"But learn the parable of the fig tree: When its branch becomes tender and puts out leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near, at very doors. Truly, I say to you, in no way will this generation pass away until all these things have occurred." Matt. 24:32-34.

 

The fig tree is Israel. The rebirth of the nation of Israel is the greatest of all the signs that show that the time for the Lord's reappearing is very near.

 

The disciples asked the Lord when these things would be and what would be the sign of His coming and of the end of the age. We should understand that He spoke to them as Jews, being representative of the Jewish people, and He spoke of the events that would befall the Jews. His words were prophetic and like most prophecies are of dual fulfillment. The near fulfillment was the destruction of Jerusalem by the Roman armies in AD 70. The far fulfillment is the end of the age. Matthew and Mark emphasise the aspects pertaining to the end of the age; Luke records the same discourse but emphasises the aspects pertaining to AD 70.

 

There was a generation in the time of Jesus and all His words concerning the destruction of Jerusalem were fulfilled within the natural lifespan of that generation. There is another generation in the time of the rebirth of the nation of Israel and all Jesus's words concerning the end of the age will be fulfilled within the natural lifespan of that generation.

 

Many have pondered what is the correct length of time to assign to a generation. Some have suggested 40 years by analogy with the time of Israel's wanderings in the wilderness. Others have suggested a time based on the Jubilee cycle. In modern English a generation is most often used of the interval between the birth of the parents and the birth of their children. In this case however I think the proper interpretation is in terms of human lifespan.

 

I think if we want to understand the timing of the far fulfillment of the prophecy we should look at how the near fulfillment happened. The Lord was born on October 29th, 1 BC, which is the date recovered from the Bible by Arthur Ware and his associates. The historian Josephus, who is generally reckoned to be accurate, gives dates for the Roman conquest. Their control of the city was completed in August of AD 70 (or maybe September if the calendar was a month later then). Subsequently they set about dismantling the parts of the city that were still standing. If we allow them a few weeks for demolition we may conclude that the Lord's words were fulfilled just as a period of 70 years from His birth drew to a close. "The days of our lives are seventy years": Psalm 90:10.

 

So I think we should reckon 70 years from the rebirth of Israel on May 14/15th 1948. That period therefore ends in 2018. It must include the final seven years which are loosely called 'the tribulation' (although the 'great tribulation' as described in Matthew 24:21 is only the second half of the seven).

 

Generally, when the scripture an expression such as 'within xx years' it means almost exactly xx years and not some appreciably lesser interval. This was the case with the near fulfillment and I conjecture that the same will be the case with the far fulfillment. So we should reckon that the Lord will probably return to Israel in 2018, or possibly earlier but not later.

 

We understand I hope that the Lord's coming for His bride, known as the rapture, happens before the seven years begin. He should therefore come for us by 2011 at the latest. Is there an interval between the rapture and the opening of the final seven years? Could it be just a few days or maybe a few years? If there is no interval then it seems to me that we should expect the rapture in 2011. If there is an interval of say 3 years, which is not an uncommon interval in Biblical chronology, then we should expect the rapture in 2008. When interpreting prophecy by looking ahead, one has a tendency to over simplify, to amalgamate distinct events and to eliminate unforeseen steps and the intervals between them. When looking back one sees the true picture and all the steps and intervals. So I do not consider an interval between the rapture and the seven years as being too implausible, even if I am not clear what the events during that period should be. Accordingly I infer that any of the years 2008, 2009, 2010, or 2011 are possible for the rapture. Otherwise if the Lord has not come for us by then my interpretations and inferences are spurious and must be discarded.

 

Myself I subscribe to the view the Lord will descend to us on the very same day (anniversary) He ascended and we will depart together on Pentecost. Interestingly, if we count 2520 days from June 20th 2011 (Pentecost) we get to May 14th 2018. The scripture speaks of the days being shortened, therefore the 'day and hour no man knows' must be some fraction of a month before the seven years are up. We can see therefore that even if the Lord tarries until 2011 it is just possible to fit the seven years in before the seventy years are completed.

 

Adrian