This is part two of a multi-part series dealing with the nation of Israel. The last issue dealt with the Middle East peace process, the rebuilding of the Jewish Temple and the future destruction of Damascus. This issue will discuss the identity of the generation that will not see death prior to Jesus' return. It will also answer the question posed in the December, 1993 issue of ``Prophecy and Current Events '': What did Jesus write in the earth?
As recorded in Luke, chapter 21, Jesus had just told the disciples that the temple in Jerusalem would be destroyed ``so that not one stone would be left upon another.'' (This prophesy was literally fulfilled in the year 70 A.D). Then, as Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. ``Tell us,'' they said, ``when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?'' (Matt 24:3)
In response to the Disciples' question, Jesus recounted the signs to watch for that would herald His return (Luke 21:10-17). These include war, pestilence, famine, persecution, signs in the heavens and so forth.
People often comment that we have always had wars, pestilence, and famine, so how can these be signs of the end times? However, a close reading of passages in Matthew 24, Luke 21 and Mark 13, clearly indicate that these events are like birth pains which increase in intensity and frequency as the time of birth grows closer. So it is not just the signs that are important, but also their intensity and frequency. It was of these signs that Jesus spoke in Luke 21, verse 28: ``When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.'' Then to make sure these signs are not misinterpreted, Jesus tells the diciples an unmistakable event that would occur in the same generation that the signs are being manifested.
``He told them this parable: Look at the fig tree and all the trees. When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near. I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.'' (Luke 21: 29-33)
So when we see the fig tree show signs of life in the same generation that the other signs are being manifested, then we know that we are in the season of the Messiah's return. And, in case anyone doubts the fulfillment of these prophecies, Jesus adds ``Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.'' (Luke 21:33) The Lord's Word will stand, and what is written will be accomplished.
As discussed in previous newsletters, the signs Jesus gave that would precede His return are occurring in both increasing frequency and intensity. Exciting indeed. But what are these ``trees'' that begin to show signs of life? Luke tells us in 21:29 that the story of the fig tree is a parable. This means that the trees are symbolic of something else. When we examine the Bible, we find that trees are representative of kings and/or kingdoms. In particular, the fig tree represents the nation of Israel. For example, in Daniel, chapter 4, Nebuchadnezzar has a terrifying dream about a great tree. Daniel tells the king that he, Nebuchadnezzar, is that tree and that his kingdom will extend to the distant parts of the earth. In yet another reference, Jesus likens the kingdom of God to a mustard seed that grows up and becomes a tree. Other references can be found in Judges 8, Isaiah 10, Isaiah 14, Ezekiel 20, 31, etc.
If trees are symbolic of kingdoms, then it is provocative to consider how many countries have recently shown signs of new life after a long winter of Communist domination. The Soviet Republic alone has broken up into 88 regions, including 20 autonomous republics such as Chechnya, Tatarstan, Yakutia, Bashkortostan, Mari-El, Mordovia, and Udmurtia, Kazakhstan, etc. With so many independent nations showing signs of life after a long winter of Communist domination, this does seem to fit Jesus' prophesy. Or could it just be coincidence?
Perhaps. But the fact that it is happening in the same time-frame that all the general signs of Christ's return are being fulfilled bears careful consideration. If these are the ``other trees'' in Jesus' parable, then we should be able to identify the ``fig tree'' as a nation that also shows signs of new life (preceding the ``other trees'' we just discussed) in the same generation.
Scholars and commentators have identified the fig tree as the nation Israel. Let's examine the scripture for a clue. ``Seeing a fig tree by the road, He [Jesus] went up to it, but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, `May you never bear fruit again!' Immediately the tree withered and died.'' (Matthew 21:19) This does seem to reflect what happened to the nation of Israel, which withered and ceased to exist after the year 70 A.D.
God had called Israel into being as a nation and planted it in the most favored spot in the vineyard of His own kingdom. He came seeking, as He had every right to do, fruit thereon, but found none (see Luke 13:1-9). Jesus cursed the barren fig tree and it died and it died. The nation of Israel also withered.
Why? Among other reasons: a) they did not recognize the time of their Messianic visitation, and b) they called down a blood curse on themselves at Jesus' crucifixion (``When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. `I am innocent of this man's blood', he said. `It is your responsibility!' All the people answered, `Let his blood be on us and on our children!''' [Matthew 27:24-27]) We must be careful what we say with our mouths.
Pilate, in Luke 23:4, attested to Jesus' innocence. Jesus was not guilty of any crime demanding death. Therefore, it was the people of that day who were responsible for His murder. But refuge was available to them.
This was the purpose of the Cities of Refuge that God commanded Moses to build when the children of Israel entered the Promised Land. (Numbers 35) The principle of their existence was to provide safe refuge in the case of accidental death. If you killed someone, an ``avenger of blood'' would then pursue you to take your life (an ``eye for an eye'' principle). However, if the death was not premeditated, but rather manslaughter, then you had the right to flee to a city of refuge. There, outside the city gates, you could petition the elders of the city for entrance based on the fact that the death was unintentional. Once admitted into the city, you were safe from the avenger of blood. If you left the city, the avenger had the right to execute you. But once the High Priest died, you were free.
When Jesus was hanging on the cross, He cried out. ``Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.'' This statement put His death in the manslaughter category. If we acknowledge Jesus as our High Priest, we then recognize that, symbolically, He is our city of refuge and in Him is forgiveness of sin and eternal life. Jesus willingly laid down His own life as a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the world (God provided the lamb). Only in Jesus is forgiveness for our sins. We don't have to pay the penalty for our sins, which is ultimate spiritual death and separation from God. The High Priest laid down His life so that we could be free from the avenger of blood.
