Parable of the Fig Tree

[Diaste]

Is this parable of Israel's rebirth or just an analogy of the signs of the times?

"Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its branches become tender and sprout leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see all these things, you will know that He is near, right at the door."

 

[branchesofHim]

9 hours ago, Diaste said:

Is this parable of Israel's rebirth or just an analogy of the signs of the times?

"Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its branches become tender and sprout leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see all these things, you will know that He is near, right at the door."

Was it near summer when Jesus cursed the fig tree that had leaves, but no fruit? Peace.

[Diaste]

1 minute ago, branchesofHim said:

Was it near summer when Jesus cursed the fig tree that had leaves, but no fruit? Peace.

I don't know. 

[Zemke]

On 4/6/2020 at 11:18 AM, Diaste said:

Is this parable of Israel's rebirth or just an analogy of the signs of the times?

"Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its branches become tender and sprout leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see all these things, you will know that He is near, right at the door."

 

Being that the statement is in the Olivet discourse I'm going to vote for signs of the times. The olive tree seems to be representative of Israel more than the fig tree.

But what's interesting is in Luke's version, chapter 21 it's stated "Behold the fig tree and all the trees."

There is a parable, in Judges 9, dealing with Abimelech when one of his brothers, Jotham, escapes the execution of the rest of his brothers by Abimelech's hand, making Abimelech king, Jotham then stands on a mount speaking out a parable about the trees. 

 

 

Edited April 7, 2020 by Zemke

[Diaste]

14 hours ago, Zemke said:

Being that the statement is in the Olivet discourse I'm going to vote for signs of the times. The olive tree seems to be representative of Israel more than the fig tree.

But what's interesting is in Luke's version, chapter 21 it's stated "Behold the fig tree and all the trees."

There is a parable, in Judges 9, dealing with Abimelech when one of his brothers, Jotham, escapes the execution of the rest of his brothers by Abimelech's hand, making Abimelech king, Jotham then stands on a mount speaking out a parable about the trees. 

 

 

I think that's right as well. I just watched a movie called The Convergence and they likened the fig tree to Israel and placed relevance on Israel's rebirth as the beginning of the final generation. I have heard that before but it didn't seem relevant in that way. I think it would be great if that was true, I just don't see it.

[Zemke]

I agree. The Jews being back in the land is most definitely a sign, an important one, but verse 33 in Matthew 24 says, "...when you see ALL these things..."

A time like no other. Just like the days of Noah, like the days of Lot. The accumulation and depth of what will come on the earth will bring a time of darkness like no other. It won't be something new, something that hasn't happened before. The evil that will posses the son of perdition has always been around and manifest. The plagues have all happened before, the wars, the fear, the anger, waves of the sea roaring, earthquakes. You name it, it will be there, has been and is.

The intensity of the evil that will build will be the darkest. The restrainer will be taken out of the way. Jesus said, "Work while it is the day, night comes when no man can work."

The pattern we have seen before containing a three and a half year period is the ministry of Christ. The ministry of anti-Christ seems to be 3.5 years also.

Most first coming prophecies were fulfilled in the full life of Jesus Christ, and most of those in the last 3.5 years, and most of those in the last week. 

Birth pangs need to be applied in some manner like this.  Jesus spoke of birth pangs in Matthew 24.  

The reason we have a tough time connecting the trees' parable in Judges is because we are reading a Jewish book with western minds. Or, gentile minds rather than Hebraic minds. It's more simple on one hand but more difficult on the other. The Word of God theologically contains both simple math and physics. Keeping things simple, understanding the basic aspects at all times helps with our understanding of the more difficult aspects. And end times understanding has a heap of scripture to understand. 

 

 

Edited April 8, 2020 by Zemke

[douggg]

On 4/6/2020 at 10:18 AM, Diaste said:

Is this parable of Israel's rebirth or just an analogy of the signs of the times?

"Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its branches become tender and sprout leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see all these things, you will know that He is near, right at the door."

 

I think the parable, timing wise, is about Jerusalem back in the hands of the Jews as the capital of Israel.  1967.

Isaiah 66:8 is about Israel's rebirth.   A nation born in a single day.   May 14, 1948.

8 Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.

Edited April 8, 2020 by douggg

[The Light]

On 4/6/2020 at 10:18 AM, Diaste said:

Is this parable of Israel's rebirth or just an analogy of the signs of the times?

"Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its branches become tender and sprout leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see all these things, you will know that He is near, right at the door."

 

Probably using a better translation would help.

Matt 24

³² Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:

³³ So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.

The fig tree has two harvests. The first harvest will be the early summer grain harvest, hence summer is nigh. It will be the pretribulation rapture of the Church, the SECRET rapture at the trump of God, when the Lord himself comes. It will be like the days of Noah where Noah is in the ark 7 days before the flood.

The second harvest will be like the days of Lot, the very day Lot left Sodom destruction came. Those that "see all these things come to pass" will know to look up their redemption draws nigh. That is why it says DOORS. There will be two harvests. The second harvest will be the fall fruit harvest at the last trump on the Feast of Trumpets. He will send His angels to gather His elect.

Edited April 9, 2020 by The Light

[Marilyn C]

On ‎4‎/‎7‎/‎2020 at 12:48 AM, Diaste said:

Is this parable of Israel's rebirth or just an analogy of the signs of the times?

"Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its branches become tender and sprout leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see all these things, you will know that He is near, right at the door."

 

Hi Diaste,

I believe God`s word tells us that the fig tree is symbolic of Israel and when it sprouted it became a nation, (as did other `trees` become nations, from the British Empire). As to the `Summer` well that is from the month of Tammuz, when I believe the A/C will set up the AOD in the temple. And then that is only 3 1/2 years from the end of the Trib, when the Lord returns. So that fits in to when the Lord said, -

`When they are already budding, you see & know for yourselves that summer is not near. So you, likewise, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near. ` (Luke 21: 30 & 31) 

[Zemke]

9 hours ago, Marilyn C said:

Hi Diaste,

I believe God`s word tells us that the fig tree is symbolic of Israel and when it sprouted it became a nation, (as did other `trees` become nations, from the British Empire). As to the `Summer` well that is from the month of Tammuz, when I believe the A/C will set up the AOD in the temple. And then that is only 3 1/2 years from the end of the Trib, when the Lord returns. So that fits in to when the Lord said, -

`When they are already budding, you see & know for yourselves that summer is not near. So you, likewise, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near. ` (Luke 21: 30 & 31) 

Hi Marilyn,

I had thought the same for some time. The reason I changed my mind is when Paul is speaking of Israel in Romans he uses the olive tree symbolically and in Jeremiah 11: 15,16 we read:

"What right has My beloved in My house when she has done many vile deeds? Can the sacrificial flesh take away from you your disaster, so that you can rejoice?" The LORD called your name, "A green olive tree, beautiful in fruit and form;" With the noise of  a great tumult He has kindled fire on it, and its branches are worthless.

I like to try and keep metaphors in flux so to speak, or in a word not set doctrine from a type but allow the type to illuminate a doctrine. For now anyway I'm sitting with the olive tree being more symbolic.