Many people have an interest in the “Parable of the Fig Tree”. The parable first appears in Matthew 24:32-25 (and also appears in Mark 13:28-31 and Luke 21:29-32). Here is the parable described in the Book of Matthew:
“(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. (34) Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. (35) Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” (Matthew 24:32-35)
Many believe that Israel represents the fig tree in the Parable of the Fig Tree. Some also believe we are the generation that will see the return of Christ after the creation of the state of Israel in 1948. This view has led to speculation over the past few decades about when Christ will return:
- One popular theory was that Christ would return in 1988. Proponents of this view believed a generation is 40 years.
- Some believed Christ would return in 2007. Proponents of this theory believed that 1967 marked the start of the final generation and a generation is 40 years.
- A current theory is that Christ will return between 2018-2028. Proponents of this theory argue that a “generation” is 70 to 80 years and the final generation started in 1948.
As you can see, some believe the Parable of the Fig Tree gives us insight about the Rapture and coming of Christ. In this article, I provide biblical insights about this important parable.
Israel and the Parable of the Fig Tree
Proponents of the idea that the Parable of the Fig Tree is about Israel believe that Israel represents the fig tree in Scripture. They cite several passages to make their case. Here are three examples that they often cite…
Jeremiah 24:1-9
The passage describes two groups of figs: those taken captive (the good figs) and those who remained in the land and lived in land of Egypt (the bad figs):
(1) The LORD shewed me, and, behold, two baskets of figs were set before the temple of the LORD, after that Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon had carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, and the princes of Judah, with the carpenters and smiths, from Jerusalem, and had brought them to Babylon. (2) One basket had very good figs, even like the figs that are first ripe: and the other basket had very naughty figs, which could not be eaten, they were so bad. (3) Then said the LORD unto me, What seest thou, Jeremiah? And I said, Figs; the good figs, very good; and the evil, very evil, that cannot be eaten, they are so evil. (4) Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, (5) Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel; Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge them that are carried away captive of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans for their good. (6) For I will set mine eyes upon them for good, and I will bring them again to this land: and I will build them, and not pull them down; and I will plant them, and not pluck them up. (7) And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the LORD: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart. (8) And as the evil figs, which cannot be eaten, they are so evil; surely thus saith the LORD, So will I give Zedekiah the king of Judah, and his princes, and the residue of Jerusalem, that remain in this land, and them that dwell in the land of Egypt: (9) And I will deliver them to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth for their hurt, to be a reproach and a proverb, a taunt and a curse, in all places whither I shall drive them.” (Jeremiah 24:1-9)
Hosea 9:10
Hosea 9:10 compares the Israelites to the first fruits of a fig tree:
“I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers as the firstripe in the fig tree at her first time: but they went to Baalpeor, and separated themselves unto that shame; and their abominations were according as they loved.” (Hosea 9:10)
Mark 11:13-23
Mark 11:13-23 (also Matthew 21:18-22) is another often cited passage. Mark 11:13-14 mentions that Christ commanded a fig tree to never grow fruit again. Mark 11:20-21 describes the discovery of the same fig tree-now withered away:
“(13) And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet. (14) And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it. (15) And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves; (16) And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple. (17) And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves. (18) And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine. (19) And when even was come, he went out of the city. (20) And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. (21) And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away. (22) And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. (23) For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.” (Mark 11:13-23)
Some view the cursing of the fig tree as a symbolic rebuke of Israel’s poor spiritual condition at the time. Others disagree.
I will not argue for or against the idea that the fig tree represents Israel in this article. The reason is that whether Israel represents the fig tree has no bearing on my view concerning the Parable of the Fig Tree. I’ll explain my view on the Parable of the Fig Tree next.
The Parable of the Fig Tree & All Trees
The Parable of the Fig Tree does not specifically relate to Israel because the parable is not solely about the fig tree. Luke 21:29 states the parable relates to the fig tree and all the trees:
(29) And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; (30) When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. (31) So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. (32) Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.” (Luke 21:29-32)
The focus on the fig tree and all the trees suggests the parable is not solely about a development that relates to the fig tree. Israel may represent a fig tree, but the parable is not only about the fig tree sprouting leaves. The sprouting of every tree’s leaves, including the fig tree, is the focus of the parable as “they” are the subject of Luke 21:30.
