God’s Physical House Was Prophesied!

On this Earth today, God’s government can only be found in the Philadelphia Church of God. That is an astounding statement—but true. As we have seen, the Laodicean churches no longer have God’s government; they have rejected it. We must come to see the significance God places on government.

Let’s now look at another of Zechariah’s incredible visions. It is related to both God’s Work and God’s government.

“Then I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a flying roll. And he said unto me, What seest thou? And I answered, I see a flying roll; the length thereof is twenty cubits, and the breadth thereof ten cubits” (Zechariah 5:1-2). God shows Zechariah a flying roll. The Anchor Bible refers to the roll as a scroll. That is a better description of the vision.

The Flying Scroll

Zechariah gives us the precise measurements for the scroll. It is 20 cubits long and 10 cubits wide. This translates to approximately 30 feet long and 15 feet wide. This was not a small piece of writing. The largeness of the scroll indicates its importance.

What is this flying scroll? Can we know? God would not have recorded this end-time vision in a book for us if He did not want us to understand it!

We must use our minds.

How can we come to understand the meaning behind this vision? Remember, the book of Zechariah deals mainly with God‘s temple. That is the key: The flying scroll can only be understood within the context of God’s temple. Wanting to understand about the flying scroll should be very important to each one of us. If it is not, then it could indicate we have some serious spiritual problems.

Here is an example of how God wants us to precisely measure. If you have Zerubbabel’s plummet, you can measure this.

The measurements of the scroll tie it directly to the temple. “And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, in the month Zif, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of the Lord. And the house which king Solomon built for the Lord, the length thereof was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof twenty cubits, and the height thereof thirty cubits. And the porch before the temple of the house, twenty cubits was the length thereof, according to the breadth of the house; and ten cubits was the breadth thereof before the house” (1 Kings 6:1-3). These scriptures refer to the building of God’s house at the time of King Solomon. Where is God’s house or temple today? Spiritually, we know it is the Church (Ephesians 2:21). The temple in Solomon’s time represented the center of God’s Work. The same is true of God’s Church today.

However, there is duality in this prophecy—it also prophesies that we would build a physical house for God. More on that later.

Notice that the dimensions for Solomon’s porch are the same as Zechariah’s scroll: 20 cubits long and 10 cubits wide, or roughly 30 feet long and 15 feet wide. The porch—where the ministers assembled in the outer court—was the entrance into the temple courtyard. The entrance to the holy of holies was from the courtyard. We can begin to get some idea of the meaning behind the scroll. It is directly related to the temple.

There are important reasons why God gives us the temple measurements in cubits. One of the major reasons is that these cubits are tied to God’s spiritual temple today.

The flying scroll is also measured in cubits and helps us to understand prophecy about God’s Work in His Church (or temple) today.

Weeping at the Porch

Again, the flying scroll is the same dimension as the temple porch. That was the entrance to the temple anciently (1 Kings 6:1-3). What did God instruct the priests to do at the porch? The book of Joel gives us additional insights. “Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O Lord, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?” (Joel 2:17). The book of Joel is an end-time prophecy. It is for our day. God instructs the priests, His ministry, to weep for the people between the porch and the altar.

As I stated above, the porch was the entrance to the temple courtyard. But here we see that it was also the entrance to the altar. The events surrounding the altar involved the work of the priests, or ministry. We can make a direct connection between the porch and the work of the ministry.

The scene here in Joel is a tragic one. God’s people (in the end time) are about to be taken captive by heathen peoples. This can only refer to the Laodicean Church. God tells the priests to come and weep for the people. God expects the priests to make intercession for the people. Why? To understand, let’s ask a second, related question.

What is the result of the end-time Joshua’s government problem? “Thus saith the Lord of hosts; If thou wilt walk in my ways, and if thou wilt keep my charge, then thou shalt also judge my house, and shalt also keep my courts, and I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by” (Zechariah 3:7). Joshua did not walk in God’s ways. He proved to be unfit to judge God’s house. Because of his government problem, he gave the people wrong judgments.

