About every other week I get a email telling me in one way or another that the parable of the fig tree means that all will be fulfilled by 2019 AD. Thus they believe the start of the tribulation or rapture has to be by 2012. There are well known Bible prophecy teachers teaching this today. I am tired of answering questions on this over and over so I am writing my own position on the “Parable of the Fig Tree”. In the future if anyone asks me about it or suggests that the Rapture has to occur within two or three years they will get a link to this post.
I will put the discourse from Jesus about the parable of the fig tree in proper context below so we can also see and consider what Jesus said before and after His parable of the fig tree statement.
Matt 24:3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.
10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:
17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:
18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.
19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:
21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.
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.
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.
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.
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.
36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
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.
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.
43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.
48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;
49 And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;
50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,
51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
The whole discourse here is a reply to what the disciples asked Jesus. They asked when will these things be and what will be the sign of your coming and the end of the age? Jesus then gave them a sequence of events. Scholars differ as to if part of it was already fulfilled in Jesus time, or if it is all yet to be fulfilled, or even if part of the prophecy might have a past and future fulfillment. I take the position that there could be a partial fulfillment in the past but this whole discourse is now about the future.
Let’s look at what the passage implies and also look at what the passage does not imply. That part of the discourse is in bold print in the scripture passage above.
The parable of the fig tree implies:
When the branch of the fig tree puts forth leaves you should know that summer is near and when you see the signs Jesus talked about you know His coming is near. The other part of the discourse following the parable passage confirms that it is talking about the Lord’s coming for the elect.
The passage also implies the generation that saw what Jesus talked about in the discourse would still be around when the Lord returned, implying that all things would take place in a short period of time of less than one generation.
The parable of the fig tree does not imply:
That the fig tree is Israel, although some believe it is.
That this last generation started when the UN allowed the rebirth of the State of Israel.
That a generation is 40 50 or 70 years.
More likely all Jesus said takes place in less than a twenty or thirty year period since the generation seeing the signs would also have had to reach the full age of reason to comprehend them. Also, the generation that saw the Lord return most likely would not also be so old that aged brains would forget the data. The discourse does imply that some will actually give up waiting so this period spans more than just a few years.
We seem to have false birth pains called the beginning of sorrows, persecution, birth pains and the second coming in this passage. This all could take much longer than just the seven years that most assign to end time things and that also may be why the discourse says that some people will give up waiting.
The big clue for me that this is more than seven years is that in the first series of events Jesus makes it perfectly clear that the end is not yet. These are just the beginning of sorrows of this last time generation.
Was Jesus telling his disciples to learn that the fig tree represented Israel’s rebirth? I kind of doubt that. They would not have a clue unless He was referring to the fig tree that He cursed. The cursed fig tree did represent Israel. If that is true, His using the fig tree here with the sprouting of leaves would have to refer to Israel returning to God not the rebirth of a nation that still rejects Him.
“Fig tree” is used 32 times in the King James. Most of the time it is used with other trees and is just describing abundance of food or the lack of it. A few are describing the spiritual condition of Israel but calling Israel the fig tree from those few passages is a stretch. Actually, Israel could more easily be identified with the olive tree in scriptures.
Luke adds a little more than Matthew on this passage and says when the fig tree and all the trees are putting forth shoots you know summer is near. So If Israel is the fig tree who are the other trees that are also putting forth shoots? Perhaps this parable is more straight forward than some like to think. Perhaps Jesus was just saying when you see the things He was talking about taking place on earth this will be the generation that would see His return if they do not give up waiting.
Just as when a fig tree puts forth shoots you know that summer is near you can know that the Lord’s coming is near when you see the events Jesus talked about. Perhaps there is no hidden reference to Israel in this passage at all? I do not think we can be dogmatic about it one way or the other.
If the parable of the fig tree is all about the rebirth of Israel like many teach. I would like to know why a still dead tree at the time of these events is putting forth shoots and putting forth leaves? What are the leaves anyway? Ask those who teach this and you will get different answers.
In any case, this passage does not imply the generation that saw the rebirth of the state of Israel is the generation that would not pass away before the Lord returns. It seems to me that Jesus is really talking about the generation seeing all the things that He was talking about in prior versus.
Why do I bring this up? Because some are saying that Jesus has to come before 2019 and the Rapture is before 2012 and they get hostile toward Christians who do not believe the time is as soon as the dates they set.
There was a time when people said that Jesus would have to come in 1988 because it all had to happened within a generation of forty years from the rebirth of Israel. Then when that date came and gone they said that a generation was about 50 years. When that date came and gone they said a generation is a life span of 70 years and that is where some stand now. All of this latest date setting by some new prophecy teachers probably has more to do with their interpretation of pagan Mayan calenders then it does with sound exegesis of biblical prophecy.
Never mind that the latest interpretation of a generation being 70 years logically makes no sense because during the first decade or two of their life people of that generation would have been been too young to observe the events and properly process it.
Some others extend the date by saying we should count the generation from when Israel took Jerusalem because taking new territory represented the leaves on the tree. That again is subjective speculation at best. Meanwhile, the whole concept has opened up Bible prophecy teachers to just criticism because some Bible prophecy teachers seem to be straining at gnats and swallowing camels in order to be dogmatic about their own subjective interpretations with date setting.
I do not know when the rapture of the Church will be because that date is always imminent but just looking at the signs on earth that are necessary to fulfill prophecy tells me that the coming of the Lord to set up His kingdom on earth is still twenty or thirty years down the line. If you do not want to wait that long tell it to God because the time is set by the Father. Meanwhile, lets not be so dogmatic about our prophecy speculations.
