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The doctrine of the premillennialism/dispensationalism is built based on a physical nation of Israel.
Because the fig tree is often used to symbolize national Israel, Dispensationalists see this passage of scripture as a prophecy of the re-establishment of Israel as a nation in 1948 with some people believe this has to do more with re-capture of Jerusalem in 1967 as one of the major signs that Christ's second coming is near. I know that this interpretation is incorrect because the Bible is clear that God has no future plans for this nation.
Here we see that Israel is cursed "henceforward for ever" (further proof that God is finished with that nation as a representative of God's kingdom. In other words, this was the end of old testament congregation of Israel.
Therefore, it does not make biblical sense that God would say Israel is cursed forever in this passage of Scripture, and then later in Matthew 24 say that they will be restored as a "nation". that is why the fig tree in Matthew 24 is not what you think it represents! Before we figure out what this fig tree represents, we also need to consider other passage:
[30] When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.
[31] So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.
Matthew 21 was speaking about the end of OLD TESTAMENT CONGREGATION of Israel as a representative of God's Kingdom. So the fig tree of Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21 is actually referring to NEW TESTAMENT CONGREGATION of Israel which is NOW a representative of God's Kingdom since Pentecost. Remember that the kingdom representation was taken from Israel to the Church?
[43] Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.
What nation? Peter answered:
It is the CHURCH as a holy nation that will bring forth the fruits that is now a kingdom representation of God's kingdom on earth. And it has been since Pentecost.
There are some passages that fig tree of Matthew 24 symbolizes the church.
[13] And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.
[14] And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
This is talking about God's judgment upon His unfaithful congregation of Israel. The fig tree, again, represents the church, and her figs represent the believers. However, God specifices that the figs that are shaken or fallen are the professed believers. Here is another proof in the book of Joel concerning Fig Tree as New Testament Congregation of Israel...and all other trees. Observe wisely:
[7] He hath laid my vine waste, and barked my fig tree: he hath made it clean bare, and cast it away; the branches thereof are made white.
[8] Lament like a virgin girded with sackcloth for the husband of her youth.
[9] The meat offering and the drink offering is cut off from the house of the LORD; the priests, the LORD'S ministers, mourn.
[10] The field is wasted, the land mourneth; for the corn is wasted: the new wine is dried up, the oil languisheth.
[11] Be ye ashamed, O ye husbandmen; howl, O ye vinedressers, for the wheat and for the barley; because the harvest of the field is perished.
[12] The vine is dried up, and the fig tree languisheth; the pomegranate tree, the palm tree also, and the apple tree, even all the trees of the field, are withered: because joy is withered away from the sons of men.
The vine is dried up, it is laid waste and desolate, there are no longer figs on the tree because they have all fallen. The harvest for salvation is gone, the corn, the new wine, and the oil is all dried up and wasted. This is a terrible time when salvation is no longer available in the unfaithful and rebellious congregation of Israel because of their abominations. Her professed believers have been turned over to judgment by the hand of God. Prophet Jeremiah also predicted this judgment of New Testament congregation of Israel where people are saying "peace, peace, when there is no peace."
[12] Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore shall they fall among them that fall: in the time of their visitation they shall be cast down, saith the LORD.
[13] I will surely consume them, saith the LORD: there shall be no grapes on the vine, nor figs on the fig tree, and the leaf shall fade; and the things that I have given them shall pass away from them.
[14] Why do we sit still? assemble yourselves, and let us enter into the defenced cities, and let us be silent there: for the LORD our God hath put us to silence, and given us water of gall to drink, because we have sinned against the LORD.
[15] We looked for peace, but no good came; and for a time of health, and behold trouble!
[16] The snorting of his horses was heard from Dan: the whole land trembled at the sound of the neighing of his strong ones; for they are come, and have devoured the land, and all that is in it; the city, and those that dwell therein.
[17] For, behold, I will send serpents, cockatrices, among you, which will not be charmed, and they shall bite you, saith the LORD.
[18] When I would comfort myself against sorrow, my heart is faint in me.
[19] Behold the voice of the cry of the daughter of my people because of them that dwell in a far country: Is not the LORD in Zion? is not her king in her? Why have they provoked me to anger with their graven images, and with strange vanities?
[20] The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.
[21] For the hurt of the daughter of my people am I hurt; I am black; astonishment hath taken hold on me.
[22] Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?
This is what God's judgment upon the church is like TODAY! It is when people of the congregation no longer want God of the Bible but the god of the false prophets who say smooth things with lying sign and wonders. They have brought their abominations into the House of God. Therefore, God is judging them by taking His Gospel truth away from them and used the false prophets and christs as "serpents, cockatrices" or in Revelation 9, "locusts" so they will unaware not find salvation even if they seek for it. And that is why there will not be a physician (Christ) found in her anymore:
[5] And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man.
[6] And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.
It is "in those days" when the harvest for salvation is PAST and when the summer has ended by looking to the condition of the church! This is the judgment of the New testament unfaithful congregation of Israel, the Church. This is what Jesus was referring to. Let read Luke 21 again in next post:
(Contiune to next post)
Matthew 24:32-33
[32] Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:
[33] So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
[32] Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:
[33] So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
Because the fig tree is often used to symbolize national Israel, Dispensationalists see this passage of scripture as a prophecy of the re-establishment of Israel as a nation in 1948 with some people believe this has to do more with re-capture of Jerusalem in 1967 as one of the major signs that Christ's second coming is near. I know that this interpretation is incorrect because the Bible is clear that God has no future plans for this nation.
