The Church Of Christian Soldiers

A Church Dedicated To The Worship Of And Service To Our Lord Christ Jesus

The Parable Of The Fig Tree

by Pastor David Halford

There are many who make predictions about the return of our Lord Christ Jesus.  It is not my place to call these people out on the mat or to try to disprove their predictions or try to dissuade them from predicting dates.  I try, myself, to use only the Word of God to cast my opinions.

Jesus said that no one will know the time.  It is written in:

Matthew 24:42-44

42 "Therefore, be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming.  43 "But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into.  44 "For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.

As this says, we do not know the day the Lord is coming.  However, Jesus commands us to learn the parable from the fig tree.  This is found in:

Matthew 24:32-41

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.

36 "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.  37 "For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah.  38 "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, 39 and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be.  40 "Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one 1will be left.  41 "Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left.

There is much debate over the meaning of “The Fig Tree” and to whom it is a reference.  As I said before, I always like to find Biblical references for these things.

Joel 1:7

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.

It is pretty clear that Joel was referring to Israel in this verse.  Actually, if you read this entire chapter, it is about Israel spoken in the first person.

Another Scripture that clarifies the reference of the fig tree is:

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.

But they came to Baal-peor and devoted themselves to shame,

And they became as detestable as that which they loved.

With these and other references, it is clear to me, and this is only my view, that the fig tree is Israel. 

Now this said, He made another interesting prophesy.  He said in verse 34 that this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.  Does this mean that the generation that sees the rebirth of Israel will see the second coming of Jesus?  I certainly hope so.

It lifts my spirit to see so much evidence that we are living in the time period in which the prophesies of hope are referenced.  As always, I never claim to have all the facts.  I always try to look to the Scriptural evidence and try to understand.  I look always to my brothers and sisters in Christ to help me understand and feel that the more Bible students with whom we can join hands, the closer to the truth we will be.

I hope this helps you to understand a little more about the words of our Lord and to feel the importance of learning the prophetic books.