Romans 15:12

Again Isaiah says,

"THERE SHALL COME THE ROOT OF JESSE,

AND HE WHO ARISES TO RULE OVER THE GENTILES,

IN HIM SHALL THE GENTILES HOPE."

Hope is the center of our salvation; for without hope we might give in to darkness and fall by the way.  Hope gives us the courage to persevere, especially in the face of a fallen civilization and catastrophic world event.

Romans 8:18-25

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. 23 And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. 24 For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.

We hope for what we wait eagerly.  We wait for our Lord Christ Jesus.  We have not seen Him, but in our souls He calls for us and we wait.  Hope keeps us looking to His Glorious Return.  When will He return?  We do not know, but He gave us the signs for which to look, so that we would know the time is near.  Every generation said that this was the time, but our generation has one sign the others didn’t have.  This sign is the sign of the fig tree.

Matthew 24:32-35

Parable of the Fig Tree

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.  34 "Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.  35 "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.

What is the parable of the fig tree?  There are two supporting Old Testament scriptures that I feel explain this.

Hosea 9:10

10 I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness;

I saw your forefathers as the earliest fruit on the fig tree in its first season.

Joel 1:5

7 It has made my vine a waste

And my fig tree splinters.

It has stripped them bare and cast them away;

Their branches have become white.

The fig tree is Israel.  On May 14^th, 1948, Israel became a sovereign nation.  Now, maybe I’m just reading into things, but Matthew 24:32 really seems to command us to notice this.  With the turmoil of the entire world, including oil spills, disease, wild weather, earthquakes, tsunamis and all the stress and tension between the nations and Israel’s rebirth, my money’s on “Jesus Is Coming Soon”.  Now, this is my interpretation and as always, I recommend you find your own interpretation, but this comforts me.  Actually, this very concept gives me lots of hope, yet I know that He will return one day, sooner or later.

I hope this short study gives you hope and inspires you to study His Holy Word.

2 Timothy 2:15

15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

I pray this message has served you in some way,

Pastor David Halford