We have four fig trees on our property. They have begun to unfurl their leaves and as you can see figs are forming. The leaves and figs will grow much larger before they are fully mature.In the Lord's parable of the fig tree in Matthew 24:32, He says, "...when its branch has already become tender, and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near."
As of this writing, summer is twenty-six days away.
He then goes on to say, "...even so you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door."
To what things was Jesus referring?
The events He just spoke about - the abomination of desolation, the great tribulation against the elect, the sun, moon, and stars going out, and then His appearance in the clouds with His angels to gather the elect.
Verse thirty-four, "Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place."
What generation will not pass away and see His return? The generation that sees all the events in Matthew 24.
All these events are going to happen in a short amount of time.
Are we that generation?
We don't know yet. But He includes in His instruction, in verse forty-two, to all His disciples, "be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming."
Check back later this summer and I'll post another image after this branch has done some more growing!
5 comments:
"Now learn a parable of the fig tree: When its branch is yet tender, and put forth leaves, ye know that summer is near. So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the door”. (Matt.24:32,33)
As a result of the rejection of the Messiah on the part of the Jews during his first advent, God’s favor was turned away from them, as shown in the parable of the withered fig tree. (Matt.21:19) Whereas, the softening of the branches and the bringing forth of leaves represents the return of favor to this nation and the establishment of the Kingdom in Christ’s second advent.Therefore, using that criteria, the time relative to when Israel was restored as a nation would be:
May 14, 1948 . On that date the leaders of the Yishuv gathered in the Tel Aviv Museum and heard Ben-Gurion read the Declaration of Independence, announcing the establishment of the State of Israel. At the end of the thirty two-minute gathering, Ben-Gurion announced simply: "The State of Israel has arisen! This meeting is over.”
Now here is the second factor in this simple equation, it is also written in Matthew 24, (almost like He wants us to have some idea or a clue of when this will occur- IF we will pay attention and be alert.
A) “Now learn a parable of the fig tree; when its branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near: (vs 32) (Israel re-established as a nation) “So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, B) “THIS generation shall not pass away Till ALL these things be fulfilled”.
Who is "THIS" generation above referring to? Obviously those that will be living and witnessing the very end time events being described in the passage- beginning with the restoration of Israel in 1948. Therefore, the second factor in this simple equation is: How many years then does God generally grant man to live before they "pass"? 70 Years ("The days of our years are threescore years and ten" (Psalms 90:10)
So far we have A) 1948, (Israel's statehood, or the blossoming of the fig tree), plus B) The life span of the generation that sees these things- about 70 years.
Anonymous,
Taking this passage at face value and in its context, Christ is simply saying there will be signs that will indicate that His return is near and that the generation who is living when these things begin to unfold, (like a fig leaf in its new growth), starting with the false Christs in Mt. 24:5, this generation will not die out until “all these things take place.” In other words, the generation who will be alive to witness “these things” will also witness the return of Christ.
If you think about it, just prior to Christ giving His Olivet Discourse He’d just laid Israel as a nation aside. (Mt. 23:39) (This is another reason why I do not see Him addressing national Israel in His Olivet Discourse but believers. Are orthodox Jews going to be looking in Mt. 24 regarding their future? National Israel is not hated on account of Christ’s name but His followers are.)
Since Israel as a nation will still be in unbelief when these events begin to unfold I don't see the fig tree as representing the return of favor to national Israel.
Lisa:
These are some observations I made regarding Mt. 24.
The subject of the entire chapter is the second coming of Christ. The word coming or come is used over ten different times. I don't see Jesus referring to two different time periods but two different groups of people in the time period up to His second coming.
The "you's" are believers who are experiencing tribulation, death, and hatred on account of Jesus name. The "you's" are instructed by Christ to flee and are warned that false Christs will try to lure them out of hiding before He returns at His second coming.
The "they's" are unbelievers who are living life as normal up until the return of Christ. They are eating and drinking and marrying and giving in marriage just as unbelievers did before the flood came in the days of Noah. They did not heed Noah's warning that God's impending judgment was coming.
It makes sense that these are the folks who have bought into Antichrist's system and so they are enjoying peace and safety and normalcy.
Comparing scripture with scripture, if you scoot on over to 1 Th. 5 we see that sudden destruction will fall upon this group.
When the Son of Man comes He will take or "receive near" His elect and leave behind unbelievers to face His wrath.
There is a difference here.
I agree w/anonymous. I think we are in that time period without a doubt. The beginning of sorrows.
