PREPARATION

CHAPTER V

MILITANT ORGANIZATION

(ZECHARIAH, CHAPTER 6)

JEHOVAH OF HOSTS is the almighty God of Battle. He has a fixed time for war and a fixed time for peace, and by making war he will establish everlasting peace among his creatures. When he sent Jesus Christ forth to reign in the midst of his enemies, war in heaven immediately followed, and Christ Jesus was the victor. The field of military action is then transferred to the earth, and the forces for the great combat must be prepared. In the first vision of the prophet there appeared a company of horsemen led by their Chief, who was Christ Jesus, and the first work of which was to make a careful survey or inspection of things in the earth before beginning operations. Horses symbolize war equipment, and that advance company of horsemen spying out the land shows that the Lord's forces are preparing for the greatest war on earth.

During the building of the temple Zechariah was again given a vision of the militant organization of Jehovah. That means that while Christ Jesus is gathering his true followers to himself into the temple of God these faithful ones are given a vision of Jehovah's great war organization. The prophet looked again and tells what he saw. "AND I TURNED, AND LIFTED UP MINE EYES,

AND LOOKED, AND, BEHOLD, THERE CAME FOUR CHARIOTS OUT FROM BETWEEN TWO MOUNTAINS ; AND THE MOUNTAINS WERE MOUNTAINS OF BRASS." (6:1) "Chariots" are symbols of Jehovah's militant organization, and there being four chariots means that God's organization is a four-square one, fully equipped to push the enemy from every point and to completely defeat and destroy him. "For, behold, the Lord will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. For by fire and by his sword will the Lord plead with all flesh: and the slain of the Lord shall be many." (Isa. 66:15,16) "Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array." (Joel 2:5; Hab. 3:8) These war chariots' coming out from between two mountains of brass symbolizes that they are exceedingly strong, and the "BRASS" (copper) shows that they are beyond the earthly quality, therefore superhuman, and are sent by Jehovah, and hence are in no way a part of Satan's earthly government. These chariots picture the fighting organization of Jehovah God under the leadership of Christ Jesus.

In the fire these mountains would not become "a burnt mountain", such as Satan's organization will become. (Jer. 51:25) The fighting organization of Jehovah will in the fire of battle glow with brightness like the feet of Christ Jesus, as seen in the vision of John: "And his

feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters." (Rev. 1:15) "And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass." (Rev. 2:18) Both Daniel and Ezekiel had a vision of this Mighty One and say that his arms and feet looked like polished brass. (Dan. 10: 6) "Whose appearance was like the appearance of brass." (Ezek. 40:3) These "MOUNTAINS OF BRASS" together picture the universal organization of Jehovah and also the capital organization thereof, coming forth with the military equipment after the war in heaven had ended. It is "out of the mountain" or organization universal that the "stone was cut out without hands" (Dan. 2:34,45); whereas the Stone or capital organization, the anointed King, grew to be "a great mountain [that] filled the whole earth" (Dan. 2: 35), and is therefore the capital or chief part of Jehovah's organization.

The horse-drawn war chariots seemed to appear at the same time, all moving abreast. By having in mind now that the Jews read from right to left, this picture would indicate that the first horses and chariots to be observed would be on the extreme right. "IN THE FIRST CHARIOT WERE RED HOUSES, AND IN THE SECOND CHARIOT BLACK HORSES, AND IN THE THIRD CHARIOT WHITE HORSES, AND IN THE FOURTH CHARIOT GRISLED AND BAY HORSES." (6:2,3) These chariots drawn by horses show preparation for and moving into

position for the great battle. The horses on the extreme right are called "red", according to the Hebrew, and are called "bay", in verse seven. The second chariot is drawn by black horses, the third on the left center by white horses, and the fourth by "GRISLED AND BAY [margin, STRONG] HORSES". The American Revised Version renders this part of the text "GRIZZLED STRONG HORSES", and which are on the extreme left and go to the south and are thus distinguished from bay horses on the extreme right.

