Chapter 9 The symbolism of the Fig Tree

We see the fig tree mentioned the two of the Gospels:

19 Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, "May you never bear fruit again!" Immediately the tree withered.

20 When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. "How did the fig tree wither so quickly?" they asked. Matt 21:19-20, NIV.

Then in Mark we read:

13 Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs.

14 Then he said to the tree, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again." And his disciples heard him say it. Mark 11:13-14, NIV.

Here we read two versions of the same incident. Both agree that Jesus saw a fig tree, went to it looking for fruit and finding only leaves commanded it not to bear fruit anymore. Why would Jesus do that?

Why would He look for figs on the tree when Mark tells us that it wasn’t yet the season for figs? Why would He bother to curse a fig tree? Why would it be recorded in two of the Gospel accounts?

Did Jesus ever do anything without a good reason?

The first mention of the fig is in Genesis. Adam and Eve had sinned by disobeying the command of the Lord:

7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. Gen 3:7, NIV.

So, Adam and Eve attempted to cover evidence of their sin by making a covering of fig leaves to appear righteous. It didn’t work. God’s response was to pronounce the curse of death upon Adam and Eve and curse the earth. Then He covered them with skins of a slain animal – the first substitute blood sacrifice.

Both Matthew and Mark pointed out that this tree was covered with leaves. Mark even mentions that Jesus saw the tree from a distance because it was in leaf. To understand this passage we must know something about fig trees and customs of the time. Some varieties of fig actually produce figs twice within a season. The early figs come on with the leaves on the old wood and quickly wither and fall off before the later figs come on. The early crop is not as plentiful or of the quality of the later crop. Nevertheless, hungry travelers often picked and ate them.

The early crop is important since a tree that produces no early crop will not produce a later crop for that season. One reason for a fig tree producing abundant leaves and no fruit is excessively rich soil.

Notice what scripture tells us about this:

12 All your fortresses are like fig trees with their first ripe fruit; when they are shaken, the figs fall into the mouth of the eater. Nah 3:12, NIV. (Emphasis mine).

13 The fig tree forms its early fruit; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance. Arise, come, my darling; my beautiful one, come with me." Song 2:13, NIV. (Emphasis mine).

10 "When I found Israel, it was like finding grapes in the desert; when I saw your fathers, it was like seeing the early fruit on the fig tree. But when they came to Baal Peor, they consecrated themselves to that shameful idol and became as vile as the thing they loved. Hos 9:10, NIV. (Emphasis mine).

So, we see then that Jesus was looking for the early fruit. But He found none.

It has long been recognized by those who study and teach scriptures that the fig tree is symbolic of Israel. Jesus was using this tree to teach a truth regarding Israel. The tree, like Israel, was flying false colors.

This tree looked like a fruitful tree. It was green, healthy looking, covered with lush leaves – but fruitless. It had no early fruit and would produce none later in the season.

Israel was God’s national priesthood to a lost and dying world. The nations were to look at Israel in awe as they watched the One True God acting in and through the lives, armies, priesthood and government of Israel. Israel, however, like this tree was flying false colors. From a distance they appeared very religious, praying constantly, tithing scrupulously, constantly discussing and giving attention to every detail of their religious rules and regulations. But Jesus saw it differently:

23 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. Matt 23:23, NKJV.

Like Adam and Eve, they were attempting to cover themselves with the false religion of their own works. “If we pray enough, serve enough, give enough – we will be OK!” But God said:

5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 1 Tim 2:5, NIV

30 There is only one God, and there is only one way of being accepted by him. He makes people right with himself only by faith, whether they are Jews or Gentiles. Rom 3:30, NLT. (Emphasis mine).

6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6, NIV. (Emphasis mine).

Trying to earn redemption through our works is like trying to cover our shame with fig leaves. Israel has been trying to do it for centuries but God will teach them a better way in His own time. Their disobedience hasn’t frustrated God’s will or His plan in the least. He has used their disobedience, just as He uses ours, to carry out His plan. He will continue to do so.

In the meantime we must watch The Fig Tree (Israel) for clues regarding prophetic events.

Now continuing our examination of Mark 13:

29 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it is near, right at the door.
30 I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.
31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
32 "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. (Emphasis mine).