Luke 21:29-32’s account of the parable does not conflict with Matthew 24:32-35 and Mark 13:28-31 as the Word of God is inerrant and without contradiction.
- The difference between Luke 21:29-32 and Matthew 24:32-35 & Mark 13:28-31 is just an instance where Matthew and Mark emphasized the fig tree element of the parable (after all, the fig tree was distinguished from “all the trees” even in Luke 21:29-32).
The Parable’s Purpose
Christ tried to convey the message that people can tell that His Coming is near when they see the events He described taking place like people can tell that summer is near when they see trees sprout leaves.
- In other words, Christ sought to alert people that the events He described are indicators that people can look at to gauge how near His Coming is as people can look at the sprouting of leaves to tell what time of year it is.
People who will endure the great tribulation may not keep a good track of time as they try to survive. Some may lose track of what day it is as they seek to survive the persecution.
The events Christ described can serve as indicators to help these people to have an idea of how close Christ’s Coming is.
- The events for people to watch for relate to what Christ described in the Olivet Discourse prior to the mentioning the parable. For instance, the signs in the sun and moon are events people should watch to get a sense of how close Christ’s Coming is.
Conclusion
You are welcome to believe that the Parable of the Fig Tree relates to Israel in some way, shape, or form. However, proponents of the view that the Parable of the Fig Tree relates to Israel need to account for why the parable in Luke 21:29-32 includes all trees (and not just the fig tree).
Again, the Parable of the Fig Tree is an analogy given by Christ to communicate the message to people that they can tell that His Coming is near when they see the events He described transpire. It is not a hidden message to watch out for the Rapture by a certain date after the creation of the state of Israel.
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“If a fig tree is cursed and withered it appears dead. But if twigs get tender and leaves come out this means the fig tree revives. Meaning Israel revives. Prophesy fulfilled in 1948 when Israel regained its independence.” No. Jesus’ curse of that tree was absolute and permanent. The tree was stone dead from the roots up, and His words say nothing about the “fig tree” reviving. “And Jesus answered and said unto it, ‘No man eat fruit of thee _hereafter for ever_’. And His disciples heard it (Mark 11:14).” Apparently, those who love the heresy of Israel’s revival in 1948 (as a Christ-rejectibg nation-state), haven’t heard it.
Israel is not forever dead. I would suggest that you read Romans 11.
“…For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children… That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed (Romans 9:6-8).”And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise (Galatians 3:29).” Only the Israel consisting of Jewish and Gentile Christians who are “children of promise,” is forever alive.
And what of Israel who goes into the millennium, but do not believe in Christ until the Second Coming when the Church has been raptured? What do you call them, if not revived Israel? It is then that the see Him whom they pierced, and mourn, and then all Israel shall be saved. Rev. 1:7, Zech 12:10, 13:1,9. Read Zechariah 12-14 for the entire story. Israel is revived as a nation and brought into the millennium to fulfill the covenant God made with them. The following clearly teaches that God will restore Israel. There is no replacement theology in the Bible. Romans 11 [1] I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. [2] God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying, [3] Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life. [4] But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. [5] Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. [6] And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. [7] What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded [8] (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day. [9] And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumbling block, and a recompence unto them: [10] Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway. [11] I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. [12] Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness? [13] For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:
[14] If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them. [15] For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead? [16] For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches. [17] And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; [18] Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. [19] Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. [20] Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: [21] For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. [22] Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. [23] And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again. [24] For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree? [25] For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. [26] And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: [27] For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
[28] As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes. [29] For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
You’re arguing against Romans 9:6-8 and Galatians 3:29. They teach that “only the children of promise [not “of the flesh”] are counted for seed,” and that if you are “Christ’s, then are you Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Again, Scripture says an Israel inhabited by Jewish and Gentile members of the Body of Christ, is forever alive.
You are confusing Spiritual Israel (which includes all the spiritual seed of Abraham) with the nation of Israel, to whom God gave a promise and covenant of their being a nation of priests, and having an earthly kingdom over which the Messiah reigns. God does not revoke His covenants.