Don,
You provide a sound for your argument against popular timelines. I would not begin to think that I personally have a clue as to whether Israel is or is not the figurative “fig tree”, but have assumed, perhaps wrongly, that the consensus is correct. Your arguments do bring up some questions I have, though: Is it possible that Israel is the fig tree, and the other branches could refer to Christians? (After all there are several verses where Jesus speaks of the vines/branches concerning His followers) Also, the argument against a generation being 70 plus years seems a bit loose to me, if only because (in recent past, at least) we are taught history. I myself wasn’t old enough to understand The first man on the moon, Martin Luther King Jr or Kennedy’s assasination, but learned about them all in grade school. Conversly, I am not sure I agree with the issue of old age as many I know twice my age are sadly, twice as sharp.
As for the Mayan Calander, forgive me if i missed it elsewhere…isn’t it possible that the Mayans saw something in the stars that pointed to the potential timeline? I know that the Mayans and other Mesoamerican cultures were heathens and personally I do not believe in nor rely on their supernatural ability to create a fool-proof calendar. However, their natural knowledge of the stars is what intrigues me, and makes me think that they may not be completely wrong. After all, many “heathens” observed a certain star in Bethlehem some 2000 years ago, and obviously several were right about its signifigance. I am just not sure it is wise to disregard all other wisdom just because it is not Christian. (Although of course I understand that we must be discretionary).
I do, however agree with you that no matter where anyone stands on their interpretation, we must not let differences divide. Anyone who arrogantly holds onto their view may perhaps have it right, but in the long run is missing the much larger picture. In my bible the Pharisees are not so loosely defined…
We (Christians) should all be seeking inspired understanding and application over exegeses. I will be the first to admit I have a long way to go. Personally, I’d prefer a longer timetable to allow me to get there. 🙂
Hi Betty,
I am not against popular time line speculations. I just do not think we can be dogmatic about them as if we have the truth that everyone else missed.
Christians are branches grafted into the Olive Tree (the commonwealth of Israel) so the fig tree does not fit. Also the vine is a grape vine not a fig tree. I do not think Jesus mixes metaphors. The fig tree is the nation of Israel or the fig tree was just used to communicate that when the generation sees the signs Jesus was talking about they should be ready for His return. Both can be true as well.
Those into the Mayan lore often believe that they were visited by fallen angels or aliens and got their advanced information from them. Even if the information came from angels the angels were given no knowledge of the timing of the Lord’s coming. That might be their time line for end time deception but it is not from God and they can do nothing unless God allows it.
Also, you are wrong to assume that the wise men that followed the star to Bethlehem were heathens. These wise men knew the teachings of Daniel and the Jewish prophets and probably descended from them. They obviously believed in the promise of a Jewish Messiah and they found Him.
What you said in your last paragraph is just plain confused. Christians should not be seeking inspired understanding and application over exegeses. If you do not properly interpret the scriptures you will not get inspired understanding and application.
Don, I agree that timelines should not lead to division among believers.
And I want to add that I am intrigued by the star of Bethlehem, and was long before I became a believer. I guess I assume, perhaps wrongly, that any observer (believer or unbeliever) of this phenomenon would have been affected by its presence in the sky. I know there is speculation concerning the magi who followed the star to Jesus, but I would argue that any person would have been moved to action by such an undeniable sign. However, the difference between the magi and the mesoamericans is the fact that the magi were learned in scripture, and were actively seeking this sign while observing the heavens. I just believe it is possible that the mesoamerican calendars, where they specifically relate to astrological observance, may have some merit, if only from a “written in the sky” perspective.
As for my last paragraph, I am afraid I misspoke…What I meant to say was that our understanding and interpretation of the bible should be sought with the aid of the Holy Spirit and with the intention of seeking its meaning for our lives. The trap of seeking a “rational” understanding and interpretation of the bible that is that it could be tainted by the wrong “spirit”.
I am studying the Olivet Discourse in Mathew and today I got to the fig tree parable. I tell you, I’ve never seen a fig tree. All we have here in Central America are tropical fruits, cereals and pine trees. I began to thought that to fully understand this part I might have to have a fig tree (and maybe, live in Israel),
So I consulted a few biblical dictionaries and I found out that the fig trees have two periods for giving fruits, one in June and and one in August. Also by December, they have no leaves. By end of March and begining of April they give tender leaves and small bud flowers. Since summer or dry season starts on April and lasts until October, the fig tree is a natural sign of the on coming summer.
So when Jesus said: “Learn from the parable of the fig tree”, his listeners knew all this since childhood. I understand that there is a simple parallelism in the redaction:
When the branch of the fig tree summer is near
is tender and pulled forth
leaves
when you shall see all these things know that it is near,
even at the doors
This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fullfiled.
I think he was referring to the fig tree in nature just as he referred to the birds and the flowers in the Sermon on the Mount (Mt 6:26-28). The signal is NOT THAT Israel comes back to Palestine but that “all these things” occur. And Jesus just talked about the beginings of sorrows and the signs in the sun, moon and stars. The generation that sees this will see the end. Not to say that the generation of Jews that sees the desolation of abomination and flees will see the end of this age and the start of the Millenium.
About the Mayan calendar, there is one in Copan Ruins here in Honduras. They really studied the sky. But I believe in what the Bible says and not in what Nostradamus or the Mayan astromonists say.
Reading my commentary I noticed that the small chart of the parallelism doesn’t show.
It goes like this:
Fig tree changes=summer coming
All these=the end is coming
So it is just a way of saying that when the birth pains start the delivery is near.
Genesis 6:3
And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh; yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.
What has that to do with the price of tea in China? The Lord obviously was not talking about the lifespan of man being 120 years here because before the flood it was many hundreds of years. Then later God said man’s days on earth would be 70 or 80 years. By the way, a life span is not a generation.
In the fig tree parable context the generation not passing away until all is fulfilled could only be referring to a generation that was old enough to see and understand the first signs that Jesus spoke of. That is why back in the 60’s and 70’s people thought it would all be fulfilled before 1988 because a generation in the Bible generally was forty years.