The prophet asked the angel the meaning of the chariots and the horses, and the answer is: "AND THE ANGEL ANSWERED AND SAID UNTO ME, THESE ARE THE FOUR SPIRITS [margin, WINDS] OF THE HEAVENS, WHICH GO FORTH FROM STANDING BEFORE THE LORD OF ALL THE EARTH." (6:4,5) These picture the organization of Jehovah God "who maketh his angels spirits". (Ps. 104:4) It is a complete organization, because it is symbolized by four, and at the same time is heavenly, and includes the remnant on earth who have been made to "sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus". (Eph. 1: 3; 2: 6) The faithful remnant in the temple have been 'delivered from the power of darkness and translated into the kingdom of Jehovah's dear Son'. (Col. 1:13) The Lord by his angels has gathered out the remnant and brought them together since 1918, "from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other." (Matt. 24: 31; Zech. 2:6) These "FOUR SPIRITS" have an approved standing before Jehovah, and they willingly serve him in this

day. (Ps. 110:3) They come forth from presenting themselves unto the Lord, the same as the seven men described in the ninth chapter of Ezekiel's prophecy.

Babylon is on the north of Palestine, hence called "the north country". (2: 6,7; Jer. 10: 22) The earthly Babylon was overthrown eighteen years before Zechariah began to prophesy; hence this prophecy must apply to Satan's organization which bears the name of Babylon, and applies particularly to "Gog, of the land of Magog", concerning which Ezekiel prophesied. (Ezek. 38:2,15; 39:2, R.V.) Zechariah sees "THE BLACK HORSES [which draw the second chariot] GO FORTH INTO THE NORTH COUNTRY". (6:6) That division of the Lord's army takes its position for the assault against the strongholds of Satan's organization which are led by Satan's prince Gog and move out for action. "AND THE WHITE [horses drawing the third chariot] GO FORTH AFTER THEM." (6:6) These two horse-drawn chariots assaulting the north country comport with the facts that two armies under two kings together assaulted and destroyed literal Babylon. "Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians." (Dan. 5: 28) There are two divisions of Gog's army, the invisible and the visible division, both of which are in the conspiracy against God's anointed people, and both must be attacked and destroyed by the army of the Lord. The two chariots, the second and third, moving against the enemy here picture Jehovah's sanctified ones, employed

to destroy "the earth". (Zeph. 3:8) "I have commanded my sanctified ones, I have also called my mighty ones for mine anger, even them that rejoice in my highness. They come from a far country [from heaven, and are no part of this world at any time], even the Lord [leading his army], and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole land [Babylon, the north country or stronghold of Satan's organization]. And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees' excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah." — Isa. 13:3, 5,19.

The grizzled horses wheel their war chariot into position on the south line of battle: "THE GRISLED [SPOTTED, Roth.] GO FORTH TOWARD THE SOUTH COUNTRY." (6:6) These horses draw the fourth chariot, and in the third verse of the prophecy they are called "grisled and bay horses". Edom or Idumea (the northern section was also called Teman), Egypt and Ethiopia, all are south of the Holy Land. The prophecy, therefore, must refer to the antitypes of these countries, because those countries suffered defeat prior to the time of Zechariah's prophecy. In the prophecy Edom or Idumea pictures the "wicked servant" class, the "man of sin", "the son of perdition"; Egypt pictures Satan's visible organization, made up of the commercial, political and religious elements; and Ethiopia represents the hireling military strong-arm squad. All of these shall fall at Armageddon, and Jehovah's forces are moving into position for the

attack. (Jer. 25:15,16) Ezekiel's prophecy shows that the hireling crowd in particular joins forces with Gog in making the assault on Jehovah's covenant people, and which shows a combining of the enemy forces north and south against the anointed of the Lord. — Ezek. 38:3-5.

