PART 5 - The Fig trees of Israel and the end time generation...

Hi John and Doves,

Herewith PART 5, of my study re. The fig trees of Israel and the end time generation.

Blessings,

EAR

Part One: Introduction… Combining scriptures re. The Signs of His Coming… and the Generation that sees…

The fig trees of Israel, and the end time generation (fivedoves.com) April 28, 2024.

Part Two: …The tribulation of those days, and what Jesus meant by … the green wood and the dry…

The fig trees of Israel and the end time generation — Part Two (fivedoves.com) May 5, 2024

Part Three: …The Sorrows… the fearful sights and great signs from heaven… The celestial signs (Part 1)

The fig trees of Israel and the end time generation — Part Three (fivedoves.com) May 31, 2024

Part Three Cont’d… Fig Trees of Israel - The celestial signs (Part 2)

Fig Trees of Israel - Part 3 Cont'd - Celestial Signs (fivedoves.com) June 10, 2024

Part Four: …The Sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven… they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.

THE FIG TREES OF ISRAEL AND THE END TIME GENERATION - PART 4 - The Sign of the Son of Man (fivedoves.com) July 14, 2024

The final PART 5 of this study concerns the Parable from the fig tree (Mark 13:24‒33, basic narrative, NKJV), and the fig tree planted in a vineyard (Luke 13:6‒9).

See the combined Gospel record: The Signs of His Coming - Sheet.pdf attached to PART ONE.

Part Five: The Fig trees of Israel: Now learn this parable from the fig tree:

Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near. ^{Luke
21:28}

Now learn this parable from the fig tree: and all the trees. When they are already budding ^{Luke
21:29-30} when its branch has already become tender, and puts forth leaves, you KNOW that summer is near. ^Mark13:28

So you also, when you see all ^{Matt 24:33} these things happening, [you] KNOW that it the kingdom of God ^{Luke 21:31} is near—at the doors! ^{Mark 13:29}

Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will by no means pass away. ^{Mark
13:30} (+ Emphasis)

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The generation… that will by no means pass away:

In Mark’s basic narrative (Mark 13:24‒33); and in The Signs of His Coming - Sheet.pdf (with extra phrases added by Matthew and Luke), Jesus emphasised that there is one particular generation that will still be alive, who will see all ‘these things’ that He listed as precursors to His Second Coming; these signs would mean that redemption was close by for His followers, and the kingdom of God was nearly at the doors of the nations!

Added to Jesus’ list of signs that will herald His return (in Mark 13:28 above), is a parable about a budding and leafing fig tree (a metaphor for Israel, first used by Jeremiah and Hosea in the Old Testament), which Jesus used again and again when referring to Israel’s religious status and national existence. Previously, in Part 2 (page 4) of this study, we read that Jesus cursed a fruitless fig tree that was growing on the roadside leading to Jerusalem, which then ‘dried up from the roots.’ This acted parable was a portent of Israel’s imminent, ill-fated religious and national downfall c. AD 66 → According to Matt. 21:19‒20, Jesus said to the fig tree… Let no fruit grow on you ever again… and according to Mark 11:14‒21, He said… Let no one eat fruit from you ever again! Mark helpfully added …for it was not the season for figs. (Mark 11:13)

Note: Thirty-six years later, this ‘acted parable’ and its symbolism proved to be historically true after the Zealots’ uprising and rebellion in Galilee, which led to the First Jewish-Roman war in AD 66‒74 when Jerusalem was besieged, and the Second Temple was burned and destroyed. This particular time period initiated the Jewish Nation’s forced exile from Judaea—driven by Rome until AD 135—by which time Emperor Hadrian had ordered Jerusalem to be ploughed over and a Roman city named Aelia Capitalina to be built within its precincts; later, a pagan temple containing a statue of Jupiter was erected on the Temple mount. The Jews were subsequently banned from entering Jerusalem’s former territories for the next 500 years!

Therefore, as a result of Jesus’ prior condemnation of the fruitless fig tree that Mark says ‘dried up from the roots’—meaning that it had incurably died without hope of revival—it is surprising to see that Jesus intentionally inserted another ‘comparable’ parable about a budding and leafing fig tree into the list of notable signs that He said would precede His Second Coming! Since all three Gospels have included this parable in Jesus’ teaching—given to His disciples on the Mount of Olives, just two days before His crucifixion at Passover—it must be important; so we may well ask… why was this parable in that dissertation, and what did Jesus expect His disciples to learn from it?

