The six circuits (once each day) represent the first six periods of the Gospel Age (Ephesus through Philadelphia). An angel blew a trumpet (announced a special message) in each period, or church. (In all, there are seven churches, trumpets, messages, and messengers for seven periods.) In the Joshua type, seven priests blew seven trumpets. The seven priests picture the seven messengers, the seven trumpets are the Word of God, and the sound represents the seven messages.

The armed men of war represent consecrated soldiers of the Cross, who faithfully proclaim the message of truth. The armed men of war were from Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh, although some from the other tribes could also have been included. The people in the rear picture the rest of the “Christian” world, which is a mixed company.

In verse 1, if “in that day” applies to the nominal Church during the seven phases of its experience, then the phrase would also apply to the Gospel Age. However, in verse 2, the phrase “in that day” refers to the glorification of Israel at the end of the present age when the Kingdom is established in power and glory. The Jewish survivors of the Gog and Magog invasion of the Holy Land will have a wonderful experience.

For “them that are escaped of Israel,” the Revised Standard has “the survivors of Israel [in Jacob’s Trouble].” That the survivors will be very highly honored, and why they will be “beautiful and glorious” and “the fruit” most pleasant, will be shown subsequently.

In his Epistle to the Colossians, Paul was emphasizing the importance of Jesus’ role in his ministry of 3 1/2 years while here on earth in the flesh (Col. 1:19-22; 2:9). Paul talked of the risen Lord on other occasions, but his words here were particularly slanted to rebut the erroneous philosophy he anticipated would intrude into the class at Colosse. Some said that Jesus was only a messenger of truth and not the representative of God. They said he did not really suffer or die on the Cross, that his death was only a pretense. Proponents of this heresy looked down on those who were persecuted and/or poor temporally. Suffering for Christ and for righteousness’ sake was not seen as an evidence of faithfulness. In an effort to combat this error, Paul had to state that all of his sufferings and persecutions were marks of his apostleship.

Employees should be given their due. Not only should promotions be deserved, but conversely, reprimands, punishments, and demotions should be administered as deserved and not in excess of what is merited. For example, the jailer observed that Joseph was beneficial not only to himself but also to the other prisoners, and favored him accordingly (Gen. 39:21-23).

Knowing that they have a “Master in heaven” should keep the employer and the slave owner from getting heady with power and authority. All have to answer to Jesus sooner or later. Paul used the same tactic with husbands and wives. The husband is the head of the wife, but Christ is the Head of the husband. As bondservants or slaves of Christ, we should keep the proper perspective.

As we examine the Book of Hebrews, we see more and more that it was addressed primarily to Jewish Christians. In early chapters, almost from the beginning, Paul warned how easy it is to go out of the truth by letting things slip or by forsaking the assembling of ourselves together. Now, near the end of the book, he reverted back to his concern for converted Jews and the problems in maintaining their faith and in resisting sin in others as well as in their own fallen nature. Our three enemies are categorized as the world, the flesh, and the devil.

The fourth chapter of Isaiah emphasizes the Holy Remnant in no uncertain terms. Notice the repetition of terms in verses 2–4: Israel, Zion, Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Zion, and Jerusalem. The terms are more or less synonymous, all referring to natural Israel. And notice the repetition of phrases referring to survivors in verses 2–4: “them that are escaped,” “he that is left,” “he that remaineth,” and “even every one that is written among the living.” What could be more emphatic? The Lord plainly uses repetition to impress these points upon us.

When those of the Gog element who live through the trouble go back as eyewitnesses to their home governments, they will say, “Not only did God spare these Jews, but we saw the salvation and glory with our own eyes.” God has promised to fight for Israel as He did in days of old. “Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle” (Zech. 14:3). Both the surviving Jews and the surviving Gentiles on the scene will recognize that God is fighting for the Holy Remnant. The Gentile eyewitnesses will report that God is the God of Israel, the Holy One of Israel. The emphasis on the purging of the Jews in Jacob’s Trouble is fourfold in verse 4: He will (1) wash away the filth of the daughters of Zion and (2) purge the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof (3) by the spirit of judgment and (4) by the spirit of burning.

Six circuits (once each day) = 6 periods of Gospel Age (Ephesus Philadelphia). An angel blew a trumpet (announced a special message) in each period/Church. (In all, there are 7 churches/trumpets/messages/messengers for 7 periods.) In the Joshua type, 7 priests blew 7 trumpets. Seven priests = 7 messengers; 7 trumpets = Word of God; sound = message (7 of them).