My feeling is that God's definition of "fig tree" is most likely spiritual, and not national, as we assume. Thus the fig tree budding would be a spiritual awakening, not a Zionist agenda after a Diaspora.
And ya, you heard it here first, I haven't read this anywhere else.
My feeling is that God's definition of "fig tree" is most likely spiritual, and not national, as we assume. Thus the fig tree budding would be a spiritual awakening, not a Zionist agenda after a Diaspora.
And ya, you heard it here first, I haven't read this anywhere else.
No fair! You have access to the original manuscripts!
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Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
Ha you got jokes. I'm actually not sure how true that is at all; but i trust the Spirit mostly anyway. I have testing and fruit for a guide. I have a hedge around me, and I can ask for anything I need and get it. God is very good to me, Timmy. When we can agree on the 9/10ths, which is about to happen...ha nevermind about that, do you have an opinion about the fig tree, or are you just here to toss a toothpick?
Matt. 24:32 “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 33 Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. 34 Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.
Israel was not restored in 1948. Modern "Israel" is not the Israel that existed before the fall of Jerusalem in A.D.70. The Israel of the Bible has disappeared forever. Even the Encyclopedia Judaica Jerusalem (1971, Vol. 3, p. 50) acknowledges that there is no longer such a thing as the Jewish race. The events of 1948 have nothing whatsoever to do with Biblical prophecy and the coming of Jesus.
Second, if the fig tree represents the restoration of Israel then "all the trees" (see Luke 21:29) must mean that in 1948 "all the nations" were restored as well! Interestingly, those who insist that the fig tree in Matthew 24 must be Israel, completely ignore the reference to "all the trees" in the parallel text in Luke 21:29. This is inconsistent. If the fig tree represents Israel in 1948 then consistency demands that "all the trees" represents the restoration of all other nations.
Third, if the restoration of "Israel" in 1948 was the sign of Christ’s coming, then the clock has already run out. Hal Lindsey (correctly) calculated that a generation in scripture is approximately 40 years. (see Matthew 1; Hebrews 3:7-19). Of course, when he wrote that he was predicting the coming of Christ for 1988! When that failed he went back to the calculator and invented a new definition for generation, 100-125 years! That is completely false, yet he managed to convince a lot of sincere people nonetheless.
The point is that 1988 has come and gone. The forty year period that should have, according to modern theory, produced the Great Tribulation, the Great Apostasy, the Man of Sin, the Antichrist, the Mark of the Beast, and all of the other horrific events of the last days, did not, in fact, produce a single one of the signs necessary for the coming of Christ. The reason is simple, all of the signs that were predicted to occur prior to Christ’s coming appeared in the first century, just like Jesus said.
__________________ As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world’s interest in me has also died.- Gal. 6:14
Cool refs, ty for Luke. I wasn't aware that I was not alone here, hmm. I think that "that generation shall not entirely pass away" seems pretty clear as far as the timing goes, and if for example 1948 were signif, I would expect that the last person that was alive on that day in '48 would not have passed away before Christ's return, and that which period of "generation" is meant here would be irrelevant.
I understand the first century armageddon thing, but don't want to confuse the two, unnecessarily anyway; but that may be quite relevant here, hmm. How would (you) interpret "the mark" in this case? Ty again.
“Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: so likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.” (Matthew 24:32-34 KJV)
In efforts to determine the essence of that which our Lord has expressed here, perhaps the first thing one must seek to do is to learn the identity of the “fig tree.” In doing this we find several instances within the Scriptures wherein the nation of Israel, as well as the members of the Gentile Church are referred to as such;
The apostle Paul referred to the Israelites as “the natural fig tree” and the Gentiles as a “wild olive tree” which was grafted into it when God had caused some of its “branches” to be broken off (Romans 11:16-18, 24 KJV);
David [an Israelite] also likened himself to a “green olive tree in the house of God” (Psalm 52:8 KJV);
The prophet Jeremiah wrote [concerning the Israeli nation] that “the LORD called thy name, A green olive tree, fair, and of good fruit” (Jeremiah 11:16 KJV);
Zechariah, writing about the “two anointed ones, that stand by the LORD of the whole earth,” referred to these as “two olive trees” (Zechariah 4, KJV).