However, it is also noticeable from the full text of this dissertation that Jesus ‘apparently’ believed His Disciples would see all of the signs reserved for the end time (including the sign of the fig tree) via His use of the pronouns… your heads, your redemption, you also, when you see—thus equating them with the generation that would still be alive on earth to see them all. This simply reinforces his later statement that He did not know when these things would occur; only His Father knew that! But in any case, God’s people on earth in that generation who are referred to as YOU, would KNOW that since ‘buds’ on a fig tree meant summer was near, so the ‘signs’ happening within that generation’s life-time would inform them that Jesus’ return was near.

Now, we could easily debate whether or not this parable about a fig tree was only meant to be used as a simple figure-of-speech for comparing the two subjects (above), but then again, Jesus’ intentional introduction of an apparently living and budding fig tree into His list of signs heralding His coming, might carry a more subtle meaning and purpose for the generation that actually sees it happen—figuratively! Nevertheless, Jesus’ expectation of His SOON return in power and glory, does not discount the possibility that He deliberately used this parable of the fig tree to reveal some parallel meaning or hidden message for His disciples (as was usual with Jesus’ parables)! Hence His instruction… Learn this parable from the fig tree!

So, if we want to know the truth, we must match our thinking to the disciples’ likely understanding of this fig tree parable—via its association with earlier Old Testament prophecies. Nonetheless, there are some other interesting phrases that intrude into Jesus’ dialogue, which we will examine before we reach any conclusions about the fig tree in the parable and what we need to learn from it in the end times.

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The generation… that sees all these things take place:

Strangely, we now have a paradox in this prophecy regarding the generation that sees all these things happening—i.e., via their apparent awareness, or their lack of awareness of what is occurring—and their diverse interpretations of what the signs actually mean! Who are these people, and why does Jesus refer to them as YOU and THEY? As per Jesus’ statements: one group (labelled YOU) is urged to watch and KNOW that these signs indicate the approaching ‘summer season’ that will eventually bring joy to God’s elect: because of the nearness/proximity of Jesus’ return and their own imminent full redemption in the kingdom of God. Meantime, the other group (labelled THEY)—who have seen the same celestial and preceding signs—are apparently oblivious as to WHO or WHAT the signs portend! THEY seem to be ignorant and unsuspecting bystanders who are totally unaware of the glorious events that are about to unfold!

The difference between these two groups seems to rest on whether or not they KNOW what lies beyond the signs; or whether scepticism, distractions, and lack of interest or absence of prior knowledge have dulled their perceptions: perhaps, because similar phenomena have been attributed to other causes… like eclipses, meteor showers, climate change, global warming, volcanism or aerial warfare. Therefore, their apparent dearth of knowledge or unbelief about these prophesied signs overwhelms any natural discernment and wisdom on their part, (as apparently occurred during the judgments in the ancient days of Noah and Lot). Jesus is surely saying through these signs… get your house in order/get your life in order… because a cataclysmic change in earth’s management is about to take place. The Kingdom of God is near!

Thus, in the three very similar (and combined) Gospel accounts, there are references to ‘those days’ of tribulation, to celestial events, to strange aerial phenomena that will ‘shake the heavens’ causing star-like objects to fall to earth; as well as reminders of the floods, fire and brimstone that occurred during past judgments—all of which seem to be repeated in the end time. These are the signs that will be observed by two very different groups of people who will interpret them differently even though they will be living together on the earth—in one generation!

But, what if the YOU group Jesus was referring to were Bible believing messianic Jews, and born again Christians who are committed followers of Jesus, who read the New Testament and look for His return via these signs; while the THEY group is composed of unbelieving Jews and Gentiles who may—or may not—have any direct or second-hand knowledge of the Bible? The conclusions reached by these two diverse groups (about what was happening), would probably result in totally divergent interpretations and expectations arising from exactly the same signs!

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The ‘YOU’ generation… that lifts up their heads:

So, Messianic Jews and Christians who see the beginning of these signs (who know the Bible), would also know that the phrase Jesus used in Luke 21:28 was meant as an encouragement to them… ‘look up and lift up your heads’ because these words reflect Psalm 3:3 which tells us that it is the LORD who lifts up our heads:

But You, O LORD, are… my glory, and the One who lifts up my head…

The same phrase—lift up your heads—is repeated in Psalm 24, which is believed to have been written by King David when the Ark of the Lord was returned to Israel, which signified the return of God’s presence to His people! This is the ‘blessed hope’ for all who know Jesus as their Saviour and Lord: as we await His Second Coming, and prepare for His return in glory when He will establish His kingdom rule on earth! There is an element of expectation and excitement lying behind these words:

Lift up your heads, you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. (Psalm 24:7)

Thus, Jesus’ followers who see all these signs… and all these things happening—although they bring trouble to the earth and distress to the nations—will also KNOW that they are but precursors to the greatest event ever to occur on earth: the return of Jesus Christ in visible form to His people, resulting in their personal redemption and their physical reconciliation to God in spiritual bodies, even as His kingdom is being established on earth. (Cf. the Lord’s Prayer! Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven!) With what wonder and joy will the YOU generation rejoice in the complete fulfilment of God’s plan of salvation for them, because they have put their trust in Jesus?

