Why This Flag?
Since the earliest of times, people, kingdoms, armies, etc. have used flags or banners to show their allegeince to their cause. Americans readily recognize the Stars and Stripes as the flag of the USA, Canadians use the Red Maple leaf for theirs. Many religious groups fly what is termed 'The All Christian Flag"
In The Church of God we have a distinct flag or Standard which is flown for a particular set of precepts. Those precepts are set forth in The Word of God, and what is the Word of God? it is TRUTH, so our flag is flown for Biblical Truth. Sometimes the term "Ensign" is used in The Church of God, and rightly so, for an Ensign is a Banner, Flag, or Standard to represent The Church of God. Isa. 62:10 spoke of lifting up a Standard for the people.
On Sept. 15, 1933 in the 28th Annual Assembly our former General Overseer, A.J. Tomlinson, spoke at length about the subject of a church flag. He said in one part that for 10 years he had been contemplating suggesting a flag specifically designed for The Church of God. During this time other Brothers (O.S. Carter, A.D. Evans) had also been pondering this issue. A plan was set in motion for a set of designs to drawn up, and then set forth before the General Assembly for the adoption of the "Banner of Truth".
So on Sept. 16, 1933 at 2:50 P.M. the Questions and Subjects Committee of The Church presented the flag to the Assembly for Adoption as the official flag of The Church of God, and further more that no one inside or outside the church attempt to draw a likeness of the flag. This was to make sure the original design was always uniform.
The Holy Ghost began to move mightily in the Assembly with an outpouring of manifestations, and The Banner of Truth was adopted.
70 years later in 1993 The Church experienced a disruption where that only caparitively a handful of members were willing to continue in a way of Holiness and Truth. As we moved our way through this the courts gave us the OFFICIAL name as The Church of God, and the majority went away from the Bible truth as The Church of God of Prophecy. This caused some real concern for the issue of the flag and it being flown for Biblical Truth. After litigation The Church of God of Prophecy was awarded the flag as it's own. We in The Church of God wondered why? But God was about to assure that just as He had given us the name The Church of God, as the New Testament church was called he was going to give a flag that would be flown for Truth. We realized the former flag was not acceptable because it was no longer being flown because of the truth, we needed God to present us with a flag that would be as unique to us as our name is, and we would fly it for the truth.
Our General Overseer, Robert Pruitt reminded us that Bro. Tomlinson spoke the following words many years earlier, "If a better and more appropriate design can be found it will be satisfactory to me"
The time had come for The Church of God to reclaim not only her name but to fly a banner that is unique to her as well. The Holy Ghost moved and put His approval on the design.
As you look a the flag above and below, I will try to explain what God has given approval on and why.
Concerning the Emblems and Designs
The Scepter: Gen 49:10, The scepter shall not depart out of Judah, nor a lawgiver between His feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.
The Star:Num. 24:17, I shall see Him, but not now, I shall behold Him: there shall come a star out of Jacob and a Scepter shall rise out Israel.
Psa. 45:6, Thy throne, Oh, God is forever and ever; the scepter of thy kingdom is a right scepter.
Matthew 2:2 says, Where is He that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
Rev. 22: 16 says, I Jesus have sent my Angel to testify unto you these things in the churches, I am the root and off spring of David, and the bright and morning star.
Isa. 5:26, And he lift up up an ensign to the nations from far and will hiss unto them from the end of the earth, and behold they shall come with speed swiftly
Isa. 49:22 Thus saith the Lord God, Behold I will lift up my hand to the Gentiles and set up my standard to the people, and they shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders.
Crown Isa. 28:5, In that day shall the lord of Hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of the people.
The Colors
Red: Is for the blood of our Saviour Jesus
Blue: Is for Truth (for which The Church of God stands on).
Purple: Is for Royalty
White Is for purity
The Design
The white Stripes and oval declare the purity of Christ. (The former flag had 3 circles around each purple Icon, but now there is just one Oval, signifying the goal of purity and perfectness.
The blue stripes which form a square with opens at the top and bottom, represent the fold or the church....."the pillar and ground of truth", 1 Timothy 3:15
The Flag serves as a rallying point, to go through the enemy territory and to set the flag up in territory taken from us by Satan....Go Ye into all the world.