His priests, or “fellows,” have also failed to do their job in leading the people. In fact, they have misled people. The end-time Joshua and his priests have given the people wrong judgment. Joshua and his priests are responsible for the calamities coming upon the Laodicean people. God expects the priests to make intercession for the people because they led the people astray. As it states in Joel 2, during the Tribulation things will get so bad that the people are going to wonder—where is God?

It is the job of God’s ministers today to make sure God is in the Church. We want the Father in the house. The Laodicean ministers failed in that responsibility.

A Revival of Judgment

So what does the flying scroll have to do with the porch? The Anchor Bible Commentary states, “The association in this vision [Zechariah 5:2] of the ulam or temple forecourt area with the flying scroll would represent the revival of the priestly role in the administration of justice.” Can we begin to make the connection? The vision in Zechariah 5 has everything to do with judgment in God’s temple, or house. It has everything to do with the Work of God and His ministry!

I stated above that Joshua and his fellows come on the scene just before Christ’s return. So when did God’s judgment stop in His Church? When Joshua took control of the Church. Zechariah 5 shows that God revived His Work someplace else: within the Philadelphia Church of God!

If a church turns away from God (that is what Zechariah is all about), what does God do about it? He revives judgment in some other place. God uses a flying scroll and revives His Work. The scroll is a type of entrance into the temple and it signifies righteous judgment.

This is more clearly understood by comparing the size of the scroll with the large cherubim within the holy of holies.

Cherubim Guarding the Ark

“And the whole house he overlaid with gold, until he had finished all the house: also the whole altar that was by the oracle he overlaid with gold” (1 Kings 6:22). The golden altar was where the priests burned incense every day (e.g. Exodus 30:1-8). That altar typifies God’s ministry today. The fact that it was overlaid with gold indicates the extremely high value God places on His faithful ministers, as we also saw in Lamentations 4:2.

“And within the oracle he made two cherubims of olive tree, each ten cubits high. And five cubits was the one wing of the cherub, and five cubits the other wing of the cherub: from the uttermost part of the one wing unto the uttermost part of the other were ten cubits. And the other cherub was ten cubits: both the cherubims were of one measure and one size. The height of the one cherub was ten cubits, and so was it of the other cherub. And he set the cherubims within the inner house: and they stretched forth the wings of the cherubims, so that the wing of the one touched the one wall, and the wing of the other cherub touched the other wall; and their wings touched one another in the midst of the house [or temple]”
(1 Kings 6:23-27). These cherubim were right there in the holy of holies, where God dwelled!

The Anchor Bible Commentary states about these verses (emphasis mine throughout): “A second dimensional connection between the fifth vision and the temple, also based on the absolute value of the numbers, appears in the size of the two cherubim, those fanciful composite creatures whose wings were spread out over the ark within the debir, or holy of holies. The text of 1 Kings 6:23-26 explains carefully that each cherub stood 10 cubits high and that one wing of each was five cubits long. That is, each cherub was 10 cubits wide, wing tip to wing tip, and 10 cubits tall. Since the cherubim were identical in size and shape, and since they were positioned next to each other with their outer wings touching the walls of the debir and with their wings on the side next to each other just touching the middle of the debir, the cherubs together occupied a space 20 cubits wide and 10 cubits high …. The outstretched wings of the cherubim sheltered ‘the ark of the covenant of Yahweh’ (1 Kings 8:6-7) which contained the ‘two stone tablets which Moses placed there at Horeb, where Yahweh made a covenant with the people of Israel’” (1 Kings 8:9).

Lucifer was a covering cherub. A cherub is the highest-ranking spirit being under God today. Lucifer’s wings covered the very throne of God at the headquarters of the universe. He was also one of only three archangels mentioned in the Bible, until he rebelled and became Satan.

The ark of the covenant is a symbol of God’s throne. God ruled from there on the Earth. So those two covering cherubs undoubtedly represent Michael and Gabriel—the only two remaining archangels of which we are aware. Only these archangels are qualified to hold such towering positions—or so it would seem according to the Scriptures.

So what does all of this measuring in cubits mean? The subject is Solomon’s temple, or the Church of God today. The ark of the covenant and the covering cherubs represent God’s throne and the highest levels of government in God’s true Church! That means we must study these verses with extreme care and submit to the government emanating from God’s royal throne!