There is a nation of Israel (ethnically) that will be spiritual Israel during the millennium, but right now they are only believers in Jehovah or Yahweh, whichever you prefer, which is what allows them to make it to the end and go into the millennium. They don’t believe in Christ until after He comes, hence they are not a part of the resurrected who live in New Jerusalem during the millennium. Christ sets up His kingdom with Israel the ethnic nation as the premiere nation that everyone comes to, to know the Lord. The temple will be rebuilt as God’s sanctuary on earth (New Jerusalem is not on earth, it is far too large.) Israel will be His priests on earth bringing the gospel to the world, just as the Gentile Church is Christ’s priests bringing the gospel now. God will make Israel His wife again as a nation.
Hosea 2:14-23 Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her. And I will give her her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope: and she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt.
And it shall be at that day, saith the LORD, that thou shalt call me Ishi; and shalt call me no more Baali. For I will take away the names of Baalim out of her mouth, and they shall no more be remembered by their name. And in that day will I make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven, and with the creeping things of the ground: and I will break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the earth, and will make them to lie down safely. And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies. I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the LORD. And it shall come to pass in that day, I will hear, saith the LORD, I will hear the heavens, and they shall hear the earth; And the earth shall hear the corn, and the wine, and the oil; and they shall hear Jezreel. And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God.
Zech. 12:9-10 And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
Zech. 13:1-2,9 In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness. And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they shall no more be remembered: and also I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land. And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.
Zech. 14:16 And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.
Is. 66:19, 21-23 And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles. And I will also take of them for priests and for Levites, saith the LORD. For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain. And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.
It’s all through the O.T. and in again in Romans as I showed above. Not wanting to believe it doesn’t change the truth.
Citations from the Old Testament cannot be used to void the straaight-up teaching of Romans 9:6-8 and Galatians 3:29, that there can be _no_ other “ethnic” nation of Israel outside the spiritual Body of Christ Jesus.
Hence, Peter declares of His Body, “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should show forth the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvellous light: which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy (1 Peter 2:9,10).”
Paul confirms the unity of this _one_ body: “For through Him [Christ Jesus] we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore you are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God (Ephesians 2:18,19).”
Mat 24:3
Diciples are asking sign for his 2nd coming. Answer:
Mat 24:32-34
Want to know about his 2nd coming? Learn the lesson of the fig tree when He is near, right at the door. (About judgement day-nobody knows/2nd coming: Fig tree. Bible describes 2nd coming on the clouds to gather elect Mat 24:30-31 Luke 21:27-28 and judgement day with fire to judge the world. Isa 66:15-16 2nd The 1:6-10. 2nd coming and judgement day are 2 different events and not one as people believe. Even the timing in which God works is different. Coming on the cloud says it will be near Luke 21:28 but judgement says it will be sudden zep 1:18.
So to know 2nd coming we must learn about the fig tree.
Jer 24:5
Exiles from Judah, Israelites, are compared to figs.
Israelites=Fig Fruit
Israel=Fig tree
Just like a fig comes from fig tree, Israelites come from Israel.
Jesus also compares the fig tree to Israel. Luke 13:6-8
Jesus goes to the fig tree (Israel) to look for fruit (fruit= His followers Mat 3:8) for 3 years. Because His people crucified Him after only preaching for 3 years, Jesus said, cut down the fig tree (destroy Israel because they rejected their savior) this is also seen in Mark 11:12-14. Jesus goes to a fig tree to look for fruit but didn’t find any so he cursed it. Do you think Jesus is an angry man cursing anything that disappointed Him? No, not at all. Jesus was teaching a lesson of the fig tree and his disciples heard him say it. 11:20-21.
Jesus curses Israel (Fig Tree) because they didn’t recognize Jesus as their savior. Mat 27:22-25 Luk 19:41-44. The Jews said, “May Jesus blood be on us and our children” so the Jews suffered tremendously to the point of the holocoust. How much more will we be cursed if we do not recognize His 2nd coming?!?
Jesus directly spoke about the fall of Jerusalem Luke 21:20-24. “Until time of the gentiles is fulfilled”
Prophesy fulfilled AD70 when Jerusalem was trampled by the Romans lead by Titus. Because Jesus cursed fig tree, He was prophesying Israel would be cursed and fall. But not forever. Until the times of the gentiles are fulfilled.