If as some suggest the fig tree is Israel and those who saw the creation of Israel would not pass away until all is fulfilled then that no longer seems likely. So to keep that concept going people are now doing gymnastics to make infants see the signs so they can get it all fulfilled by 2017. However, it seems to me that people do do fully understand this parable and that is true of many parables.
The generation of the fig tree doesn’t have a lifespan of 120 years?
There is no 120 year life span in the Bible you took a statement out of its context again!
Don, can you give me the verse in the Bible where you said a generation is 70-80 years. I can’t find it. Thanks !
I never said a generation was 70-80 years. The passage that says man’s lifespan will be 70-80 years is
Ps 90:10 The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.
Thanks Don, that’s what I was looking for ! I meant to say life-span.
Where can I find Rapture in the Bible?
Thanks,
Jessie
The word “rapture” is not in most translations but it is a valid theological concept like Trinity which also is not found in the Bible. The word “rapture” came from the Latin “rapio” for the two words “caught up” used in the Latin Vulgate translation of 1 Thessalonians 4:17. The word “rapture” has come into popular use today to refer to the Lord Jesus coming for the Church as describe in 1 thes 4:17.
The Greek is harpazo and in English it means “caught up”
If there is anyone that can understand that I am merely a lamen when it comes to biblical knowledge,……perhaps they can take in that things happening around you or I now currently include many people who represent science or Logical explanations or metaphysics-films that also support the idea that Jesus is not in fact Jesus,…but the Sun Personified. This Idea claims that astrology and just the events of nature base……are the only reasoning for the bible. There may be some connections and there may be many who have stopped waiting,…but if you look at one line alone-in the parable above-it says go not into the desert(which i interpret as ancient egyptian beleifs)-and go not beleiving it is in secret chambers(I interpret that as political bodies, or the Illuminati/secret societies) which include that of metaphysics…..perhaps I am just dumb and lost,….but I interpret it the way it felt to me naturally with what I see happening locally and also somewhat distanced from myself. If this makes sense to anyone else at all,…..and if it matters,….my age is currently 31.
correction to my silly comment will include this with regards to my comment about the desert(ancient egyptian beleifs wasn’t what I meant,….I meant to say astrology alone.)
Rachel,
No human can properly discern the mysteries of the Bible unless they have been born of the Spirit. You cannot figure out the Bible by mixing it with pagan thought and human reason so there is no point in even discussing your erroneous presumptions here. The following articles will help you can understand so that you can receive the Holy Spirit and receive understanding on the true nature of Jesus the Christ. After you hear and receive the truth about Jesus, I hope you will then contribute your thoughts on His word.
http://www.thepropheticyears.com/comments/How%20one%20is%20saved.htm
http://www.thepropheticyears.com/comments/theonlyway.HTM
wow,…I do beleive that I was born of the Spirit,….and also,….I wasn’t MIxing it with pagan beliefs as you so called my personal interpretation. I was saying that perhaps it is saying that we should NOT follow pagan beleifs or wordly institutions. That may be a bit clearer for your own unbecoming personal interpretations of my comment.
Thank you for the info though and take care.
“So please do not confuse someone that confesses Jesus as Lord with the statement that they have not been truly saved because you think that their outward lifestyle does not reflect what they confess. What about our own inward lifestyle that others have not had the privilege to really know about? When our secret sins and motives come before the true Judge who will be without fault? Yet, if we believe in Jesus we will all be saved. Do not say that a confessing believer cannot be assured of their salvation because scripture clearly says otherwise.” (If these are YOUR words,…THEY are good.)
Rachel, If I misunderstood what you said whose fault is that? My point was that non Christians cannot understand spiritually discerned parables and I assumed by what you said that you were not a Christian. I can accept that you are a believer since you have made that clear.
With that said, If your saying the parable of the fig tree is saying that we should not follow pagan beliefs or worldly institutions, explain how this is taught within the parable? The statement of Jesus before the parable it is not part of the parable.
What are all the trees? What is his branch? What is the putteth forth leaves – the shooting forth? What is being seen? None of what you said actually explains the parable. You just read into the parable a strange interpretation of a clear statement about false Christs and how He would really appear.
So you think Jesus explained the parable prior to the parable and then told us to learn about the parable? To me that is not a logical explanation of the parable of the fig tree.
Don, I really get disappointed when I read about the rapture. What rapture? That word is not in the bible. Read Ezekiel Cp 13, it will tell you what God thinks about teaching his children about flying away. I too mush have been born in the spirit, it’s not hard to understand if you study.
Thank you,
Jessie
Jessie,
I see you completely disregarded Don’s earlier point about the word ‘Trinity’ not being in the Bible either. Given your logic on the word ‘rapture’, please go ahead and deny the Trinity so we know exactly where you’re coming from.
Thanks,
Mark
Really Jessie? Get yourself a little Christian education. Stupid statements like that do not become Christians.
These should help.
http://www.pre-trib.org/articles/view/rapture-myths
http://www.thepropheticyears.com/reasons/rapture.htm
Don,
Why do people refuse to utilise God’s gifts.
Ephesians 4:11-14 makes it very clear that only some have been given the gift of teacher, and yet there are so many others who reject this truth in an arrogant assumption that the Holy Spirit will also reject it and take them on their own personal ego trip.
It is obvious from the number of personal opinions given on this blog that there are many who are “tossed to and fro, carried about with every wind of doctrine” and not necessarily by the deception of others but by the deception of their own pride.
The Holy Sprit bestows the gift of teacher, and if christians reject this gift they will not be led by the Spirit into truth (John 14:16 and 26, 15:26). To sit under the ministry of a man takes some humility, to reject God’s gift is arrogant pride.
