The Signs of the Times (16): Fig tree

‘…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…’
Luke 21:29-31 (NIV)

Three questions: When will this happen? What will be the sign of your coming? What will be the sign of the end of the age? When does this terrible phase of world history finally end, and when does the next phase of world history begin? The phase of ‘Your Kingdom’ of peace and righteousness. As Jesus taught us to pray: “…Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done, ON EARTH as it is in heaven…” Matthew 6:9-10. This is the context in which Jesus speaks about the fig tree, one of the pictures in the Bible for Israel.

The worldwide preaching of the Gospel of the Kingdom marks the end of this phase of world history. And the restoration of Israel leads to the beginning of the next phase.

The fig tree Israel has been coming to life before our eyes for decades. The prophets of Israel in the Old Testament say: first national restoration, but it will be followed by spiritual restoration.

The prophet Ezekiel says in Ezekiel 36:24-28: ‘…For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land…  I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit in you… Then you will live in the land I gave your ancestors; you will be My people, and I will be Your God…’

We are a very special generation. We are the generation that is seeing both special ‘signs of the times’ being fulfilled right before our eyes – besides all the other signs of the end times which we see happening in increasing numbers. We are approaching the climax. We could very well be the generation that will see with our own eyes the coming of Jesus in Glory. Although He Himself says in Acts 1:7:“It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by His own authority…”

My father uses to say: pay attention to the signs, but never start doing the math! But pay attention to the signs. One of the greatest signs of the times that is happening before our very eyes, is the foretold return of the Jewish people to Israel from all parts of the world.

Isaiah 43:5-7 NIV: ‘…Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west. I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’ Bring My sons from afar and My daughters from the ends of the earth -everyone who is called by My name, whom I created for My glory, whom I formed and made.”…’

When we read the words north-south-east-west in the Bible, we must of course put our feet upon the map of the world in Israel and Jerusalem, because that’s where the Bible originated. And from there look to the east and the west, to the north and the south. We see the Jewish people return from all corners of the world. Back to the Promised Land of Israel. Because the time has come that the Lord is bringing His people back to His land. In preparation of the final revelation.