“From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates. 34 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away till all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. Matt. 24:32-35
“From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. 29 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. 30 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away before all these things take place. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. Mark 13:28-28
And he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees; 30 as soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. 31 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away till all has taken place. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. Luke 21:29-33
Matthew states that Messiah was staying at Bethany. [Matt. 21:17 ] Presumably, Jesus was returning to Jerusalem from Bethany and stopped at Bethphage, a small “town” between Bethany and Jerusalem. Bethphage means house of figs.
The Fig Tree
Messiah linked His cursing of the fig tree to a curse upon Israel because they were producing no fruit. Throughout the Scriptures, three trees are presented as symbols for Israel: the fig tree, the vine, and the olive tree.
The vine is the symbol of Israel’s spiritual conditions [Ps 80:8-10]
The fig tree symbolizes Israel’s national/political conditions [Hos 9:10; Mat 24:32-35; Mark 13:28-31; Luke 21:30]
The olive tree symbolizes Israel’s religious conditions [Jer 11:16; Rom 11:17; Rev. 11]
The Sadducees, Pharisees, and Scibes wanted and expected a warrior king. When Jesus came as a merciful and forgiving Messiah, Israel’s national or political leaders were not ready to accept Him. Thus, the ruling Elders of Israel rejected the long-awaited “Consolation of Israel.” In rejecting Jesus as Messiah, they rejected God and His plan. He uses the fig tree to illustrate that they had presented him with NO fruit. Their grand ceremonial temple, their pious pronouncements of who was righteous, and their rigid interpretation of the Law were unable to present Him with the fruit He required.
Over the centuries, those in charge of the temple had made it increasingly difficult for people to approach God. The instructions in the Torah (Pentatuch) for the construction of the tabernacle were simple and plain. A tent with a small courtyard. Only the priests could go into the tent. In the courtyard where everyone could go, there was the altar of sacrifice and the laver. No exclusions were made in the courtyard. There was no outer court, no court of the Gentiles, no Solomon’s porch, nor a court of the women. The Rabies feared that the common people would not follow all the rules, and therefore bring God’s judgment on all of them. Rather than teach, they choose exclusion.
Moving Mountains
The disciples were amazed that Jesus could cause the fig tree to wither, simply because it was not bearing fruit! Jesus tells His disciples that those who have faith will be able to do the same, to even move “mountains.” In the symbolic language of prophecy, “mountains” represent nations or countries. [Is. 13:4; Jer. 4:24; Jer. 51:25; Ezek. 36:1; Hab. 3:6; Zech. 4:7; Rev. 16:20] In cursing Israel, Messiah is prophesying that His followers will be the ones to bring down the nations of the world. Not Israel.
The first imperial power that the Christians brought down was the Roman Empire. The believers prayed and suffered under the iron foot of Rome, till their righteousness brought down this mighty Empire. In 310 AD, Emperor Constantine officially recognized the Christian Church as the religion of the Roman Empire. Pagans began to fade away; unfortunately, many just moved into the church and changed the idols’ names for Mary or the saints’ names. In 476 A.D. The Western half of the empire collapsed. When the Empire fell apart, it broke into ten little nations. (see chart) These ten nations were prophesied in Daniel chapter 2, which has feet and toes of iron and clay.
As Rome fell, smaller kingdoms moved in around the edges of the Empire. Slowly but persistently, Christianity spread among these invading peoples. Eventually, all of Europe became Christian. After the Middle Ages, the European powers began to build their empires, partly to spread the gospel, partly to exploit the peoples. In time, God’s people again went to their knees, and those Empires have all since collapsed. It is now time to ask for the obliteration. The ten little kingdoms have been under Satan’s control for some time now. Daniel chapter 2 predicts that they will be ground to dust and blown away like chaff. The Great Mountain will take its place.
. . . then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold, all together were broken in pieces, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, so that not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth. Dan. 2:35
This Mountain
Even though it may look like we are fighting against wicked nations and wicked peoples, our fight is with spiritual rulers of this present darkness. They seem to us as immovable mountains or invincible foes.
For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Eph. 6:12
The powers of darkness move people and nations to hate, persecute, and kill God’s people. But, the gates of hell will not overcome the Church!
. . . I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Matt 16:18b
When this present kingdom of Satan’s power is defeated, it will be replaced by a “mountain” that shall never be moved.
. . . just as you saw that a stone was cut from a mountain by no human hand, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold. A great God has made known to the king what shall be hereafter. The dream is certain, and its interpretation sure.” Dan. 2:45