To those who believe the Holy Spirit teaches them without the agency of gifted men – BEWARE, you are not being led by God’s Spirit, but at best by your own conceit, or at worst by a spirit of anti-Christ.
IF NOTHING ELSE, IT IS CLEAR THAT ONLY THE FATHER KNOWS THE END TIME. SO GET RIGHT, BE RIGHT, AND STAY RIGHT SO NO ONE CAUSES YOU TO LOSE YOUR CROWN!
My take on it is that Israel is symbolised by the Fig tree. Just as it was when Jesus cursed the one he found no fruit on. The other trees are symbolic of Israel’s neighboring countries. All of these, including Israel ‘put forth’ around the same time. Between the end of the Ottoman empire (1917) and the late 1940’s. It could extend beyond that to however many new nations that have formed since the end of the colonialist empires. But I am inclined to think it more likely limited to those nations mentioned elsewhere in Bible prophesy.
As to what qualifies as a generation. I am inclined to start it at all those 20 years old or over at the time of seeing these things come to pass. My reason for that is the Moses generation. They must see it to the finish, so it can only be those that were 20 yrs old in 1948. Not 1967 (Jerusalem liberation) because they would be too young for it to be said they saw anything back in ’48. How long does that generation last? Well I was hoping (like the Moses one) to the age of 60. But as Israel has just celebrated it’s 63rd birthday, even the 70 to 80 years doesn’t fit. So either some stubborn old Jew is going to hang in to see his 120th birthday or it’s back to the drawing board 🙂
the fig tree is Israel and the branches are the people he give.For example, He uttered the following parable about a year before His death.He spake also this parable;
A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.
7 Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?
8 And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:
9 And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.
Luke 13:6-9
The standard interpretation is that the owner is the Father, the keeper is Christ, and tree is Israel. If this interpretation is correct, the meaning of the parable is transparent. Jesus’ ministry has gone on for three years without any fruit and the Father is ready to set Israel aside, but the Son pleads for the nation, asking that it be cultivated another year and given another chance.
you can read also Mark 11:11-21 for another example of the fig tree.and this is what this means ..
Why did Jesus curse the fig tree—a mere tree whose only fault was that it had not yet borne fruit? The incident is obviously symbolic. The day before the cursing of the tree was Palm Sunday, the day of Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem, when He presented Himself to the people and their leaders as the Messiah, in fulfillment of Zechariah 9:9. The response of the nation was divided. Although some individuals accepted Him, the nation as a whole rejected Him. In particular, the elders of the people rejected and severely opposed Him (Matt. 21:15). Therefore, in His justice and holiness, God rejected the Jewish nation. Subsequently, less than forty years later, in A.D. 70, God judged the Jews by destroying their city and scattering them throughout the civilized world.
Now it should be perfectly clear why Jesus cursed the fig tree on the morning after His triumphal entry. The two incidents are linked together. The cursing of the tree was a picture of the judgment that would soon fall on Israel because Israel had rejected their Messiah.
Now it should also be perfectly clear what the parable of the fig tree. As the disciples were walking into the city on Tuesday morning after Palm Sunday, they noticed that the tree which Jesus had cursed the day before had withered and dried up. Later, on Tuesday evening, when the memory of the withered fig tree was still fresh in their minds, Jesus spoke the parable in question. He said that when the church sees the fig tree leafing out again, it will know that “it is . . . at the doors.” The Greek for “it is” can also be translated “he is.” In prophecy, “door” is often a symbol for the passageway between heaven and earth (Rev. 4:1). What the parable means, therefore, is that when the nation of Israel revives after its coming disintegration and death in A.D. 70, the return of Christ will be imminent.
Lisa,
Sure but the question remains about the generation that will not pass away until all is fulfilled. Israel has not yet spiritually revived. You cannot even teach Jews that Yeshua is the Messiah there and until Israel repents it is still a cursed tree and Jacob’s trouble is still to come.
Hal Lindsey now believes that “the generation” that will not pass away until all be fulfilled, refers to genetic Israel. Israel as a Race of people.
Hal say’s that “generation” should be interpreted per it’s original Greek word Genos (Greek for Race) So basically Hal is saying that it (this generation) doesn’t refer to 40 or 80 or 120 years from the reconstitution of Israel. It simply means Israel itself… so long as the Jews exist as a race.
If one accepts this, it could extend predicted timeframes for much of prophecy that is still unfulfilled. So its not out of the question that although the World is in rapid decay It could yet be another 100 years before the Rapture.
How do you see it Don.
Personally I don’t agree with Hal on this (changing his mind).
With the rebirth of Israel and many other end time signs, I still feel that “this Generation” refers to all peoples of the Earth living during the time of Israel’ rebirth.
I always went with the 120 year generation length though. As God said in Genesis that His Spirit would strive with man no more than 120 years. Striving meaning the same as when The Lord “strived “ with Jacob. Getting a soul to recognize its depraved condition when apart from God.
Hi Al
I too do not agree with Hal, but I believe the scripture that designates the life of man to be three score years and ten (or four score if they do well) is a more appropriate assertion. The 120 year generation would make the return of Christ to the Mount of Olives around 2068.
Not impossible. But with the situation in the Middle East escalating as it is, it seems likely the Psalm 83 conflict is on our doorstep, and the Ezekiel 38 invasion will happen after, but as a consequence to that conflict. It seems to me that the Ezekiel invasion will be at or after the Church’s removal(God will be dealing directly with Israel as HIS PEOPLE once again) and it is when the Church is removed that the restraint will be lifted off evil. How many years to Gog however is anyone’s guess.
(When the Church is removed the world will see an explosion in turmoil (difficult to see how it could get much worse)and someone will need to take control quickly.)
