Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ Jesus,
This message is the second in the series of The Rapture and The Second Coming series. This message will focus on The Rapture, the first of the prophetic events leading into The Tribulation and The Second Coming of Jesus Christ to this earth.
To teach the three separate events, it will be necessary to go into a great deal of detail to help us understand the events and exactly how Scripture identifies and quantifies the three events. With exception of the day and hour of The Rapture, everything else can be known by the season in which it will occur. Jesus states in Matthew 24:4, “Take heed that no man deceive you.” Jesus is letting us know that we can know with assurance the timeframes, days, and events leading up to The Rapture, The Tribulation, and The Second Coming from His Word or else we will be deceived. Jesus specifically railed against the Pharisees for NOT knowing His day of visitation (Luke 19:44). This is the day Jesus entered Jerusalem being praised and glorified as The King, The Messiah. Here is the question? If Jesus expected the Jews and Israel to know the time of the first visitation, do you think He expects The Church and the Believer to know the time of His second visitation?
What is The Rapture?
The Rapture is the coming of Jesus for His “Bride.” Jesus’ “Bride’ is the “Church” or what we know as all of those that have accepted and made Jesus Christ The Lord and Savior of their lives. We’ll be taken to Heaven for seven years to experience the Marriage and The Marriage Supper. At the end of The Tribulation, we’ll return to earth with Jesus for The Second Coming or what is also known as The Millennial Reign.
Jesus addressed The Rapture in The Olivet Discourse found recorded in Matthew 24:32-51 and Luke 21:28-36. We’re going to focus first on the timing of The Rapture.
Matthew 24:32-34
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.
Jesus teaches His disciples the Parable of The Fig Tree to give them the sequence of events and the timing of The Rapture. We first need to step back into the Old Testament to determine the significance and meaning of the words “fig tree” and “leaves.” If this is not done, one absolutely has no clue what Jesus is speaking about in this Scripture. And believe me, I’ve cringed at some of the preaching and teaching I’ve heard on these three verses by preachers and teachers.
What is a “parable?” It is a simple story illustrating a Spiritual principle or Truth. Why does Jesus use the word “fig tree” and “leaves” in this parable? The “fig tree’ represents the “Nation of Israel.” The “putteth forth leaves” or “sprouting leaves” represents the renewal of life, in this case the Nation of Israel, after 2,000 years of dormancy. Jesus states the generation that sees Israel become a nation, again, will not pass away, if they live a full life, until all that is stated in Matthew 24:32-51 comes to pass – which includes The Rapture.
When did modern-day Israel become a nation? May 14, 1948. It is important we understand a “prophetic generation” is 100 years of 360 days. Jesus can return at any time in the one-hundred-year period after modern Israel became a nation. This means my generation, if we live a full lifespan, will experience The Rapture, praise God!! Before you roll your eyes or stone me, let’s continue and let The Word of God be your determination. There are detractors because they don’t believe the “fig tree” represents Israel. We’ll let The Word of God do the speaking.
So, the question is “does the fig tree represent Israel?”
Hosea 9:10
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.
When God delivered Israel out of Egypt, and He formed them as a nation, God, Himself, in Hosea 9:10 likened them to fresh grapes from the vine and ripe figs from the tree. From Hosea 9:10 and on, the grape vine and the fig tree are used to represent Israel. If you don’t know this, much of the Old Testament and the New Testament will not make sense, which is why there are so many wrong preachings and teachings. As Jesus said, “
Let’s look at Jeremiah 24:1-8 for an illustration.
Jeremiah 24:1-8
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:
The “good figs” represent the good people of Judah that were exiled to Babylon to be punished for 70 years for pursuing after other gods. Those exiled accepted God’s punishment of being ruled by and being slaves to Babylon.
The “bad figs” represent the Jews that were left behind in Jerusalem, that listened to the false prophets, and would not submit to Babylon. They made alliance with Egypt. God used Nebuchadnezzar to come against and crush the Jews in Jerusalem and destroy the Temple for not submitting.
Job 1:4-7; Micah 4:3-4; Habakkuk 3:18-19; Psalm 105:33; Amos 4:9; Isaiah 36:16; Zechariah 3:10 and more refer to the Nation of Israel as the “fig tree” and the Children of Israel as “figs.”
By the time of Jesus, every Jew knew the “fig tree” represented Israel and the “figs” represented the Children of Israel.
“Good figs” = children who obeyed God and submitted to His will.
“Bad figs” = children who disobeyed God and would not submit to His will.
If one doesn’t understand that God has referenced Israel as a fig tree and the children as good or bad figs, they won’t understand Jesus’ teachings or parables, which is why there is so much wrong preaching and teaching on the subject.
Another example, among many, spoken by Jesus, that references the Nation of Israel as a “fig tree” is Luke 13:6-9. Notice how the parable now makes sense.
Luke 13:6-9
6 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.
The fig tree and the vine both represent the Nation of Israel. Grapes and figs represent the Children of Israel. It was customary for the Jews to plant fig trees in their vineyards to remind God they were His people, and He was their God. It also reminded the Jews to produce good fruit for God.
