The Messianic Seal and A New Sunrise in Tsiyon Our graphic to the left is rich in symbolic meaning. The gold symbol in the foreground is known as the Messianic Seal. It is remarkable in its elegant visual statement as well as its great antiquity and original usage - it was the symbol used by the first assembly of believers in Messiah in Jerusalem nearly 2,000 years ago. For news reporting the discovery of the Messianic Seal etched on artifacts used by Messiah's brother James, the Twelve Apostles, and the rest of the early Messianic believers associated with the first Messianic assembly in Jerusalem, Click Here. Today we sometimes hear from listeners who have heard that symbols comprising the Messianic Seal, including the fish, the taw/cross and the six-pointed Star of David are of pagan origin. Indeed, many symbols, concepts, words and other treasures of the Kingdom are appropriated, abused and perverted by the enemies of the Kingdom to rob them of their true meaning and spiritual power. Does that make the Scriptural use of these same symbols evil? James, brother of Messiah, and the rest of the early Jerusalem believers didn't think so! Clearly inspired by the Holy Spirit to do so, they brought these symbols together in one amazing symbol known today as the Messianic Seal. In adopting the use of this ancient and set-apart Seal we boldly reclaim these stolen symbols from the enemy camp, restoring their true meaning, for the Kingdom of Messiah! Now, let's consider the true meaning of the Messianic Seal as displayed in our design. In our graphic the Messianic Seal is super-imposed over a representation of ancient Mount Tsiyon/Zion at sunrise, while a Shofar (horn) is being blown from Tsiyon/Zion to signal an important message or event.  Tsiyon/Zion in Scripture is introduced to us as a mountain in Israel, but embodies so much more than just a plot of real estate in the ongoing revelation of the Divine. The melding of these two symbolic themes into one graphic representation in our logo, Tsiyon at Sunrise, and the Messianic Seal, reveals much about our vision, here at Tsiyon Radio, regarding our Father's purposes. Let's consider each part of the logo separately to begin to bring a revelation into focus that is very ancient - yet is now breaking forth anew upon the world as fresh as the dawn of a new day. Deciphering the Meaning of the Messianic Seal The Menorah At the top of the Messianic Seal is a representation of the Menorah, the seven-branched golden candelabrum used to light the Tabernacle and Temples of YHWH. The priest lit the Menorah in the Sanctuary every evening and serviced it every morning, replacing the wicks and refilling fresh olive oil into the cups, enabling it to continue shining night and day. (Lev. 24:1-4) The Menorah of the Tabernacle was an amazing piece of work, beyond the scope of human ability to produce. "All of it shall be one piece of hammered work of pure gold" said YHWH. Considering its intricate shape with seven branches decorated with the shapes of almond blossoms and flowers, it would truly be beyond the ability of man to beat out of a single piece of pure gold. It was only possible because the Creator of Heaven and Earth who ordered its creation also enabled men of flesh and blood to bring it forth by His Spirit according to the Divine Plan. It is thus a fitting symbol of God's written light to His people, the Torah, which can only be "hammered" out  - wrought in human flesh - by the power of the Holy Spirit. It is likewise a fitting symbol of God's light to the nations, His people Israel who, despite the limitations of their fallen flesh, are empowered by the guiding hand of Providence to be a testimony of His faithfulness throughout all ages to all the Earth. Thus, as we look at the Menorah as the first part of the Messianic Seal, we immediately identify in it an attitude of profound respect for the Torah, and identification with the heritage and people of Israel. (See Exodus 25:31-40, 35:30-35; Ps.119:105, 130; Prov. 6:23; Zech. 4:6; Rom. 8:4; Isa 42:6; 49:3, 6) The Fish Some of Y'shua's foremost men were fishermen. Indeed, Y'shua spent a good bit of time catching and eating fish with them, and when He called them into His service He said; "Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men." With these words Messiah identified a new kind of fish for His disciples to catch, namely, men to populate the Messianic Kingdom. Y'shua drove the point home on numerous occasions by performing great miracles involving fish - such as multiplying a few fish to feed 5,000 people or filling the boat of his disciples with so many fish it almost sank from the volume of the catch! Clearly, these amazing experiences with Y'shua made a deep and lasting impression on His disciples. This fish metaphor with which the disciples were made so dramatically familiar, brings a personal touch of good humor