A little application note that didn’t make it in with the original post; my apologies for missing it before.
Like Zerubabbel’s return party, we the Church are the few who answer the call of GOD to come and fellowship with Him.  Whether we realize it or not, that makes us a “shining” example, as we are to shine His light to the world, with our lives as examples or testimonies of His transforming work in us.  All who entered the Promised Land were called to be examples for everyone, Jew and Gentile alike.