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The ‘THEY’ generation that mourn:

However, the last generation of unbelieving Jews, atheists, agnostics and cynical Gentiles etc., who survive until the end time, will most certainly not be ‘looking up’ to heaven with any joyful expectation of the Second Coming of the Jewish Messiah; since they don’t believe Jesus was the Messiah, or the Son of God, in the first place! Thus, THEY, i.e., the kings of the earth, great men, rich men, commanders, mighty men, slave and free men from all the unbelieving tribes of the earth will be cast into deep mourning—due to their prior attitudes of denial and derision—when finally they SEE the sign of the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory; this is what causes them to hide in caves and rocks of the mountains, from the face of God and the wrath of the Lamb (Rev. 6:15‒16), on the Day of the LORD! (Joel 1:1‒2:11)

However, their mourning (resulting from them SEEING the Son of Man’s revelation from heaven), had long before been predicted by Zechariah—especially for unbelieving Jews (see below)—but notice what God has to do before THEY can even acknowledge that they have been sinfully disobedient via their utter disdain and contempt for Jesus (their Messiah), and their denial of His Son-ship with the Father:

And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; THEN they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a first-born. In that day there shall be a great mourning in Jerusalem… (Zechariah 12:10‒11a; cf. Joel 2:12‒17)

The remainder of Zechariah 12 tells how each Jew—belonging to the separate branches of Israel’s leadership structure (together with their wives)—will react after God’s Spirit of grace and supplication has softened their hard hearts and removed the veil of spiritual blindness from their minds!

And the land shall mourn, every family by itself: the family of the [royal] House of David by itself, And their wives by themselves; the family of the [prophetic] House of Nathan by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of the [priestly] House of Levi by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of [temple service] Shimei by itself, and their wives by themselves; all the families that remain, every family by itself, and their wives by themselves. (Zechariah 12:12‒14)

In that day a fountain shall be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness. (Zechariah 13:1; cf. Joel 2:18‒29; 3:18, 20‒21)

Notice, on that day their grieving will be preceded by that sovereign act of God, i.e., the pouring out of God’s Spirit on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, when Jesus (the only fountain who can purposefully cleanse their sin) is visibly seen by the survivors living in Jerusalem and by the nation of Israel, when He comes to save His people. Thus, the spiritual blindness that had struck them down—causing them to deny Jesus of Nazareth (as Christ their Messiah) almost two millennia ago—will be healed. Their intense mourning can only occur—when the time comes, on that day— AFTER the Jews and citizens of Jerusalem have repented via God’s Spirit of Grace and supplication!

Only when they each recognise that the Son of Man returning in the clouds is Jesus their crucified Messiah and Lord, i.e., the Lamb of God whom they pierced and who died to forgive their individual and national sins, can they each finally utter those words from Psalm 118:25‒26; ‘Blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord!’ Jesus has been waiting to hear those prophetic words (again) from His Jewish people, since they first uttered them during His triumphant entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, AD 30! (Cf. Matt. 21:9; 23:37‒39; Luke 13:34‒35)

Unfortunately, those precious words literally ‘died on their lips’ a few days later when they shouted ‘Crucify Him, Crucify Him’ (Luke 23:21); even as they vowed… His blood be upon us and on our children. (Matt. 27:25) This is why Jesus had cursed the fruitless fig tree—a metaphor for the Law of Moses via Temple-based Judaism, representing the religious identity of the Jews as a nation—which had immediately ‘withered, and dried up from the roots.’ Jesus’ sacrifice had made the Temple sacrifices redundant; the Law had been superseded by the New Covenant of grace, through the blood of Christ. Jesus is the one and only sacrificial lamb and the Great High Priest who is officiating on behalf of sinners!