Back to Mat 24:32-35
Now learn this lesson of the fig tree:As soon as it’s twigs get tender and it leaves come out you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it (He: 2nd coming) is near, right at the door.
If a fig tree is cursed and withered it appears dead. But if twigs get tender and leaves come out this means the fig tree revives. Meaning Israel revives. Prophesy fulfilled in 1948 when Israel regained its independence.
Then, without adding or subtracting, this means who had to come in 1948? 2nd coming. He is near right at the door. What is he doing at the door?!?
Rev 3:20. it said He stands at the door and knock. He wants us to receive Him and eat with him?!? Who is He and what does He want to eat with us?
Rev 3:11-12. He is the one that comes with the New Name.
Rev 2:17 2nd coming Christ comes with New Name AND hidden manna. What is this hidden manna He wants to eat with us?
In 1948 according to the parable of the fig tree 2nd coming Christ came with His New Name and began to preach the hidden manna. Only the New Name can give us this hidden Manna for our salvation. Heb 9:28 without Jesus appearing again, there is no salvation. This is 2nd coming Christ’s mission.
The sign of sun darkened and moon give no light represent Dark Ages. When there was no truth in the world. Because truth was abolished and trampled by the romans. No light, No truth=Dark Ages. The starts falling to the ground= Israelites falling/dying in great number. (God called abrahams descendants stars Gen 14:2-5 and 26:4) As Jesus is a decendant of Abraham Mat 1:1 this confirms Stars=Jews/Israelites or Hebrews. WW2/ Holocoust the stars fell in great number. Until the heavens receded like a scroll and mountains were removed from its place through the Hiroshima bomb in 1945.
The same sign (Sun darkens, moon no light and stars falling) is seen in Rev 6:12-14
Mathew 24:29-30
After the signs of stars, sun and moon, who appears? Verse 30: Jesus on the cloud/2nd coming)
Rev 6:12-14
After the sign of stars, sun and moon what happens?
Rev 7:1-3
God begins to place His seal on His people. Meaning 2nd coming appears
with the seal.
What is the seal? What is the hidden manna? I tell you it’s not communion, but the scriptures testify.
How much worse will it be if we reject our savior who came in 1948? Stand up and lift up your heads because the son of man already came on the clouds.
The clouds=man.
As Jesus was prophesies to come in the clouds in the book of Daniel but he came in the flesh, 2nd coming is also prophesies to come on the clouds but came in the flesh.
Dan 7:13-14
Son of man appears on clouds.
He has, authority, glory and kingdoms.
This is Jesus being prophesied. Jesus testified to having authority (Mat 28:18)
Glory (John 17:10) and kingdoms Luke 22:29. Therefore Jesus fulfills this prophesy, but he didn’t come riding on the clouds, but instead being born. As a baby. The Jews kept looking at the sky, waiting for his coming on the cloud therefore when Jesus came, they rejected him. Because he was a man.
Clouds are likend to men in the sriptures Jude 1:12, Prov 25:14 and Heb 12:1.
We must not be like the people of 2000 years ago. They study the sriptures diligently yet they refused to come to the savior. John 5:39. But we must learn from the past.
As the cloud covers the brightness of the sun so we may look towards it. So the vail of sin (flesh) covers the glory of God so He may teach us salvation. He humbled Himslef not once but twice for us. He is the lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David whom is the only one to interpret the scriptures for us Rev 5:1-5
And bring us salvation in the last days as the prophetical David in Hosea 3:5.
CORRECTION(S)
I made a mistake regarding the description of the “Thief in the night”. This is a description of HOW He is coming, NOT WHEN. The rapture is not some secrete event. EVERY EYE WILL SEE HIM. His second coming and the rapture are one and the same! More so, the rapture is not some exclusive, “members only” event. To claim, even worse, to teach that many of those that love Jesus so much that they are willing to die, even sacrifice their families for His names sake are somehow excluded because of WHEN they came to Jesus is not just anti-biblical, it’s down right evil!
WAKE UP my brothers and sister! Jesus said that “many will be OFFENDED, and shall betray one another, and shall HATE one another”
What could cause such hatred? What could cause another to betray another’s family?