The bay horses of verse seven represent the remnant of God's anointed people on the earth. These are the same as those mentioned in verse two as "red horses". The American Revised Version designates them as "STRONG" horses, and Rotherham refers to them as "DEEP RED". These horses are not the grizzled or bay (of verse three) which draw the fourth chariot. These "deep red" horses, of verses two and seven, draw the first chariot on the extreme right and would be the first ones to be observed by the covenant people of God; and this is in accord with the facts. They picture God's remnant people on the earth who are pictured by Ezekiel under the symbol of 'the man in linen with the writer's ink-horn by his side' who scatters fire over the city. (See Ezekiel 9 and 10.) These horses drawing the first chariot symbolically say: The witness work, or 'marking in the foreheads', must be done before the battle of the great day is fought. "AND THE BAY WENT FORTH, AND SOUGHT TO GO, THAT THEY MIGHT WALK TO AND FRO THROUGH THE EARTH: AND HE SAID, GET YOU HENCE, WALK TO AND FRO THROUGH THE EARTH. So THEY WALKED TO AND FRO THROUGH THE EARTH." (6:7) The fact that these "sought to go" proved that they were willing in the day of the King's power, ready to

obey the command to go throughout the earth and preach the gospel of the kingdom. (Matt. 24:14; Ps. 110: 3) The angel of the Lord said to this remnant: "GET YOU HENCE, WALK TO AND FRO"; meaning that they must busy themselves in the witness work. This was their signal to go.

Note how the Lord by his angels directs the movements of his people, and that without their knowledge at the time. It was on the 8th day of September, 1922, when a convention of Jehovah's people had learned that Christ Jesus is at the temple for judgment and that there was much work for them to do, that the Lord caused these words to be spoken to the assembled multitude : "Do you believe that the Lord is now in his temple, judging the nations of earth?" The multitude shouted: "Yes!" The speaker continued: "Do you believe that the King of glory has begun his reign? "Yes!" responded the multitude. "Then back to the field, O ye sons of the Most High God! . . . Herald the message far and wide. The world must know that Jehovah is God and that Jesus Christ is the King of kings and Lord of lords. This is the day of all days. Behold, the King reigns! You are his publicity agents. Therefore advertise, advertise, advertise the King and his kingdom." (The Watchtower, 1922, page 337) In obedience to the Lord's command the faithful remnant then went forth and walked through the earth proclaiming the message of the kingdom, and are still at that work. They asking how long this work must continue, the Lord makes it known that it must con-

tinue until the battle of the great day of God Almighty. (Isa. 6:11) The army of the Lord is on the trek and the day of war draws nigh.

The division of the army that moves against the enemy in the north country does the chief part of the work. "THEN CRIED HE UPON [UNTO] ME, AND SPAKE UNTO ME, SAYING, BEHOLD, THESE THAT GO TOWARD THE NORTH COUNTRY HAVE QUIETED MY SPIRIT IN THE NORTH COUNTRY." (6:8) The war chariots drawn by the black horses and white horses move against Gog in the land of Magog, and this is pleasing to Jehovah; showing that this is the division of his army that vindicates his name. "THESE . . . HAVE QUIETED (THE INDIGNATION OF) MY SPIRIT" (Leeser); "HAVE SETTLED MY SPIRIT," or, "CAUSED MINE ANGER TO REST." (Roth., footnote) These bring satisfaction to the spirit of Jehovah because they execute his vengeance upon Satan's organization. (Ezek. 39: 6) This work they do after the witness work by the earthly division is completed.

The division pictured by the grizzled horses that move on "THE SOUTH COUNTRY", the earthly part of Satan's organization, do their part to the pleasure of Jehovah; but the division that destroys the invisible enemy, Gog and all those of the land of Magog, do the chief executing work. The earthly division of Satan's army is merely the ally of Gog and in the conspiracy. After the fall of his organization, then Satan the old Dragon is bound and put to death. (Rev. 20:1-3) All of this must be done before Jehovah's name is completely vindicated. Satan's or-

ganization, head, body and tail, must be destroyed, and then Jehovah will be pleased. (Ezek. 5:13; 16:42; 21:17; 24:13) The fact that the leader of the army cries with a loud and positive command to this division moving on Grog shows that the army is moving into action and the noise of battle is on. All of this proves that Jehovah's witnesses on the earth are not the ones that put the Devil's organization out of business, but that they must do their witness work before the big fight is really on. The remnant could not accomplish the destruction of the enemy by bearing witness for a million years. They present themselves and perform their part according to the will of God, and then the great war follows. At this point in the prophecy the vision changes.

