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PARTFIVE:
God prornised that throughout every generation David would have sorneone to sit on his throne over
Israel. But has God kept that prornise? And if so, just where is that throne today?
T
by
Herbert W. Armstrong
he strange truth of the
PLAN.TING
and the
RE-
took also of the people, and the mighty of the land of
BUILDING
of David's throne is revealed in "a riddle and a
Judah. He "set it as a willow tree. And it grew, and be-
parable" couched in symbolic language never understood
carne a spreading vine of Jow stature" means the Jews
until this latter day. Yet it stands today so clearly ex-
were given a covenant whereby, although they were ruled
plained a little child could understand!
over by the Chaldeans, they might live in peace and grow.
It fills the 17th chapter of Ezekiel's prophecy. T he
The other "great eagle" is explained to represent P haraoh
whole cbapter should be carefully read. Notice, first, this
of Egypt.
prophetic message is addressed,
NOT
to J udah, the Jews ,
Thus the riddle covers
thefirst
half of Jeremiah's com-
but to tbe house of Israel.
lt
is a message to give light to
mission. Ñow notice what is revealed concerning the
sec-
the lost ten-tribed bouse of
ISRAEL
in these latter days!
ond
part-the
PLANTING
of David's throne! It comes in
First, Ezekiel is told to speak a riddle, and then a para-
the parable, verses 22-24: "Thus saith the Lord God; I will
ble. The riddle is found in verses 3 to 1O. Then, beginning
also take of the highest branch of the high cedar." From
in verse 11 , the Eterna! explains its meaning. "Say now to
God's own explanation we have learned that the cedar tree
the rebellious house [God says, the "rebellious house,"
represents the nation of Judah; its highest brancb is Ju-
being ten-tribed
fsRAEL
(Ezek. 12:9) , to whom Ezekiel is
dah 's king. The riddle told us Nebuchadnezzar toók the
set a prophet (Ezek. 2:3; 3:1, etc.)], Know ye not wha·t
highest branch- the king. The parable now tells us
God-
these things mean? tell them ... " and then the riddle is
not Nebuchadnezzar, but
God-will
take
of
the highest
clearly explained.
branch. Not the branch, but
OF
the
branch~f
Zede-
A great eagle carne to Lebanon and took the highest
kiah's children. But Nebuchadnezzar took, and killed, all
branch of the cedar. This is explained to represent King
his
SONS.
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon who carne to J erusalem and
God, through his prophet Jeremiah, is now going to
took captive the king of Judah. The cropping off 9f the
take
OF
this highest branch and
"SET IT"
(verse 22). "I will
cedar's young twigs and carrying them toa land of traffic
crop off from the top of his young twigs a
tender one,
and
is explained to picture the captivity of the king's sons. "He
will plant it upon an high mountain and eminent," contin-
took also of the seed of the land" means Nebuchadnezzar
ues the Almighty! Ah! "A tender young twig"! The twigs
The
PLAIN TRUTH March 1979
7