However, long before the time of Jesus’ appearance on earth (and the Jews’ denial of Him as God’s Son), God’s response to both past and future sins committed by Israel had already been recorded by another prophet called Hosea. Hosea recorded that the nation’s path forward would be paved with suffering and hardship that would eventually lead to their repentance; but this would only occur after a second particularly grave and severe time of affliction AD 70‒1948, at the hands of Rome had caused them to seek God earnestly as a result of God’s own fateful words and actions…

For I will be like a lion to Ephraim, and like a young lion to the house of Judah, I, even I, will tear them and go away; I will take them away, and no one shall rescue. I will return again to My place till they acknowledge their offense. Then they will seek my face; in their affliction they will earnestly seek Me. (Hosea 5:14–15)

…but, even so, God’s words always offered opportunity and optimism for the Jews to seek Him at any time—during their dispersion throughout the world—until the present day. But amazingly, God had also already provided suitable scriptures for them to meditate on during such a time of affliction; Cf. Psalm 102: ‘A Prayer of the afflicted’ (…written for the generation to come, that a people yet to be created may praise the LORD. v.18). This Psalm (written thousands of years ago by an anonymous author who suffered an unknown affliction) is recited by Sephardic Jews on Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), which is observed on 10^th of Tishrei (beginning at sunset on October 11, 2024).

Some Christian scholars also believe the contents of this Psalm relate to the sufferings experienced by Jews during WWII, the Holocaust and afterward, until that generation of Jews were restored to their ancient land (for the second time), as the re-created and re-born Nation of Israel in 1948. (Cf. Isaiah 66:8) So, the words in this Psalm poignantly describe the Jew’s trauma at that time and their prayerful cry to God, resulting in God’s response and rescue of them, and their establishment as a nation; but unfortunately, this Psalm shows no hint of remorse or repentance on the part of the Jews, which is required to bring God out of His place! As stated by Hosea (above), the Jews need to utter a still more sincere prayer of confession and repentance (while in the midst of a looming latter day period of dire affliction) to achieve that. According to Hosea, Israel will need to say…

Come, and let us return to the LORD; for He has torn, but He will heal us; He has stricken, but He will bind us up. After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us up, that we may live in His sight. Let us know, let us pursue the knowledge of the LORD. His going forth is established as the morning; He will come to us like the rain, like the latter and former rain to the earth. (Hosea 6:1–3; cf. Joel 2:21‒27)

Hosea describes this historic period of suffering as two days.[1] So, according to Hosea 5:14–15 these ‘two days’ when the Jews were torn and stricken—could realistically be applied to the Jews living under the heel of the Roman Empire (4^th Beast, cf. Dan. 7:7‒26) via its divided half-empires and its descendant nations; both in the east and west from 63 BC—AD 1948 (equals 2,010 years). This is the two days’ time period for Israel’s punishment, which God has allowed for the offenses committed by un-repentant Ephraim and Judah, cf. Hosea 5:14. (These two tribes represented the whole house of Israel/Jacob).

Thus, the dire physical afflictions, death, slavery, exile, captivity and spiritual desolations (suffered by the Jews during that long period of time) were exacerbated by the withdrawal/ascension of God’s Son into heaven in AD 30, (i.e., 1,994 years ago); this is only 6 years short of Hosea’s two days, i.e., the 2,000 years allowed—for God to go away from the Jewish people who denied Him as their Messiah—when according to history, His absence resulted in the burning of the Jerusalem Temple, the destruction of their Capital, and their exile into the nations of the world until 1948.

Meantime, since the Jews’ restoration as the Nation of Israel in 1948, yet another 76 years have passed by; that generation has almost reached eighty years of age, and God is still waiting to hear His people utter those words of confession and repentance from Psalm 118:25‒26; Blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord; even as Hosea’s opportune and prophetic third day—set aside for their restoration and reconnection with God—is rapidly approaching in 2030! The years are fast running out for Israel’s metaphorical fig tree to produce the spiritual fruit of righteousness desired by God, while the Jews wait for the ‘former (autumn) rain’ and the ‘latter (spring) rain’ to fall simultaneously in the first month (Nisan), to bring in the summer season, and their redemption! (Joel 2:21‒23)

Consequently, it is quite possible that the yet unfulfilled affliction mentioned by Hosea that causes the Jews to: return to the LORD… pursue knowledge of the LORD… and earnestly seek God’s face, is the very same unidentified event referred to in those emphasised words (printed at the top of the study sheet currently under our scrutiny)… i.e., ‘But in those days after that tribulation’ (Mark 13:24). These initial words are the focal point in Jesus’ dissertation; everything that Jesus listed as signs of His return come after these words; so is this ‘unnamed’ event—described as those days—that ushers in the celestial signs that begin the countdown to Christ’s return. Those days may be about to occur, now that Iran and its ‘axis of resistance’ have set a date on which to attack Israel.