Matthew 21:19
[19] And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.Here we see that Israel is cursed "henceforward for ever" (further proof that God is finished with that nation as a representative of God's kingdom. In other words, this was the end of old testament congregation of Israel.
Therefore, it does not make biblical sense that God would say Israel is cursed forever in this passage of Scripture, and then later in Matthew 24 say that they will be restored as a "nation". that is why the fig tree in Matthew 24 is not what you think it represents! Before we figure out what this fig tree represents, we also need to consider other passage:
Luke 21:29-31
[29] And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees;[30] When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.
[31] So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.
Matthew 21 was speaking about the end of OLD TESTAMENT CONGREGATION of Israel as a representative of God's Kingdom. So the fig tree of Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21 is actually referring to NEW TESTAMENT CONGREGATION of Israel which is NOW a representative of God's Kingdom since Pentecost. Remember that the kingdom representation was taken from Israel to the Church?
Matthew 21:42-43
[42] Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?[43] Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.
What nation? Peter answered:
1 Peter 2:9
[9] But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:It is the CHURCH as a holy nation that will bring forth the fruits that is now a kingdom representation of God's kingdom on earth. And it has been since Pentecost.
There are some passages that fig tree of Matthew 24 symbolizes the church.
Revelation 6:12-14
[12] And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;[13] And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.
[14] And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
This is talking about God's judgment upon His unfaithful congregation of Israel. The fig tree, again, represents the church, and her figs represent the believers. However, God specifices that the figs that are shaken or fallen are the professed believers. Here is another proof in the book of Joel concerning Fig Tree as New Testament Congregation of Israel...and all other trees. Observe wisely:
Joel 1:6-12
[6] For a nation is come up upon my land, strong, and without number, whose teeth are the teeth of a lion, and he hath the cheek teeth of a great lion.[7] He hath laid my vine waste, and barked my fig tree: he hath made it clean bare, and cast it away; the branches thereof are made white.
[8] Lament like a virgin girded with sackcloth for the husband of her youth.
[9] The meat offering and the drink offering is cut off from the house of the LORD; the priests, the LORD'S ministers, mourn.
[10] The field is wasted, the land mourneth; for the corn is wasted: the new wine is dried up, the oil languisheth.
[11] Be ye ashamed, O ye husbandmen; howl, O ye vinedressers, for the wheat and for the barley; because the harvest of the field is perished.
[12] The vine is dried up, and the fig tree languisheth; the pomegranate tree, the palm tree also, and the apple tree, even all the trees of the field, are withered: because joy is withered away from the sons of men.
The vine is dried up, it is laid waste and desolate, there are no longer figs on the tree because they have all fallen. The harvest for salvation is gone, the corn, the new wine, and the oil is all dried up and wasted. This is a terrible time when salvation is no longer available in the unfaithful and rebellious congregation of Israel because of their abominations. Her professed believers have been turned over to judgment by the hand of God. Prophet Jeremiah also predicted this judgment of New Testament congregation of Israel where people are saying "peace, peace, when there is no peace."
Jeremiah 8:11-22
[11] For they have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.[12] Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore shall they fall among them that fall: in the time of their visitation they shall be cast down, saith the LORD.
[13] I will surely consume them, saith the LORD: there shall be no grapes on the vine, nor figs on the fig tree, and the leaf shall fade; and the things that I have given them shall pass away from them.
[14] Why do we sit still? assemble yourselves, and let us enter into the defenced cities, and let us be silent there: for the LORD our God hath put us to silence, and given us water of gall to drink, because we have sinned against the LORD.
[15] We looked for peace, but no good came; and for a time of health, and behold trouble!
[16] The snorting of his horses was heard from Dan: the whole land trembled at the sound of the neighing of his strong ones; for they are come, and have devoured the land, and all that is in it; the city, and those that dwell therein.
[17] For, behold, I will send serpents, cockatrices, among you, which will not be charmed, and they shall bite you, saith the LORD.
[18] When I would comfort myself against sorrow, my heart is faint in me.
[19] Behold the voice of the cry of the daughter of my people because of them that dwell in a far country: Is not the LORD in Zion? is not her king in her? Why have they provoked me to anger with their graven images, and with strange vanities?
[20] The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.
[21] For the hurt of the daughter of my people am I hurt; I am black; astonishment hath taken hold on me.
[22] Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?
This is what God's judgment upon the church is like TODAY! It is when people of the congregation no longer want God of the Bible but the god of the false prophets who say smooth things with lying sign and wonders. They have brought their abominations into the House of God. Therefore, God is judging them by taking His Gospel truth away from them and used the false prophets and christs as "serpents, cockatrices" or in Revelation 9, "locusts" so they will unaware not find salvation even if they seek for it. And that is why there will not be a physician (Christ) found in her anymore:
Revelation 9:4-6
[4] And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.[5] And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man.
[6] And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.
It is "in those days" when the harvest for salvation is PAST and when the summer has ended by looking to the condition of the church! This is the judgment of the New testament unfaithful congregation of Israel, the Church. This is what Jesus was referring to. Let read Luke 21 again in next post:
(Contiune to next post)