Summer and Winter
A Meaning to the Seasons
Ezra and Nehemiah served about 80 to 100 years after the return of Israel from Babylon. Their work was to refurbish the Temple at Jerusalem, and restore the walls of the city.
Br. Ryan Hangs observed that Nehemiah 6:15, and Ezra 6:15, refer to the completion of the Wall of Jerusalem, and of the Temple at Jerusalem, respectively. The Wall of Jerusalem in Revelation measured 144 cubits, and is commonly seen as a picture of the Chuch in glory (Revelation 21:17). From this we gather that Nehemiah completing the walls of Jerusalem is a picture of the same.
Rebuilding the Walls of Jerusalem
The Temple also represents the Church, “Ye … as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house” (1 Peter 2:5). So that the completed work of Ezra would also picture the time when the Church is complete in glory.
Therefore, when the restorative work of these two Godly men was completed, in both cases we have pictures that take us to the completion of the Church in glory, at the end of the Gospel Age Harvest.
A DISTINCTION?
However, Br. Hangs wondered if there might be some contrast in the meaning of each picture. Are they merely repetitive, or may there be a subtle distinction?
He observed that Nehemiah 6:15 refers to the 6th month, which is the end of summer. And that Ezra 6:15 refers to the 12th month, which is the end of winter. If the harvest is the summer time, then the Church is completed at the end of summer — and as per Matthew 24:20, the Great Company will be remain for a time, into the winter period, before they are all gathered up.
A familiar text that speaks of this difference in completing the Church, and the Great Company, is Jeremiah 8:20. “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.” This is widely considered to reflect the thoughts of the Great Company class after the Church has been taken — the Elisha class remaining after the Elijah class has gone.
Perhaps this contrast is reflected also in a comparison of Nehemiah’s completed work, with Ezra’s completed work. Nehemiah, completing of the walls of Jerusalem at the end of the summer, takes us to the completion of the Church. But Ezra, completing the Temple at the end of the winter, takes us to the completion of the Great Company class as well.
It may be an intended contrast. However, we seem to need some further point in the contrast, a second witness, that we are following the meaning correctly. There is an additional observation that is helpful here.
THE LEVITES
In the book of Nehemiah, the subject of the wall is referred to also in chapter 12. “At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites out of all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem, to keep the dedication with gladness, both with thanksgiving, and with singing, with cymbals, psalteries, and with harps” (Nehemiah 12:27). Here the Levites are still in need of gathering, after the Church (the wall) is complete.
The Levites, in the time of the Kingdom, are often considered to represent the Great Company class. An example of this is the passage in Numbers 8:6-19. Here the Levites were to first wash their garments, and then be given to the priesthood, “to Aaron and to his sons” (verse 19), to assist the priests in their duties. This reminds us of Revelation 7:14, which speaks of the Great Company class having “washed their robes” in order to be useful servants in glory, to assist the Church class.
At the dedication of the walls in Nehemiah, the Levites are yet to be gathered together — picturing the final gahering of the Great Company class, after the Church is complete. Then they can participate, “to keep the dedication with gladness” (Nehemiah 12:27).
This gathering of the Levites reminds us of Esther 2:19. Following Esther (the Church) going into the presence of the king (Jesus), in Esther 2:16, verse 19 then says, “the virgins were gathered together the second time.” This gathering of the virgins refers to the gathering of the Great Company, after the Bride class is in glory.
In Ezra, it is different. When the Temple was restored and ready, then Ezra 6:18-20 says: “They set the priests in their divisions, and the Levites in their courses, for the service of God, which is at Jerusalem … (20) For the priests and the Levites were purified together, all of them were pure.”
By this time, at the end of winter, both classes are in glory. The priests represent the Church, and the Levites represent the Great Company.
— From Correspondence with Br. Ryan Hangs