“In that day, saith the Lord of hosts, will I take thee, O Zerubbabel, my servant, the son of Shealtiel, saith the Lord, and will make thee as a signet: for I have chosen thee, saith the Lord of hosts” (Haggai 2:23). This book has a prophetic, end-time setting. The expression “in that day” means we must look for a man in our time—a type of Zerubbabel—to be established as God’s signet.

This verse tells us that Haggai holds vital understanding about God’s Work in this end time. In fact, once fully understood in all of its significance, this verse is proof of where God’s Work is today!

Who is this end-time Zerubbabel? The fruits of Herbert W. Armstrong’s life prove it was him. He realized this himself toward the end of his life, and he preached and wrote about it. Yet most of God’s people disagree with that truth today.

Why does God say He made this end-time Zerubbabel a signet? Unger’s Bible Dictionary defines signet as an “impression made therewith had the same legal validity as an actual signature” (emphasis mine). The law is what makes a signature valid. People must submit to that law or everything breaks down. So the law and government established through a type of Zerubbabel is like God’s own signature today!

The whole idea of the signet is about God and His government. God reveals the signet’s meaning only to those who submit to His government. The signet is an emblem, or seal, of authority—God’s authority. Zerubbabel is the signet, but he is God’s signet. We use that signet, or seal, to establish what God taught through Mr. Armstrong. The only reason you need the signet is if the person in authority is not there. The seal represents God’s authority or government. Christ is the Head of God’s true Church. Those people who have the signet have Jesus Christ as the Head of their Church.

Mr. Armstrong died 40 years ago. God’s Work today has the same government and foundational doctrines that God established through him. Verses 11-14 indicate that the majority of God’s own ministry has a problem with that law or government! Malachi 2:8 tells us that they stumble at the law. That is why they fail to offer a clean offering to God. They are part of what the Bible calls the Laodicean, or lukewarm, era (Revelation 3:14-22).

Haggai 2:23 is one of the most revealing verses in the entire Bible. The Work of God today revolves around an end-time Zerubbabel—a man. If you understand the Zerubbabel type and his work, you will know what God is doing today! That is how important verse 23 is. Christ prophesied that we should look for and follow the teachings of a specific man who restored all things (Matthew 17:10-11). Spiritually, that is a massive work. Anybody should be able to see it. God leaves us without excuse. God’s signature is on all things restored, because He did that work through Mr. Armstrong.

It is important to understand Haggai 2:23 about this signet, because it is foundational revelation for this end time. God chose a man to be an authority today through his teachings. God could only use a man as His signet if he had a powerful work preceding his death. We can take all of the truth that he taught and use it with the stamp of God’s authority today.