Because I have followed each interpretation on the meaning of ‘this generation’ with excited interest for years, in my old age I am becoming more pragmatic and think I am likely to be called home by way of the valley of the shadow of death and am relaxed with the idea and no longer trying to fit the Rapture within my lifetime. It would be nice but of no matter.
If present day events keep escalating as they are, I cannot see things continuing beyond Don’s time frame of the 30-40s, but unless the Rapture happens within the next ten to fifteen years I personally will have to do VERY well to be a part of it.
Al & Brian From Oz,
In what forum did Hal Lindsay say this about the generations/Israel ?
Brian, I really like what you have to say and hope to be reading your current comments just before the rapture : )
Al,
I don’t tend to buy into Hal’s new theory. That is one explanation but there are others. Nor do I see that a lifespans is 120 years. I do not think that the passage in Genesis was saying that at all. I would not be dogmatic about any of the theories.
I tend to think it means the generation that sees the first signs that Jesus was talking about would not end, and I do not think those signs are limited to just seven years. I think they will be within a generation of about twenty years (one generation to the next is about 20 years. For example, your son is the next generation from you. Jesus said it would happen within the generation that first sees these things so it is likely to be even less than twenty years).
We can see by what is happening around Israel and other tribulation players and events that the time is growing short. I think we have 20 to 30 years before the second coming and that absolutely nothing has to happen before the Rapture.
How close we are is best described in my 25 correlations.
http://www.thepropheticyears.com/reasons/reason%20why%20we%20are%20in%20the%20last%20days.htm
Hi ~David, Don & Brian from Oz
~David, I watch Hal from time to time, and Hal has frequently pointed out his new theory on a number of his broadcasts. I am certain Don is aware of it (Genos) as well.
Don & Brian form Oz… By the looks of things in the world today, I agree as well that 2068 (120 years …1948 to 2068) is at the very most an apogee number. Before I ever knew about Don’s website, I personally always had a date of 2036 rolling around in my mind – no logical reason for it being there… just an intuitive thing. Hopefully a spiritual thing. I am just suggesting that although 120 may be the extreme range – It is a viable date range. God does also mention the120 year lifespan (generation). But yes… I am also thinking much earlier. It just needs to be considered an left on the table.
Don I am glad to hear that you… “don’t tend to buy into Hal’s new theory”
I like Hal a lot. But I disagree with him on this one as well. Simply because Jesus mentions both the last generation and the sign of the budding of the Fig tree in direct correlation to one another.
AL,
I think there is a biblical week of 7000 years and the 7th millennium will start after six thousand years are completed. I assume the Messiah was cut off at end of the 4th millennium and Pentecost was the start of the 5th which allowed the times (two times) of the gentiles. That occurred around 30 to 35 AD (nobody really knows for sure). So if a day is as a thousand years and we have 7000 year week with the millennium being the Sabbath rest then expect Jesus to come to establish His kingdom on earth around 2030 to 2035. Israel also gets that hint in Ho 6;2 when the prophet says in two days He will restore us and on the third day He will raise us up.
Actually the 120 years was either the time until the flood or more likely it was talking about 120 50 year Jubilee periods (6000 years) that God’s spirit would be striving with man. It was not speaking about a lifespan because at the time of that prophecy people were living several hundreds of years. Even after the flood the life span for a while was quite a bit more than 120 years and then it fell to 70 or 80.
Don,
I don’t disagree with any of what your saying.
For myself I just keep the 120 year Lifespan (Generation) as a possibility… since there is evidence for that as well.
I believe that God made it clear in Genesis that His Spirit would not strive with man for more than 120 years; not because God was getting tired, but for the reason that God was merciful to man. He cut our labour (both physical & spiritual) down to a period that WE could handle and where all of God’s work could be accomplished in us. Our Lord being so patient and longsuffering, didn’t just implement the 120 LS immediately, he weaned us off of the longevity in gentle fashion. Yes, man continued to live into the 200’s after the flood, but after God made that command, a man’s lifespan eventually settled to 120 years or less… in less than a millennium. 120 being the rare age to reach. Also, I find it fascinating that Today, God’s word in that command, is made manifest Today in that for as long as man has been able to keep records (with a lone exception – 122) no other human has been found to have lived over 120. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oldest_people
But like I said, I too believe in and around 2036 to be the year our King returns for us.
BTW: did you see my comment (reason) in the Enoch blog about Enoch & Elijah being the two prophets of Revelation?
Al,
I thought I did answer that other comment on the Enoch and Bible Prophecy link but somehow it is not there. I simply do not know what happened. I just answered it again.
The statement about 120 years was in context of Noah and the flood there simply is no reason to believe that God was saying that man’s lifespan is 120 years. Also, there is no reason to believe that the generation seeing the rebirth of Israel is now 120 years. The prophecy says the generation that sees the signs will not pass away.
I think what you are doing is trying to hold onto an old failed interpretation by just extending the time. Keep in mind, that Jesus gave the prophecy to the Jews to be understood by a generation of Jews that actually sees the first signs that Jesus talked about. He did not give the prophecy so that one 120 year old Jew would possibly live to see something that he never understood anyway.
Hi Don – Long time since last post here but had to post my comments.