to the solemnity of the Messianic Seal, echoing as it does, the purposeful and joyous fish joke of their closest Friend and Savior. (See Mar. 1:17;  Matt. 14:19-21; Luke 5:4-7) So how did this symbol of the fish get from there to Gentile bumper-stickers in the twenty-first century? As we see in the Messianic Seal, the fish was used as a symbol of the catch of men of all nations, that is, the object of the "Great Commission," from the earliest days of the Faith. From those early beginnings the fish as a Christian symbol eventually migrated to Rome. This symbol became so popular among Gentile Christians, in fact, that by the middle of the second century Clement of Alexandria was suggesting that all his readers should include the sign of the fish in their personal seals, identifying them as Christians. The Greek spelling for the word fish, ICHTHUS, was incorporated into the meaning of the symbol, providing  the first five letters of the words that spell in Greek: "Jesus, Christ, God, Son, and Savior." (See Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 1:8) The eye of the fish in some renditions of the Messianic Seal is the taw - the Hebrew/Aramaic letter corresponding to our letter 't' - which forms the shape of the "cross" (upright pole with cross-piece) upon which our Savior died for men of all nations. Truly, the fish symbol of the Messianic Seal conveys a picture of the great Kingdom catch of Gentile humanity, and the Grace inherent in the Cross of Messiah by which that otherwise doomed multitude are graciously hauled into the Savior's boat! The Seal of the House of David The two elements of the Messianic Seal already discussed, namely, the Menorah and the Fish, are arranged in the ancient Nazarean graphic to be interconnected by a third symbol, namely, the symbol known to many today as the Star of David. It is as if the Fish is caught by its tail on the Menorah, with the Davidic Sign forming the crucial connection point. Amazing! In this manner what appears to many as two opposites are brought together in a supernatural harmony - Law and Grace, Israelites and Gentiles. Truly, the agency of this seemingly impossible unity represented as the focal point of the Messianic Seal is worthy of our highest consideration. What is the significance then, of this central feature of the Messianic Seal? While the Star of David is thought of today as the national symbol of Israel, such is not the case so far as its origin is concerned. If the Menorah is the historic national symbol of Israel, comparable to the American Eagle as a symbol of the United States, then the Star of David would compare most closely, but not exactly, to the Presidential Seal. The Star of David in its original usage in Israel is the Royal Seal of the House of David. Even its very design says as much. It is formed of two interlaced, equilateral triangles or DALTHA, that is, the letter ‘D’ for David. The 'D' pointing up is David, the patriarch of the House of David with whom the Davidic Covenant for an everlasting House and Kingdom were made, and his other earthly successors, each in their day. The 'D' pointing down is the Greater David, namely, the Messiah, Whom David calls "my Lord ." This "star" design harkens back to the prophetic word, fulfilled in the rise of the Davidic “star” to rule the house of Jacob. "A star shall come forth from Jacob, and a scepter shall rise from Israel .." This “star” refers very specifically to King David, who fulfilled the prophetic qualification of the verse, “…who shall crush through the forehead of Moab.” Indeed, it was David who fulfilled this prophecy. According to the inspired record; “he defeated Moab ..And the Moabites became servants to David, bringing tribute.” (Numbers 24:17; 2 Samuel 8:2 Psalm 110:1) The Star of David is therefore appropriately called the Shield of David (Magen David) because according to Hebrew tradition this seal appeared on King David's armaments, under which sign he subdued, not only Moab, but the rest of Israel’s enemies on every side. The House of David was, in fact, intended of God to be a "shield" of sorts to Israel throughout their generations, in the sense of providing righteous leadership that would be a protection for the people of God. At the same time, YHWH would be a shield around the Davidic House, as the Guarantor of the everlasting covenant made with David. (Jer. 21:12; Psalm 3:3) Being a sign of Davidic authority, the Shield of David was the symbol used as the Royal Seal by the King and dignitaries of the Davidic House to seal official documents. In fact, there is some archaeological evidence of this. The ancient Star of David was unearthed in the city of Sidon in the form of a seal ring bearing the familiar six-pointed design, which has been dated from the seventh century BCE. The Davidic Seal is mentioned in the Talmud in a very interesting reference. King