First it was 1948 and a 40 year generation, then people kept proposing longer and longer generations when the time elapsed. Eventually people switched to 1967. While becoming a nation again was a big deal, it was not part of a prophecy. Israel isn't even singled out in the prophecy:
Regarding the parable of the fig tree, the 1948 thinking came from JVI and Hal Linsey (I think) among others and based on some passage in the Tanach about Israel being referred to as a fig tree. It was reasonable rationale. But when 2011 came and went - without any confirming of the covenant - it did not prove out.
Israel in May 14, 1948, did work out as fulfillment of Isaiah 66:7-8. A nation brought forth in a single day.
70 years in Psalms 90 is the length of a generation. But there is one caveat - if by strength it can be 80 years. I don't think there is any way to extend out the 80 years. We are not that far passed 2011.
Another popularized concept is that the covenant to be confirmed in Daniel 9:27 is a peace treaty between Israel and her muslim neighbors. That concept was based on Daniel 8, the little horn destroying many by peace. No-one at the time was even speaking about the 7 years being in Deuteronomy 31:9-13. Keep in mind that I am reflecting back on my own 50 years of exposure to different trains of thought on the end times coming from various Christian sources.
Another almost universal practice as a result of tradition among bible discussions, Preachers, commentators, and the like is to refer to the arch villain of the end times as the Antichrist - in blanket fashion, all the way to his demise. No-one ever considered that Christ, as in Jesus the Christ was intended to be the King of Israel descended from David - which means the Antichrist has to be a Jew. So arguments raged on whether the Antichrist would be a Jew or Gentile.
I think, speaking from a personal perceptive, that understanding of the bible prophecies regarding the end times and said evil person have really advanced in recent years.
Jesus wasn't talking about only the fig tree but all trees. This isn't about Israel nor 1948. He just listed a bunch of things that will happen and they are signs of his return. The trees sprouting are a sign of summer, so the events he listed are signs of his return. We haven't seen those signs yet so we are not near summer ie: his return.
All the trees are the other nations. The current middle east nations and Russian ally is a fit, regarding Ezekiel 39-39.
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One of the other advancements in understanding bible prophecy has surfaced regarding Daniel 9. By tradition, people have just glossed over what vision Daniel and Gabriel referred to in v21-23. All past arguments start right from v24, and begin back-fitting from the new testament to come up with an elaborate presentation of the 70 weeks of years, including applying calendar computations - which the calendars themselves have come about by presumptions, but are used as though they are flawless in their creation.
There is indication in the gospels that them living in Jesus's day were aware that the 483 years, and were expecting the messiah - but they certainly weren't using AD and BC calendars. And they had a different concept of the messiah, from what in Christianity focuses on the messiah as being Savior, and not on being King of Israel.
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