Mark, in relating an event wherein Jesus approached an actual “fig tree” located just outside of Bethany, and seeking to sate his hunger, approached it to retrieve some of the fruit which a tree of its type normally would produce. Finding none, he cursed the “fig tree,” saying that from that moment forth in time, it would no longer produce fruit. This is to say, Jesus essentially decreed that it would whither and die. (See Mark 11:11-21 KJV)
Figuratively speaking, and referring to the nation of Israel in an analogous manner as a “fig tree,” allow me to compare the cursed “fig tree” with the devastating situation that the Israeli people have been compelled to endure since that moment when Jesus paused as He approached the city of Jerusalem, and imposed a judgment of “gross spiritual darkness” [aka, blindness] upon them because of their willful, open neglect of obedience to His commandments:
And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, saying, “If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! But now they are hid from thine eyes. For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, and shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.” (Luke 19:41-44 KJV)
When I note Jesus’ response to Peter’s remarks concerning the whithering of the “fig tree” on the morning following the day in which Jesus cursed it, I am persuaded that it has a prophetic connotation which, to many, has heretofore gone unnoticed. Jesus said to Peter, “Have faith in God.” I feel compelled to ask the question ~ Could it be that Jesus was stating that there would come a moment in the future when the cursed fig tree [i.e., the nation of Israel] would come back to life and once again produce good fruit? If so, then surely it must be this same “fig tree” to which our Lord mentioned in His statements that Matthew was inspired to write about!
So, in response to the question here, I must say yes, for I am persuaded to believe that the “fig tree” which Jesus spoke about, that is found recorded in Matthew 24:32-34, indeed, is a direct reference to the nation of Israel.
With regards to the addition of the phrase “all the trees” which Jesus spoke about that is found recorded in Luke 21:29, it is my belief that by its inclusion He was referring to those Gentiles which would also be an integral part of His eternal kingdom [i.e., be grafted in], for they would be taken from amongst “all of the nations” of the earth ["all the trees"].
Now let it be recognized that this is solely a personal interpretation, tendered here for consideration of its scriptural merits only, but “if” it be true that the “fig tree” mentioned by Jesus is a reference to a “restored” nation of Israel (which the Scriptural record explicitly asserts in several instances would occur as the end of the present age drew near), then we are, in fact, witness to the actual fulfillment of an amazingly remarkable prophetic event.
Ty Lafon, an interesting counterpoint. Can you expand on the below, provide some refs? ty
"a “restored” nation of Israel (which the Scriptural record explicitly asserts in several instances would occur as the end of the present age drew near)"
With regards to the length or duration in which a particular generation would exist (i.e., remain alive), and therein enable one to arrive at some reasonable sense in determining when the "awakening" of the "fig tree" (the nation of Israeli) would end, I am inclined to lean more toward a belief that the time element involved could be in the neighborhood of the "threescore and ten years" as noted in Psalm 90:10.
If, in fact, 1948 truly represents that moment when the "fig tree" (Israel) began to take roots and spring back to life again following many years of being essentially dead (and that date is, BTW, man's conclusion but not necessarily God's "timing"), then the year of 2018 would represent the ending of that generation which witnessed Israel's rebirth as a nation. However, one must also note, I believe, that the words of the noted Psalm also states that if by reason of strength (that is to say, health or vitality) it is possible for one to live to a greater length of time than the normal 70 years. So whether it be 2018 or later when the last of that generation which saw the re-awakening of the "fig tree" (Israel) has completed their life's cycle, we can glean from all of this that the end is certainly near.
There are, of course, other passages in the Scriptural record which relate yet further information regarding this matter, and perhaps in a later posting here I will endeavor to address those as well.
Just another nickel's worth of my personal opinions for what they might be worth
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