This prophecy is for God’s people today.

When we compare the dimensions of the flying scroll with the cherubim in the holy of holies, we must understand that the exact repetition of these dimensions is not by chance. It has been carefully designed by God. Zechariah’s flying scroll is extremely important. That flying scroll flowed from our Creator and the ruler of the entire universe! God gave it only to the Philadelphia Church of God. We were commanded to deliver it to the Laodiceans. That was our only commission for the first seven years.

What Does the Scroll Represent?

Remember that the cherubims’ wings sheltered the ark of the covenant of God. Within the ark were the tablets of the Ten Commandments—God’s law. These awesome angels kept watch over God’s law. Zechariah’s scroll has everything to do with God’s law—guarding it and keeping it. Also found within the ark was Aaron’s rod, a symbol of government. There are many Church members out there reading and studying, but they don’t understand how the Laodiceans are violating the law of God. They just cannot see how they are breaking God’s law. Yet, all of their doctrinal changes show that the Laodiceans are not keeping watch over or guarding God’s law. If you reject God’s government (and they have), you also reject God’s law. Many members of God’s Church are going to find themselves in the Tribulation because they will not submit to the government which implements God’s law.

The ark, with the Ten Commandments and Aaron’s rod, was a symbol of God’s covenant with ancient Israel. In this end time, God’s Church also entered into a covenant with God. We made a covenant to submit to God’s law and government. We made a covenant with God to guard what we were taught! The Laodiceans have seriously violated that covenant. But now there is a flying scroll reviving the Work.

If you carefully study into the porch, the cherubim in the holy of holies and the flying scroll, you can fully understand what is wrong with the Laodiceans today. They didn’t believe that Herbert Armstrong’s work was being directed from the holy of holies! They do not have the faith to see that the work of the pcg is being directed from the holy of holies.

The flying scroll represents the work of the pcg during the massive Laodicean rebellion. What is happening in the pcg is truly awesome. We are a little Church doing a gigantic work!

The rod of Aaron clearly shows us that God gives His government to a man. He must implement the law as Aaron was commanded to do.

Then God reveals His Zechariah prophecy to that man. The flying scroll vision was given to Zechariah. But he, like Daniel, didn’t understand what the vision meant. That is because it was mainly, if not solely, for the time just before Christ returns.

So where is the type of Zechariah today who receives the flying scroll revelation from God? You can find him where you find God’s law and government. He is used by God to measure His very elect with that government and law.

God is trying to keep our minds on His throne and His law! The holy of holies is where God dwells. Never lose sight of the great, majestic God who rules from His throne!

First there is God and His throne, symbolized by the mercy seat on top of the ark. That means that the government and law must always flow from the unparalleled mercy of God! We see the law and Aaron’s rod inside the ark. But there is another ingredient inside the ark: manna. If we submit to God, His law and His government, then God feeds us spiritual manna (John 6:49-50). Then we understand the prophecy of Zechariah.

We recognize that prophet as the man who fulfills Zechariah’s role in this end time. (For a more complete study on this subject, request our free book Who Is ‘That Prophet’?)

Ancient Israel was led by the ark physically. God’s loyal ministers today are those who follow that ark of God spiritually and lead God’s people.

God wants us to clearly understand that the flying scroll came from the holy of holies, or the inner temple, or the inner court where God dwells. Don’t forget that important fact. This message did not come from a man! It came from the very throne of the living God! The specific dimensions of the scroll and the cherubim remind us of that wonderful truth!

The Curses on the Scroll

It is our job to warn the Laodiceans, our nations of Israel and ultimately this world of the coming punishment for sin. Ours is no easy task. But God requires us to issue His warning message.

The flying scroll is a warning to all sinners. But that warning begins at God’s sanctuary, or Church (Ezekiel 9:1-6). “Then said he unto me, This is the curse that goeth forth over the face of the whole earth: for every one that stealeth shall be cut off as on this side according to it; and every one that sweareth shall be cut off as on that side according to it. I will bring it forth, saith the Lord of hosts, and it shall enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of him that sweareth falsely by my name: and it shall remain in the midst of his house, and shall consume it with the timber thereof and the stones thereof” (Zechariah 5:3-4). These verses show that the whole world is breaking God’s law. The whole world must be warned. Again, as we stated above, ours is a global work.