VINDICATOR

Those who are members of Jehovah's organization and who faithfully perform their part of participating in the vindication of his name may properly be designated as vindicators. Christ Jesus is the Head and the Chief One, and therefore he is the great Vindicator, and the work done by the earthly members of his organization is very insignificant; yet the prophet of God gives attention here to the temple company, both Head and body, manifestly for the comfort and encouragement of the remnant on the earth. The builders of the temple of Jerusalem had been in captivity and were now released. Those who now have part in the building of the real temple,

and who are yet on the earth, were once in captivity, and these now bring their little all, pictured by the silver and gold, to be used in connection with the temple work. "AND THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME UNTO ME, SAYING, TAKE 0F THEM OF THE CAPTIVITY, EVEN OF HELDAI, OF TOBIJAH, AND OF JEDAIAH, WHICH ARE COME FROM BABYLON, AND COME THOU THE SAME DAY, AND GO INTO THE HOUSE OF JOSIAH THE SON OF ZEPHANIAH." (6:9,10) The captives have returned and come to Zion, which is God's organization.

The names given in this verse of the prophecy are significant. "Heldai" (evidently the same one called "Helem" ["Strength"] in verse fourteen) means "worldly; enduring; long-lived"; the name "Tobijah" means "pleasing to Jehovah"; the name "Jedaiah" means "Jehovah has known; Jehovah cares (for him)". The meanings of the names of these mentioned appear to apply collectively to the remnant. "Heldai," the remnant, being in the world and having a transient existence here, is no part of the world but endures through Armageddon, and hence is long-lived. "Tobijah" is pleasing to God because of his faithful devotion to Him; and "Jedaiah" signifies not only that God knows the remnant, but that he cares for and preserves them. The three men named had come from Babylon and evidently had been sent as a delegation by those Jews remaining in Babylon, and had come to observe the work on the temple which had then been resumed. Zechariah was commanded to go into the house of Josiah and there to do certain

things to Joshua the high priest and do them in the presence of these three men, which they would later report to their brethren remaining in Babylon. Evidently the house of Josiah was chosen and used because the temple was not then complete. The house was a priest's house, "founded by Jehovah" (which the name "Josiah" means), and well pictures Jehovah's priestly house, the remnant, the members of which are now in the secret place of the Lord, hidden and protected by him.

This delegation being gathered into the house of Josiah, Zechariah was directed to "THEN TAKE SILVER AND GOLD, AND MAKE CROWNS, AND SET THEM UPON THE HEAD OF JOSHUA THE SON OF JOSEDECH, THE HIGH PRIEST". (6:11) It seems probable that this silver and gold had been collected or contributed by the three men and brought by them, because verse ten says, "TAKE OF THEM." The Revised Version of verse eleven agrees with this, reading: "YEA, TAKE OF THEM SILVER AND GOLD." The fact of the coming of this delegation of three men years after the original remnant had returned from Babylon, and after the temple work had been resumed, suggests that the three men pictured the same ones as those represented by Esther and Ruth. (See verse 15.) Corresponding to this, members of the faithful remnant class, who are scattered throughout the earth, and therefore are in the world but not of it, come and present themselves unto the Lord and offer their contribution to the work of Jehovah's King and kingdom, and this was

foreshadowed by the use Zechariah made of the silver and gold brought to him.