Solomon, David’s son and successor, is said to have had authority over wicked spirit forces by the power invested in the emblem on his ring, there referred to as The Seal of Solomon. Apparently even the invisible enemies of the Davidic Kingdom gave way before the divinely conferred authority represented in that royal symbol! As with Solomon, it is no stretch of the imagination to assume that the Davidic Seal, and the authority it represents, was passed down through the generations of the Davidic House, till the generation of the coming of Messiah and beyond. (Gittin 68) Considering Y'shua’s Davidic lineage and fulfillment of Messianic prophesies, it should not surprise us to find the Seal of the House of David used as an important symbol by early Messianic believers in connection with the Davidic King of Kings. In keeping with this, the Encyclopedia Judaica notes that the Davidic symbol was used by early "Judeo-Christians." This likely refers to the early Messianic Jews who provided the root of the “Christian” faith, to whom the Davidic heritage of the Messiah was a vitally important theme. (Encyclopedia Judaica, Subject: Magen David). Modern commentators on the meaning of the Messianic Seal generally stop with the Messiah in their assessment of the Davidic symbol's meaning within the larger Messianic Seal. However, from the point of view of the first century Messianic believers, there was a fuller dimension of meaning to its symbolism which is today being overlooked. From their Hebraic perspective, the House of David, identified by its Seal for centuries before the coming of Messiah, was by eternal covenant to forever furnish the guardians of Davidic House and Kingdom interests in Israel. It was the Davidic family legacy to provide righteous spiritual leadership in Jacob. Indeed, the House of David as a family was at the center and root of the events bringing Messiah onto the scene and establishing and maintaining the Messianic Community. Mary and Joseph and all their family were of the House of David. Elizabeth, mother of John the Baptist, was a relative of Mary, so also likely had Davidic blood, meaning her son John did too. These and other relatives of Y'shua were all key players in the rise of the Davidic House to its honored destiny of producing the Messiah and Savior of the world. Realize this: Y'shua, of the House of David, is the Davidic Messiah, not by way of His divinity, but by way of His lineage as a MAN. As a man, He spent 30 years being molded and shaped within the Davidic family into which He was born, being prepared in his humanity for His awesome Messianic destiny. This unique role of the Lord's Davidic family in support of His Messianic mission did not simply cease with His ascension to the right hand of the Father.  After Messiah's departure, his brother James, another key descendant of the House of David, was elevated to the principle earthly position of leadership within the Messianic Community - surpassing the authority of any other single apostle. By what overarching authority do we see the Twelve surrendering the presidency of the Jerusalem Mother Assembly to none of their number, but rather, to James, the Lord's brother? The Seal of the House of David at the center of what is today called the Messianic Seal, gives us that answer. As rightful Davidic heir, James was by right of covenant the undisputed leader. None of that is to say that the Seal of David in this context does not stand for the Messiah. It most certainly does. However, it likely originally stood for Him as bearing the Family Seal as Head of the House of David, other members of which House were very much involved in bringing forth the Messiah, and remained very much involved in overseeing the daily business of His Messianic Administration.  He was recognized as the Reigning King of Israel within the Messianic Community - His relatives in the flesh and fellow-members of the House of David therefore had a primary covenantal responsibility to uphold Messiah's House and Kingdom, even as the family members of all the Davidic kings had done in each of the Davidic administrations throughout the history of Israel. (See 2 Samuel 7:16, 25-29; Psalm 122:5; Jer.21:12; 33:26; Matt.1:1,20; 9:27; 13:55; Lk. 1:29, 30-36; 2:4; Acts 12:17; Acts 15:13-21; 21:12; 1 Cor. 15:7; Gal. 1:19) The strong identification of the Davidic Seal specifically with the Davidic House soon fell out of public view. The reason for this is very simple. The Romans and later, the Roman Church, conducted multiple campaigns against the House of David, hunting them down for extermination. This drove the surviving members of the House of David underground, and the true meaning of the Seal of the House of David with them. Therefore, after the Biblical times we have been focusing on, we find the Shield of David coming into use in a much more varied way by Jews, Christians and