Iran plans attack on Israel over Haniyeh death on Jewish day of tragedy - The Jerusalem Post (jpost.com)

On such an occasion, Hosea further encourages the Jews living in Israel:

O Israel, return to the LORD your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity; take words with you, and return to the LORD, say to Him, ‘Take away all iniquity; receive us graciously, for we will offer the sacrifices of our lips.’ (Hosea 14:1–2)

Consequently, the words that the Jews must take with them to offer to the LORD as the sacrifices of their lips—which will end their long period of alienation from God—are the exact words that Jesus quoted back at them in AD 30, when he said to the rebellious Jewish leaders in Judaea on the eve of His crucifixion… You shall not see Me until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’ (Cf. Luke 13:35; Matt. 23:39; and Psalm 118:26). So, it will be via those words that Israel will finally acknowledge that Jesus Christ is INDEED their Messiah, when they see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory, even as they call out to Him for help during those days of affliction!

Thus, the end time generation of Jews will not only experience that great outpouring of God’s Spirit of Grace and supplication upon them on that day (when God comes to them like the latter and former rain to the earth), and they see the sign of the Son of Man appearing in heaven; but the sight of their Messiah will cause them to mourn in isolation by themselves. On that same day the words they utter as sacrifices of their lips… ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD’ will be acceptable to God and He will respond by opening a fountain for cleansing and sin in Jerusalem!

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Now my reason for explaining all this—before we even start on the parable of the fig tree—is to provide the prophetic Old Testament framework that describes the restoration of Israel in the end times. We have already understood in the preceding parts of this study—from scripture and the history of the Jews, that Judaea and Jerusalem suffered under Roman occupation from 63 BC onward—and that Jesus’ disciples who wrote the Gospels knew perfectly well that the fruitless fig tree that symbolized Israel’s Judaism and religious status circa AD 30, had withered from the roots and died; it would never be resuscitated or resurrected; neither would the Temple operate under the Law of Moses for much longer, because its great stones would be torn down! [2]

And yet, lo and behold (in the passage of scripture under our scrutiny), Jesus had commanded His disciples… Now learn this parable from the fig tree… These men are told …when its branch has already become tender, and puts forth leaves, you KNOW that summer is near. (Mark 13:28) We may conclude therefore, that this parable is included in the list of ‘signs’ that precede Christ’s Second Coming, because it anticipates the coming summer season (Sivan) when the ‘fig trees’ in Israel are brought into a condition of fruitfulness, ready for an autumn harvest.

But it is here that we must ask… which fig tree is Jesus talking about? Hadn’t He recently condemned Israel’s ‘representative fig tree’ just a few days before His talk with His disciples?

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The generation that sees… the budding of the fig tree (and all the trees)…

In Jesus’ dissertation, there are some important things to notice among the signs described by Jesus as all these things: first, there is the reference to those days of tribulation, the celestial signs, the heavens shaking, the fear experienced by people on earth, the sign of the Son of Man, the sound of a trumpet, the gathering of the saints from the four winds; then a seemingly ‘out of place’ description of a fig tree’s growing habits, indicating that summer is approaching. Summer therefore, appears to be the clue to understanding the context of the fig tree (and all the trees) among the other signs Jesus named. Summer is also the season in which the Disciples were to look for their redemption to be drawing near, and for the kingdom of God to be near—at the doors!

Interestingly, all of the earliest signs and events listed in this scripture passage are applicable to any person living on the earth, who happens to see them! However, there is only one sign that is specific to Israel… and that is the apparent existence of a fig tree when it is budding and naturally producing its first leaves in the springtime season, in the month of Nisan (when Jesus spoke these words).

So, Jesus added this parable to the list of signs to watch out for in Mark 13:28 (with additional phrases inserted by Luke). The first and immediate application of this parable appears to be suited to the approaching summer in AD 30; when Jesus commanded His disciples to wait in Jerusalem until they received the Holy Spirit that had been promised to them on Pentecost, the 6^th of Sivan (in summer). The Holy Spirit would empower them to evangelise and preach the Gospel as a witness to Jesus their Messiah, and He would bring to their remembrance, all the things that Jesus had said.

The second application will be in the end time. But, it seems as if the ungodly population existing in those days (when this is happening) will probably not comprehend what the budding of the fig tree (representing Israel) is all about; nor will they be interested in what the earlier celestial signs portend (other than the imminent danger to themselves (Rev. 6:12‒17)! However, the elect of God, who are watching, waiting and discerning, who are addressed as YOU, will KNOW exactly what the budding of Israel’s fig tree preceding the Second Coming of Jesus Christ is all about!

So, for Jesus’ disciples (who would not live to see the things He had warned them of regarding the destruction of the Temple and Jerusalem in AD 70, nor the complete dispersion of the Jews from Judaea, circa AD 135), this parable assured them that their Messiah’s hope for Israel’s future spiritual revival (vis-à-vie, a thriving fig tree metaphor) was still possible; thus, the tender branches and leaves emerging on the fig tree (when they appeared), would become a significant sign that Israel would not only be in existence, but approaching a future summer season.