When would the "epicenter" and therefore much of the world be saying "Peace & Safety?"
Once before the Battle of Gog & Magog and again when the 7 year treaty is signed to start Daniel's 70th week. The first 3 1/2 years may be somewhat peaceful but we know when the Anti-Christ takes hold there is no peace & the "Great" Tribulation begins.
I do agree the "theys" in 2 Thes are the unbelievers but it's not going to be referring to any party during the Trib. The purpose of the Trib is one of Judgment. Where in Revelation does it say anyone is having a good time? Especially at the point in Revelation where you think the Christians are spared.
1/3 of the earth's population is slaughtered.
I see death,famine,martyrs,people hiding in caves,hail & fire, locusts,water pollution,grass and trees burned and on and on then the bowl judgments.
It similar to the plagues of Egypt but worse. How much are these unbelievers going to take before they repent and turn to God? Obviously many never do.
So here we go again. I just see this whole senario so different than prewrath.
That's why when the believers are taken up at a peaceful/normal time period does not make sense to me to happen in the later half of the Tribulation. It's going to be Hell on earth-even for the unbelievers.
Lisa
Hi Lisa,
The Battle of Gog & Magog is not mentioned in Mt. 24 so let’s leave that out of the equation.
If we let scripture define the terms as we should, Jesus in Mt. 24 describes the false Christs, wars and rumors of wars, famines, and earthquakes as the beginning of birth pangs. I too agree that we are experiencing the beginning birth pangs. Since birth pangs intensify, we will see these things intensify the closer we get to the return of Christ.
Jesus references the midpoint of D’s 70th Week in Mt. 24, that is the Aof D. Notice that Jesus attributes great tribulation AFTER the AofD is seen standing in the holy place. So up until the AofD during D’s 70th Week we have intensifying birth pangs. Then great tribulation or persecution begins…against who? The elect. Believers. Antichrist will only go after those who oppose him or do not submit or comply. Who is that going to be? According to Revelation 12 first it is Jews. Some will flee to the wilderness and be protected. Then AC is going to go after those who hold to the testimony of Jesus, believers. The great tribulation is persecution against God’s chosen people, the Jews, and believers, those who hold to the testimony of Jesus. To assign this time as God’s judgment is to do so incorrectly. Remember, we are not destined for His wrath. (I Th. 5:9) To say the great tribulation is His judgment or wrath can’t be right because believers are not destined for His wrath and it is believers, the elect, who are undergoing persecution. His day of the Lord’s wrath or time of judgment falls immediately after the tribulation is cut short by Christ’s coming at an unknown day and hour.
Where does the peace and safety fit in that Paul mentions in 1 Th. 5:3? It’s for the unbelievers who have taken the mark.
Prior to mentioning this group that is enjoying peace and safety Paul had just given instruction in chapter four concerning the rapture. The Thessalonians were struggling under persecution and some were being killed. Paul addresses their concern over those who had died. He tells them that when Jesus returns the dead in Christ will rise first and then those who are alive and remain will be caught up together with the dead who are raised. The word “remain” can also be translated as “survive”. What would we be surviving? The great tribulation! The chapter breaks were added later for the benefit of the reader. When Paul wrote 1 Thessalonians, after discussing the rapture he moves right into its timing for he says, “Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you.” He then tells the Thessalonians that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night to those who are saying peace and safety. Those believers who survive the great tribulation will not be enjoying peace and safety, they will be doing what they can to survive! But then sudden destruction will come upon the ones enjoying peace and safety. This is God’s judgment. Believers, the dead and then those who remain alive will be caught up before the sudden destruction, that is the day of the Lord’s wrath begins to fall, for “God has not destined us for wrath.”
So, when Christ comes and “receives near” to Himself His elect, that is believers, they now enter into “peace and safety” so to speak and “peace and safety” for the unbelievers comes to an end. They now face the full fury of God’s wrath with the trumpet and bowl judgments.
Jesus says no man knows the day or the hour of His return, when He comes and cuts the persecution short against His elect. Only the Father knows. It falls somewhere after the Aof D but before the end of D’s 70th Week.
So we have beginning birth pangs, then great tribulation breaks out against God’s elect but those who align with AC will enjoy peace and safety. Then the rapture occurs, when the dead are raised first and those who are alive and survive are gathered to Christ, and then the day of the Lord judgments against the wicked begin, against those who took the mark and aligned themselves with AC.
Does this make sense?
If you were to go through Kristen's study guide I think it might all fall into place for you.
I would like to encourage you to do so.
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