ANGEL OF THE LORD BEFORE THEM," because they are like the Lord Jesus, who is the Chief Angel before Jehovah. — Mal. 3:1; Rev. 10:1; 18:1.
Jehovah will set before Him the cause or grounds for the destruction of the enemy organization, and will make these things known: "AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS IN THAT DAY, THAT I WILL SEEK TO DESTROY ALL THE NATIONS THAT COME AGAINST JERUSALEM." (12: 9) This does not mean that he attempts to do something that he cannot accomplish, but that he seeks or searches out the cause for their destruction. He also brings about conditions that compel the enemies to identify themselves for destruction. (2 Ki. 10:18-25; Ps. 21:8) All nations or forces that come under the leadership of Gog and are spurred on by Satan's croaking "frogs" shall be located and destroyed. — Rev. 16:13-16.
"SPIRIT OF GRACE"
Prophecy is not written in chronological sequence ; which apparently is one of God's ways of concealing its meaning until time to be understood. Here is an instance. The prophetic picture now moves back from the time of Armageddon to a time approximately when the Lord appears at the temple, and is in the nature of a prelude to the beginning of chapter thirteen of the prophecy. Prior to 1918 the Lord had brought to many the knowledge of the truth, some of whom doubtless were approved and received the anointing; and these are represented
in the prophecy as "THE HOUSE OF DAVID", while "THE INHABITANTS OF JERUSALEM" pictured others who were consecrated and in line for the kingdom and who had not yet been anointed. Says the prophet Zechariah: "AND I WILL POUR UPON THE HOUSE OF DAVID, AND UPON THE INHABITANTS OF JERUSALEM, THE SPIRIT OF GRACE AND OF SUPPLICATIONS ; AND THEY SHALL LOOK UPON ME WHOM THEY HAVE PIERCED, AND THEY SHALL MOURN FOR HIM, AS ONE MOURNETH FOR HIS ONLY SON, AND SHALL BE IN BITTERNESS FOR HIM, AS ONE THAT IS IN BITTERNESS FOR HIS FIRSTBORN." (12:10) Evidently the "GRACE" would be expressed on or through the lips. "He that loveth pureness of heart, and hath grace in his lips, the king shall be his friend." (Prov. 22:11, margin) "The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious." (Eccl. 10:12) "THE SPIRIT OF GRACE" is given to those who are obediently willing and submissive to the Lord. (1 Pet. 5:5) Learning that the Lord, the Chief Stone, was at the temple the faithful ones began to cry out "Grace, grace, unto it". (4: 7) The spirit of grace moved such to take the message of the kingdom on their lips and deliver it to others. (Eph. 4: 29) The remnant now sing with grace that message of the Lord. — Col. 3:16; Heb. 12: 28.
'SUPPLICATION' is made to Jehovah against his enemies for the vindication of his name and that the anointed may have increased opportunities of making known the name of Jehovah and the blessings of his kingdom. (Eph. 6:18,19; Job 9:15; Isa, 64:1,2; Ps. 83: 9-18) God's "light-
nings" shine upon his Word, showing the remnant the things for which they may supplicate; and they thus pray intelligently to the Lord. In 1918 and 1919 the enemy specially cast iniquity upon the faithful followers of Christ, and the prayer of these faithful ones is outlined by the Lord's prophets: "Give ear to my prayer, 0 God; and hide not thyself from my supplication. Attend unto me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise. Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me." (Ps. 55:1-3) "Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity: for the Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping." — Ps. 6:8-10.
Two classes are now disclosed, to wit, they that do the looking and they that do the piercing. According to the Revised Version: "AND THEY [who look to the Lord] SHALL LOOK UNTO ME [the Lord] WHOM THEY [the piercers] HAVE PIERCED." At the coming of the Lord to the temple neither he nor Jehovah could be directly pierced bodily. Therefore the expression must be symbolic. Jehovah's organization doing the Elijah work under the leadership of Christ Jesus from 1874 to 1918 was pierced through and killed at the time that the faithful were "hated of all nations for my name's sake". (Matt. 24:9) That piercing work is described in Revelation 11:7,8. (See Light, Book One, page 198.) The faithful looked upon them that represented Jesus and saw the Elijah work taken away, and,
like Elisha, they rent their garments and were in mourning. (2 Ki. 2:12) They that did the piercing do not mourn, but they do rejoice over the ones to whom they had done violence. (Rev. 11:9,10) This shows that the ones who mourn are not the ones who do the piercing; and hence this prophecy has no reference whatsoever to the Jews' mourning for the wickedness they had done to Jesus.
