Repost: Part 2: The Fig Tree Parable - What are the Interpretations? Is it a sign?

A high watch period of 70 to 80 years from 1948

This is a continuation of:

Part 1: Revelation 6: Sixth Seal Analysis - Are the Signs of Revelation being Unveiled?

In this article we will analyze:

• Israel and the fig tree parable

• Analysis of a generation vs. a lifespan

• A comparison of the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke) and different views of the fig tree parable

State of Israel is Born (May, 1948)

Jewish Awareness Ministries, an organization that focuses on proclaiming the Messiah to the Jews, preaching the Word, and praying for Israel, stated the following,

The Jewish people – who had been without a homeland for over 1,800 years would once again be a nation; they would once again have a home!

Attempt to place yourself in the sandals of one of those captives, of those who were expelled from Israel in the 2^nd century A.D.

What if you, and your descendants, would subsequently remain in exile from your homeland for the following 1,800 years? This [the State of Israel] was a miracle of “Biblical proportions” for sure!¹

(source: Jewish Awareness)

After 70 years from 1948 to 2018, S. Solomon writes in The Times of Israel, “The blooming of the desert: Key stages of Israel’s economic growth”

The establishment of the state in 1948 and the absorption of immigrants: [806,000 to 8.84 million including 3.2 million immigrants over the years]

Financial institutions and fiscal restraint: Israeli leaders set up economic institutions including [banks, securities, etc.] to shield it from crises.

The tech industry in numbers: In the 20-year period of 1997-2017, 16,000 high-tech companies were set up, of which 8,000 are currently active.

The discovery of offshore natural gas reserves off Israel’s coast has been a game-changer for the economy

Israel’s economy had a gross domestic product (GDP) per capita of some $5,000 when the state was established in May 1948. The GDP per capita is today some $40,000²

Israel bloomed from a barren dry desert to now a flourishing and prosperous land.

Watch Amir Tsarfati, a globally known speaker on Israel and Bible Prophecy conferences, The Fig Tree is Blooming (a 1 minute video).

(source: Amir Tsarfati, Youtube)

“We are the generation, that will not pass away, because we see the fig tree blooming!”

The Fig Tree Parable

Let’s look at the following parable from the Synoptic Gospels (i.e.: Mark, Matthew, and Luke) when the disciples asked Christ about the things to come and the future return of Jesus Christ, Jesus responds with the fig tree parable. The Synoptic Gospels are nearly identical with slight differences. Note Luke writes “fig tree and all the trees” vs. “fig tree”.

28 “Now learn the parable from the fig tree:
when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves,
you know that summer is near. 29 Even so, you too, when you see these things happening, recognize that He is near, right at the door.
Mark 13:28-29, NASB1995

29 Then He told them a parable: “Behold the fig tree and all the trees;
30 as soon as they put forth leaves,
you see it and know for yourselves that summer is now near. 31 So you also, when you see these things happening, recognize that the kingdom of God is near.
Luke 21:29-31, NASB1995

32 “Now learn the parable from the fig tree:
when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves,
you know that summer is near; 33 so, you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door.
Matthew 24:32-33, NASB1995

Some bible scholars interpret fig trees symbolically as a representation of Israel (Hosea 9:10; Joel 1:6–7).

Craig John Lovik is an American writer and theologian. He made a significant contribution to family literature and wrote several important books on religion. Mr. Lovik narrates the following animation explaining The Fig Tree Prophecy. The screenshot below illustrates the fig tree as Israel which becomes a nation on May 14th, 1948 and a generation which will see the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

Screenshot of The Fig Tree Prophecy 3:12

(source: RockIslandBooks)

Notice also Luke's addition "behold the fig tree and all the trees" (Luke 21:29). Why did Luke include “and all trees”?³ What else could all the trees mean? C.J. Lovik's video explains that when the Ottoman Empire was dismantled, many nation state borders were redrawn and each nation had their own specific tree including:

• Lebanon (1943) Cedar Tree,

• Syria (1943) Olive Tree,

• Jordan (1946) Palm Tree,

• Saudi Arabia (1932) Date Palm Tree, and

• Israel (1948) Fig Tree.

Each tree blossomed as the nations were established bordering Israel. Could this have been the reference to "and all trees?".

C.J. Lovik explains the trees at 10:28

(source: RockIslandBooks)

Let’s look next at what Amir Tsarfati meant when he said, “This generation, will not pass”?

What Generation?

30 Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.
Mark 13:30 NASB1995⁴

34 Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.
Matthew 24:34 NASB1995⁵

32 Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all things take place.
Luke 21:32 NASB1995⁶

Who is the generation that will not pass away until they see the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ?

Genea (Ancient Greek)

In Ancient Greek, generation is genea from biblehub.com

genea: race, family, generation

Original Word:γενεά, ᾶς, ἡ⁷

or from wiktionary:

γενεᾱ́ • (geneā́) f (genitive γενεᾶς); first declension

1. birth

2. race, descent

3. generation

4. offspring⁸

Words derived from genea include gene and genetics. This generation has many definitions which will not be listed here but can be referenced on wiktionary.

