David M
09-12-2012, 04:20 AM
I am starting a new thread instead of interrupting the debate going on between Twospirits and Richard. This can be a contribution to whether the Olivet prophecy was fulfilled in AD 70 or extended into the future including the present time.
The parable of the fig tree comes as a conclusion to the Olivet prophecy. The problem we have with the synoptic Gospels is that each writer is writing with a different audience in mind. What we have is three versions of the same truth. Each is true in its own right and so the three synoptic gospels must be harmonious and consistent with Old Testament teaching and with the teaching of Jesus.
There is reason to think that Luke's record is spoken at the temple and Matthew and Mark's account took place on the Mount of Olives. The use of the pilcrow symbol in the KJV indicates a passage of time or a change of subject and it is interesting to note that the translators are not consistent where they make the divisions. Whether the parable of the fig tree is a separate subject or occurs later in the Olivet prophecy makes no difference, the important thing is that it is part of the Olivet prophecy. Matthew gives many more parables spoken of by Jesus which cannot be separated from following on from the parable of the fig tree. What is common to all three accounts of the Olivet prophecy is this parable of the fig tree plus a follow-on passage about being watchful and it is not surprising once again that we find the separate accounts of these parables and sayings of Jesus being reported with different content. This does not matter for if all the content is pieced together correctly, it does not break the consistency of God's message.
The parables that conclude the Olivet Prophecy and if we include all the parables recorded by Matthew it confirms (for me) that the coming of Christ refers to his return and the kingdom of God refers to the "whole earth" and not just the nations immediately surrounding Israel of just that of the Roman empire.
What does the parable of the fig tree mean? The fig tree is representative of Israel. In the Bible, trees can represent nations.
We know of the incident when Jesus was passing by a fig tree early in the day and the fig tree had no fruit on it. Fig trees should normally have fruit on them. Therefore, Jesus concluded the fig tree was useless for bearing fruit and put the curse of death on it. Now when Jesus and the disciples returned by the fig tree later that day, the fig tree was withered and dead. They were surprised to see the fig tree withered and dead so quickly. Ordinarily, a tree withers and dies over days, weeks, or months, but not in this case. This was extraordinary and we can conclude that this was a miracle and was a sign of something.
Israel as God's chosen race (the descendants of Abraham) had not born fruit. They were useless. Jesus had come to preach the gospel to the lost sheep of Israel, but by enlarge he and his message was rejected. Hence as explained by the Apostle Paul in his writings, the casting off of God's people (Israel) temporarily gave opportunity for the message to go out to the gentile nations and that is still continuing. Paul goes on to explain that when Israel is grafted back in to the vine that is now Christ, how much better it will be for the gentiles who are also grafted into the same vine. This is taking place on a spiritual plane while at the same time we have the natural world to consider.
The fig tree had been cursed and died yet was the stump truly dead? Could the stump revive or be revived? It is in-keeping with God's promise to Israel that although he would punish them and scatter them amongst the nations, he would not make a full end (destroy completely) of them and that He would regather them. Natural Israel have a part to play in the return of Christ who will come and be their Messiah when they need him. Israel wanted a Messiah to deliver them from the Roman occupation and Jesus did not deliver that expectation. Instead, Jesus who gave his life as a sacrifice for sin and who has saved believers from eternal death has fulfilled the role of Messiah as prophesied by Isaiah and that fulfillment will have its full realization at the resurrection.
So, the fig tree in the parable is a tender plant and is seen to be growing and putting on leaves. When did this happen. I suggest that God has been fulfilling His promise to Israel and has been regathering them and in 1948 the nation of Israel was formally recognized on the world stage. Israel once more is seen as the tender fig tree. How long is a biblical generation? 40, 50, 60, 70 years? Our biblical lifespan is 70 years (three score and ten). Is it coincidental that if you add 70 years to 1948 this brings us to 2018? Can we expect to see Christ's return by 2018? Jesus has told us to watch for the signs. Each generation throughout history has had signs to convince them that God is working out His purpose and giving hope to those who are watching for the return of Christ.