The whole truth is that no human being wants to submit to God’s law. And curses always come if we do not repent of our sin. Do you want to steal? Do you want to swear falsely by God’s name? Do you want to have phony religion? God plans to cut off any such people forever if they do not repent.

God wants His flying scroll to come flooding into our lives. It will either bring blessings or curses: blessings if we repent; curses if we continue to violate God’s law. We had better pay close attention to this flying scroll. We do have a choice—we can choose blessings or curses.

Two Women on an Ephah

“Then the angel that talked with me went forth, and said unto me, Lift up now thine eyes, and see what is this that goeth forth. And I said, What is it? And he said, This is an ephah that goeth forth. He said moreover, This is their resemblance through all the earth. And, behold, there was lifted up a talent of lead: and this is a woman that sitteth in the midst of the ephah” (Zechariah 5:5-7). The angel now shows Zechariah an ephah. The angel says the ephah goes forth, then shows a woman sitting in the middle of it. To most this may seem strange. But this new vision is directly connected to the scroll, the porch and the angels of the temple.

What is an ephah? An ephah is used 27 times in the Bible as a technical device for measuring grain. However, wheat is not being measured here. A woman is being measured. We know that a woman in the Bible is a symbol for a church—whether it’s true or false. God’s Church is being measured here. We, the members of God’s Church, are being judged now (1 Peter 4:17). The world is not yet being judged. At this time, during our day, at this very moment, those in God’s Church are being judged by God.

Let’s look at how God measured the woman. “And he said, This is wickedness. And he cast it into the midst of the ephah; and he cast the weight of lead upon the mouth thereof” (Zechariah 5:8). God finds wickedness in this church. God is very displeased with this measurement.

Now look at what happens next. “Then lifted I up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came out two women, and the wind was in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork: and they lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heaven. Then said I to the angel that talked with me, Whither do these bear the ephah? And he said unto me, To build it an house in the land of Shinar: and it shall be established, and set there upon her own base” (verses 9-11). The angel now shows Zechariah two women. Remember, these two women come on the scene at the time of Joshua’s turning away from God. This is an end-time event. Have we seen two women in the end time discussed anywhere else in Scripture? Yes, we have.

Do we see how clearly this pictures the split between the wcg and pcg? Under Herbert Armstrong there was one Church. Then he died. A Laodicean ministry assumed power and introduced great wickedness into the Church. Then, on December 7, 1989, the pcg was born. Now there are two women—the Laodicean woman and the Philadelphia woman.

God raised up the Philadelphia Church of God to, as one commentary puts it, revive the priestly role in the administration of justice. God has raised us up to revive His government administration and His law within the Church!

The Outer Court

Remember, the flying scroll also has the same dimensions as the porch, or entrance, to the temple anciently (1 Kings 6:1-3). This is where the ministers assembled. But it was in the outer court.

“And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months” (Revelation 11:1-2). First God had His leader measure the altar—a type of the ministry. Almost all of God’s ministers are in the outer court. That is where they are assembled today. And they remain there. That is the lesson of the scroll size. God gives us these dimensions for a reason. These are not just idle words in the Bible that we can ignore! It shows why there is a second woman, and who is responsible most of all: the ministers.

As Mr. Armstrong always said, the Bible is a coded book, and only God can break that code. That is what God is doing in this message.

These ministers lead God’s own people to break His law and become cursed! (as in Zechariah 5). Over 95 percent of God’s own people are under a curse today.

Some of these people come to the pcg, and almost all of those who do say they were starving spiritually. They were not being fed spiritual manna. The church they came from did not have Aaron’s rod, or God’s government. They “stumble[d] at the law.”

There are two women mentioned in Zechariah 5. One is in the inner court and one is in the outer court.

These prophecies are not that hard to understand after God reveals them. They are all focused on a short span of time just before Christ returns.

The dimensions of the scroll, the cherubim and the porch also indicate that these ministers and their followers have a connection to the holy of holies. The Laodiceans have a spiritual history with the great God! Nothing can change that history!