Here Jesus tells us that when you see these things happening you know that it is near, fight at the door. What things?

the abomination that causes desolation
days of distress unequaled from the beginning,
the sun darkened and the moon failing to give its light
stars falling from the sky and the heavenly bodies shaken.

But these things tell us that Jesus is about to appear because He goes on to say, "At that time men will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.” This does not help us determine when those things will occur. There have been many attempts to set a date for the Rapture and the end of this age. Those inclined to try should read this verse and these that follow it.

33 Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.
34 It's like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with his assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.
35 "Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back — whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn.
36 If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping.
37 What I say to you, I say to everyone: 'Watch!'"

Jesus is very clear and emphatic that this generation will not pass away until ALL these things have happened.

Generation

The word, as used here by Jesus in this prophecy, carries two meanings to complete the two parts of the prophecy.

34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. Matt 24:34, KJV.

The Greek word used for generation in this verse is genea defined as follows:

NT: 1074 genea (ghen-eh-ah'); from (a presumed derivative of) NT: 1085; a generation; by implication, an age (the period or the persons):

KJV - age, generation, nation, time.

First: In response to the remarks of His disciples about the beauty of the Temple, Jesus says: “I tell you the truth, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.” In fact, less than 40 years later (one generation), Titus led the Roman armies into Jerusalem. The Temple was utterly destroyed, and its stones cast down into the valley below.

Second: Jesus prophecy goes on to speak of events, still in our future, which will unfold at the end of this age. Here, “generation” falls back on its other meaning “age/nation” and both apply. This present age will not end until all these things are fulfilled and Israel will be there through all of it!

All what things?

the distress of those days
'the sun will be darkened
the moon will not give its light
stars will fall from the sky
the heavenly bodies will be shaken
the Son of Man will appear in the sky
all the nations of the earth will mourn
They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky
And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect

When these things are happening the wise will know that the end is very near, and the Son of Man will soon appear. But that does not help us to determine when these events will begin.

Jesus said that wars, rumors of wars, kingdom rising against kingdom, earthquakes and famines are the beginning of birth pangs. But, as has been pointed out many times, those things have been going on for a very long time.

So – if not those signs then what signs should we be looking at now to determine whether we are getting really close?

The End-Time Signs

As the Day of the Lord and the return of Jesus Christ approaches we are assured that there will be ample signs for believers so that we are not caught unaware. Here are some of the signs we are to look for:

4 For the children of Israel shall abide many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred pillar, without ephod or teraphim. 5 Afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek the LORD their God and David their king. They shall fear the LORD and His goodness in the latter days. Hos 3:4-5; NKJV.

Part of this verse has already been fulfilled. Israel shall abide many days without king or prince is a reference to Israel existing for centuries without a government or identity as a nation. During the approximate nineteen centuries of the Diaspora Israel was, in fact, scattered among the other nations with no recognized identity as a nation. Then God performed a miracle and brought them back, as a self-governed nation in their own land. They do not yet seek and fear the LORD as a nation in one accord - but they will!

"For thus says the LORD of hosts: 'Once more (it is a little while) I will shake heaven and earth, the sea and dry land; 7 and I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this temple with glory,' says the LORD of hosts. 8 'The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,' says the LORD of hosts. 9 'The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former,' says the LORD of hosts. 'And in this place I will give peace,' says the LORD of hosts." Hag 2:6-9; NKJV.

Now it shall come to pass in the latter days
That the mountain of the LORD's house
Shall be established on the top of the mountains,
And shall be exalted above the hills;
Mic. 4:1; NKJV.

The scriptures above state quite clearly that the temple in Jerusalem will be rebuilt in the last days. Some choose not to believe it will happen, but a number of scriptures indicate that it will. The rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem will be one of the signs of the soon coming of the Lord. Jesus has clearly told us to look for, “'the abomination that causes desolation' standing where it does not belong”. This could not be fulfilled without the temple being rebuilt.

Jesus gave us other specific signs to look for so that we would recognize the approach of the end-time.

4 And Jesus answered and said to them: "Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.

9 "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake. 10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. Matt 24:4-14; NKJV. (Emphasis mine).

