THE UNITED STATES IN PROPHECY 

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.

Early Writings of Herbert W. Armstrong
edited by Jackson Snyder, 12/29/00

PART FOUR - The Mysterious Breach

The Mysterious "Breach"

 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, and exist today among the Gentile nations, unrecognized. Their identity, and location, is one of the things Elohim has hidden from the world. Yet, in this end-time, when knowledge is to increase, when the "wise" are to UNDERSTAND, Daniel 12:4, 10, we shall find the secret revealed through PROPHECY which could not be understood until now. But first, we must now 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 seed, 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," Genesis 38:27-30. [Editor's note: The other twin was named Zarah.] WHY should this strange occurrence be recorded in Bible history unless this breach was to be HEALED between the sons or their descendents at some future time? Yet it never occurred in their lifetime.

 Zarah, of the scarlet thread, had five sons, I Chronicles 2:6. Only Solomon was wiser, I Kings 4:29-31. Did a descendant of Zarah finally get the throne, in a manner healing the breach? David, Zedekiah, and Yahshua -- all were of the PHAREZ branch -- none of Zarah. Now consider:

1)    the fact of the breach means the transfer of the scepter 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's death.

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 descendents of Zarah became wanderers, journeying to the northwest and founding the Scythian nation, their descendents joining the Ten Tribes. But meanwhile, the Pharez-David-Zedekiah line possessed the scepter -- was HIGH -- exalted. The Zarah line, feeling it rightfully should possess the scepter, and some day would, was low, abased -- so far as royal power was concerned.

The Three Overturns

 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 Yahweh is here speaking of the captivity of Judah by the king of Babylon. And, beginning with 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 Yahweh Elohim; 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," verses 25-27.

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. Elohim'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" -- lo these many years without a king, Hosea 3:4. The Pharez line has been "high" -- the Zarah line has been "low."

"I will overturn, overturn, overturn, it: and it shall be no more, until he come whose right it is," Ezekiel 21:27.

 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 accomplished 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 three 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 -- Messiah -- whose right it is, at His second coming, if it ceased altogether to exist? How could he who was "low" be now 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 Messiah!" And then it shall be once again overturned, and given to Him! Elohim will not break his unalterable promise made to David! Through every generation David shall have a son [descendant] wearing that crown!

 The SECOND half of Jeremiah's commission must now be performed. That throne must be transPLANTED and again BUILDED. 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, Yahweh explains its meaning. "Say now to the rebellious house," Elohim says, -- the "rebellious house" being Ten-Tribed ISRAEL, Ezekiel 12:9, to whom Ezekiel is set a prophet, Ezekiel 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, Ezekiel 17: 22-24. "Thus saith Yahweh Elohim; I will also take of the highest branch of the high cedar." From Elohim'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 Elohim -- not Nebuchadnezzar, but Elohim -- 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. Elohim, 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 Elohim! 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 the PLANTING again of David's throne? Where? " Upon an high mountain and eminent," says Yahweh! A "mountain" in symbol always represents a NATION. But WHICH 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 Elohim 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," Ezekiel 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 Elohim's covenant with Abraham! "And all the trees of the field" Ezekiel 17:24. 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 Yahweh have brought down the high tree." Judah, the high tree, having the throne for 131 years after Israel had been taken captive, now is brought down to the low stature of slavery. "Have exalted the low tree." For 131 years Israel had been a "low tree." Now Israel is exalted, becomes again a nation with a [Davidic] king. "Have dried up the green tree [JUDAH] and have made the dry tree [ISRAEL] to flourish." ISRAEL, headed by the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, who possessed the BIRTHRIGHT, now shall flourish, become prosperous in due time. "I Yahweh have spoken and have done it," Ezekiel 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 is 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 to 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!