The great tragedy is that God no longer dwells in their midst as He did in the days of Herbert W. Armstrong.

Counterpart of Revelation 10 and 11

Zechariah 5 is a counterpart to Revelation 10:1-11:2 specifically and chapters 10 and 11 generally. The little book of Revelation is about how God’s Church splits and becomes two women. That is also the subject of the flying scroll.

The flying scroll and the little book are the same! Zechariah 3 and 4 are explained in detail as a part of Malachi’s Message, or the little book.

After John discussed the little book, he wrote about measuring. After Zechariah discussed the flying scroll, he too wrote about measuring. In both cases, it is a woman, or church, being measured. And there is another church that refuses to be measured.

The little book is given ample and critical space in the Bible. It is a direct warning to God’s people in this end time. That message comes from the supreme, majestic throne of God and the covering cherubs! God’s people who reject the little book are plunged into the Great Tribulation. Fifty percent of them will still reject the little book even then. That is why they will be lost forever!

Beyond that, the little book is a strong warning to the whole world about the deadly seriousness of sin.

The Apostle John “ate it up.” We too must eat and digest the little book. Only then will we fervently prophesy again as God commands.

“And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings” (Revelation 10:11). The commission for this new work is to prophesy again—with the emphasis, this time, on prophecy.

Now we have entered an era when prophecy—a warning message—is the primary message.

A prophet is a person to whom God has revealed His prophecies. If the commission is to prophesy, there must be a prophet to lead the work. More specifically, that prophet.

If we have a spiritual focus, we will be continually thanking God for His revealed prophecies. Mr. Armstrong often said our greatest sin is ingratitude. Are we spiritual enough to continually thank God for His revealed prophecies?

The Laodiceans became ungrateful when they were “rich, and increased with goods.” Physical things became more important than God’s spiritual gifts! Beware of that deadly Laodicean sin.

“And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein” (Revelation 11:1). A man is given a rod—God’s government—to measure God’s very elect. God uses a man to implement His law, which is likened to Aaron’s rod. God’s own Church is being cursed, so this man is directed to measure himself and God’s very elect with God’s law.

Zechariah 5 discusses the curse for breaking God’s law. However, one woman kept the law—or was measured by the law. Another woman refused to be measured and was cursed.

“But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months” (Revelation 11:2). When this man measures the very elect with God’s law, the result is an inner court, where God dwells, and an outer court, which refuses to be measured. That means there are two women, just as described in Zechariah 5. One church became wicked; the other was obedient to God. Suddenly you have two churches—one Philadelphian and one Laodicean.

“Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left” (Matthew 24:40). The Revised Standard Version and the New King James Version read not just “two,” but “two men.” God appoints one man as the “ruler over his household” (that prophet with Aaron’s rod; verse 45). There may be another man whom God views as the leader of the Laodiceans.

This is all in the context of the two women, or the Church split. “Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left” (verse 41). One woman (Philadelphian) is taken and the other woman (Laodicean) is left behind. God takes His very elect to a place of safety (Revelation 12:14). The Laodiceans must go through the Great Tribulation because of their rebellion (verse 17).

The storm is building fast (Matthew 24:34). Christ is about to return! (verses 35-37).

Revelation 10 and 11 and Zechariah 5 discuss two women. Zechariah’s scroll is about two women. So is the little book. The central message about the two women is the flying scroll. The centerpiece of our work to God’s Church is the little book.

The flying scroll discusses a measuring of God’s obedient people. God has given the pcg a measuring responsibility.

It is a flying scroll. Malachi’s Message has been advertised on television and radio. It has been mailed around the world—by airplanes. It gets around as if it had wings.

The flying scroll has huge dimensions. The little book has been seen by most of God’s Laodicean people and read by many of them. It has had a real impact inside God’s Church. That is exactly what God prophesied would happen!

One church does not understand the importance of the flying scroll. The other allows the scroll to lead and guide it!

Who fulfills a type of the Zechariah office today? Who had the flying scroll revealed to him? And the little book? Who is used to prophesy again—to measure God’s Church with God’s law?

Let me emphasize once more: This flying scroll, or the little book, came from the holy of holies—where God dwells!