Question: What could cause such an offense as to cause a betrayal that could cause another’s death? how OFFENDED would one have to be to trigger such anger and hatred?
Answer: If you only give your life to Jesus, you and your family will be saved from hell. Oh, and as an added gift, you, your children, your wife, will never have to suffer the great tribulation! You’ll be raptured from this evil and the sorrows that will come.
Just imagine the anger, betrayal that those who believed in a pre-trib rapture will feel when they realize IT WAS ALL A LIE. To them, Jesus will be a lie, and you will be His LIAR! They WILL want REVENGE.
Okay, if I’m wrong, THANK GOD!! If you’re wrong, there will be hell to pay! Consider this: Matthew 24:9 “Then shall they deliver YOU up to be afflicted, and shall kill YOU: and YOU shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.”
Question: When do you think that ended? Or, is it happening now, and will continue?
Consider this: Matthew 24:15 “When YOU therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand)”
Question: Who is the “you” spoken of in this verse?
Question: If the rapture is pre-trib, how is it that “YOU” will SEE IT??!!
I want bible verses for each response
May the Lord make His Face to shine upon thee!
Parable of the Fig Tree is not a parable about the “budding” of Israel as a nation, “He who hat ear to hear…”, it is a parable regarding the events previously described by Christ. I am a former believer/defender of the pre-trib rapture theory,no a proponent of the post trib belief. (Not because I want too! I am a father of 5 who in the hell would wish this upon their children!!??) I’ll give you three reasons why I am a post tribber.
One: Revelation 20:4-5. (Read it yourself!) There are only two resurrections of the dead, the first is the rapture, the second is after the millennium. If the first resurrection is the rapture, then when do the MILLIONS of Christian’s who die for Jesus get raised? The idea that really angers me about this is the arrogancey of those who believe a pre-trib rapture, ESPECIALLY American Christians….of which I am one. We suffer NOTHING. We endure light persecution, we enjoy relative peace, yet we assume so much for ourselves. I am a former U.S. Army Ranger and Gulf War Vet who spent ten+ years serving this blessed nation, 33 months of which were in combat. We know NOTHING of suffering! We know NOTHING of persecution! The tribulation saints are robbed of every joy the pre-tribbers ascribe to themselves because of “when” they accepted Christ, INCLUDING a rapture, all because of WHEN they accepted Christ!! How is this Biblical?? “Let the wheat and the tears grow together until the harvest”, there is only ONE harvest!!
Two. 1 Thess. 5:9 How is it that this “wrath” is assumed to be the tribulation? Nowhere in that chapter does it ever mention a tribulation. As a matter of fact, verse 2 CLEARLY mentions the “Day of the Lord” as the major event. The Day of the Lord is ALWAYS HIS WRATH, 2 Peter 3:10. How in the world “teachers” twist this chapter into a tribulation wrath rescuing is beyond me. The phrase “thief in the night” is NOT a description of HOW He is coming, for “every eye will see Him, even those that pierced Him..”, but a description of WHEN He is coming! Matthew 24: 29-30 CLEARLY states that WHEN He comes AFTER the tribulation, He will gather His ELECT, that’s us. Question, when He gathers His ELECT, which can also be translated “chosen ones”, will He also gather those that DIED as well? If He does this, AND has some secret pre-trib rapture where he already gather the COUNTLESS MILLIONS who have already died, He will have TWO WORLD WIDE RESURRECTIONS OF THOSE THAT DIED IN HIM. This is NOT BIBLICAL.
Three. Daniel 12. We all KNOW from revelation 11 and 12 that the Great Tribulation is a period of 3 an 1/2 years. Daniel 12:7 even testifies to this, “time, a times, and half a time”. How we get 7 years is beyond me. Anyway, for those that say to me, “by putting the rapture at the end of the tribulation, you can know the day by counting 3&1/2 years forward from the abomination that makes desolate”. Well, I say this: “If God did intend a secrete rapture, why did He add 75 extra days to the END of the tribulation?” Daniel 12:12 “Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.” 1,335 minus 1260 days equals 75 days! By doing this, God has effectively removed my ability to know the day and the hour! WHY WOULD HE NEED TO DO THIS IF THE RAPTURE IS A PRE-TRIB EVENT???? Answer: He wouldn’t!!! He only needs to do this if the rapture is a POST TRIB EVENT!!
