Chapter Overview
The Three Overturns
A "Riddle" and a "Parable" Tell!
But Which Nation?
Where did Jeremiah go with Baruch his secretary and one
or more of the royal daughters of the king? History stops short at
this point. Enlightened students of Bible history have long known
that the Ten Tribes - called by the name "house of Israel" - have been
lost in identity and historic knowledge, and exist today among the Gentile
nations, unrecognized. Their identity and location God has hidden
from the world.
Yet, in this end time, when knowledge is to increase,
when the "wise" are to understand (Dan. 12:4, 10), we shall find the secret
revealed through PROPHECY which could not be understood until now.
But first, we must consider a mysterious "breach" that occurred in the
days of Judah, son of Jacob.
Judah was the father of twin sons. The firstborn
was royal see, for through him the sceptre promise was to be carried down.
It seems the midwife knew twins were about to be born. It is recorded
that just before birth one of the twins "put out his hand: and the midwife
took and bound upon his hand a scarlet thread, saying, This came out first."
But the child drew back his hand and the other was actually born first.
The midwife exclaimed, "How hast thou broken forth?
this breach be upon thee [margin, wherefore hast thou made this breach
against thee?]: therefore his name was called Pharez," meaning "breach."
The other twin was named Zarah (Gen. 38:27-30).
Why should this strange occurrence be recorded
in Bible history unless this breach was to be healed between the sons or
their descendants at some future time? Yet it never occurred in their
lifetime.
Zarah, of the scarlet thread, had five sons (I
Chron. 2:6). Did a descendant of Zarah finally get the throne, in
a manner healing the breach? David, Zedekiah, Christ - all were of
the PHAREZ branch - none of Zarah.
Now consider: 1) the fact of the breach means the
transfer of the sceptre from the Pharez to the Zarah line. 2) Such
transfer never occurred before King Zedekiah of Judah, who was descended
from Pharez. 3) Therefore it had to occur after Zedekiah was dethroned.
4) Since David's line (Pharez) is to remain on the throne through all generations
forever, it could only occur at an OVERTURN of the throne by a marriage
between a Pharez heir to the throne and one of the Zarah line, thus healing
the breach.
History shows the descendants of Zarah became wanderers,
journeying to the north within the confines of the Scythian nations, their
descendants later migrating to Ireland in the days of King David.
But meanwhile, the Pharez-David-Zedekiah line possessed
the sceptre - WAS HIGH - exalted. The Zarah line, feeling it rightfully
should possess the sceptre, and some day would, was low, abased - so far
as royal power was concerned.
Now consider a much misunderstood passage of prophecy.
If you will begin reading at the 18th verse of the 21st chapter of Ezekiel,
you will see plainly that the Eternal is here speaking of the captivity
of Judah by the king of Babylon. And, beginning in the 25th verse,
He says: "And thou, profane wicked prince of Israel [Zedekiah], whose day
is come, when iniquity shall have an end, thus saith the Lord God; remove
the diadem, and take off the crown [as did happen, through the first half
of Jeremiah's commission]: this [the crown] shall not be the same: exalt
him that is low, and abase him that is high. I will overturn, overturn,
overturn, it: and it shall be no more, until he come whose right it is;
and I will give it him."
Let us understand that clearly. "Remove the
diadem, and take off the crown." King Zedekiah, of David's dynasty,
had the crown. This says it is to be removed. It was removed.
He died in Babylon; his sons and all the nobles of Judah were killed.
"This shall not be the same." The diadem
is not to cease, but a change is to take place - the throne is to be overturned
- another is to wear the crown. God's promise to David is not to
go by default!
"Exalt him that is low, and abase him that is high."
Who is "high"? King Zedekiah of Judah. Now he is to be abased.
He is to lose that crown. Judah has been "high," while Israel has
been "low" - these many years without a king (Hosea 3:4). The Pharez
line has been "high"; the Zarah line "low."
"I will overturn, overturn, overturn, it: and it
shall be no more, until he come whose right it is." What was to be
overturned? The diadem, and the throne. Not once - it is to
be overturned three times. Overturned by abasing Zedekiah, the house
of Judah, the Pharez line, and exalting, now, the house of Israel, and
one of the Zarah line! The first of the three overturns was performed
as the first half of Jeremiah's commission.
"And it shall be no more." Does this mean
the throne - the crown - is to cease to exist? Not at all!
How could it be overturned two more times - that is, TRANSFERRED from one
to another, if it ceased to exist? How, after these three transfers
of the crown, could it be given to Him - Christ - whose right it is, at
His second coming, if it ceased altogether to exist? How could he
who was "low" now be exalted by the crown, if that crown was to be no more?
No, the meaning is: "It shall be no more overturned until the second coming
of Christ"! And then it shall be given to Him!
God will not break His unalterable promise made
to David! Through every generation David shall have a descendant
wearing that crown! The second half of Jeremiah's commission must
now be performed. That throne must be TRANSPLANTED, and again BUILT.
The crown must be overturned - transferred to another! But WHERE?
TO WHOM?
A "Riddle" and a "Parable" Tell!
The strange truth of the PLANTING and the REBUILDING of
David's throne is revealed in "a riddle and a parable" couched in symbolic
language never understood until this latter day. Yet it stands today
so clearly explained a little child could understand!
It fills the 17th chapter of Ezekiel's prophecy.
The whole chapter should be carefully read. Notice, first, this prophetic
message is addressed, NOT to Judah, the Jews, but to the house of ISRAEL.