There is plenty of evidence in the Bible for believing that Christ's return will be literal and therefore he will be seen visibly in the earth. The other parables given in Matthews account teach this, like that of the Master who goes on a long journey lasting a long time and eventually comes back i.e he returns. This is exactly what we are taught to watch for, the return of Jesus. Whilst every generation has only partly seen the fulfillment of prophecy and thought the return of Jesus could be in their lifetime, people have died in hope believing that Jesus will return. There has to come a generation when that will be true and again we have many parables to teach us to wait with patience, keep awake (spiritually) and watch for the signs of the times as spoken about in Matthew's account of the Olivet prophecy and as confirmed in other passages of the Bible. Waiting and watching is one part but as the parable of the ten virgins explains, we have to be ready, we have to have oil in our lamps and be ready for when the bridegroom comes. We have the opportunity now to be ready for when Christ comes. The believer can expect Christ to come any day of their lives. Death is merely a night's sleep to a believer in the resurrection. Just as the call will come; "the bridegroom has come" and in keeping with the other parables, those who have prepared will be awakened from sleep and will be ready and only those who are ready will go into the the marriage feast with the bridegroom who is Christ coming into his kingdom on earth and is also the kingdom of God.
In the parable of the fig tree Jesus says that when you see this young tender fig tree growing and putting on leaves it means that the kingdom of God is near; so near in fact that the generation (this generation) that sees it, will see all the things spoken of in his Olivet prophecy taking place. Events are happening now in the world that are causing men's hearts to fail them for fear of those things that are coming on the earth. Terrible things are happening with increasing ferocity and with ever shorter time periods in between, just like the birth pangs experienced by women in childbirth spoken of in prophecy. So as the prophecy predicting the "signs of the times" is being seen in the earth at this present time, it should make us sit up and take notice and be ready for when Christ returns. We are warned about the skeptics who will say; "where is the promise of his coming, for all things continue as they did in our father's day". That is not true, because the signs of the times are upon us. 5 years leading up to 2018 (thereabouts) is not long to wait. World economic crises could easily get much worse as also floods, earthquakes, famines and all manner of calamities. Whereabouts in the birth cycle are we? If we start from 1948 then we are 64 years into a 70-year period and that means that we can expect the pains to become even more rapid and severe. Much can happen in the space of 12 months as we have seen over the last two successive 12-month periods.
Personally, this is how I see the Olivet prophecy working out. I put it forward as food for thought.
All the best,
David
The parable of the fig tree comes as a conclusion to the Olivet prophecy. The problem we have with the synoptic Gospels is that each writer is writing with a different audience in mind. What we have is three versions of the same truth. Each is true in its own right and so the three synoptic gospels must be harmonious and consistent with Old Testament teaching and with the teaching of Jesus.
There is reason to think that Luke's record is spoken at the temple and Matthew and Mark's account took place on the Mount of Olives. The use of the pilcrow symbol in the KJV indicates a passage of time or a change of subject and it is interesting to note that the translators are not consistent where they make the divisions. Whether the parable of the fig tree is a separate subject or occurs later in the Olivet prophecy makes no difference, the important thing is that it is part of the Olivet prophecy. Matthew gives many more parables spoken of by Jesus which cannot be separated from following on from the parable of the fig tree. What is common to all three accounts of the Olivet prophecy is this parable of the fig tree plus a follow-on passage about being watchful and it is not surprising once again that we find the separate accounts of these parables and sayings of Jesus being reported with different content. This does not matter for if all the content is pieced together correctly, it does not break the consistency of God's message.
The parables that conclude the Olivet Prophecy and if we include all the parables recorded by Matthew it confirms (for me) that the coming of Christ refers to his return and the kingdom of God refers to the "whole earth" and not just the nations immediately surrounding Israel of just that of the Roman empire.
What does the parable of the fig tree mean? The fig tree is representative of Israel. In the Bible, trees can represent nations.
We know of the incident when Jesus was passing by a fig tree early in the day and the fig tree had no fruit on it. Fig trees should normally have fruit on them. Therefore, Jesus concluded the fig tree was useless for bearing fruit and put the curse of death on it. Now when Jesus and the disciples returned by the fig tree later that day, the fig tree was withered and dead. They were surprised to see the fig tree withered and dead so quickly. Ordinarily, a tree withers and dies over days, weeks, or months, but not in this case. This was extraordinary and we can conclude that this was a miracle and was a sign of something.