Consequently, they, we, and all who follow Jesus would have hoped that that blessed summer season for producing fruitfulness prior to His return, might have occurred long before now! But then, Luke had added this interesting observation to Jesus’ words in AD 30, after He had condemned the fruitless fig tree (during the same week), by stating bluntly… it was not the season for figs!

So, if not then, when is the ‘right’ season for figs? Why not during the summer of that year? And why did it take the very long time period for the Jewish Diaspora to take place, before the Jews were freed from the last manifestation of Rome (via Nazi Germany’s 3^rd Reich) during the Holocaust in the 20^th Century, before the Jews could be gathered back into the land of Israel as a nation, i.e., as a viable fig tree?

Well, according to Luke 21:29 Jesus had actually said in this parable… Look at the fig tree, and all the trees… when they are already budding… etc., so this parable was not just meant for the nation of Israel alone; Jesus is obviously referring to other trees/nations that will all be in existence at the same time! Those words… can only refer to the United Nations, i.e., all the trees during a mid-20^th Century time-frame, when the United Nations was created with an initial membership of 50 nations on June 6, 1945. Remember, Israel was established as a viable fig tree/nation on May 14, 1948, and later admitted to the United Nations as a full member a year later on May 11, 1949. So we can now observe the fig tree, and all the trees as being representative of the United Nations whose numbers have increased to 193 member nations (as at July 2024).

However, during this very long prior period (foreseen by Hosea as two days), it may also be said that it was the afflictions suffered by the Jews during their subsequent Diaspora and Holocaust, which caused the need and opportunity for a latter-day home for the Jews in Palestine in the first place! Those afflictions were consequences arising firstly from Jesus’ symbolic cursing of the fruitless fig tree via His condemnation of the irreligious Jews and their corrupt Temple rituals (Matt. 23:38–39), and secondly by the Jews failure to recognise Him as their Messiah during His ‘visitation’ for their salvation (Luke 19:42) during the first half of the 70^th week of Daniel’s prophecy (Dan. 9:24‒27) circa AD 27‒30, and during the second half, circa AD 30‒34 when the Gospel was preached from the Temple precincts to the Jews, to the Council and to the Sanhedrin, resulting in the martyrdom of Stephen and the flight of the followers of The Way to other towns like Antioch in Syria.

However, following the Gospel evangelising of the Jews gathered in Jerusalem (for Pentecost), and afterward for a period of about twelve years, any viable fig tree spirituality in Israel appears to have become dormant during the Diaspora; instead Paul preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles and missionary evangelism became centred on advancing the Church world-wide. This dichotomy in evangelistic direction appears to have also troubled the Apostle Paul, who sought to explain the Gentile Church in Romans 11, via his illustration of Israel’s existence as an Olive tree whose branches were cut off after God had obtained a remnant from His Jewish people according to the election of grace; but the rest were blinded by unbelief, so Judaism was broken off the Olive tree like a dead branch! [3] God then grafted a new branch into the Olive tree to bring salvation to the Gentiles through the New Covenant, so that the rest of the world might be reconciled to Him! However, the time will come… if the Jews do not continue in blindness and unbelief, [when they] will be grafted again into the root of their own tree. Paul concludes… How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! If Paul had only known that two millennia would pass by before this prophetic re-grafting process would begin take place, he might have similarly underlined those words above!

The Generation that sees… abundant fruit on the fig tree planted in God’s vineyard:

So, whereas Paul has used the metaphor of an Olive tree to explain this process; interestingly, Luke (alone in the Gospels) records a similar procedure via a very meaningful parable that Jesus had told earlier, regarding a special fig tree that had been planted in a vineyard. An understanding of this earlier parable will help put Jesus’ parable about the fruitless and withered fig tree of Israel’s Judaism into the tomb of Jewish history—while His Mount of Olives reference to the ‘budding’ fig tree that portends a ‘summer season’ of fruitfulness—will be seen in a wholly different context: thus raising hope for the good figs that Israel might produce in the end time. C/f Jer. 24:1‒7; 29:15‒20.

Note: There is no immediate explanation—or teaching by Jesus—regarding what this parable was meant to convey to those who heard it, and it seems quite out of place in the context of Luke chapter 13; however, it shows that the owner of the vineyard had intentionally been looking for figs on this particular fig tree for three years, and it had produced nothing! The owner’s patience was at an end; consequently, the tree ought to be cut down because it was fruitless and using up valuable space in his vineyard! Contrariwise, the keeper of the vineyard pleaded for ‘this year also’ (a fourth one) to see if—after some intensive cultivation—the fig tree might bear fruit. So it would seem, permission was granted, and only after the vineyard keeper has promised to dig around it and fertilize it (himself) during a fourth year, would the owner of the fig tree decide its fate.

