JESUS ON THE END TIMES-Part Five-All Those Fallen Stones
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXp6xcY5IqU
A matter of perspective.
The disciples saw that magnificent manmade temple and were in awe. Humans see great heights and pause in admiration.
Jesus tore down the temple in their minds. It lay in rubble.
They thought Jerusalem was the eternal Jewish city. He destroyed it in narrative.
All their hopes: that they would be involved in the revolution against Rome: win and throw them out, establish the kingdom of God right then. That dream of Jewish supremacy was a false temple that had to crash even as the actual temple would crash. Really crash because it was a false hope for redemption after His sacrifice on the cross. They didn't see a bigger picture of a larger Earth, of tribes and nations they didn't know existed, of a much bigger world of man than they could even comprehend. They thought the mission would be done in Asia, Europe and Africa. They didn't realize the size of China or Russia. Two whole American continents were out there waiting to be "discovered." The Arctic and Antarctic unimagined.
Even after this lecture, they would not grasp the patterns He revealed until the Spirit arrived and still they would not see the enormity of the mission.
But we do know of that bigger world, of a whole universe and His voice speaks to us in these verses today of a world shattered and in ruins with some saved and others forever lost. We know of viruses that kill in a few moments, of nuclear weapons, of ships alone with more power than the Roman army could ever comprehend. And of a leader so evil he will bring all the world to the brink of destruction. Of this special world shattered.
He told a truth of world's end to everyone, all our temples will crash. Nothing in this world lasts. Earthquakes can fell all those marvelous monuments. Terrorists in civilian airplanes can bring down Twin Towers. Soviet Unions can fall to pieces. Marriages can end. Lovers can wander. Children can get stung by bees and die in shock. Refuges can die of thirsty and starvation even after rescue missions. If the scientists are right, there is a timer of four million years on the sun before it winks out. Did you think God created this marvelous intricate universe thing for human pleasure and amusement only? Did you ever think his motive was also to always remind us of just how small we are? Did you ever think that all the death and disaster was to remind us of our sin and to remind us also that the source of life itself was not here in a random puddle where life formed from amino acids but in a creator who founded the universe and our life in it for a purpose, for the glory of himself by the fact of kind creation, for the love of the humans he would create?
Do you begin to understand the blasphemy of those saying they can speak reality into existence because God lives in them? Do you understand the draw of it better though? That somehow we can be like him and that the rich can be more like him because they can make things their way because they have money?
And Matthew 24 is about the loss of money, power, the temple, which was a political and religious powerhouse, the house of money changers, falling, about those who want it for themselves, and finally about the one who manages that dream of total Earthly power for himself.
Mt 24:23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.
24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
25 Behold, I have told you before.
Again Jesus separates the false christs from the false prophets, the political power and then the voodoo priest who praises him.
But this should truly terrify us: insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
Have a care. Anyone, even I, can be deceiving you. Please don't trust me. See that what I say is correct without me putting spin on it.
26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.
Certain sects offered desert places to meet messiahs. Some have even offered visits to your living room. Dark meetings late at night to discover secret sayings and chants and incantations and mantras and...None of this is real or worth the time of day let alone donations.
27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
28 For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.
29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. {with...: or, with a trumpet, and a great voice}
This is the apparent conclusion to the Earthly minded. Jesus arrives in full glory, bringing his already delivered and harvesting those of the "left behind" who have found salvation at the cost of their lives and those who are saved and still living, that few, to join the ones already there.
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. {it: or, he}
https://www.blueletterbible.org/study/larkin/dt/29.cfm
These three trees are particularly fit symbols of Israel, for in Palestine the "Vine," the "Fig-tree," and the "Olive," stand for the fruitfulness of the land. And the "Vine" and "Fig-tree" prefigure the Millennial days when every man shall sit under his own "Vine" and "Fig-tree." Micah 4:3-4. When Jacob (Israel) was about to die he summoned his sons, and prophesied their future. Of Judah he said that his portion of Canaan should be so full of vineyards that asses should be tethered to the vines, and that the juice should be so plentiful that they would wash their clothes in it as in water. Gen. 49:9-12.
THE VINE is a symbol of Israel's Spiritual privileges.
THE FIG-TREE is a symbol of Israel's National privileges.
THE OLIVE TREE is a symbol of Israel's Religious privileges.
...