Back to our main treatise. The Talmud (Jewish commentaries on the scripture) teaches that the fig tree serves, allegorically, as a symbol for the Jewish nation (h Joel 1.7). It is still a common symbol in Israel today. Many government buildings have the fig tree engraved on them.
Has the fig tree shown new life as depicted in Jesus' parable? Yes. Israel became an independent nation and started to show signs of national life again on May 14, 1948. Furthermore, Israel recaptured the city of Jerusalem as a result of the Six Day War on June 7, 1967.
Jesus said that when Israel began to show signs of life (put forth tender shoots), we were to know that His return was very close (summer was near). In fact, the generation which viewed the ``budding'' of national Israel would live to see the consummation of all things and the return of Jesus Christ.
Is Israel really the fig tree? If it is, then we are that generation which will not see death before the return of Messiah. Digging a little farther, if Israel is the symbolic fig tree, then are there prophecies that predict national life for Israel after almost 19 centuries in dispersion? Was the rebirth of Israel on God's time-table for the redemption of the world, or was it just coincidence?
It is certainly a miracle that Israel is in existence today. It ceased to be a free nation about 2500 years ago, beginning with the first siege of Nebuchadnezzar, which started the ``servitude of the nation'' in 606 B.C. Israel ultimately ceased to exist in any form after the year 70 A.D., when Jerusalem was destroyed and the Jewish people were scattered to the four corners of the earth. Never before in the history of the world had a country that had been so utterly devastated been regenerated after almost twenty centuries and even on the exact location where it originally existed!
It could only have been an act of God, especially considering the Holocaust and the attempted genocide carried out against the Jews by Stalin.
But if prophecies can show that Israel's rebirth in this generation was not a coincidence, but the sovereign work of God,then it is time to get excited. There would no longer be any doubt that Israel is the fig tree and that we are the generation that will not see death before the return of Messiah.
Let's examine Ezekiel, chapter 4, verses 1-8. In this passage, we see 430 years of judgment pronounced upon Israel. Seventy years can be accounted for by the Babylonian captivity. This leaves 360 years that does not seem to fit any particular date in history. However, there are passages in Leviticus (26:18,21,24,28) that indicate that if Israel does not obey Him the first time, God will multiply her punishment by seven. So if we take the 360 years of punishment pronounced on Israel and multiply by seven, we get 2,520 years.
Knowing that the Bible deals in 360-day years (the Jewish calendar consists of twelve 30-day months), if we convert the 2,520 ``360-day years'' into today's ``365.242-day'' years, we get 2,483 years plus nine months and 21 days. Starting with the first siege of Nebuchadnezzar, which began the ``servitude of the nation'' in 606 B.C., the initial 70 years of Babylonian servitude ended in 537 B.C. as follows:
Seventy (360 day) years = 25,200 days = 69 (365 day years) less 2 days or: 606 B.C. (69 years - two days) = 537 B.C.
Counting from July 23, 537 B.C. with the release from servitude, we get:
537y 7m 23d (B.C.) plus 1year (because no year between 1 B.C. & 1 A.D.) plus 2483 years 9months and 12days =
the 1948th year 5 mon 14th day.
And what happened on May 14, 1948?
David Ben Gurion, citing the book of Ezekiel as his authority, proclaimed ``Israel'' as the new Jewish homeland. The nation of Israel was re-established on the exact day predicted by the Bible.
Some coincidence!
Now consider what happens if you start counting from the third siege of Nebuchadnezzar, which began the ``desolations of Jerusalem'' (Jerusalem uninhabited) in 587 B.C.
Counting from August 16, 518 B.C., which was the completion of the desolations of Jerusalem, then we have:
518y 8m 16d (BC) plus 1 year plus 2483y 9m 21d = 1967 6m 7d
On June 7, 1967, as a consequence of the ``Six Day War'', the Old City of Jerusalem fell under Israeli control for the first time since Jesus' prediction in Luke 21:24. ``And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.''
Another coincidence? The Jews say coincidence is not a kosher word. In the natural, it is impossible that this is coincidence. It is clearly by supernatural design. The fig tree is a symbol of the Nation Israel and we are the generation that will see the return of Jesus Christ in Glory and great Power.
``The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.'' (ROM 13:11)
``Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap. For it will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth. Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.'' (Luke 21:34-36)
Maranatha!
References:
Roshashanna and the Messianic Kingdom to Come, Joseph Good, Hatikva Ministries, P.O. Box 3125, Port Arthur, Texas 77643-3125
The Feasts of Israel, Victor Buksbazen, Christian Literature Crusade, Fort Washington, Pennsylvania 19034
God's Appointed Times, Barney Kasdan, Lederer Messianic Publications, Baltimore Maryland Box 7000, Oklahoma City, OK 73153
The Rise of Babylon and the Persion Gulf Crisis, Hal Lindsey Ministries, P.O. Box 4000, Palos Verdes, CA 90274
``Prophecy and Current Events" is published bimonthly by: ``To His Glory Ministries" Permission is hereby granted to copy and distribute for non-commercial purposes. Consider duplicating and distributing to friends, relatives, pastor or your church congregation. However, copying for commercial purposes is strictly prohibited. CopyRight 1995, To His Glory Ministries, All Rights Reserved. We value your comments. Please forward them to us.
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