The fig tree in Luke 13:6-9 hasn’t produced fruit for three years. The owner of the vineyard is God, and the dresser is Jesus. Jesus’ ministry was three-and-one-half-years in length. After three years of ministry, the Nation of Israel had still not recognized and accepted Jesus Christ as The Messiah. Jesus asked God not to cut down the fig tree but to give it one more season (six months). It still didn’t produce, and God cut it down.
What is the setting or context of the Luke 13:6-9 parable?
People came to Jesus telling Him that Pilate had killed innocent Galileans who were offering sacrifices at the Temple Mount when Pilate’s soldiers attacked and killed protestors. The innocent Galileans were caught in it and killed as well. Jesus answered by saying, “do you think the protestors are greater sinners than you? If you don’t repent, all shall perish. You’re so concerned about these people you are missing the point. If you don’t receive Me as The Messiah, God will cut you down (happened in 70AD when General Titus destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple).” One very important point about this was the “Believers” heeded Jesus’ parables and warnings and left Jerusalem right before the destruction by General Titus and the Roman soldiers begin. The unbelieving Jews did not and over one million of them were massacred. This created a division between Messianic Jews and Orthodox Jews, or Unbelievers, that lasts until this very day.
We all remember the very famous account of Jesus cursing the fig tree because it had no fruit on it, yet it had leaves. I always thought this was so strange and so petty before I became a student of God’s Word. I came to realize, as a student, everything and every action had, and has, a divine reason and meaning. And the action and The Words of Jesus had a definite purpose with this fig tree.
Matthew 21:18-20
18 Now in the morning as He returned into the city, He hungered.
19 And when He saw a fig tree in the way, He came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.
20 And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away!
It’s the last week of Jesus’ ministry before His death, burial, and resurrection. Because the fig tree had leaves, it should have been producing fruit. Yet it had none, and Jesus curses it. What have we learned about the meaning of the “fig tree.” It represents the Nation of Israel. Jesus was cursing the nation of Israel and the government of priests that had rejected Him as their Messiah. Now, Israel, as a nation, will wither and die because they are not producing fruit.
Where did Jesus’ cursing of the fig tree take place?
At Bethphage, which is between Bethany and Jerusalem. Jesus stayed in Bethany, then traveled in the morning to Jerusalem passing by Bethphage. Bethphage’s ancient name was “Nob.” It was later named Bethphage by the priests, which means, “House of Figs” or “House of Israel.” The City of Bethphage represented the priests, the San Hedren, who were the religious rulers of Israel. Many of the priests stayed there because it was close to the Temple and the Temple Mount. Bethphage was recognized as a seat of government in Israel.
The Jews believed and still believe the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil was a fig tree. They believe this because in Genesis 3:6-7, after eating the fruit, and losing the Spirit of God, Adam and Eve sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves. They wanted to cover themselves with whatever was at hand, which was a fig tree.
The Jews in Jesus’ time believed the “law” served the same purpose at The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Why? Because, through the law comes the knowledge of good and evil.
Romans 3:20
Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Adam and Eve didn’t know what sin was until they ate of the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. The law reveals our sin. This is what produces or makes us conscious of sin. Paul wrote about this in Romans 7:7 (and he was a Pharisee).
Romans 7:7
What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
A fig tree was planted at the gate outside the walls of Bethphage to symbolize, “We are the House of Israel, the House of Figs, and We are the Children of God.” The fig tree represented Israel, but it also represented the law to the Jewish people. They, the priests, the San Hedren, were guardians of the House of Israel and of the law.
John 6:29
Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him Whom He hath sent.
The only fruit or work God wanted of Israel was/is to believe on Jesus as The Messiah.
When did Jesus Curse The Fig Tree?
He cursed it the day before He gave the Olivet Discourse. The cursing of the fig tree was fresh on the disciple’s minds. The lesson was crystal clear to them. So, back to the original question.
Does the fig tree represent Israel?
Yes. You must be a fool not to see it.
For almost 2,000 years, the Nation of Israel has been cursed and dormant for not recognizing and acknowledging Jesus as The Messiah.
BUT WHEN YOU SEE THE FIG TREE SPROUT LEAVES…
Now, there is the supposition the “budding” in the verse represents the second birth of the Nation of Israel on May 14, 1948, and the Six-Day War of June 1967 when Israel captured and reentered Jerusalem could be the “leaves.” However, this is NOT likely because Jesus said the generation of May 14, 1948, would see everything in Matthew 24:32-34 come to pass. This couldn’t happen if the “leaves” occurred June 1967. So there satan! You will not be deceiving us ANYMORE! He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
Why is this subject important? Because we need to be living as if it’s our last day. Your rewards are coming in The Bridal Chamber once we are taken to Heaven. In the next message of this series, we will continue learning about The Rapture. There are some wonderful and incredible things that happen to us.
Much love in Christ Jesus,
Larry