The "Fig-tree" is a New Testament symbol or figure of Israel and was used by Jesus Himself. As Jesus sat upon the Mount of Olives, on the 'Tuesday evening preceding His Crucifixion, His Disciples came to Him and asked a threefold question-"Tell us, when shall these things be (the destruction of the Temple)? and what shall be the SIGN of Thy Coming, and of the end of the world (Age)?" Matt. 24:3. These three questions Jesus answered in His "Olivet Discourse" which followed. In His answer to the question-"What shall be the SIGN of Thy Coming?" Jesus mentioned three signs.
The appearance of the "ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION" (the "DESOLATOR"-Antichrist), spoken of by Daniel the prophet (Dan. 9:27) in the Holy Place of the rebuilt Temple at Jerusalem, as foretold by Paul in his Second Letter to the Thessalonians. 2 Thess. 2:1-4.
(Note that this is the role of the High Priest of the Jewish religion a "cohan" so likely someone named Cohen will be actual high priest at the time the Antichrist moves into the role as jesus moved into the role on his Crucifixion. W.)
The "SIGN OF THE SON OF MAN," which is a "CLOUD," such as He disappeared in when He ascended. Acts. 1:9. Matt. 24:30.
The "FIG-TREE SIGN," or the re-gathering of the Jews back to their own land. In connection with this "Sign" Jesus said-"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 (He, R.V.), is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This GENERATION (the word means 'Race'-JEWISH RACE) shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away." Matt. 24:32-35.
The "Fig-tree" is a fit emblem of Israel. Its peculiarity is that the blossoms of the fruit appear before the leaves. Naturally, therefore, we should look for fruit on a tree in full leaf. This accounts for why Jesus cursed the Fig-tree that had on it nothing but leaves. Matt. 21:18-20. The presence of the leaves led Him to expect fruit, and when He found none He cursed the tree for its fruitlessness. Mark gives us another version of the incident. Mark 11:12-14. He says that Jesus found nothing but leaves, "for the time of figs was NOT YET." Why then curse the tree? This is easily explained. The early fruit, or blossoms, appear in spring before the leaves open, on branches of the last year's growth, and the first ripe fruit is ready in June or earlier. The late figs grow on the new wood, keep appearing during the season, and are ripe from August onward. The unripe fruit of autumn often survives the winter and ripens when vegetation revives in the spring. Now it was about the first of April that Jesus cursed the Fig-tree, and the time of figs was not yet, because they did not ripen before June. But fig-trees which have retained their leaves through the winter usually have some of the last year's figs also, and as April was too early for new leaves or fruit, Jesus knowing this, and seeing leaves on the tree, naturally expected to find some of last year's fruit, and when He found none He cursed the tree because of its deceptive character.
The application of this incident to Israel is simple. Naturally Jesus from their "leafy profession" would expect to find fruit on the tree of their National life, and when He found none He cursed them for their HYPOCRISY. Matt. 23:1-33.
In the Parable of the "Barren Fig-tree" (Luke 13:6-9) we have another picture of Israel. The "Fig-tree" is the Jewish nation. The "Fig-tree" was planted in a "Vineyard," which we have seen stands for the land of Palestine. The owner of the Vineyard and of the Fig-tree was God. He came in the person of His Son Jesus, and for three years of Jesus' ministry He had sought for fruit from the Jewish nation and found none. He therefore decided to cut down the tree, that is, remove the nation from the Vineyard.
But the tree was not destroyed immediately, for intercession was made for it, and the day of grace was lengthened out for forty years, and then the "axe-man" Titus, at the head of the Roman Army besieged Jerusalem in A.D. 70, and Israel, the Fig-tree, was cut down and cast out of the Vineyard into the field of the world.
But while the "Fig-tree" (Israel) was cut down and cast out of the "Vineyard" (Palestine), its root was not destroyed, the axe was only laid at the root of the "Tree" (Luke 3:7-9), the root itself was not killed or removed from the soil. It is clear then from the "Parable of the Fig-tree," (Matt. 24:32-34), that a new tree will spring from the root, that is, the nation of Israel will revive, and when it shall reach the point where it shall "put forth leaves" then we shall have the "FIG-TREE SIGN" that Christ's return is not far away. In this case the "Fig-tree" will bear leaves before it bears fruit, for Israel is to be revived nationally before she is converted.