Now let’s go back to the fifth chapter of Zechariah to one of the most inspiring revelations in this book.

“Then lifted I up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came out two women, and the wind was in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork: and they lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heaven. Then said I to the angel that talked with me, Whither do these bear the ephah?” (Zechariah 5:9-10). Both women have wings like storks—a symbol of God’s power. Each woman has access to God’s power, but only the Philadelphian woman is using that power before the Tribulation. Both women are carrying the ephah because each one of them must be measured before she can enter God’s Kingdom.

That prophet and his followers are told to rise and measure the temple (Revelation 11:1). The Companion Bible says he has a measuring reed (or measuring rod). The Anchor Bible Commentary says the rod served as a surveyor’s rule. This Church had a device (God’s revealed truth) like Zerubbabel’s plummet (Zechariah 4:9-10). This was a measuring device given by God to measure and establish the very elect and His Work.

For more than 25 years, God has shown us that the pcg uses His revealed truth to measure the Philadelphians. The Laodiceans refuse to be measured.

The Philadelphians are in the inner court where God dwells. They are being measured now. The Laodiceans are in the outer court where God does not dwell (Revelation 3:20; 11:1-2). Still, they are a part of God’s temple, or Church, in this end time, even though they are lukewarm.

God’s House Prophesied

Here is another wonderful truth: It was on December 7, 2007, when God revealed to me where the Bible prophesied that the pcg would build God’s physical house! Such an inspiring miracle on that day helps us remember what a miraculous day December 7, 1989, really was—the day the pcg started—and what a marvelous, wondrous vision the Philadelphians have.

On Thursday, December 6, 2007, I had an extremely busy day. I was quite tired and went to bed at 10 p.m., hoping to get a good night’s sleep. Something woke me up at about 1 a.m. After tossing in bed for about an hour, I got up, a little depressed because of awakening so early. It was now December 7, the pcg’s 18th anniversary. I had jotted down a few notes about what I wanted to speak about on the Sabbath, December 8, when we would celebrate our anniversary. Somehow I had left my notes at the office; this made me sadder still.

So instead of thinking about my notes, I went directly to the Bible scriptures that were included in those notes. I believe God was behind this chain of events, and as I read those scriptures I began to understand the verses in a way that I never had before. Though I was disappointed because I hadn’t gotten much rest, as I sat there reading in the early hours of December 7, I became filled with excitement. I saw some scriptures in a way I’d never seen them before. This new understanding drove out every trace of sadness from my mind.

I was reading from the book of Zechariah.

The final verse in Zechariah 5 is thrilling. In verse 10, Zechariah asks, Where are they taking the ephah? The answer is in verse 11: “He said to me, ‘To the land of Shinar, to build a house for it; and when this is prepared, they will set the ephah down there on its base’” (Revised Standard Version).

Shinar, in this instance, is another term for Babylon. Other Bible translations even say Babylon, instead of Shinar. Throughout the Bible, Babylon pictures the world before Christ’s return, the world we are living in today (Revelation 18).

Both the Philadelphian and Laodicean churches are working in the land of Shinar, or Babylon. Shinar is mentioned in Zechariah 5:11 for a very good reason. One woman (the Laodiceans, found with wickedness) is “dwelling” with Babylon. The other is doing God’s warning Work in Babylon.

According to Gesenius’ Hebrew and Chaldee Lexicon, the word house refers to a physical structure most of the time, but not always. Here it refers to both God’s spiritual and physical houses. This is a prophecy about God’s spiritual house, or Philadelphia Church, building a physical house.

One woman submitted to God’s measuring. God then led her to build Him a physical house and do His Work.

The expression in the King James translation “set there upon her base” is a literal Hebrew translation. The second physical temple, built by Zerubbabel, was located on the exact same place on which Solomon built his temple (Ezra 3:1-3).

Looking at it spiritually, we measured and built exactly the same way Herbert W. Armstrong did. Even God’s physical house today was patterned after the one Mr. Armstrong built in Pasadena, California.

The Laodiceans rebelled against the way Mr. Armstrong measured and built. The flying scroll is all about getting back to the way he built—spiritually and physically!

