by Pearl Nabi

Created on: April 25, 2010   Last Updated: April 26, 2010

The parable of the Fig Tree is given in Matthew 24:32-35 and in its context the Son of Man is speaking to his disciples about ‘the sign of his coming and the end of the age’.

 He says to them that when its branch has become tender (alive again after winter) and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. Likewise, when you see all the things he’s described in Matthew 24 as happening, then you also know that the end of the age is near and his coming [return] is imminent.

 In fact, the time is so close, that this generation will by no means pass away. And he says further that it is this final / last generation that will see all things i.e. the final unfulfilled prophecies of the Bible, actually being fulfilled.

 The Apocalypse of Peter which can be read at http://wesley.nnu.edu/biblical_studies/noncanon/apoc /apcpete.htm gives more detail on the parable of the fig tree as representing Israel and being a sign ‘that the end of the world shall come’.

 Interestingly, it also links up with Matthew 24:5 where the Son of Man said that many would come claiming to be the Christ (plural) and in this particular translation of the Apocalypse of Peter, it speaks of Christs (plural) but only one deceiver Christ (singular).

 The translator says that he has problems understanding why the sense is that it is Israel [the Fig Tree] that will not be deceived into following the Antichrist and will stand against him to be slain as martyrs for their refusal to worship him. This martyrdom of the Israelites is the whole point of the Tribulation [threshing] of the wheat God has planted.

 Thus the it is only the Israelites who will have the means and the opportunity to take up their crosses to follow the Son of Man and to be worthy of him and his sacrifice! (Matthew 10:38)

 Also the Son of Man said that he was not sent but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. (Matthew 15:24) This means that he was specifically sent to the Israelites and no one else. He also sent his disciples out specifically to the Israelites  i.e. the figs of the Fig Tree.

 While this limits salvation to Israel, it does not mean only the Jews because the Bible speaks of the House of Judah [the Jews] and the House of Israel being united. Anyone (foreigner, pagan or Gentile] who “… join themselves to the LORD, to serve Him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be His servants - everyone who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, and holds fast My Covenant-”. (Isaiah 56:6) becomes a naturalised Israelite and sheep not formerly of the original fold.

 The promise made by God to the children of Israel when He gave Moses the Ten Commandments was that conditional upon their keeping His Commandments and being obedient to his Voice, He would make the Israelites a kingdom of priests and a holy nation and this is what His Son is lauded as having accomplished in Revelation 5:9 & 10.

 It could be said that an Israelite is a composite Jew, Christian and Muslim: a Jew worshipping the LORD, God the Father on the Sabbath and all the Biblical holy days; a Christian with the concept of the Son of Man who is the Lamb, Word and Voice of God; and a Muslim who surrenders and is completely obedient to the Will of God, which is a primary condition to becoming a priest of God within the holy nation of Israel.

Sources:

Holy Spirit

RAV Bible

http://wesley.nnu.edu/biblical_studies/noncanon/inde x.htm

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