The "Signs of the Times" clearly point to the revival of the "Fig-tree;" and in "ZIONISM" and "ANTI-SEMITISM" we see the "putting forth of leaves." "ZIONISM" is the longing of the Jews to return to their own land and the establishment of a "Jewish State" there. There are three phases of it, "Religious," "Economic," and "Political" Zionism. The "Religious" phase is the revival of faith in the fulfilment of the Old Testament prophecies of the restoration of Jewish worship in a rebuilt Temple in the Holy Land. The "Economic" phase is the desire of Israel to escape from their condition of servitude in Russia, and other lands where they are persecuted, and by colonization in Palestine secure a home in the land associated with the most sacred memories of their race, where they can dwell safely under their own vine and fig-tree. The "Political" phase is the revival of their "national Hope" of a restored nation under the leadership of the promised and long-hoped-for Messiah.
"ANTI-SEMITISM" is the desire on the part of the nations to drive the Jews out of the countries where their number and habits have become a menace. It is a revival of Egyptian Bondage. Pharaoh did not want to part with Israel, he needed their service in the construction of public works and in the raising of cattle. All he purposed to do was by hard bondage to prevent their increase. Ex. 1:7-22. Israel's experience in Egypt is a type of the time that the Prophet Jeremiah speaks of as the time of "JACOB'S TROUBLE," when God will break the "YOKE" from off their neck, and burst their "BONDS," and strangers shall no more serve themselves of them. Jer. 30:4-9.
These two "Signs," Zionism and Anti-Semitism, which are becoming more and more marked, are evidence, like the budding of a tree in the springtime that it is about to send forth leaves, that "SUMMER IS NIGH," and that the return of the Lord is not far off. Matt. 24:33-35. The "Fig-tree" then is a symbol of Israel's NATIONAL Privileges.
Do not miss what Jesus is saying here because it influences the very next sentence and the way it is interpreted in context.
He lectures in the olive gardens. The gardens are the symbol of the gathered religious privilege of Israel as the tree itself. Now he speaks to tie the religious with the earthly country. That the false will come forward and reach their point of power as the tree is just growing into political power. Israel had no such hopes under the Romans.
34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
This has become the deadliest passage in Scripture. Deadly because it's misinterpretation has led to the idea He came back spiritually the Temple fell and this led to the notion that He somehow came back in reality then which founds much of the mistaken teaching of postmillennialism. Some people today believe in a false Christ because of it.
The notion that He meant the current generation of the Apostles, that He would be back "soon" by human standards emphasizes the way we humans see things, from the temporal perspective. We go all the way back to Genesis insisting "day" must mean a twenty-four hour day and roll all the way into making Jesus return in the lifetime of His generation when the other meaning as stated above in clearly applies.
35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
And yet Jehovah's Witnesses are founded on the teaching that Jesus would return more than a century ago (http://christinprophecy.org/articles/the-jehovahs-witnesses/) and still went on despite the obvious false prophecy. A radio minister predicted Jesus return a few years ago, and when it failed, he said he did the math wrong and predicted again a wrong date. How do we found any sect on the teaching of the Lord's certain return on this day or another when we are told only God knows? We keep forgetting He said not to trust anyone who contradicts what He says here. We want so much to have that stone of special knowledge. WE WANT TO BE THE MASTERS OF SECRETS, OF DESTINY, THE SPECIAL ONES WHO WILL RULE! We all want to be the AC and never want to admit it. We all step into the role of being the high priests of our own lives, replacing Jesus in the holy place, in the temple of our bodies with our own designs and desires.
37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Hit the "pause." Step back and see the history as a CGI epic in a modern film. Most of those massive scenes exist to sell us some form of Antichrist so it is an appropriate symbol here. Look closely and what do you see?
Yes, every story the Bible related inevitably concerned someone's end times. Eden, awash in light and love, gone in an end time brought on by sin. Over and Over. And Every scene has the ending of one culture or country and the arrival of another, filled with bright hope only to be destroyed by the Antichrist as leader, by the false priest or priestess seeking power. Every time.
Jesus picked the last time god wiped out humanity.
But what else did Jesus say to the false prophet leaders of His moment on Earth about the temple?
Joh 2:18 The Jews therefore answered and said to him, What sign shewest thou to us, that thou doest these things?