And continuing from Matthew:

16 "Therefore when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand), 16 "then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. 18 And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. 19 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 20 And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened.
23 "Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'There!' do not believe it. 24 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand.
26 "Therefore if they say to you, 'Look, He is in the desert!' do not go out; or 'Look, He is in the inner rooms!' do not believe it. 27 For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 28 For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together.

29 The Coming of the Son of Man
(compare Mark 13:24-27; Luke 21:25-28)
"Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

32 The Parable of the Fig Tree
(compare Mark 13:28-31; Luke 21:29-33)
"Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near — at the doors! 34 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. Matt 24:16-35; NKJV. (Emphasis mine).

26 And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: 27 They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. 28 Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; 29 but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. 30 Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed. Luke 17:26-30; NKJV. (Emphasis mine).

We are told in advance of the following facts, conditions and events leading up to the end of this age:

Widespread falling away from the faith.
Jesus name and message becomes offensive to many.
People self-absorbed and self-indulgent as in the days of Noah and Lot (Luke 17:26 & Lk. 17:29 -30 above).
Hatred and betrayal become common and love becomes scarce.
False christs and false prophets deceive many.
Few are aware that there is a problem; most go about their life as usual until disaster strikes.
The Gospel must be preached to all nations.
Revealing of the son of perdition (antichrist).
Miraculous signs deceive many.
Abomination placed in the Holy Place of the temple in Jerusalem.
Jews and saints severely persecuted.
Signs in the heavens.
Lord returns.

It is important to realize that the wars and rumors of wars, nation rising against nation, famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places are only the beginning of sorrows. As these political problems grow in magnitude and frequency, economic and social problems also intensify, resentments fester into hatreds and betrayals become commonplace, even among family members.

Prejudice related to religious, racial and cultural backgrounds will also become commonplace and extend even into government agencies. In fact, we can see this building up now. We see ever increasing animosity between government officials and political parties. Prayer and Bible reading once the foundation for study in all of our classrooms have now been removed. People complain, file grievances and even file lawsuits over Christian comments, events or symbols in the workplace, schools or public buildings.

Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee changed the term “Christmas tree” to “Holiday tree” stating that it is “more inclusive.” Alsip, IL. stopped a 69 year tradition when they elected not to raise a cross along their toll way and Santa Monica, Ca. decided not to put a nativity scene in Palisades Park for the first time in 70 years. There have been too many such instances to mention all of them here.

All of the first six items listed above are in evidence today. Self – absorbed, self - indulgent people are offended by the mention of anything related to Jesus Christ. Our nation, in fact our world, moves further and further from true faith seeking solace in New Age philosophies, astrology and other occult practices. People unknowingly indulge in idolatry as they follow after all manner of false Christ’s; wealth, power, lust, etc. Even religion can be an idol when it teaches redemption by anything other than a close relationship with Jesus Christ or when religious ritual replaces devotion to Jesus.

The result of all of this has been a growing spirit of; greed, prejudice, jealousy, mistrust, even hatred – starting within the family and spreading to our neighborhoods, our schools, our churches and across nations. We think we can solve these problems with education, new laws, stronger enforcement, banning of weapons, better treaties, etc. We think that if we can eliminate poverty, teach people better parenting skills, provide better opportunities, etc. we can make the world better. We fail to realize that the only thing that will improve our world is a change of the spirit in our hearts. That is the work of God – not mankind.

Since the first six prophetic events on the list above are currently occurring the world over we should be asking ourselves whether things could really have been much worse in the days of Noah or Lot! Virtually all of the preparation has been done. The Gospel is being preached even in nations governed by Sh'ia law via radio, TV and internet. Whether this meets the criteria Jesus meant, is not certain. If so, the next events on the list is a major war involving Israel and the appearance of the Antichrist. We don’t know when these will occur but they will!

It is always important to look at history as we attempt to comprehend scriptural prophecy. As we examine these prophecies and consider what signs we should look for to get a sense of how close we are, we likewise should recall that when the Lord called upon Moses to rescue the Hebrews from Pharaoh and Egypt the Lord spoke from a burning bush.