Now, we might think that this (familiar parable) is just an overview showing how Jesus went looking for spiritual fruit in the Second Temple’s precincts via its religious rituals during his three years of ministry, therefore it is simply a repeat of the ‘withered fig tree’ scenario; but that is not the case; this is a wholly original parable told by Jesus, early on during His ministry and ‘visitation’ to Judaea/ Israel, in which He describes His role as the caretaker of a newly planted vineyard (the Church), containing a young fig tree (spiritual Israel), which would yet become central to God’s purpose!

So, not only does this parable describe the relationship existing between God ‘the Father’ (owner of the vineyard), and ‘Jesus the Messiah’ (the keeper of the vineyard), but it also features the young fig tree (true ‘spiritual’ Israel) that Jesus had planted during His three years of ministry in Judaea AD 27‒30. It also reveals that no fruit could be expected, OR would be expected until the fourth year, after Jesus had suffered and died for a remnant of God’s people [Jews] according to the election of grace, as stated by Paul in Romans 11:5. A fruitful harvest would not be possible until the fourth year, after the vineyard keeper had ‘dug around it and fertilized it’ with liberal applications of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, AD 30. Any ‘early figs’ could only appear after Passover. But the young fig tree would need to mature before it could produce an abundance of juicy ripe fruit throughout the ‘official season’ for the main crop of figs in Israel—during the autumn feasts!

If the reader cannot understand the metaphor of digging around it and fertilizing the fig tree, return to what I wrote on page 4 (above) about Zechariah and Hosea being privy to the process that will be employed by God, which will begin on that day when God will—once again—pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication. This is the only application of fertilizer that the young fig tree in the vineyard needs, and it is obvious that God has a day and date marked on His calendar for when that will occur.

Furthermore, because of the very long time-frame involved, this parable is a type of ‘bridge’ that overlaps both Bible Testament eras: i.e., the parable begins during the Old Testament regime (under the Law of Moses), at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry in AD 27, so three years later we come to Passover week AD 30, when both Father and Son were conferring about the absence of figs on Israel’s young and leafy fig tree that had been planted in the vineyard; both agreed that it was not yet mature, therefore it would need further attention by the ‘keeper of the vineyard’ who promised He would ‘dig around it and fertilize it’ during a fourth year! So, although this fourth year begins at Pentecost in AD 30 in the 1^st Century, its ramifications reach across almost 2,000 years (Hosea’s two days), into an as yet unfulfilled ‘fourth year’ of deliberate attention by the vineyard keeper, to spur its growth via another outpouring of the Holy Spirit; after which a further inspection by the owner of the vineyard and keeper of the vineyard, will decide the fate of this young fig tree. Thus, as God promised via Hosea:

After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us up, that we may live in His sight. Let us know, let us pursue the knowledge of the LORD. His going forth is established as the morning; He will come to us like the rain, like the latter and former rain to the earth. (Hosea 6:2–3)

Note: Incidentally, in this parable there is no mention of either satisfaction or disappointment over whether or not a grape harvest was forthcoming from the vineyard during the same three year period. However, neither fig harvest nor grape harvest were possible during those three years, firstly because Jesus had not yet become the sacrificial Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world, and secondly because the Holy Spirit had not yet come. (Since Mark 11:13b says ‘it was not the season for figs’ his comment may be interpreted via this double meaning!) Jesus would subsequently clothe His followers with His own garment of righteousness—after His Passover crucifixion and resurrection—through the Holy Spirit’s indwelling presence! Thus, Jesus warns His followers in the end time, not to forego or forget that their God-supplied garment of righteousness is essential to their survival; in His own words: ‘Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is He who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.’ (Revelation 16:15)

Subsequently, although we are not told who actually planted the fig tree that was growing simultaneously among the vines planted in God’s vineyard—on the cusp of the New Testament age of Salvation by grace, through Jesus’ death and resurrection—we can presume that the vineyard keeper planted it, because He said He would take responsibility for the fig tree by digging around it and fertilizing it, to see if it would produce fruit in the fourth year! So, the fate of Israel’s fig tree could only be decided far ahead in the future, after it had received the vital attention it needed. A clue to what that outcome will be, and when this might occur, can be found in The Song of Solomon 2:13, where ‘the beloved’ speaks of the summer time of ripening fruit!