19 Jesus answered and said to them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
20 The Jews therefore said, Forty and six years was this temple building, and thou wilt raise it up in three days?
21 But *he* spoke of the temple of his body.
(DBY)
And Paul said something:
1Co 6:19 Do ye not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which ye have of God; and ye are not your own?
20 for ye have been bought with a price: glorify now then God in your body.
(DBY)
And all the disciples would one day die, their own fleshly temples destroyed by the false worshipers. One. Stephen, even stoned to death, falling under the pelting of false temple rocks.
And every time the lost ones meant to die did not listen to the sound of their temples falling because...their personal temple was corrupted.
40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
Now we have what might be called a summation of His first coming AFTER His second.
The reason for this: He began prophesying about the Jewish portion of God's blessing to his current Jewish disciples. But the disciples will be transformed into the apostles and found the church. Hde now deals with the promise to their "nation" founded AFTER Israel. His arrival will fulfill the promise to Israel even as the Rapture will fulfill the promise to His church. The Church will be Enoch. And the Israel/delivered who survive of the Tribulation will be Noe and his Ark. The ones killed for Jesus sake during the Tribulation have a special blessing reserved in their resurrection post Tribulation (I'm getting ahead here so I will leave it there, but I want you to ponder what happened after Noah left the Ark and keep it well kin the back of your mind for when we get out of the Tribulation discussion.)
Think now of Revelation. I waited to discuss the Olivet Discourse until we had touched on the middle of the Tribulation because it is then that the Mark will be placed by tattoo or branding. Now consider what Jesus is saying in light of the predictions for the end of the Tribulation before His return to Earth in a blinding flash.
Nobody would be working fields or grinding bread with someone without the Mark. No one would dare do that in the open and not suffer retaliation. No one without the Mark could purchase seed or grain to grind anyone would be killed if they tried to farm openly.
The verse passage from verse 35 on now clearly applies to the Church and to his followers. They are to be aware because he will come like "a thief in the night" and they will be gone, but that they also must be prepared, steeped in their knowledge and love of Him over the world.
It is the story of the rapture, of temples cleansed by His blood, of false temples of stone taken down by the hand of Christ and of temples of flesh erected by His Spirit.
The true Hope. Beyond false prophecies and the empty dreams of Earthly kings.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKyhGyTW_TM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXp6xcY5IqU
A matter of perspective.
The disciples saw that magnificent manmade temple and were in awe. Humans see great heights and pause in admiration.
Jesus tore down the temple in their minds. It lay in rubble.
They thought Jerusalem was the eternal Jewish city. He destroyed it in narrative.
All their hopes: that they would be involved in the revolution against Rome: win and throw them out, establish the kingdom of God right then. That dream of Jewish supremacy was a false temple that had to crash even as the actual temple would crash. Really crash because it was a false hope for redemption after His sacrifice on the cross. They didn't see a bigger picture of a larger Earth, of tribes and nations they didn't know existed, of a much bigger world of man than they could even comprehend. They thought the mission would be done in Asia, Europe and Africa. They didn't realize the size of China or Russia. Two whole American continents were out there waiting to be "discovered." The Arctic and Antarctic unimagined.
Even after this lecture, they would not grasp the patterns He revealed until the Spirit arrived and still they would not see the enormity of the mission.
But we do know of that bigger world, of a whole universe and His voice speaks to us in these verses today of a world shattered and in ruins with some saved and others forever lost. We know of viruses that kill in a few moments, of nuclear weapons, of ships alone with more power than the Roman army could ever comprehend. And of a leader so evil he will bring all the world to the brink of destruction. Of this special world shattered.
He told a truth of world's end to everyone, all our temples will crash. Nothing in this world lasts. Earthquakes can fell all those marvelous monuments. Terrorists in civilian airplanes can bring down Twin Towers. Soviet Unions can fall to pieces. Marriages can end. Lovers can wander. Children can get stung by bees and die in shock. Refuges can die of thirsty and starvation even after rescue missions. If the scientists are right, there is a timer of four million years on the sun before it winks out. Did you think God created this marvelous intricate universe thing for human pleasure and amusement only? Did you ever think his motive was also to always remind us of just how small we are? Did you ever think that all the death and disaster was to remind us of our sin and to remind us also that the source of life itself was not here in a random puddle where life formed from amino acids but in a creator who founded the universe and our life in it for a purpose, for the glory of himself by the fact of kind creation, for the love of the humans he would create?