The Bush That Fire Could Not Destroy

In Genesis 3:2 we read that the Lord revealed Himself to Moses in a burning bush. Why not a cloud or a volcano? Why a bush? I believe there is a message beyond the words the Lord spoke to Moses. We are told:

2 There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. Ex 3:2; NIV.

We see here that the bush was on fire. It was burning but it did not burn up. Why not?

The reason is that the Lord was in the bush. Why would the Lord appear to Moses in a burning bush to announce that He was sending him to deliver the Hebrews from Egypt?

7 The LORD said, "I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. Ex. 3:7, NIV.

So. we see that the Lord makes it clear that He has seen and is very aware of the suffering of His chosen people. This bush is on fire. Fire in scripture is often used symbolically to reflect suffering. The bush symbolizes Israel, burning (suffering) but not destroyed because God is preserving them.

The bush is not just smoldering, it is intensely burning, because Moses saw the flame from a distance. It wasn’t until the people were suffering intensely and had cried out in desperation to the Lord, that He responded:

8 So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey — the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites.

9 And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them.

10 So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt." Ex 3:7-10; NIV.

Sometime before, Pharaoh, fearing their strength, had plotted to destroy the Hebrews by ordering all male babies killed. The persecution continued and increased. It was at this time of intense persecution and suffering of the Hebrews that the Lord intervened on their behalf. It was then that He said to Moses, their deliverer, “now, go.”

I believe that the key to knowing when the Day of the Lord is very close is to watch Israel. When the bush is burning brightly, and the flame is clearly visible from a distance because they are in serious jeopardy, God will intervene by saying to Jesus, “Now, go!”

Israel will come under very serious threat of extinction as the end approaches. At some point a political leader will offer a solution, a peace treaty acceptable to Israel and, I believe, to the Muslims. It is clear that no peace can exist for Israel until the Radical Muslims can be appeased. If I am correct, this will require that this individual have enormous influence in the Muslim community.

At that time Israel will even be permitted to rebuild their Temple on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. This seems almost unthinkable in the current political climate. Nevertheless, it will occur.

24 --Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. Luke 21:24; NIV.

11:1 I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, "Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, and count the worshipers there.

2 But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months.

Rev 11:1-2, NIV.

This seems to indicate that the temple will be rebuilt by the Jews on the Temple Mount, without the previous courtyard so that it will fit without encroaching upon the Dome of the Rock Muslim mosque that currently located there. There are some who believe the temple was not on what is now called the Temple Mount but actually a short distance away in the ancient City of David. Scripture does seem to support this. Whichever site is selected, it will be rebuilt.

Forty-two months after signing the treaty with Israel, this political leader will enter and defile the Temple, claim that he is god, and stop all Jewish religious sacrifices and ceremonies. Then will begin a forty-two-month period of persecution and suffering such as has never been witnessed upon the earth.

Why does this happen to Israel? It happens because when Jesus came the first time His people, the Jews, rejected Him.

11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. John 1:11; NKJV.

This was prefigured in Moses centuries earlier. Moses went from the house of the king to present himself as the deliverer of his people. But they rejected him.

24 He saw one of them being mistreated by an Egyptian, so he went to his defense and avenged him by killing the Egyptian.

25 Moses thought that his own people would realize that God was using him to rescue them, but they did not. Acts 7:24-25; NIV.

Just as Moses was rejected in his first attempt to deliver his people, Jesus was rejected when He first came to Israel. When the Lord sent Moses back to them the bush was in full flame - and they were ready!

Notice Jesus words regarding this.

34 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!

35 Look, your house is left to you desolate. I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'" Luke 13:34-35; NIV. (Emphasis mine).

This all sounds like God is so angry with Israel, over their rejection of Christ, that he is now prepared to completely destroy them. Some, who have taught a replacement theology, have taught that God is through with Israel and has replaced them with the church. This is simply not true. God, in his mercy and grace, is going to allow severe tribulation in order to save them. When the time for Jesus return arrives, Israel will be in desperate straits and crying out for the Lord to rescue them. Then when He comes He will be welcome!

10 "And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.

11 On that day the weeping in Jerusalem will be great, like the weeping of Hadad Rimmon in the plain of Megiddo. Zech. 12:10-11; NIV.

