Our Mighty Flag

A portion of Bishop A.J. Tomlinson’s

Annual Address to the 34th Annual Assembly

Only recently I have discovered new beauties and additional powers vested in the Flag. It has served in many ways to enhance the work of the Church since its discovery and adoption as the ensign of the Bible, September 16, 1933, when it was first waved in the breeze on that memorable day. Thrills by the scores and perhaps hundreds have rushed through the bodies of thousands of loyal saints on special occasions when it was raised in display in many states of this country and foreign countries as well. The red, white, blue, and purple each has a story to tell. The scepter, star, and crown are so overflowed with meaning that one is moved to exclaim with the Queen of Sheba “The half was not told me,” and instead of no more spirit being left in the speaker as was the case with her, it becomes more like a million angels gathering around to carry him to the skies. The pledge of allegiance repeated by the throngs that gather at our Annual Assemblies, while ten thousand hands are raised in sacred and solemn salute serves to deepen the consecration of the vast multitudes as they shout in melodious tones.

“I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO OUR CHURCH FLAG, AND TO THE DOCTRINE FOR WHICH IT STANDS – ONE GOD, ONE FAITH, ONE MIND, AND ONE CHURCH FOR ALL. AMEN!”

The General Overseer had the congregation to repeat after him the salute to the flag. This was accompanied with showers of blessings, a message in tongues and interpretation as follows:

“Behold, I will raise My standard, I will raise My standard. She shall be like a mighty army with banners. She shall go forth to conquer. I have given thee this great ensign that thou shalt wave over this world, for under this shall come all nations for it is My ensign."

A story is told of an incident that happened in the battle of Gettysburg during the Civil War of the sixties. In course of the fight by some unaccounted maneuvers the Union flag got some distance ahead of the main part of the fighting army. This was discovered by one of the officers who quickly dispatched a soldier to call it back to the main army. But the brave patriotic flagman promptly returned the reply – “The flag cannot go back, but bring your army up to the flag.” This order was obeyed immediately and amidst the hardest and most valiant fighting of the war the army plunged forward and came up to the flag and thus gained the victory.

Our flag stands for the Church of the Bible in its perfect state with the battles all fought and the victories all won. Although the flag is on ahead in standing thus, imagine our Captain giving orders, not to bring the flag back, but plunge ahead and fight up to the standard. In fact, this is our duty. We have taken the solemn covenant to go on to perfection. Lift up the standard and bravely march forward till the work is done – all are gathered in, the house filled and all the occupants thereof are made all glorious within the palace.

The mighty flag serves its mighty purpose in inspiring, animating, and actuating the mighty tread to plant it on the hilltops of every country of the world. Talk of the patriots of the American Revolutionary War—their bravery, privations, and shouts of “Give me liberty or give me death,” that was only in comparison to the last days movement as the lantern the old cow kicked over that started the great Chicago fire to the mighty city itself all in flames. Prophecies cannot fail. We do not see them all fulfilled, but they are written in our Book we have pledged to take as the Word of God and obey, walking in the light as it shines the truth out brilliantly and nothing of it can fail. The due time came. The meat in due season sizzling in the frying pan could not be tardy. The flag had to come in due time the same as Jesus our Lord will be compelled to leap over the battlements of heaven with a shout and the voice of the archangel in due time, and float down to the appointed place where the saints will mount up to meet Him. These things are destined to be and no power can prevent the fulfillment of these mighty prophecies.

There will yet be revealed in the flag much more than is now known. It is not quite time for its display when the mighty things in connection therewith will be made known but we have the promise of every fulfillment in its time. I recommend that sufficient attention be given to its use and display to keep it in the foreground because of what it represents, and to give opportunity for still deeper and mightier revelations on the Scriptures to be made known.

Editors’ Note:

“Our Mighty Flag” could have been written this year but it was part of the late Bishop A. J. Tomlinson’s Address to the 34th Annual Assembly. It is still relevant today as we see Satan’s regiments moved into place to launch their attacks upon that which is right and good for “The Church of God”. We must not relent nor retreat because the flag is moved up a ways in front but must bring The Church of God’s armies up to the flag and that which it stands for. God is calling Pace—Setters to the front of the battle! Will you report for duty

John Wilkins,

Executive Editor