I totally agree with Lisa’s comments. These two parables and the cursing of the fig tree prior to this parable, clearly refers to Israel. It places this parable in context. The putting forth of leaves does not necessarily mean that it is at that time Israel is revived by the spirit of God. A tree that puts forth leaves has roots in the ground. IF the dying fig tree was an indication of Israel’s spiritual condition and eventual removal from its homeland in 70ad, tts roots and leaves are a picture of it flourishing in the land. The parable does not mention fruit. If the bible said the putting forth of fruit, I would then see your counter argument requiring Israel to be revived. We know that the purpose of the tribulation is to show the Jews that there temple sacrifices are not acceptable. They do not go into the tribulation as believers in Christ. It is only during the period of tribulation do the Jews then turn to God. As per Daniel 9, the focus on the tribulation is the Jewish race. The same period where the 144,000 are sealed by God per Revelation 7. When it comes to how long is a generation, while interesting and does provide for speculation, is also not that important. It is the same as asking, if this is indeed Israel, does this refer to the starting point in 1948 when Israel returned or is it referring to 1967 when the Jews took control of Jerusalem. Who really knows – Yep, only God our Father. Fortunately for us, this are not the only signs found in the Bible concerning His return. The many other signs including the division of Israel as found in Amos and Zechariah, the alignment of nations – whether Ezekiel 38 or the general alignment per Daniel 11, travel and knowledge increasing, etc all are signs. Incidently, in many of these other prophecies, Israel is important. It is still about the watching of the signs echoed by the scripture “Watch and pray always that you are accounted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass and stand before the son of man” – Watch for what – the signs! “When you see these things begin to happen, lift up your head for your redemption draws near (Luke 21:28)Maybe a bit long on my last bit, the point I am adding, is its not about one sign even though important, its about the many others.
Andrew,
If a fig tree has leaves it is supposed to have fruit on it. In fact, early figs appear before the leaves even appear on the tree. So your suggestion that Israel can have leaves but not yet have fruit does not really fit fig trees. Jesus cursed the fig tree because it had leaves but no fruit. Jesus wasn’t looking for figs before the fig season as some have suggested, that would be stupid. The fig tree was supposed to have early fruit if it had leaves.
The point that Jesus made in the gospels was if there are leaves coming on the tree you can know that summer is almost here. Within the analogy summer would be knowing that Jesus was coming because of the signs that Jesus previously talked about.
The point being, that Jesus was saying the generation that will see the signs will not pass away until all was fulfilled. Jesus was not saying that most seeing Israel as a state would not all die off as in the outer range of a lifespan, in fact He was saying quite the opposite, the generation that see what He said being fulfilled will also be the generation that will see all fulfilled. If they see the signs they should get ready and not be acting like heathen when He comes or they will receive their portion with the hypocrites.
The UN created state of Israel was not one of the signs that Jesus mentioned. The promised Land has always been for Israel and there has always been a remnant of Israel in the Land. A secular state created by man did not start the signs; it is the signs that starts the period that Jesus was talking about.
Many Jews had to come back to the Land so that the last week of years for Israel could be literally fulfilled but there really is no telling when that seven year period begins except for the signs that Jesus mentioned. However, if Israel is branching forth and putting on leaves know that your in that generation.
Don,
We are missing each other on this one.
Your response to Lisa was “Israel has not yet spiritually revived.” – My point was it is not a requirement for Israel to be spiritually revived to be a sign.
On your other points:
I have a huge fig tree and it never bears fruit before it has leaves. Yes, it may use last years buds … anyway, thats incidental. Agree with you – Jesus cursed the tree caused it had no fruit. Anything that does not bear fruit is useless to the Kingdom of God.
I see a contradicition here. At the top of this page, you mentioned that this parable is not about Israel, but in your response to me, in your last sentence, you state “However, if Israel is branching forth and putting on leaves, know that you are in that generation” – That is exactly the same point Lisa first made and I responded on.
Andrew,
Yes, I told Lisa that Israel has not yet spiritually revived. However, I never said it was a requirement for Israel to be spiritually revived to be a sign. My point was that Israel is still cursed by Jesus because they still do not accept Him as their Messiah.
There are now many different kinds of fig trees thanks to modern horticulture. However, we are talking about the fig trees that existed in Israel 2000 years ago. Eatable fig buds appeared before the leaves and if the Spring trees had leaves they should of had those early figs, look it up.
I posted this three years ago and the post is questioning certain interpretations of what Jesus said in the gospels about learning the parable of the fig tree, especially the interpretation that all would be fulfilled within one life span of the UN created state of Israel in 1948. The premise anyone makes on this now is just hypothetical since it can’t be proven one way or another from the passage. If I take the position that the fig tree is talking about Israel, then I should say when the leaves appear know that summer is near (they would be of the generation that Jesus talked about). Since the interpretations are hypothetical, it does not mean that I am dogmatic that the fig tree in Jesus’ statement actually represents the UN created state of Israel, or that I am really thinking that a still cursed tree is already putting forth leaves or sprouting.
Don,
Since creating this page in April of 2009, and based on the world events that have taken place since that time, do you still feel that the Lord’s setting up of His kingdom will be 20 to 30 years from the date of your original post?
Brent
Brent,
More than ever. The Arab nations are having internal difficulties and they are not ready to come against Israel. Russia and China still need a decade or two to further develop their military capabilities. The US needs to be taken out of picture in one way or another and the mark of the Beast buy sell system needs time to be fully developed, among other things. Of course the Rapture is always imminent. No observations about where the world is heading predicts God’s timing for that event.
Hello Don,
Are you sure you got your facts straight? Check this out:
http://theextinctionprotocol.wordpress.com/2013/04/20/u-s-aircraft-killer1-china-deploys-anti-ship-ballistic-missile-along-southern-coast-facing-taiwan/?utm_source=feedly
“Michael Gilmore, the Pentagon’s director of operational testing, warned in his January 2012 annual report that the Navy lacked a target needed to check its defenses against the DF-21D. The Navy had an “immediate need” for a test missile able to replicate the DF-21D’s trajectory, Gilmore said.”
China and Russia are more advanced than you think, USA took care of that in the past decades. The Arabs need only a spark to unite them against Israel and the mark of the beast can be fully implemented now, you just need gullible fools to take it, they already have databases with almost everyone in the world, with Facebook and other social networking sites and with the formidable data mining giant called Google. USA will be taken out of the picture instantly if the dollar collapses and you are one assassination attempt away for your guns to be taken, paving the way for martial law and everything “nice” that comes with that.