Do you begin to understand the blasphemy of those saying they can speak reality into existence because God lives in them? Do you understand the draw of it better though? That somehow we can be like him and that the rich can be more like him because they can make things their way because they have money?
And Matthew 24 is about the loss of money, power, the temple, which was a political and religious powerhouse, the house of money changers, falling, about those who want it for themselves, and finally about the one who manages that dream of total Earthly power for himself.
Mt 24:23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.
24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
25 Behold, I have told you before.
Again Jesus separates the false christs from the false prophets, the political power and then the voodoo priest who praises him.
But this should truly terrify us: insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
Have a care. Anyone, even I, can be deceiving you. Please don't trust me. See that what I say is correct without me putting spin on it.
26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.
Certain sects offered desert places to meet messiahs. Some have even offered visits to your living room. Dark meetings late at night to discover secret sayings and chants and incantations and mantras and...None of this is real or worth the time of day let alone donations.
27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
28 For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.
29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. {with...: or, with a trumpet, and a great voice}
This is the apparent conclusion to the Earthly minded. Jesus arrives in full glory, bringing his already delivered and harvesting those of the "left behind" who have found salvation at the cost of their lives and those who are saved and still living, that few, to join the ones already there.
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. {it: or, he}
https://www.blueletterbible.org/study/larkin/dt/29.cfm
These three trees are particularly fit symbols of Israel, for in Palestine the "Vine," the "Fig-tree," and the "Olive," stand for the fruitfulness of the land. And the "Vine" and "Fig-tree" prefigure the Millennial days when every man shall sit under his own "Vine" and "Fig-tree." Micah 4:3-4. When Jacob (Israel) was about to die he summoned his sons, and prophesied their future. Of Judah he said that his portion of Canaan should be so full of vineyards that asses should be tethered to the vines, and that the juice should be so plentiful that they would wash their clothes in it as in water. Gen. 49:9-12.
THE VINE is a symbol of Israel's Spiritual privileges.
THE FIG-TREE is a symbol of Israel's National privileges.
THE OLIVE TREE is a symbol of Israel's Religious privileges.
...
The "Fig-tree" is a New Testament symbol or figure of Israel and was used by Jesus Himself. As Jesus sat upon the Mount of Olives, on the 'Tuesday evening preceding His Crucifixion, His Disciples came to Him and asked a threefold question-"Tell us, when shall these things be (the destruction of the Temple)? and what shall be the SIGN of Thy Coming, and of the end of the world (Age)?" Matt. 24:3. These three questions Jesus answered in His "Olivet Discourse" which followed. In His answer to the question-"What shall be the SIGN of Thy Coming?" Jesus mentioned three signs.
The appearance of the "ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION" (the "DESOLATOR"-Antichrist), spoken of by Daniel the prophet (Dan. 9:27) in the Holy Place of the rebuilt Temple at Jerusalem, as foretold by Paul in his Second Letter to the Thessalonians. 2 Thess. 2:1-4.
(Note that this is the role of the High Priest of the Jewish religion a "cohan" so likely someone named Cohen will be actual high priest at the time the Antichrist moves into the role as jesus moved into the role on his Crucifixion. W.)
The "SIGN OF THE SON OF MAN," which is a "CLOUD," such as He disappeared in when He ascended. Acts. 1:9. Matt. 24:30.
The "FIG-TREE SIGN," or the re-gathering of the Jews back to their own land. In connection with this "Sign" Jesus said-"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 (He, R.V.), is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This GENERATION (the word means 'Race'-JEWISH RACE) shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away." Matt. 24:32-35.
The "Fig-tree" is a fit emblem of Israel. Its peculiarity is that the blossoms of the fruit appear before the leaves. Naturally, therefore, we should look for fruit on a tree in full leaf. This accounts for why Jesus cursed the Fig-tree that had on it nothing but leaves. Matt. 21:18-20. The presence of the leaves led Him to expect fruit, and when He found none He cursed the tree for its fruitlessness. Mark gives us another version of the incident. Mark 11:12-14. He says that Jesus found nothing but leaves, "for the time of figs was NOT YET." Why then curse the tree? This is easily explained. The early fruit, or blossoms, appear in spring before the leaves open, on branches of the last year's growth, and the first ripe fruit is ready in June or earlier. The late figs grow on the new wood, keep appearing during the season, and are ripe from August onward. The unripe fruit of autumn often survives the winter and ripens when vegetation revives in the spring. Now it was about the first of April that Jesus cursed the Fig-tree, and the time of figs was not yet, because they did not ripen before June. But fig-trees which have retained their leaves through the winter usually have some of the last year's figs also, and as April was too early for new leaves or fruit, Jesus knowing this, and seeing leaves on the tree, naturally expected to find some of last year's fruit, and when He found none He cursed the tree because of its deceptive character.
