Truth for Tomorrow

The fig tree Israel is arguably the greatest miracle in modern history.  Two thousand years ago the prophecy was given by Jesus himself.  Hosea 9:10 clearly portrays the firstfruits of Israel's heritage to be a fig tree.  Moving to Jesus' prophecy concerning the end-times, His disciples came to Him and asked what would be the sign of His coming and of the end of the age.  Jesus, in the 24th chapter of Matthew provides an enormous amount of information concerning the times of the Last Days on Earth which is happening right now.

     The Prediction

     Matthew 24:32 “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors! 34 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place."  Aside from many other accurate details Jesus' speaks of in this chapter, this fig tree prophecy is central to the entire TIMELINE of when Jesus will return.  Jesus states that the nation of Israel is like a fig tree and when it begins to bloom to life again in the spring, the generation that sees the blooming will NOT pass away until all things are fulfilled.   All things being fulfilled refers to everything predicted until the return of Jesus Christ to the Earth again.  That includes Ezekiel's prophecy, the judgement of God upon the Earth during the tribulation, etc.  Jesus' fig tree prophecy is paramount to understanding the whole of the timeline!

     The Prediction Happened

     The fact of history is that Israel came back to life again on May 14th, 1948.  It had ceased to be a nation for over two thousand years.  As of 2021, we are now 73 years into the blooming of Israel as a nation described by Jesus.  Israel is one of the most sophisticated and technologically advanced democracies in the Middle East.  As a matter of truth, Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East.  It has very much put forth its leaves as a fig tree and is a thriving nation.

     The first part of Jesus' fig tree prophecy has happened.  The second part is equally remarkable.  Jesus declared the generation that sees the fig tree come to life in the spring will NOT pass away until all things are FULFILLED.  That generation that He is speaking about is the generation that witnessed Israel's rebirth which happened in May 1948.  In America, those people are often called the "baby boomers."  Many Bible scholars have created lengthy arguments about how long a generation in the Bible actually is--some say only 40 years and others claim as much as 120 years.  God says in Psalms 90:10 that, "The days of our lives are seventy years; And if by reason of strength they are eighty years, Yet their boast is only labor and sorrow; For it is soon cut off, and we fly away."  God clearly says He will give us 70 years of life and 80 if we are strong.  Therefore, if someone was born around the year 1948, their generation would have between 70-80 years of life before the second part of Jesus' prediction comes to pass.  The only question remaining: how much longer will God allow Israel to bloom and this generation to dwindle until all things be fulfilled takes place?  Given the gross sinfulness that abounds right now and Jesus' comparison of our present days to that of Noah's flood, He is bound by His own word to return soon.