Watch these weeks prior to Beltaine, gold and silver have already fallen and I believe they are preparing to place the blame on everyone for the global economy collapsing because they gave heed to “conspiracy” freaks who told everyone to hoard gold.
Catalin,
Just because China and Russia has some advanced weapons does not mean that they are capable of fulfilling Bible prophecy. Do you think the 200 million man army from the east will be flying on Chinese DF-21D antiship missiles? In actually, all missiles against ships will be a non-issue in about ten years because of ship borne Lasers.
I know how advanced Russia and China are Military but Israel could take on Russia right now and that is why Russia has just begun a 15 year program to rebuild their military. Both are dependents on the West to even do that. Let’s keep things in proper perspective, all Russia has is energy to sell. The Russians are having a hard time keeping their own country together and they did not do so good against Georgia. They certainly cannot send a large land force to the Middle East and if the West ever stopped buying what China is selling they would be eating each other.
The Arabs are so divided they cannot even have peace among themselves yet fight a much superior Israel.
There really are not databases on almost everyone in the world. That is Alex Jones disinformation. Do you really think that there are databases on everyone in South America, Asia and Africa and the Islamic countries? Western intelligence is working on databases in the West but they have a long way to go. The big data base center in Utah is not even operational yet. Making databases of people does not happen overnight even in the United States. Neither do the communications systems needed for a buy/sell system get in place everywhere overnight. There are only about 2 billion people on the Internet that leaves out about 5 Billion people and until they get low cost communications to the more rural areas of the world there is not going to be any worldwide buy/sell system any time soon unless the fallen angels comes down, and set it up for us.
What happens to the USA has little to do with end time Bible prophecy. A global collapse will eventually come but I would be willing to bet my gold (if I had any) that it will not be coming as fast as you think, and when it comes Gold will hold some value if your allowed to own it.
The bottom line is that you cannot just make the end time happen just because you see problems developing in the world. I can think of two world wars where many thought the end of the world was upon them and they were wrong. There very likely will be another world war and many regional wars before the real ends times are upon us. When the world is saying peace, that is when the end comes upon them suddenly like a snare.
Thanks again for your incisive logic, Don.
I have read a fair bit about databases and heard other views on them that I would be quite paranoid if I didn’t have God’s Word. When I find all kinds of offers coming to me on-line (books, vidoes, health offers, &c) and YouTube links sent to related things I’ve looked at there it is enough to make us think we are greatly monitored. So thanks for those points.
I thought that Alex Jones was quite genuine but for his childish outbursts–a sure sign of subjectivity–but I am not sure what he really believes now by his contradictory statements. When I stopped to think of it, much, probably most, of the stuff on databases I’ve picked up will be from people who go it from Alex Jones!
I think many of us do have a proclivity to want the end time to happen and look for it in worsening problems. I have to say I’ve often done that because I want the Rapture and am sick of the suffering I see happening to vulnerable people. So these days your wise words have caused my foot touch the brakes more!
There is an interesting thing happening, though, among the ecumenists. There is a great push for peace among them. Some charismatics are pushing for it and the Dominionists are big on it.
It causes me to ask: Do you think Antichrist (who will destroy many by peace [Dan 8:25]) is anywhere on the scene just now? I don’t mean as in identifying his person but do you think he could be working behind the scenes with this massive peace movement going on?
Hi Martin,
The agenda of the world is antichrist, I do not think there is any such person that now can be identified as the Beast/Antichrist of Revelation or Son of Perdition of 2Thes 2:3. Someone that will become the Antichrist is almost undoubtedly in a position of influence in the world but until the restrainer is taken out of the way that entity cannot come out of the Abyss to indwell him. That is why all previous Antichrist types failed to take over the world.
As for the ecumenicism, That is mostly working toward fulfilling the prophecy of the religious harlot of Revelation 17. I think there will be another world war before the push for a one world religion really takes off.
I have my doubts that Alex Jones is legitimate because I believe he has Jesuit connections. If that is true, he really could be a government plant to make Christians and Patriots against the globalist agenda look like World Wide Wrestling Federation nut cases. That could explain why Jones gets away with all he says. Anyway, information on this can be found on the Internet. Here is one such link from a Christian discernment ministry.
http://www.cephas-library.com/nwo_research_proves_alex_jones_vatican_agent.html
Don,i thought the 120 years was how long it took Noah to build the ark.
Hi Mike,
Some preachers presume that because few look at the possibility of an alternate meaning. That is, that God was referring to the time that man was given on earth before the Spirit would not be striving with man but ruling man through Jesus with a rod of Iron starting 120 Jubilees from Adam.
Keep in mind that during most of the Church era the teaching was amillennial and Bible teachers did not believe in a seven thousand year week playing out ending with the Sabbath rest thousand year reign of Christ on earth.
Can you or anyone show me from scripture that Noah was building the Ark for 120 years or that God made that statement 120 years before the flood?
Hello Don,
Have you studied some of the rapture related Hebrew Idioms?
Twinkling of an eye = Twilight (perhaps a time of day in Jerusalem).
Last Trump = Tekiah Gedolah (Last trumpet blast after the first 99 trumpet blasts on The Feast of Trumpets in September).
You shall not know the day or the hour = Referencing the Feast of Trumpets, two day feast, we won’t know the day or the hour because it happens when they see the new moon in Jerusalem in September).
You shall not know the day or the hour = Referencing the Jewish Wedding Feast, which also relates to the wedding feast we’re waiting for, and the bride that Christ is waiting for.
And the relationship between past and future rapture verses?
PAST –
Exodus 19:19-20 (This happened on the first Feast of Trumpets) –
19 And when the blast of the trumpet sounded long and became louder and louder (Tekiah Gedolah), Moses spoke, and God answered him by voice. 20 Then the Lord came down upon Mount Sinai, on the top of the mountain. And the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.