Zechariah made "CROWNS [A CROWN, Roth.]" and set it on the head of Joshua the high priest, thus picturing the crown on the head of Christ Jesus. (Ps. 21: 3) The setting was done by Zechariah and suggests that it is the remnant that calls attention to the fact that Christ is crowned king and has come. This the remnant do after the coming of the Lord Jesus to the temple, and particularly after 1922, when they cried out: "The Lord is in his temple; advertise the King and his kingdom!" Now it is seen that Jehovah crowned Jesus in 1914, and the remnant bear witness to that fact, even as Heldai, Tobijah and Jedaiah on returning bore testimony before those men remaining in Babylon. Jehovah now commands that "all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father". (John 5: 23) This is symbolized by their contributions of silver and gold.

Zechariah was commanded to speak to the high priest and to do so in the presence of and for the benefit of the three men who were there as witnesses and who pictured the remnant now on the earth. "AND SPEAK UNTO HIM, SAYING, THUS SPEAKETH THE LORD OF HOSTS, SAYING, BEHOLD THE MAN WHOSE NAME IS THE BRANCH: AND HE SHALL GROW UP OUT OF HIS PLACE, AND HE SHALL BUILD THE TEMPLE OF THE LORD." (6: 12) At the time Christ the Stone was laid in miniature Pilate said: "Behold the man!" (John 19:5) At the time Christ Jesus the anointed King, the

Stone, was laid in completion Jehovah says: "BEHOLD, THE MAN WHOSE NAME IS THE BRANCH [A.R.V., margin, SPROUT]." Jesus Christ is the Sprout or Branch of Jehovah. It was not Zerubbabel of the house of David that was crowned, but Joshua the high priest that was crowned. This proves that David's natural house was merely typical and that The BRANCH is Jehovah's direct Offshoot, his Chief Officer and great High Priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. It was in 1914 that Jehovah sent forth The BRANCH out of Zion, and which is an insignificant "sprout" in the eyes of the earthly rulers, but he shines in the temple of Jehovah and shall vindicate Jehovah's name.

The words in the prophecy "OUT OF HIS PLACE" mean 'out of Zion', that is to say, Jehovah's universal organization from which Christ Jesus is taken and made the Head of the capital organization, and grows up out of the top thereof. (Ezek. 17:22-24) This prophetic picture particularly shows that after the crowning of Jesus as King by Jehovah, and after the casting of Satan out of heaven, he must come to Jehovah's temple as a crowned King and as High Priest and as Judge of the house of God. Here he brings the faithful into the temple and prepares them to take a part in the work of vindicating Jehovah's name. These witnesses of Jehovah, pictured by the three men, must bear testimony to others of the world, and that is what they are now doing.

Zerubbabel and Joshua the high priest prefigured one and the same person, to wit, Christ Jesus, who is "a priest upon his throne" and fills the office typified by Melchizedek. (Heb. 7:1) "EVEN HE SHALL BUILD THE TEMPLE or THE LORD; AND HE SHALL BEAR THE GLORY, AND SHALL SIT AND RULE UPON HIS THRONE; AND HE SHALL BE A PRIEST UPON HIS THRONE; AND THE COUNSEL OF PEACE SHALL BE BETWEEN THEM BOTH." (6: 13) As builder of the temple he is clothed with majesty, honor and glory, and he bears the commission and the responsibility as the great Vindicator of his Father's name. "And they shall hang upon him all the glory of his father's house, . . . And he shall be for a glorious throne to his father's house." (Isa. 22:23,24) Christ Jesus fills the two offices of king and priest, and there is no conflict between the two; hence it is written : "AND THE COUNSEL OF PEACE SHALL BE BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM." (Roth.) The counsel or purpose of both offices is peace. As sacrificing priest he is the way for man to be at peace with God, (Eph. 2:14) He completes the atonement work in heaven as the royal priest; as God's King he rules and destroys Satan and his organization, which has long been the disturber of the peace, and he will establish 'peace on earth and good will toward men'. He is "King of Salem", meaning "King of Peace" (Heb. 7:2); "and his name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor, . . . the Prince of Peace." (Isa. 9:6,7) He is the Vindicator and brings everlasting peace by fighting for it.

