And He was also saying to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘A shower is coming,’ and so it turns out. And when you see a south wind blowing, you say, ‘It will be a hot day,’ and it turns out that way. You hypocrites! You know how to analyze the appearance of the earth and the sky, but why do you not analyze this present time?
~Luke 12:54-56
Welcome back friends! The Bible tells us that no one knows the day or hour of Jesus’s return, but Jesus, in the gospel of Luke, exhorts us to “analyze this present time.” Over the past few days we have done that very thing. If you missed them, check out:
Today, we’ll take a close look at Jesus’s parable of the fig tree, where He speaks very specifically of a season. Could we be in that season? Read on, and make up your own mind!
In Matthew 24:3, Jesus’s disciples asked Him, “…when will all this [end times] happen? What sign will signal your return and the end of the world?” Jesus answered the question in Matthew 24-25, but I want to focus on Matthew 24:32-36 (NLT):
“Now learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branches bud and its leaves begin to sprout, you know that summer is near. In the same way, when you see all these things, you can know his return is very near, right at the door. I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass from the scene until all these things take place. Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear.
“However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows.”
Blossoms on fig trees appear in the spring and the first ripe fruit is ready about June. Thus, when one sees blossoms and leaves on the fig tree, it is obvious that summer is at hand. Jesus says that, in the same way, when you see the signs that He gave His disciples come to pass, you know His return is very near!
Dear ones, the fig tree is the Biblical symbol of the nation of Israel! In Jesus’s day He cursed a fig tree that had lots of leaves but no fruit. Israel had lots of leaves (religion), but no fruit (relationship with God)! (Luke 13:1-9) Indeed, the Jews missed the revelation of their Messiah (Luke 19:41-44) and the fig tree (Israel as a nation) was cut down.
Move ahead to May 14, 1948. Just as Ezekiel 36-37 predicted, Israel was re-born as a nation! The fig tree that was cut down was not destroyed! On that day, Israel sprouted leaves and blossoms, and came to life. Spring has come and summer is on the way! That fulfillment of prophecy is arguably the most critical in our day. Let’s find out why!
Jesus’s answers to His disciples’ questions in Matthew 24 include this statement in verse 35: “I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass from the scene until all these things take place.”
Could it be that the generation who witnessed the re-birth of Israel will not pass away until “all these things” (that Jesus had described to disciple) take place?
Dear friends, not even theologians agree on how long a generation is, but Jesus seems to be saying that the “season” of fulfillment would occur during the generation that witnessed the re-birth of Israel!
Be careful right here! The very next verse in Matthew 24 warns us that NO ONE knows the day or the hour. Not the angels in heaven or even Jesus Himself…only the Father. So, to set or predict a date would be false prophecy, which carries a very high penalty! Don’t go there! But, likewise, Jesus says, “You know how to tell a change in the weather, so don’t tell me you can’t tell a change in the season, the God-season we’re in right now. You don’t have to be a genius to understand these things. Just use your common sense.” (Luke 12:55-56, The Message)
So, don’t set dates, but know the season…and that season is upon us! Let’s live as though Jesus is coming back today! Maranatha!
Looking for the Blessed Hope 