There is no specific time boundary for the word generation other than ~30 years, the time it takes for a person to be born and have children. However, in the Synoptic Gospels it states “this generation will not pass away until all these things take place”. This would imply the lifespan of this generation and not just 30 to 40 years. What is an average lifespan?

What is the typical Lifespan?

10 As for the days of our life, they contain seventy years, Or if due to strength, eighty years, Yet their pride is but labor and sorrow; For soon it is gone and we fly away. Psalms 90:10 NASB1995

In Psalms, it states that a typical lifespan of an individual is 70 to 80 years. Before Noah and the Great Flood lifespans were much longer but since the flood the average lifespan has been ~75. Harvard Health states the following:

With rare exceptions, life expectancy has been on the rise in the US: it was 47 years in 1900, 68 years in 1950, and by 2019 it had risen to nearly 79 years. But it fell to 77 in 2020 and dropped further, to just over 76, in 2021.⁹

Interestingly,

At an expected 84.4, Israelis will be ranked seventh in the world in longevity, moving up from their current 13th place spot (82.1).¹⁰

While globally the average is just over 70 at 72+ as of 2019.¹¹

Pastor John MarArthur

In ~2018, Pastor John MacArthur interprets this parable from multiple views of eschatology. Pastor MacArthur summarizes when you see the trees bring forth leaves…

1. 18:11 When you see the signs, leaves, you know summer's near. And with summer comes fruit and harvest.

2. 19:35 …great tribulation. The signs in the sun, the moon, the stars, on the earth, the roaring of the sea and the waves, the powers of the heavens shaken, people in dismay, perplexity, dying from fear…

3. 20:36 But once those signs start, once they start, you can be sure that when you see these things happen, the Kingdom of God is near.

4. 21:16 How near? "At the door," Mark 13:29.

(source: Grace to You, Youtube)¹²

Which generation?

Pastor MacArthur, then debates various views of the “the generation”. He disagrees with the view that Jesus was referring to the immediate generation, who died ~70 A.D. and the Hal Lindsey view of a 40 year generation after 1948 who died in 1988. He concludes that the generation who sees the signs will see the coming of Christ when He returns. In this sermon, Pastor MacArthur does not use the 70 to 80 year lifespan as noted by C.J. Lovik which comes from Psalms 90:10. Pastor MacArthur just simplifies the prophecy to those who see the signs will see the Second Coming in their lifespan.

For the full C.J. Lovik animated video it is included here:

(source: RockIslandBooks)

Christian Truth Center also discusses the fig tree generation in detail for additional reading.

The Fig Tree Parable

32 “Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near; so, you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door. Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.

36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be. Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left.

42 “Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming.

(Matthew 24:32-42, NASB1995)

If the fig tree is Israel and the other trees are the neighboring nations. Israel was recognized as a nation in 1948. A lifespan of this generation is 70 to 80 years.

1948 + 70 years = 2018 - a year after the Revelation 12 signs in the heaven

1948 + 75 years = 2023 - currently the year of the publication of this article

1948 + 80 years = 2028

We now have some high watch years to look for signs…

Personal Thoughts

My mother was a librarian and as a young child in elementary school, I would spend hours in the library going from shelf to shelf, book to book, page to page. I loved archeology, historical timelines, diagrams, charts, and graphs. I would soon master the Dewey Decimal system to help me search for the appropriate shelf, subject, and book for any topic I wanted.

Now in our high-tech world we have search engines and in IT we have database queries and elastic search query languages. All to help us isolate and filter out noise to get to the data we need quickly and efficiently.

Is God giving us these parables and signs to help us search efficiently and quickly so we know when to look up?

• 1948 - Israel as a Nation is a significant sign

• Israel, symbolized by the fig tree, is blooming and flourishing

• Today, at this moment in history, we have a lifespan of 70 to 80 years as noted in Psalms 90:10.

• There are other signs unfolding today with temporal and geographical proximity (to be covered)

We do not know the day or the hour but we surely will know the signs so stay alert my friends and family members.

To be continued…. Let’s look at these signs in more detail.

Part 3: Over 57,000 deaths, was the Earthquake in Turkey and Syria a Sign?

1. https://www.jewishawareness.org/70-years-israel-as-a-nation-1947-2017/

2. https://www.timesofisrael.com/hold-for-wed-5-pm-the-growth-of-israels-economy-a-timeline/

3. https://www.bibleref.com/Mark/13/Mark-13-28.html

4. https://my.bible.com/bible/100/MRK.13.30

5. https://my.bible.com/bible/100/MAT.24.34

6. https://my.bible.com/bible/100/LUK.21.32

7. https://biblehub.com/greek/1074.htm

8. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%CE%B3%CE%B5%CE%BD%CE%B5%CE%AC#Ancient_Greek

9. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/why-life-expectancy-in-the-us-is-falling-202210202835#:~:text=With%20rare%20exceptions%2C%20life%20expectancy,just%20over%2076%2C%20in%202021.

10. https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-ranks-7th-in-global-life-expectancy-rankings-for-2040/

11. https://ourworldindata.org/life-expectancy/

12. youtube.com/watch?v=hbdRgl-JH0o