Moslems, even being utilized at times as a symbol of the occult. In modern times the Magen David became strongly identified with the aspirations of the Jewish people for a national homeland in Israel, emerging as such with the Zionist movement of the nineteenth century. In the twentieth century Nazi Germany utilized the sign of a yellow Magen David to mark millions of Jews as subjects for persecution and even death. Presently, the Magan David is prominently known as the central symbol of the Israeli National Flag. This use of the Shield of David is in keeping with the general modern usage of the symbol. However, as we have seen, it does not well reflect the original meaning of the Davidic symbol, since the secular government of Israel, with respect, is clearly not Davidic. As for the meaning of the Seal of the House of David within the Messianic Seal - that seems quite clear. Law and Grace brought together. Israelites and Gentiles joined into one. All through the concrete outworking of YHWH's covenantal promises to David, as fulfilled in the Davidic Administration of Y'shua the Messiah, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Truly, the Messianic Seal, properly understood, conveys nothing less than the Gospel of the Kingdom! Tsiyon Certainly, the Messianic Seal and its meaning is more than enough to prayerfully contemplate in itself. Feel free to do that and come back to take in the rest of this at a later time. For those who are ready to continue, we shall go on to uncover the meaning of Tsiyon at Sunrise, as illustrated in our graphic. The first thing you may have noticed is that we use the spelling "Tsiyon" rather than the more well-known spelling, "Zion." While we are not sticklers about how every Hebrew word in the Bible is translated, we felt that we should spell the word that defines the central theme we represent as closely as possible to the actual Hebrew word from which it is named. There is, in fact, no letter 'Z' in the original paleo-Hebrew word. "Tsiyon" is the closest possible transliteration into English. Tsiyon is a word. Tsiyon is a place. Tsiyon is a person. Tsiyon is a concept. As a word, Tsiyon, by the definition of one camp of scholars, means "a parched (dry) place." Another camp of scholars disagrees with that, giving us the meaning of a "citadel, refuge or sanctuary." You can take your pick, but the second choice makes more sense to us. Tsiyon was no more parched than any other place in the territory of Judah, but it was uniquely used as a refuge for its occupants. This brings us to Tsiyon, the place. Tsiyon is the previously impregnable mountain stronghold that was captured from the Jebusites by King David, immediately following his coronation as king of the Twelve Tribes of Israel. As such, it became the royal seat of both his House and his Kingdom, being called the "city of David." All of this was by Divine Providence, for in the Psalm YHWH says; "But as for Me, I have installed My King Upon Tsiyon, My holy mountain." Just how much did/does YHWH love Tsiyon? The Psalmist boldly declares, "YHWH loves the gates of Tsiyon more than all the dwelling places of Jacob." In fact, YHWH Himself is said to have ruled from Tsiyon, which He did, through the agency of the Davidic Kingdom. (2 Sam. 5:1-9; Chronicles 11:1-7; Psalm 2:6; 87:2; 128;5 ) Thus Tsiyon, the place, became forever identified with David, the person. In its first meaning Tsiyon is therefore more than merely a mountain or a city - it is more fully the actual location of the headquarters of the Davidic House and Kingdom. Many people today understand Tsiyon to be synonymous with the whole city of Jerusalem. Indeed, there are verses in Scripture that speak of Jerusalem in this way. No doubt, when David captured it, this was literally true. However, as the city of Jerusalem grew up on and around the favored mount, the totality of Jerusalem soon outstripped the literal boundaries of Mount Tsiyon itself. Even so, the familiar designation of "Tsiyon" as synonymous with Jerusalem stuck as the city grew. This was not entirely incorrect, since it was all the city that David founded and reigned over Israel from, no matter how large it became. In fact, the Scriptures sometimes speak of the whole people of Israel ruled from Tsiyon as being Tsiyon, calling them "sons" and "daughters" of Tsiyon as well. (Psalm 97:8; 99:2; 102:21; 146:10; 149:2; Song 3:11; Isa. 51:3; 52:7 and many others) A number of prophecies link the coming Messiah with Tsiyon. For example, Isaiah foretold; "Behold, I am laying in Tsiyon a stone, a tested stone, A costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed. He who believes will not be disturbed." Also; "A Redeemer will come to Tsiyon, And to those who turn from transgression in Jacob." Early Messianic believers saw these verses fulfilled in Y'shua, the Messiah, the Rock and Redeemer of Tsiyon upon Whom