May the Lord make His face to shine upon thee!!
…to add to my comment below, I believe that this birthing that is being done by the rev. 12 woman, is birthing Jesus Christ again, only it’s the new creation, that the whole earth is groaning to see revealed,…..
….Blessing on the House of Faith, and on the True Israel of God, Prince Wayne, (Wagon builder or driver)…frontiersman, pioneer, on the forefront, leading the way, ie. the pioneers to the West drove wagons,…
I am commenting a lot here, hope you don’t mind, – Here is more food for thought, having nothing to do with trees, but,..
…having to do with WHO Israel is. I believe that much of the believing community today are attached to the idea that the new testament is talking about national Israel when it talks about Israel, or the Jewish people.
I disagree with this, – and to keep this point short, I use only Paul’s description of who Israel is, in his telling us that the Israel of God is the House of Faith, which includes all of the faith descendants of Abraham, which are Abraham’s seed, this includes all who are now in the commonwealth of Israel, the covenant of faith, and does not include the bloodline of Abraham, unless they come to be ‘faith’ descendants as well, which Paul also talked about.
Since the Word is inerrant, then when the book of revelation describes the woman of chapter 12, this cannot be Mary the mother of JEsus, because John tells us the angel tells him he is being shown ‘things to come’, so therefore there is only one ‘she’ left and that is ‘us’ or the woman, the wife, the called out ones, the bride, etc..,….the church,….or the Israel of God,….she births a man child that will rule all nations, -I think this must be the overcomers, the 144,000, those who will rule with Jesus on His throne, for the 1,000 years, and then also perhaps spiritually they will rule before the thousand years, because we are already seated with Him in heavenly places, and He is seated on His fathers’ throne, and we are seated with Him meaning that we are seated on the throne as well.
There seems to be no spell check, so I am at a loss, time does not permit me to spell check and grammatically correct myself, hope you can understand me what I wrote,…
More thoughts on the Fig Tree,…
Wayne, I researched the fig tree, and found out that the fruit comes out before the leaves, so a tree covered with leaves is advertising that it has fruit already, the TREE can be said to be saying,….speaking, if you will, “I am full of fruit, come and eat of me, ” Note that the text says, “Jesus answered the TREE, He spoke directly to the TREE, answering it,…
…
..the following is a quote from what I found elsewhere,..
quote ”
As the verse says, the fig tree had leaves. When a fig tree produces figs, the fruit is produced before the leaves. You can see this here in Spokane at the Manito Greenhouse.
They have a fig there, and you can actually see how the leaves do not come until the figs have sprouted from the limb. Seeing a tree covered with shiny green leaves then would have caused anyone familiar with fig trees both in Jesus’ day and now to expect tasty figs. This tree had none. This is so unusual that it begs the question. Why was this fig tree barren?…another TREE, the plot thickens…
…To sum up, may you Enter in to Paradise, and eat to your fill of the fruit of the trees that produce there,…and may you take all of the flock following in with you there,….
“the Tree of Life Eternal,” May be Jesus, – the one that gives eternal life, or Zoe, – what do you say, to this?
More on the Manna….
When an eagle looks directly into the sun it’s eyes begin to produce oil. When we look into Jesus the son of God, the living word and see the parables & mysteries that are in him we begin to understand the prophetic nature of God and produce the anointing oil poured out of the mind of Christ. Christ means anointing. The mind of the anointing that sees & understands and speaks the deeper things of God. Your eyes and ears and mouth are in your head. These are the three realms that God will use to transform you by opening your eyes and ears to prophetic understanding by feeding you on the communion of hidden manna, which is the pure prophetic word. Rom 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
I Jn 2:27 As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him.