Hadad Rimmon was located on the plane of Miggedo and was the location where King Josiah was killed, and his army defeated by Egypt’s Pharaoh Neco. Here we are told, that as God pours out a spirit of grace and supplication, Israel will look on. They will see the one they have pierced, Jesus, and they will weep bitterly and mourn, as they did over Josiah’s defeat and death, when they recognize their sin and guilt. But God’s grace is at work and He will forgive and restore them.

12:1 "At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people — everyone whose name is found written in the book — will be delivered.

2 Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. Dan 12:1-2; NIV.

Israel has been going through tribulation for centuries. That is nothing new. However, it is growing more and more severe. As we seek to find out where we are in time, on God’s prophetic clock, we need to watch the burning bush, heed Jesus’ words and. “learn the lesson from the fig tree.”

Israel's Recent Wars

Jerusalem may mean "peace" but this has not been Israel's experience historically and it certainly hasn't been their experience since the nation’s rebirth in 1948.

War of Independence (1948)
The Sinai Campaign (Operation Kadesh – 1956)
The Six Day War (1967)
The War of Attrition (1968-1970)
The Yom Kippur War (1973)
The Lebanon War: Operation Peace for Galilee (1982)
The Gulf War (Desert Storm 1991)*
2003 Iraq War*
The Second Lebanon War (2006)
The next war involving Israel may be the tenth involving Israel. Ten is God’s number representing Law, Order, and Government, i.e. “Ten Commandments” and ten also deals with testing leading to God’s action:

* Although Israel was not an active participant in Desert Storm or the 2003 Iraq War, Iraq vindictively fired Scud missiles into Israel.

“not one of the men who saw my glory and the miraculous signs I performed in Egypt and in the desert but who disobeyed me and tested me ten times –

Not one of them will ever see the land I promised on oath to their forefathers. No one who has treated me with contempt will ever see it.” Numbers 14:22-23.

If we don’t count the 1991 Gulf War and the 2003 Iraq War, since Israel was not a direct participant – no troops on the field of battle, their next war would be their eighth since they reestablished their nation in 1948. Eight is God’s number indicating new beginnings.

Since most of the events prophesied for the end time have also occurred in the past, even though they are more frequent and severe now, why should we think we may be close to the end of days?

People have long speculated about John’s Revelation and attempted to grasp how the things described in it could possibly occur. For example, when I first became a Christian back in 1957 we wondered “How”, could people around the world watch the two prophets die, come back to life and be taken from the earth. Let’s look at this passage in Rev.11.

3 And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth." Rev 11:3; NIV

5 If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and

devours their enemies. Rev 11:5; NIV

6 These men have power to shut up the sky so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want. Rev 11:6; NIV

Scripture then tells us that when they finish their ministry the beast from the abyss will slay them.

9 For three and a half days men from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. Rev 11:9; NIV

11 But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them.

12 Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here." And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on. Rev 11:11-12; NIV. (Emphasis mine).

Back in 1957 we had to either assume that there were individuals from every people, tribe, language and nation at that spot in Jerusalem when this event occurs (unlikely), they were seeing it in newsreels rather than in real time, or we had to assume that God would perform some kind of miracle. Back then, most people chose the last option.

Until recently, for people around the world to see this event in real time would have been impossible. Now, with satellite TV, netbooks, internet capable cell phones this is no longer even a mystery.

Today, although we cannot say with complete certainty what each verse of prophecy means, with the exception of those things that are clearly supernatural events under God’s control, nothing described in Revelation is beyond explanation with today’s technology. More importantly, the political and religious climate of the world today is such that the events described could easily fall into place very quickly.

Scripture seems to indicate that a political and economic empire with strong similarities to the Roman Empire will exist in the same geographical areas that ancient Rome controlled. Many believe the European Union could possibly fill that role. It does seem very possible.

What role, if any, will the United States play in the last days?

Next >

Chapter 9

The symbolism of the Fig Tree

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The End-Time Signs

The Bush That Fire Could Not Destroy

In Genesis 3:2 we read that the Lord revealed Himself to Moses in a burning bush. Why not a cloud or a volcano? Why a bush? I believe there is a message beyond the words the Lord spoke to Moses. We are told:

​

Israel's Recent Wars