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The subjects of this prophecy are clearly "nations" and "kingdoms"--not churches,
either real or professing. Also the prophecy is two-fold: first, judgment in the form of
"rooting out", and then, restoration in the form of "planting".
The second prophecy in Jeremiah occupies only two verses, which we give in full:
"Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Jeremiah, what seest thou?
And I said, I see a rod of an almond tree. Then said the Lord unto me, Thou hast well
seen: for I will hasten My word to perform it" (Jer. 1: 11, 12).
The word for "almond tree" is shaked, and the word for "hasten" is shoked, the
almond being called the "watcher" or "early waker". When the time comes for the
people of Israel to be restored, the same word is again used:
"And it shall come to pass, that like as I have watched over them (shoked) to pluck up
. . . . . so will I watch over them . . . . . to plant, saith the Lord . . . . . I will make a new
covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah . . . . ." (Jer. 31: 28, 31).
Moreover, in verses 36 and 37 Israel are assured that they shall not cease from being
a nation, and that they shall not be cast off on account of their misdeeds--a passage
which finds an echo in the words of Rom. 11: 29: "For the gifts and calling of God are
without repentance."
Returning to the prophecy of Jeremiah, we observe that where the green olive tree
with the broken branches is spoken of, the prophet interprets the symbol as referring to
Israel:
"But if they will not obey, I will utterly pluck up and destroy that nation, saith the
Lord" (Jer. 12: 17).
If we examine the context of Rom. 11: we shall find that there also Israel is portrayed
as an olive tree.
"To Israel He saith, All day long I have stretched forth My hands unto a disobedient
and gainsaying people" (Rom. 10: 21).
"Blindness in part is happened unto Israel . . . . . and so all Israel shall be saved"
(Rom. 11: 25, 26).
"As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes' (Rom. 11: 28).
There can be no misunderstanding of these references which stand on either side of
the passage which refers to the olive tree. It is not a church that is in view, but Israel as a
nation. The "they" that stumbled are Israel (11: 11); "my flesh" (11: 14) refers to Israel;
and those who were "cast away" and who are yet to be received are Israel (11: 15).
We have next to consider the "branches" of the olive tree.
"There is a remnant according to the election of grace" (11: 5).
"God hath not cast away His people which He foreknew" (11: 2).