I Jn 3:2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
The snow on top of the mountain which symbolizes the white feathers on the eagles head also symbolizes the over-comers mind that is covered and filled with Gods Glory.This is the prophetic & apostolic Bride in the spirit & power of Elijah who has the parables & mysteries the glorified mind of Christ who is the husband head of the transformed & glorified body his church.The eagles beak which is yellow represents the honey of Gods word, which is also the parables & mysteries, which are the sweet things of God which the prophet lives on and mouth is full of and speaks about. The honey of Gods mysteries will also open the eyes.1 Sam 14:29 Then said Jonathan, My father hath troubled the land: see, I pray you, how mine eyes have been enlightened, because I tasted a little of this honey.
Plus the Jewish name given by the rabbis to the deeper level of God’s word,….is GARDEN PARADISE, recall that there was a garden of “TREES” in the BEGINNING …Genesis, and there was a Garden of “TREES ” (all the trees) in the book of Revelation……”whose fruit,….
the following is a ..
quote copied directly from site,…
Levels of Meaning in Holy Scripture: “PaRDeS” 1 of 2byProfessor Bryan Griffith Dobbs
The fourfold method of textual interpretation [hermeneutics] in Judaism is implicit in the Mishnah, the Baraitot [the external tractates] and the Talmud. The four levels of interpretation are:
Peshat = Literal meaning; the contextual, philological level Remez = Allegorical meaning; cross-reference to other texts; rational or philosophical level Derash = Moral or homiletic meaning; aggadic level; midrashic [= interpretation via derash] level Sod = Mystical or anagogic meaning
The initial letters of these four words form the acronym ‘PaRDeS’ = garden or walled garden or through the wonders of transliterative translation, Paradise.
Hello Wayne; greetings in THE NAME!, I love what you discovered, and that you were brave enough to say so. Others finding what at first seems to be discrepancies, feel guilty if they say so.
There are other similar type seeming discrepancies between the accounts of Mathew, Mark and John. Because the Word of God is infallible, it would suggest that a hidden meaning is secreted there, and if not ‘secreted’ then perhaps put there to be revealed to those students who study earnestly, to be approved.
Perhaps it is the ‘hidden manna’ revealed, revelation from and by the Holy Spirit.
Hidden manna is apparently needed to be ‘qualified’ for.
The other things that the gospel accounts report somewhat differently, can be attributed to the different viewpoints of the different apostles and may represent their personalities – however, I like to think of them as hidden messages, which I believe I have come to understand the meaning of.
It makes sense that the far above brilliant Architect of the Universe, who created stars and planets and galaxies, would set in the text of HIS WORD
some wonderful things not at first apparent to students who do not study to show themselves approved, a workman whom the Lord is not ashamed of.
They(what I found) are just like what you found, ie. you found 1) the fig tree, 2) the fig tree, and 3) all the trees
What I found is that each gospel(at a deeper level than what is written on the surface) may represent, and or be written to meet the needs of three different groups. 1) the remnant, 2) christianity, 3) the second remnant
What I mean by the above can also be described as 1) sons of fresh oil, 2) christianity 3) sons of fresh oil
This can also be described as; the olive tree, the gold candlestick, and the other olive tree.
I mean that these books, at a deeper level may be communicating about or to these different groups.
The first sons of fresh oil would be the early group of believers, after the outpouring at Pentecost, the 2nd group would be the ‘church’ following Stephen’s death, which could be described as a ‘wandering around in the wilderness’, and the third group would be those who receive the latter day rain, that is described, making them the olive tree remnant-Elijah-bride , the 2nd olive tree shown in the old and new testaments.
I am not as eloquent as you are in being able to clearly put down all my thoughts, but this should start you thinking and maybe researching.
How to approach what I am saying is to stop viewing the bible on the top level, or first level, and to go down a level or two into symbolic meanings which is what you did with the trees, this is something the rabbis have described as the different levels the old testament can be read at, the first is a surface factual level, the 2nd is deeper, more symbolic, the third, etc. and the 4th is very interestingly given a name that means the same as the garden of eden, which is a revelatory level of the scriptures, that the Holy Spirit can bring you to and give you the answers about.
This is my first visit to your sight, so I don’t know you well, however, I beleive you may be already eating ‘hidden manna’, and are sharing your ‘food’ here with others. Speaking to this manna, I say in the NAME above all NAMES, MULTIPLY and FEED HIS FLOCK! Amen.
Thanks for letting me know that you agree 🙂
I absolutely agree with you.