The application of this incident to Israel is simple. Naturally Jesus from their "leafy profession" would expect to find fruit on the tree of their National life, and when He found none He cursed them for their HYPOCRISY. Matt. 23:1-33.
In the Parable of the "Barren Fig-tree" (Luke 13:6-9) we have another picture of Israel. The "Fig-tree" is the Jewish nation. The "Fig-tree" was planted in a "Vineyard," which we have seen stands for the land of Palestine. The owner of the Vineyard and of the Fig-tree was God. He came in the person of His Son Jesus, and for three years of Jesus' ministry He had sought for fruit from the Jewish nation and found none. He therefore decided to cut down the tree, that is, remove the nation from the Vineyard.
But the tree was not destroyed immediately, for intercession was made for it, and the day of grace was lengthened out for forty years, and then the "axe-man" Titus, at the head of the Roman Army besieged Jerusalem in A.D. 70, and Israel, the Fig-tree, was cut down and cast out of the Vineyard into the field of the world.
But while the "Fig-tree" (Israel) was cut down and cast out of the "Vineyard" (Palestine), its root was not destroyed, the axe was only laid at the root of the "Tree" (Luke 3:7-9), the root itself was not killed or removed from the soil. It is clear then from the "Parable of the Fig-tree," (Matt. 24:32-34), that a new tree will spring from the root, that is, the nation of Israel will revive, and when it shall reach the point where it shall "put forth leaves" then we shall have the "FIG-TREE SIGN" that Christ's return is not far away. In this case the "Fig-tree" will bear leaves before it bears fruit, for Israel is to be revived nationally before she is converted.
The "Signs of the Times" clearly point to the revival of the "Fig-tree;" and in "ZIONISM" and "ANTI-SEMITISM" we see the "putting forth of leaves." "ZIONISM" is the longing of the Jews to return to their own land and the establishment of a "Jewish State" there. There are three phases of it, "Religious," "Economic," and "Political" Zionism. The "Religious" phase is the revival of faith in the fulfilment of the Old Testament prophecies of the restoration of Jewish worship in a rebuilt Temple in the Holy Land. The "Economic" phase is the desire of Israel to escape from their condition of servitude in Russia, and other lands where they are persecuted, and by colonization in Palestine secure a home in the land associated with the most sacred memories of their race, where they can dwell safely under their own vine and fig-tree. The "Political" phase is the revival of their "national Hope" of a restored nation under the leadership of the promised and long-hoped-for Messiah.
"ANTI-SEMITISM" is the desire on the part of the nations to drive the Jews out of the countries where their number and habits have become a menace. It is a revival of Egyptian Bondage. Pharaoh did not want to part with Israel, he needed their service in the construction of public works and in the raising of cattle. All he purposed to do was by hard bondage to prevent their increase. Ex. 1:7-22. Israel's experience in Egypt is a type of the time that the Prophet Jeremiah speaks of as the time of "JACOB'S TROUBLE," when God will break the "YOKE" from off their neck, and burst their "BONDS," and strangers shall no more serve themselves of them. Jer. 30:4-9.
These two "Signs," Zionism and Anti-Semitism, which are becoming more and more marked, are evidence, like the budding of a tree in the springtime that it is about to send forth leaves, that "SUMMER IS NIGH," and that the return of the Lord is not far off. Matt. 24:33-35. The "Fig-tree" then is a symbol of Israel's NATIONAL Privileges.
Do not miss what Jesus is saying here because it influences the very next sentence and the way it is interpreted in context.
He lectures in the olive gardens. The gardens are the symbol of the gathered religious privilege of Israel as the tree itself. Now he speaks to tie the religious with the earthly country. That the false will come forward and reach their point of power as the tree is just growing into political power. Israel had no such hopes under the Romans.