Revelation 4:1 (Not sure the month/date John’s Revelation took place)
After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.”
FUTURE –
1 Corinthians 15:51-52 (The Corinthians didn’t write him back with any questions about this, asking him to clarify what the Last Trumpet meant, or when it was meant to be, inferring that due to their customs, they possibly knew the season/feast he was referring to). 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (The Thessalonians did write back as some were saying Christ had already returned and He wrote them back in their 2nd letter to clarify).
16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air…
With that in mind, (though we don’t know the year the rapture takes place) isn’t it actually probable that we could infer from the idioms and the text that the Rapture is most likely to take place in September (at the end of the Feast of Trumpets)?
Best Regards,
Brent
Brent,
This really is getting off the post topic. Let me just say that I do consider Idioms, but what you say are Idioms for the Rapture is rather subjective and I see it really can be an exercise in circular reasoning.
I do not see why the Hebrews would make up Idioms for a Rapture of the Church that they knew nothing about? The Church is not Israel, so it is not likely that the Church would fulfill any Jewish Feast day. Even Pentecost with the New Covenant was first to the Jews before Gentile believers were allowed to be grafted into the New Covenant promise given to Israel.
The Rapture being on the Feast of Trumpet could only be true if the Rapture and the last seven years for Israel started on the same day. I do not think that is likely.
There is a Jewish tradition that Enoch was born on Pentecost, and taken to Heaven on Pentecost and scripture tells us that Enoch did not die, God took Him. The New Covenant Church was born on Pentecost, and she may be taken on Pentecost and those taken will not die. My next choices would be Resurrection Sunday or the Ascension. All are Jewish holidays but all are already fulfilled by Jesus and the Jews. The fall holidays will also be fulfilled by Jesus and the Jews. The Church at that time will be in Heaven.
The Wedding Feast takes place on earth after the wedding in heaven, so not knowing the day or the hour of the Rapture has nothing to do with the wedding Feast. There even will be invited guests for the wedding feast. Therefore, they certainly will know where and when the Wedding feast is to take place.
By the way, I may be wrong, but I think some of your idioms were recently made up by contemporary Messianic Jews.
PARABLE OF THE FRIG TREE
The Frig Tree is the nation of Israel; its branches become tender, sprout leaves, and summer is near; relates to your spiritual maturity to observe and discern the season of the SECOND ADVENT.
Let us reason together or analysis Matthew 24:32-34, branches become tender (we can touch), sprout leaves (our observation), and summer is near (feel the warmth of summer or HIS return); this event is unfolding day by day, the restoration of Israel.
The restoration of Israel is on going and will not come to its full fruition until Jesus sets up His millennium kingdom.
Likewise, when you see all these things (near & at the door), relates to the church’s spiritual observation of the events that have unfolded since Israel became a nation.
This generation (current) shall not pass (die), till all these things be fulfilled, this passage is in regards to everything that was said from Matthew 24:3-32; I will elaborate later. Jesus is appealing to our natural senses of sight, touch, taste, smell, and hearing.
The nation of Israel became a nation again, May 15, 1948, a passage in the book of Isaiah 66:37 said a nation will be born in a day; a generation is considered 100 years according to Genesis 15:13-16, it reads in part; 13 Then He said to Abram: “Know certainly that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them, and they will afflict them four hundred years; 16 But in the fourth generation they shall return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.” I did not know this scripture until recently, if you seek – you shall find the wisdom in God’s Word.
Also, some prophesy experts believe that this time period started in 1967 after the city of Jerusalem was captured during that war. I’m teaching according to the scriptures, 1948. Remember, the disciples ask Jesus “When will this happen and what will be the sign of his coming and the END OF THE AGE.”
My writing has nothing to do with the rapture of the church, because no man knows the day or the hour. It’s no doubt in my mind that the nation of Israel is the Fig Tree, because events are converging as we speak.
Bryan,
That was an exercise in subjective and circular reasoning and not anything the Bible actually says in proper context.
Genesis 15:13-16 is not saying that a generation is 100 years today, nor is it saying that the generation that lived in 1948 will also see the restored Kingdom.
You might also want to read a couple of other articles that I wrote on this subject.
https://www.thepropheticyears.com/wordpress/learn-the-parable-of-the-fig-tree.html
https://www.thepropheticyears.com/wordpress/dangerous-theology-grows-on-fig-trees.html
Thank you for the response Don, in the Genesis account that I mentioned – the spoken word was after the flood and all one has to do is do the math. Prophecy is what I call a “Hard Read” but if you study the word and ask for revelation, by and by, you will understand.
But, I’ve noticed relating to prophecy teachers…it’s all subjective according to our slant (perspective) and yours. But, remember this – there is no private interpretation of the Word of God. You have to look at it in its entirety…but I have not read anything in your narrative that would sway my thoughts on the matter, the word “Perhaps” is indecisive. The parable of the fig tree in Luke 21 does not shed any light, but the other account that prophecy teachers disagree on about the fig tree is thought provoking.
I will give it a chance and read the other articles you wrote on the subject, and get back with you. Thanks
Bryan
I can assure you that all will take place within a hundred years of Israel becoming a state again in 1948 for many reasons. However, we cannot assume that a generation is now 100 years or that Jesus implied that the generation would start with the rebirth of the state. Even after the flood God’s people lived much longer than they do now until about Jacob.
A generation now is not a 100 years. The Bible gives other examples of a much shorter span for a generation. You cannot build doctrine on something so subjective or think your reading this OT verse makes it a correct interpretation of the NT parable. Jack Van Impe once had it all figured out. He added up all the generations in the Bible and divided them by the number of generations listed and came up with 53 years. That date has long come and gone. Hal Lindsey once used 40 but now has changed his interpretation of the Fig Tree Parable.