The Lord's faithful people did mourn for the Elijah work for which Jesus stood as the Chief and Head, and which the enemy did pierce to death during the World War. Both the name of Jehovah and that of Jesus were blasphemed and thrust through by misrepresentation and false testimony. "A false witness [sheweth forth] deceit. There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword." (Prov. 12:17,18) When this was done God's people, represented by 'the valley of dry bones', said: 'Our hope is lost; we are cut off from our portion.' (Ezek. 37:11) The prophecy of Zechariah 12:10, therefore, means that God's kingdom work was pierced through, and the name of Jehovah and Christ Jesus were defamed, and those whom the Lord employed on earth to do that work mourned with great sorrow; and the facts from 1918 to 1919 exactly fit that condition.
The Elijah work was the sole fruit of the bodies of the faithful ones involved in this work, and this involved God's only begotten Son. The Elisha work was not yet revealed to God's people on earth; hence they mourned, "AS ONE
MOURNETH FOR HIS ONLY SON, ... IN BITTERNESS FOR HIM." Like Naomi who said: "Call me Mara [margin, that is, Bitter]; for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me." (Ruth 1: 20) The bitterness is not against Jehovah, but against the enemy that did the injury which Jehovah had not restrained. It was a bitter indignation against the wicked enemies of Jehovah and his cause. — Esther 4:1; Ps. 137: 8.
There was great mourning amongst Jehovah's visible organization from 1918 to 1919, and this mourning did not fully cease until 1922, when they learned that the Lord had come to his temple; and then there was great rejoicing. "IN THAT DAY SHALL THERE BE A GREAT MOURNING IN JERUSALEM, AS THE MOURNING OF HADAD-RIMMON IN THE VALLEY OF MEGIDDON." (12:11) This mourning has no reference to the wealthy godless descendants of Abraham who mourn chiefly when they lose some money; but it does have reference to God's organization prior to their learning that Jesus Christ was at the temple, and the prophet shows that when they should learn that Jehovah had taken away their reproach they would greatly rejoice. (Isa. 6:5; 12:1,2; Ps. 30:11,12) It was then that the prophecy of Revelation 11:11,12 was fulfilled. "THE MOURNING OF HADAD-RIMMON" is clearly mentioned here by way of comparison and is here used symbolically. The name "Hadad" means "the one god", worshiped as the king of gods, that is, the Devil himself; and "Rimmon" means "pomegranate", such as held in the hand of the
idol Astarte, and symbolizes the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil which Eve plucked, and hence here represents Satan's organization. When Satan's organization meets defeat at Armageddon, that will be a time of great mourning by Satan's crowd. (Joel 3: 11-14; Rev. 16:16; Ezek. 31:15) The "MOURNING IN JERUSALEM", which is now over for ever, is, in Zechariah's prophecy, likened unto what yet awaits those of Satan's organization.
Looking back to 1918 and the days of sadness that followed, the condition of God's people on earth was that of lament and mourning, and that is the time to which the following prophecy of Zechariah refers: "AND THE LAND SHALL MOURN, EVERY FAMILY [Hebrew, FAMILIES, FAMILIES] APART ; THE FAMILY OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID APART, AND THEIR WIVES APART ; THE FAMILY OF THE HOUSE OF NATHAN APART, AND THEIR WIVES APART." (12:12) That mourning continued until God's people would again be in his service. (Rev. 11:12) "EVERY FAMILY APART" pictures the very opposite of united action of God's people. There were those pictured by Mordecai and who were the first to take up the Elisha work; and also some who had not then responded to the call for the kingdom but do so later, the latter being pictured more particularly by Esther. Zion was then in travail. "THE HOUSE OF DAVID . . . AND THEIR WIVES" shows an anointed company with the possibility of bringing forth others for the kingdom.
"THE HOUSE OF NATHAN" refers to the son of David born at Jerusalem, from whom the mother of Jesus descended. (Luke 3: 31) This family would seem to picture those who were temporarily held off as Nathan was, yet in line for the kingdom; and which were foreshadowed by Esther. "THE FAMILY OF THE HOUSE OF LEVI" would include all spirit-begotten ones who were to be judged and purged as "the sons of Levi", whom the Lord purges at the temple. (Mal. 3: 1-3) The priestly part of the house of Levi was pictured by Joshua. (3:1-3) The "great multitude" may also be included. (Rev. 7: 9-14) "SHIMEI" is likely the Levite mentioned by Ezra (10:23), and seems to picture the spirit-begotten ones never in line for the kingdom, since there is no record that Shimei ever became a priest. — 12:13.
The prophecy makes no mention of God's enemies' mourning for the wrong that they had done. This part of the prophecy concludes with verse fourteen. This pictures those who "REMAIN" in the covenant with the Lord by sacrifice during the season of mourning and who held fast to God's organization, and hence make up the remnant that are prepared as Vessels unto honor'; the 'sanctified and meet for the Master [Builder's] use'. (2 Tim. 2: 21) And now these are fully united as one, marching on to the war.