our faith is built. (Isaiah 28:16; 59:20; 1 Peter 2:6) As the articles we link regarding the Messianic Seal reveal, Y'shua founded the original body of disciples in their meeting place in the part of the city of Jerusalem then and now known as Tsiyon / Zion. That is where the Jerusalem Assembly continued to meet even after His death, resurrection and ascension, as the discovery of the Messianic Seal artifacts used by that first Messianic Assembly at that location well attest. That Jerusalem location remained the earthly seat of the Messianic work through the entire tenure of James and beyond into that of his Davidic successor. That would have continued to be so until now, except that the Romans eventually drove out all Jews from that hallowed hill. This brings us last of all to Tsiyon as a concept. This is so because the need for Tsiyon, the seat of the Davidic House and Kingdom in the midst of Messiah's people, still exists, even though Tsiyon as an actual place is now essentially off-limits. It is with this concept of Tsiyon that our Tsiyon Radio programs largely concern themselves, for the Psalmist says; "Those who trust in YHWH are as Mount Tsiyon, which cannot be moved but abides forever." (Psalm 125:1) The Rising Sun In our graphic, the Sun is rising in Tsiyon with all the promise of a new day, shining through the center of the Seal of the House of David as it appears in the Messianic Seal. This connection of the Sun with the Seal of the House of David is very appropriate. Though not well known as such, the rising Star of David is a pictorial reference to the principle star of our heavenly neighborhood, the Sun. Indeed, YHWH Himself identifies the Davidic House with the Sun, which rises every day on schedule, in that it is thus appointed that Davidic offspring and Davidic authority will be as enduring before Him as the Sun forever. "Once I have sworn by My holiness; I will not lie to David. His descendants shall endure forever and his throne as the sun before Me.” In a similar vein, the prophet Jeremiah writes; "Thus says YHWH, 'If My covenant for day and night stand not, and the fixed patterns of heaven and earth I have not established, then I would reject the descendants of Jacob and David My servant, not taking from his descendants rulers over the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. But I will restore their fortunes and will have mercy on them.'" (Psalm 89:35, 36; Jer. 33:25, 26) It is interesting that the Davidic Seal is called both the “Star of David” and the “Shield of David.” It is more Biblically accurate that it is a Sun and a Shield. In fact,  we may notice poetic allusion being made to it in Psalm 84:11; “For YHWH is a sun and a shield; YHWH gives grace and glory; No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.” Look at the "Star" of David and contemplate its shape. A fresh and unbiased look at that symbol reveals an artistic representation that actually appears more similar to the Sun than it does a more distant star. It has a large blank area in the middle with points like rays beaming out in various directions, much as other ancient and modern representations of the Sun share in common. This gives us a sense of the deeper meaning invested in the Davidic Seal – being a stylized representation of the Sun, it is the sign of the everlasting covenant that YHWH made with David to eternally preserve David’s House and His Kingdom before Him. In fact, David himself speaks of the rising Sun as the symbol of his House in covenant with God. (2 Sam. 23:1-7) This figure of the rising Sun finds its highest fulfillment to date at the coming of Y'shua, of the House of David, to be the Deliverer and King of Israel. In fact, Zechariah, father of John the Baptist, prophesied concerning Y'shua. Indicating that Holy Seed to be the promised Messiah of Israel, he associated His coming with the “Sunrise from on high.” (Luke 1:30-33, Luke 1:78) The Shofar-blower of our Graphic Thus, some 2,000 years ago a metaphorical Sunrise in Tsiyon precipitated the first coming of the Davidic Messiah in all its far-reaching implications for the people of God. Now, 2,000 years later the Sun is rising again in Tsiyon, breaking forth once more with new light to flood the world, illuminating the way leading to Messiah's promised return. Like the Shofar-blower in our picture, it is the humble purpose and joy of Tsiyon.org to direct the attention of the sons and daughters of Tsiyon to the significant message and events of this very special Sunrise. Indeed, it is the purpose of Tsiyon.org to become a platform for the voice of the House of David to once again be heard within the Messianic Community, and to extend that platform to all YHWH's people who have something from Him to share. Won't you join with us, bringing whatever unique light Messiah has given you, and be a part of the dawning of a new day in Tsiyon?