My beloved spoke, and said to me: ‘Rise up, my love, my fair one; and come away. For lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth; the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land. The fig tree puts forth her green figs, and the vines with tender grapes give a good smell. Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away!’

Now that we are in the year 2024, we know that God has waited a very long time to see if His New Testament era fig tree will finally respond to His pleadings and produce a great spiritual harvest of righteousness in Christ (from the Jews) beginning in a summer season!

Note: An important point to make right here is that Jesus cursed the fruitless fig tree of Temple-based Judaism just before His crucifixion occurred at Passover in the month of Nisan, (spring in the northern hemisphere); this is when Luke helpfully pointed out that… it was not the season for figs! The ‘early fig’ crop (Bikkurah) is only in the small swelling bud during Nisan (even before the leaves have unfurled), and during the summer months they ripen on the previous year’s hard wood growth.

The ‘main fig’ crop bud (Breba) that emerges on the new tender (soft) growth being put forth on the branch in the spring, is not harvested until Tishrei (end of August and September) in the northern autumn, when they are dried for the winter. N.B. Tishrei aligns with the Jewish holidays of Rosh HaShanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot (Feast of Trumpets/Day of Atonement), and Feast of Tabernacles. Thus the second/main crop is harvested in the autumn on a fully mature fig tree. This is the season for the main crop of figs! Fig - Wikipedia

The lesson to be learned here coincides with Jesus’ teaching about not putting ‘new wine in old wine skins;’ similarly the ‘main-crop fig harvest’ that God is looking for is produced on new growth (viz., the New Testament Covenant of grace), not on the old growth of Judaism (i.e., the Old Testament Covenant of Law).

Therefore, when Jesus spoke about the signs preceding His return, and told His disciples to learn from this parable of the fig tree… He was telling them that the tender twigs budding on the fig tree would represent Israel’s spiritual revival and return to the Lord, and this greening of the fig tree would indicate that summer is near… His disciples would have known perfectly well that the main crop of figs that began to ripen in the late summer would indicate a fruitful harvest of good figs, but not until the autumn. This parable would have been immensely meaningful to Jesus disciples! Therefore, when Israel’s Jews begin to show signs of new spiritual growth, it will be a sure sign of how near is Jesus’ return! These articles indicate that it this generation now, who are seeking a new relationship with God…

So now I understand why this parable about the budding fig tree features in pride-of-place, right in the middle of Jesus’ dissertation about the signs preceding His Second Coming! Jesus’ Jewish disciples would surely have recognised that they were like the little buds emerging on the tender (i.e., young) branches on this recently planted New Testament ‘fig tree’ that was growing simultaneously with the vines planted in God’s world-wide Gentile vineyard after AD 30. The fig tree will eventually bear a magnificent harvest of good fruit in the season for figs (on the new growth, via the New Covenant) when ‘spiritual Israel’ has fully matured. This will occur in the coming summer of redemption, prior to the Kingdom of God being established on the earth!

Note: Nineteen centuries after the Jews were expelled from Judaea during the latter half of the first century AD; the Jews were providentially restored to their homeland in 1948, where they once again exist as the State of Israel! The rebirth of Israel was foreseen in Isaiah 66:8, and many Bible scholars believe this is why Jesus’ included this parable of the fig tree in His list of signs; to inform His disciples that ‘the time would come’ when Israel would once again be a nation in a green wood state of growth and during a coming summer… showing portents of the good autumn harvest that would yet come, which would be pleasing to God. Many Bible scholars equate the buds appearing on the fig tree as the re-born nation of Israel in 1948, and Israel’s expansion into Gaza, Golan Heights, Sinai and east Jerusalem during the 6-day war in 1967, as the leaves appearing.

But, to understand how and when the ‘fruit’ will be produced we need to return to Hosea:

The Deliverer will come out of Zion, and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; for this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins. (Romans 11:26‒27; cf. Isaiah 27:9; 59:20‒21; Jere. 31:31‒33)

These verses not only give us a time-table for God’s revival of Israel, on the third day, but they reveal how it will be accomplished via the double-portion of the Holy Spirit who will come like a flooding latter and former rain upon the people of Israel as they repent and seek the LORD. An illustration of this process for the Jews can be found in Ezekiel 36:8‒14, 22‒38; and 37:1‒25 in the vision of the valley of dry bones, when God causes the ‘breath’ (i.e., the Holy Spirit, [mentioned seven times] in Ezek. 37:5‒10), to enter into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army. (Ezek. 37:10)

This process can be summed up in God’s ‘I will’ statements in these verses:

Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave your fathers; you shall be My people, and I will be your God. (Ezekiel 36:25‒28)