It is a message to give light to the lost ten-tribed house of ISRAEL in
these latter days!
First, Ezekiel is told to speak a riddle, and then
a parable. The riddle is found in verses 3 to 10. Then, beginning
in verse 11, the Eternal explains its meaning. "Say now to the rebellious
house [God says, the "rebellious house," being ten-tribed ISRAEL (Ezek.
12:9), to whom Ezekiel is sent a prophet (Ezek. 2:3; 3:1, etc.)], Know
ye not what these things mean? tell them . . . " and then the riddle is
clearly explained.
A great eagle came to Lebanon and took the highest
branch of the cedar. This is explained to represent King Nebuchadnezzar
of Babylon who came to Jerusalem and took captive the king of Judah.
The cropping off of the cedar's young twigs and carrying them to a land
of traffic is explained to picture the captivity of the king's sons.
"He took also of the seed of the land" means Nebuchadnezzar took also of
the people, and the mighty of the land of Judah. He "set it as a
willow tree. And it grew, and became a spreading vine of low stature"
means the Jews were given a covenant whereby, although they were ruled
over by the Chaldeans, they might live in peace and grow. The other
"great eagle" is explained to represent Pharaoh of Egypt.
Thus the riddle covers the first half of Jeremiah's
commission. Now notice what is revealed concerning the second part
- the PLANTING of David's throne! It comes in the parable, verses
22-24: "Thus saith the Lord God; I will also take of the highest branch
of the high cedar." From God's own explanation we have learned that
the cedar tree represents the nation of Judah; its highest branch is Judah's
king. The riddle told us Nebuchadnezzar took the highest branch -
the king. The parable now tells us God - not Nebuchadnezzar, but
God - will take of the highest branch. Not the branch, but OF the
branch - of Zedekiah's children. But Nebuchadnezzar took, and killed,
all his SONS.
God, through his prophet Jeremiah, is now going
to take OF this highest branch and "SET IT" (verse 22). "I will crop
off from the top of his young twigs a tender one, and will plant it upon
an high mountain and eminent," continues the Almighty! Ah!
"A tender young twig"! The twigs of this highest branch represent
the children of King Zedekiah! Certainly a tender young twig, then,
represents a DAUGHTER! ". . .and will PLANT it." Could symbolic language
say plainer this young Jewish princess is to become the royal seed for
PLANTING again of David's throne? Where? ". . .upon an high
mountain and eminent," says the Eternal! A "mountain" in symbol always
represents a NATION.
"In the mountain of the height of ISRAEL will I plant
it," answers the Eternal! David's throne now is to be planted in
ISRAEL, after being thrown down from JUDAH! Could language be plainer?
". . .and it [the tender young twig - the king's daughter] shall bring
forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a goodly cedar."
Did David's throne cease with Zedekiah of Judah?
Did God forget His covenant? No! Compare this language with
the passage in Isaiah 37:31-32: "The remnant that is escaped of the house
of Judah shall again take root downward [be planted], and BEAR FRUIT UPWARD."
"It was PLANTED in ISRAEL, who removed from Judah! After this Hebrew
princess is "planted" on the throne, now in ISRAEL, lost from view - that
throne is to BEAR FRUIT. She is to marry, have children, and her
sons are to continue David's dynasty!
". . .and under it shall dwell all fowl of every
wing; in the shadow of the branches thereof shall they dwell" (Ezek. 17:23).
"Lost" Israel, now having acquired the throne and become again a self-ruling
nation, shall, in time, spread around the earth gaining dominance and power.
They shall inherit the unconditional promises of the BIRTHRIGHT, according
to God's covenant with Abraham!
"And all the trees of the field. . ." (verse 24).
A "tree" in this riddle and parable is likened to a nation. In other
words, "all the nations of the earth." ". . .shall know that I the
Lord have brought down the high tree." Judah, the high tree, having
the throne 130 years after Israel had been taken captive, now is brought
down to the low stature of slavery. ". . .have exalted the low tree."
For 130 years Israel had been a "low tree." Now Israel is exalted,
becomes again a thriving nation with a Davidic king. ". . .have dried
up the green tree [Judah], and have made the dry tree [Israel] to flourish."
Compare that language with Ezekiel 21:26: "Remove
the diadem, and take off the crown. . .exalt him that is low, and abase
him that is high. I will overturn. . ." etc. It is speaking
of transferring the throne from Judah to Israel.
Israel had already been independent in Ireland
for four centuries. Israel in Ireland already had a kingly line onto
which Zedekiah's daughter was grafted. The Irish Israelites were
an ancient colony and had not gone into Assyrian captivity.
ISRAEL, headed by the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh,
who possessed the birthright, now would flourish, become prosperous in
due time. "I the Lord have spoken and have done it" (Ezek. 17:24).
Yes, that BIRTHRIGHT is in ISRAEL. Though
lost, though supposed to be a Gentile nation, they are the people who were
to grow into the promised multitude - the great nation and the company
of nations, possessing the gates of their enemy nations, becoming a colonizing
people spreading around the world, being blessed with national resources
and wealth. And, when they become thus powerful and nationally dominant,
remember, David's throne will be found transplanted among them!
But where did Jeremiah, with his royal seed for
the transplanting, go to find the lost house of Israel? Where are
they today? How was the "breach" healed, and how did a son of Zarah
ascend the throne? Can we tell?
WE CAN! The exact, precise location is revealed
in Bible prophecy! We can pick up Jeremiah's trail in actual history
besides!