Zechariah made from the silver and gold contributed a crown for the high priest, and this served as a memorial of the faithfulness and devotion of the contributors. "AND THE CROWNS [CROWN, Roth.] SHALL BE TO HELEM [another name for Heldai], AND TO TOBIJAH, AND TO JEDAIAH, AND TO HEN [another name for Josiah] THE SON OF ZEPHANIAH, FOR A MEMORIAL IN THE TEMPLE OF THE LORD." (6:14) These men had shown their faithfulness by coming from Babylon to the Lord's house in "the day of small things", when the temple was hardly begun. (Hag. 2:3) The Lord shows his appreciation of their devotion and also that of Josiah (Hen), the son of Zephaniah, who allowed his house to be used on this occasion. These men pictured the faithful remnant who share with Christ Jesus in the honor bestowed upon him by Jehovah, and for which faithful ones he reserves "a crown of righteousness". (2 Tim. 4:8) And this they receive upon the appearing of the Chief Shepherd. (1 Pet. 5:1-4) They must continue faithful, seeing that no man takes their crown. It is "FOR A MEMORIAL IN THE TEMPLE OF JEHOVAH", showing that the four men named are honored with recognition in Jehovah's sanctuary, and shows that the remnant are now gathered together under Christ at the temple and are at the same time heirs of the kingdom and joint-heirs with Christ Jesus. This is symbolized by the crown.

The work of these men did not end with their contributions of silver and gold. They had to

witness the crowning of Joshua and to hear the words of the prophet, and now it devolved on them to return and bear testimony to others of what they had learned. This shows that the remnant, whom these men foreshadowed, must engage in the witness work, testifying to others, and this after they have received enlightenment; and this is supported by the concluding words of the prophecy, to wit: "AND THEY THAT ARE FAR OFF SHALL COME AND BUILD IN THE TEMPLE OF THE LORD; AND YE SHALL KNOW THAT THE LORD OF HOSTS HATH SENT ME UNTO YOU. AND THIS SHALL COME TO PASS, IF YE WILL DILIGENTLY OBEY THE VOICE OF THE LORD YOUR GOD." (6:15) Those afar off are the ones taken into the temple after the second outpouring of the holy spirit and to whom those of the temple class give testimony. (Isa. 43:6,7; Ps. 147:2; Matt. 24:31) Those who are thus gathered come and do temple service. These fill up the places of others who might have been of the temple, and who were engaged in the Elijah work, but who were negligent and stumbled over the Stone and have been talking about "character building" since, and have been set aside. There were some at Jerusalem who concluded that it was 'a time to dwell in ceiled houses and let the temple lie in waste'. (Hag. 1:4) Such foreshadowed the ones who have been obtaining "rest" in what the Lord gave to his people prior to the coming of Christ Jesus to the temple, and who have lost the opportunity to have a place of service in the temple; and "THEY THAT ARE FAR OFF" have entered now, in

their stead, into that blessed privilege of temple service. These latter are particularly pictured by Esther and Ruth.

The fact that Jehovah supplied all needed help for the building of the temple in harmony with the prophecy of Zechariah proves that Zechariah was a true prophet sent by the Lord. Jehovah thus vindicated his own word and now vindicates his own witnesses before "Christendom" and in this manner his witnesses have part in vindicating Jehovah's name. Jehovah's witnesses do not need to worry about when and how the many things promised will come to pass. If they are obedient to what the Lord gives them they shall see the fulfilment of Jehovah's purpose. "IF YE WILL DILIGENTLY OBEY THE VOICE OF THE LORD YOUR GOD" ; meaning that the remnant must now be diligent in doing with their might the work which Jehovah has given them to do, regardless of what others may do. The temple will be completed in due time and Jehovah's name will be vindicated; but those who are now in the temple are required to render full obedience if they will ultimately participate in the vindication of Jehovah's word and name.