34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
This has become the deadliest passage in Scripture. Deadly because it's misinterpretation has led to the idea He came back spiritually the Temple fell and this led to the notion that He somehow came back in reality then which founds much of the mistaken teaching of postmillennialism. Some people today believe in a false Christ because of it.
The notion that He meant the current generation of the Apostles, that He would be back "soon" by human standards emphasizes the way we humans see things, from the temporal perspective. We go all the way back to Genesis insisting "day" must mean a twenty-four hour day and roll all the way into making Jesus return in the lifetime of His generation when the other meaning as stated above in clearly applies.
35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
And yet Jehovah's Witnesses are founded on the teaching that Jesus would return more than a century ago (http://christinprophecy.org/articles/the-jehovahs-witnesses/) and still went on despite the obvious false prophecy. A radio minister predicted Jesus return a few years ago, and when it failed, he said he did the math wrong and predicted again a wrong date. How do we found any sect on the teaching of the Lord's certain return on this day or another when we are told only God knows? We keep forgetting He said not to trust anyone who contradicts what He says here. We want so much to have that stone of special knowledge. WE WANT TO BE THE MASTERS OF SECRETS, OF DESTINY, THE SPECIAL ONES WHO WILL RULE! We all want to be the AC and never want to admit it. We all step into the role of being the high priests of our own lives, replacing Jesus in the holy place, in the temple of our bodies with our own designs and desires.
37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Hit the "pause." Step back and see the history as a CGI epic in a modern film. Most of those massive scenes exist to sell us some form of Antichrist so it is an appropriate symbol here. Look closely and what do you see?
Yes, every story the Bible related inevitably concerned someone's end times. Eden, awash in light and love, gone in an end time brought on by sin. Over and Over. And Every scene has the ending of one culture or country and the arrival of another, filled with bright hope only to be destroyed by the Antichrist as leader, by the false priest or priestess seeking power. Every time.
Jesus picked the last time god wiped out humanity.
But what else did Jesus say to the false prophet leaders of His moment on Earth about the temple?
Joh 2:18 The Jews therefore answered and said to him, What sign shewest thou to us, that thou doest these things?
19 Jesus answered and said to them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
20 The Jews therefore said, Forty and six years was this temple building, and thou wilt raise it up in three days?
21 But *he* spoke of the temple of his body.
(DBY)
And Paul said something:
1Co 6:19 Do ye not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which ye have of God; and ye are not your own?
20 for ye have been bought with a price: glorify now then God in your body.
(DBY)
And all the disciples would one day die, their own fleshly temples destroyed by the false worshipers. One. Stephen, even stoned to death, falling under the pelting of false temple rocks.
And every time the lost ones meant to die did not listen to the sound of their temples falling because...their personal temple was corrupted.
40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
Now we have what might be called a summation of His first coming AFTER His second.
The reason for this: He began prophesying about the Jewish portion of God's blessing to his current Jewish disciples. But the disciples will be transformed into the apostles and found the church. Hde now deals with the promise to their "nation" founded AFTER Israel. His arrival will fulfill the promise to Israel even as the Rapture will fulfill the promise to His church. The Church will be Enoch. And the Israel/delivered who survive of the Tribulation will be Noe and his Ark. The ones killed for Jesus sake during the Tribulation have a special blessing reserved in their resurrection post Tribulation (I'm getting ahead here so I will leave it there, but I want you to ponder what happened after Noah left the Ark and keep it well kin the back of your mind for when we get out of the Tribulation discussion.)
Think now of Revelation. I waited to discuss the Olivet Discourse until we had touched on the middle of the Tribulation because it is then that the Mark will be placed by tattoo or branding. Now consider what Jesus is saying in light of the predictions for the end of the Tribulation before His return to Earth in a blinding flash.
Nobody would be working fields or grinding bread with someone without the Mark. No one would dare do that in the open and not suffer retaliation. No one without the Mark could purchase seed or grain to grind anyone would be killed if they tried to farm openly.
The verse passage from verse 35 on now clearly applies to the Church and to his followers. They are to be aware because he will come like "a thief in the night" and they will be gone, but that they also must be prepared, steeped in their knowledge and love of Him over the world.
It is the story of the rapture, of temples cleansed by His blood, of false temples of stone taken down by the hand of Christ and of temples of flesh erected by His Spirit.
The true Hope. Beyond false prophecies and the empty dreams of Earthly kings.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKyhGyTW_TM
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