THE LESSON OF THE FIG TREE

Now learn this lesson from the fig tree. As soon as the twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it is near, right at the door. Truly I tell you, this generation certainly will not pass away until all these things happen. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away (Mark 13: 28-31).

What is the fig tree and what is the lesson of the fig tree? When did the fig tree first feature in Scripture? Last question first.

When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, they lost their God-awareness and became self-aware. They became conscious of their nakedness and tried to hide it with fig leaves. It was an attempt to put right what they had done wrong by their own unsuccessful efforts. God had to kill an animal to provide skins to cover their shame.

God often used the fig tree as a symbol of Israel, especially in the Minor Prophets. It was both a symbol of fruitfulness as well as the devastation their enemies would bring on them because of their disobedience to God’s teaching.  Was the symbolism also for the same reason as Adam and Eve’s – Israel’s attempts to cover their unrighteousness and gain favour with God by their self-effort?

The disciples would have quickly grasped Jesus’ allusion to their own nation. What He had just told them, would happen to Israel. Just as they recognised the imminent return of summer by the changes in the fig tree, so these “beginning of sorrows” would herald the destruction of Israel.

Jesus was dealing with two catastrophic events on earth – the overthrow of Israel as a nation, resulting in the scattering of His people for thousands of years – and the destruction of the old earth and the renewal of all things, heralded by His return. Once again, there is no timeline to place the events into a convenient progression of events, but signs that everything He predicted was about to happen. Not “when” but “that” these things would happen.

When were they to flee Jerusalem? When the Romans entered the city and desecrated the temple. That was the signal that they would unleash a terrible slaughter on the city. That was the time to get out – and fast. No time to go home and gather up their belongings. The history books tell us that, because of Jesus’ warning, believers were alerted and were able to escape the city with their lives.

Why did Jesus give them signs and not a date? It was always His intention for them to live ready every day – to be watchful and alert so that their lives would give off the fragrance of Jesus all the time. Had He given them a date, the temptation would have been to live irresponsibly until the date arrived. That is the nature of the human being – to sail as close to the wind as possible.

If they understood that He was coming but did not know when, they would have made sure that they were ready to face Him without guilt no matter when He came. His allusion to “this generation must have referred to the destruction of Jerusalem. No need to create fanciful interpretations. It was almost as if He superimposed one even on top of the other – the devastation of Jerusalem and the devastation of the earth. One event would mirror the other.

When the Romans attacked Jerusalem and devastated Israel, it was the unbelieving Jews who were destroyed. When Jesus returns to destroy the old order of things and set up His kingdom on a renewed earth, it will be the unbelievers who will be destroyed. Prophecy teachers have led us to believe that God’s people will be taken to heaven and the ungodly left behind. But that contradicts Jesus’ reference to Noah and the flood. Noah and his family were “left behind” while the unrighteous perished in the deluge. God refashioned the earth for those who were protected in the ark.

It will be the same when Jesus returns. He will destroy the old order and all those who belong to it. His people will be safe “in Him” and will reign with Him on a restored and renewed earth forever. There is no such thing in Scripture as a “secret rapture” and a second chance. Jesus’ return will be noisy and visible to everyone – heralded by the blowing of the last trumpet – and accompanied by a myriad angels and all those who have gone before us.

I’m sure you would hate to miss out on this greatest event in history. Jesus’ message to us all is, “Be alert, be on guard, be ready.” The desecration of the temple signalled the coming of the Romans, and His people were ready. When will He return as He promised? “No man knows the day or the hour” but it does not matter, if we are ready.

Scripture taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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