Israel as God's chosen race (the descendants of Abraham) had not born fruit. They were useless. Jesus had come to preach the gospel to the lost sheep of Israel, but by enlarge he and his message was rejected. Hence as explained by the Apostle Paul in his writings, the casting off of God's people (Israel) temporarily gave opportunity for the message to go out to the gentile nations and that is still continuing. Paul goes on to explain that when Israel is grafted back in to the vine that is now Christ, how much better it will be for the gentiles who are also grafted into the same vine. This is taking place on a spiritual plane while at the same time we have the natural world to consider.
The fig tree had been cursed and died yet was the stump truly dead? Could the stump revive or be revived? It is in-keeping with God's promise to Israel that although he would punish them and scatter them amongst the nations, he would not make a full end (destroy completely) of them and that He would regather them. Natural Israel have a part to play in the return of Christ who will come and be their Messiah when they need him. Israel wanted a Messiah to deliver them from the Roman occupation and Jesus did not deliver that expectation. Instead, Jesus who gave his life as a sacrifice for sin and who has saved believers from eternal death has fulfilled the role of Messiah as prophesied by Isaiah and that fulfillment will have its full realization at the resurrection.
So, the fig tree in the parable is a tender plant and is seen to be growing and putting on leaves. When did this happen. I suggest that God has been fulfilling His promise to Israel and has been regathering them and in 1948 the nation of Israel was formally recognized on the world stage. Israel once more is seen as the tender fig tree. How long is a biblical generation? 40, 50, 60, 70 years? Our biblical lifespan is 70 years (three score and ten). Is it coincidental that if you add 70 years to 1948 this brings us to 2018? Can we expect to see Christ's return by 2018? Jesus has told us to watch for the signs. Each generation throughout history has had signs to convince them that God is working out His purpose and giving hope to those who are watching for the return of Christ.
There is plenty of evidence in the Bible for believing that Christ's return will be literal and therefore he will be seen visibly in the earth. The other parables given in Matthews account teach this, like that of the Master who goes on a long journey lasting a long time and eventually comes back i.e he returns. This is exactly what we are taught to watch for, the return of Jesus. Whilst every generation has only partly seen the fulfillment of prophecy and thought the return of Jesus could be in their lifetime, people have died in hope believing that Jesus will return. There has to come a generation when that will be true and again we have many parables to teach us to wait with patience, keep awake (spiritually) and watch for the signs of the times as spoken about in Matthew's account of the Olivet prophecy and as confirmed in other passages of the Bible. Waiting and watching is one part but as the parable of the ten virgins explains, we have to be ready, we have to have oil in our lamps and be ready for when the bridegroom comes. We have the opportunity now to be ready for when Christ comes. The believer can expect Christ to come any day of their lives. Death is merely a night's sleep to a believer in the resurrection. Just as the call will come; "the bridegroom has come" and in keeping with the other parables, those who have prepared will be awakened from sleep and will be ready and only those who are ready will go into the the marriage feast with the bridegroom who is Christ coming into his kingdom on earth and is also the kingdom of God.
In the parable of the fig tree Jesus says that when you see this young tender fig tree growing and putting on leaves it means that the kingdom of God is near; so near in fact that the generation (this generation) that sees it, will see all the things spoken of in his Olivet prophecy taking place. Events are happening now in the world that are causing men's hearts to fail them for fear of those things that are coming on the earth. Terrible things are happening with increasing ferocity and with ever shorter time periods in between, just like the birth pangs experienced by women in childbirth spoken of in prophecy. So as the prophecy predicting the "signs of the times" is being seen in the earth at this present time, it should make us sit up and take notice and be ready for when Christ returns. We are warned about the skeptics who will say; "where is the promise of his coming, for all things continue as they did in our father's day". That is not true, because the signs of the times are upon us. 5 years leading up to 2018 (thereabouts) is not long to wait. World economic crises could easily get much worse as also floods, earthquakes, famines and all manner of calamities. Whereabouts in the birth cycle are we? If we start from 1948 then we are 64 years into a 70-year period and that means that we can expect the pains to become even more rapid and severe. Much can happen in the space of 12 months as we have seen over the last two successive 12-month periods.
Personally, this is how I see the Olivet prophecy working out. I put it forward as food for thought.
All the best,
David