The Four Carpenters –The Builders, Part 2

This subject has several references which are —

Tract 12, p.49-50
2 SR, p.260 (made prior to Kingdom light)
1 TG, no. 11, p.11
1 TG, no. 12, p.15
2 TG, no. 44, p.50-51

There are two other references but they are in the new codes, which we do not prescribe as part of the Golden Bowl. For a comprehensive study report on why, see this link —

https://pre-11thhourministry.org/important-documents/

Three of the references instruct us that the four carpenters “build for” Judah/ God’s people. What does it mean  –build for?  Let us look at the references.

“Here the same powers which scattered Judah and Israel are again seen, not as horns, but as carpenters; not to scatter God’s people, but to build for them, and to cast out the horns (powers) of the Gentiles — those who rule the land.  Plainly, then, on one hand the nations which do not rule Palestine are to arise as “horns” against those who rule it, and on the other hand they are to rise as carpenters for the people of God.  Thus will “the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.” Lu. 21:24. (1 TG, no. 11, p.11)

“Previously the prophet saw these as four horns, as powers that scattered Judah, Israel and Jerusalem throughout the Gentile nations, but as the angel projected the prophetic view to the time of the end he saw them as four carpenters; that is, as “horns” they come to “fray” and to “cast out the horns of the Gentiles” from the land of Judah, but as carpenters they obviously come to build for Judah. Evidently, then, when the horns (powers) of the Gentiles are cast out of the land, and God’s people are brought into it, then “the times of the Gentiles” shall have been fulfilled.” ( 1 TG, no. 12, p.15) 

“Once God raised “horns,” nations, to scatter His people throughout the Gentile nations, but those “horns” in the restoration of “all things,” are seen to become “carpenters,” so that while they as horns at long last cast the Gentiles out from the promised land, they are as carpenters to build for Judah. Thus Zechariah, as do all the prophets before him, prophesies of the restoration of the kingdom of Judah.” ( 1 TG, no. 15, p.18) 

Obviously for the Lord’s Rod to triple down on what the four carpenter do (build) we need to focus on this.

When it says build for, does that imply they take instructions from God’s people? In other words for example , we would not expect in the real world for builders to build for themselves when it is expressingly said they build for someone else, right? Obviously common sense and logic, which apply as present truth believers as we are  “Close reasoners and logical thinkers”.

So if they build for God’s people, we know that only the 144,000 and anti-typical “Joshua” would be the people as they have the final message of the Kingdom and know what needs to be done according to the Lord’s word.

“Obviously they are called to come to the Kingdom who immediate  citizens are to be the first fruits, the 144,000, the church purified and set apart from the world.” (1 TG, no. 12, p.23)

Even though they arrive there first, their instructions to build and instruct the four carpenters , though, comes from the Lord as we read —

Zech. 6:12 — “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.”

Joshua is well instructed that the burden and the ingenuity for building this spiritual temple, belongs to Him Whose namw is “the BRANCH.” He is to grow out of His place. To Him be the glory. He alone is to be exalted. He is to build the temple of the Lord.” ( 1 TG, no. 8, p.27)

So as with everything God has order and we see that there will be a threefold directive — The Lord — The 144,000 and anti-typical Joshua (VTH) — the four carpenters. The team that builds the kingdom.

There are others who build but they are accessory builders. For more on that aspect see our post —

https://hearyetherod.wordpress.com/2020/10/31/who-builds-the-pre-mil-kingdom/

In part 3 we’ll look at more aspects of this subject

The Four Carpenters –The Builders

In  this part 1, we’ll start with some much needed counsel on how we are to arrive at the truth of a subject.

A very interesting topic of the present truth message is the subject of the “Four Carpenters” mentioned in Zechariah 1:20-21, it reads —

“And the LORD shewed me four carpenters. Then said I, What come these to do? And he spake, saying, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, so that no man did lift up his head: but these are come to fray them, to cast out the horns of the Gentiles, which lifted up their horn over the land of Judah to scatter it.” 

Unfortunately this subject has many views with not many agreeing to the subject in unison. In this series we shall take a close look at the references to get a better picture (in part 2).

Before we do let’s reiterate what we find is the analogy of arriving at the “truth” of any subject or topic of present truth.

Each subject is what we call a picture of truth, and we liken it to a puzzle picture. As with any puzzle you have all the pieces in disarray and they are ready for you to put them together to make the picture. The peices cannot work unless they all fit together and only then will you complete the puzzle picture and see the beautiful picture.

The references are the pieces of the puzzle and we must gather all the pieces together first before we can assemble the picture. If we leave out some of the peices we may find there are holes in the picture and we cannot appreciate the beautiful picture as intended by our divine King. In other words there will be no harmonization. The Rod’s many statements confirm  –we must harmonize (see our study link below).

As we read the references, we can then see how they fit one to the other. In other words, how they harmonize and present the subject in a clear and wonderful picture. Each subject is that picture, waiting for us to put the references together in a harmonious way. After all God is not the author of confusion as we read —

“For God is not the author of confusion” (1 Cor. 14:33)

It is us where the confusion comes in. But, if we go about our study and “rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15) then we shall have a clear conception of truth.

Now, in order to make the picture, we should have handy the Scriptural Index for both the Rod and the SOP. But most assuredly at least the Rod index. This way we first find all the references we have on a subject. Afterall it is INSPIRATION’S interpretation we need, not our own private ideas and assumptions.

As we right down all the references, we then are able to read each closely “marking each word” and noting what they specifically say. As we do this the Lord’s “Spirit of Truth” shall guide us into all truth (John 16:13). 

For those who want to see our prior post on the five study keys to helping understand the message, click this link —

https://hearyetherod.wordpress.com/2024/03/23/5-keys-to-understanding-present-truth-doctrines/

Depending on the subject and how complicated it may be, most likely even under the very best research we won’t find “all” the pertinent references, but will find the vast majority of them to help see the clear picture. The reason in this part 1 that we are stressing these points is because we simply have way too many “private interpreters” today among us so called present truth believers! We are talking about some of our “teachers”. We are simply amazed at the extent of this problem. But there are simple, clear and defined answers to avoid this if we will only follow inspiration’s counsels.

It is very clear to us why the Lord told His beloved apostle James to warn us —

“My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.” (James 3:1)

End of part 1, to be continued soon ….