God gave the Philadelphians the honor of building His physical house before Christ returns because they submit to His measuring today.

You will find God’s very elect where you find God’s house. They are the only ones building for God today. Only they are doing God’s Work.

We have multiple buildings on our land in Edmond, Oklahoma, and God’s truth, in a manner of speaking, emanates from them all. But until our auditorium was constructed, not one of these buildings was built specifically to house God and His truth. Each was constructed for another reason, though each is being used to further God’s Work.

Zechariah 5:11 is a prophecy about God giving His very elect the job of constructing a building specifically intended for His truth. God’s house is a house for the truth of God that is being used to measure the Philadelphians currently, but will measure the Laodiceans in the Great Tribulation. God’s truth, the ephah, emanates from the house of God in Edmond, and points people toward new Jerusalem, God’s eternal house!

The Interpreter’s Bible says that a “house, that is, a temple, is to be built for the ephah measure.” Even Bible commentaries, to some degree, recognize that this verse is a prophecy about a physical house being built for God’s truth. The Bible is Jesus Christ in print. God’s truth flows out from that house. God the Father and His Son are there in Spirit. They fellowship with us in that house!

Barnes’ Notes says: “A house or temple was to be built for it, for its honor and glory ….” That is the truth of God. We were given the job of building a house for God that would declare the honor and glory, the perfection and magnificence, of the truth of God. What greater opportunity, or responsibility, is there today than to build the house for God?

The Anchor Bible says the word temple, the Hebrew word for house, is used as a “designation for a divine residence.” God lives in this house! The truth flows from God and His house. It is measured precisely by God Himself.

The Anchor Bible also writes about a structure “upon its bases” and states that “most commentators take [that] to refer to a kind of ‘base’ or ‘pedestal,’ as indeed the word is commonly used in the Bible (e.g., 1 Kings 7:27-43 … it is used 13 times in reference to the 10 bronze stands of the temple of Solomon).” This is obviously referring to a physical structure. The Companion Bible says it shall be established “for that ephah, and it’s going to be prepared for it, and it will be set there or fixed or settled. It relates how the base equals a fixed resting place.” Lange’s says this house will give the ephah a “permanent habitation.” It is to be “established and settled on its base.” These verses clearly refer to a spiritual and a physical house.

God’s truth is permanently housed in the auditorium on the pcg’s land. It is the most splendid building of grandeur on this campus by far.

We must grasp the magnitude and depth of this revelation! We were commissioned to build a house for God’s truth. God fellowships with us in this house, and He will continue to give us more and more of His truth.

God’s House and New Jerusalem

The Eternal has chosen Jerusalem is the most awesome vision in the Bible (Zechariah 3:2). It is the key of David vision expressed in a way that enhances our understanding on a practical level.

I had not understood the depth of “the [Eternal] hath chosen Jerusalem“ before December 7, 2007. It is no coincidence that it was on that same day that God revealed to me the prophecy in Zechariah 5:9-11, which says the pcg will build a house for God. We need to think about why God linked these two topics in such a way!

God’s house and new Jerusalem are intimately connected. We have built a spectacular structure that points people toward new Jerusalem and shows the world that the Eternal has chosen Jerusalem! The Eternal has eternal goals. We must also have eternal goals!

We must start by looking to the city of Jerusalem today. That is where new Jerusalem will be located.

The city of Jerusalem today is about to be altered mightily with Christ’s imminent return. Herbert W. Armstrong College is involved in an archaeological dig in Jerusalem. We are already helping to prepare, in a physical way, for Christ’s Second Coming!

God’s goal is to get us, and this world, into new Jerusalem. Building God’s house is a primary means of getting our minds focused on new Jerusalem and the time when God’s Family will be comprised of spirit beings only. The auditorium has a message of hope for a world that is ready to crash and burn. The splendor of that building will help millions of people to better appreciate the glory of God and His truth!

The Laodiceans have turned their backs on God because they lost sight of new Jerusalem. They no longer see that the Eternal has chosen Jerusalem. We must learn from their example and work diligently to capture the deep vision of new Jerusalem!

The Eternal has chosen Jerusalem. Now the Eternal’s sons must also choose Jerusalem!