Our next parable is found in three of the four gospels.
Matthew 24:32-35- Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
This parable is using something they understand, a fig tree in the spring time, to show them prophecy. He says that the people who were alive at that time would see this prophecy fulfilled.
But what prophecy was Jesus referencing? If we look farther up in the chapter, we get a little clue.
Matthew 24:1-2- And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
Jesus was talking about the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem.
Matthew 24:3- And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
The disciples asked Jesus to explain what He meant, but they threw in a few more questions that He also answered. And this is what throws people off.
They asked him when shall these things be- the destruction of the Temple- and He answers them in the parable.
However, they also asked Him about the sign of His coming AND the end of the world. These are separate events. The temple was destroyed in 70 AD. But His Second Coming hasn't happened yet, and the end of the world won't be for at least a thousand years after that!
Matthew 24:4-8 tells us the beginning of sorrows, that means that all this is going to happen before the Tribulation. In fact, this has been going on for the last two thousand years!
When Christ answers them in the gospel of Luke, he proves that this is all future for them, but it comes before the Tribulation and the Second Advent.
Luke 21:9- But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.
Matthew 24:9-10 tells the disciples what their future would be. They would be hated and persecuted and martyred.
In the gospel of Mark, Jesus gives them more.
Mark 13:9-11 - But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them. And the gospel must first be published among all nations. But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.
This is telling them that it's going to be some time before Christ's Second Coming. Notice that He said "the gospel". This is what the apostles and Christians during the time of this writing are preaching.
I Corinthians 15:1-4- Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
Luke 21:14-19- Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake. But there shall not an hair of your head perish. In your patience possess ye your souls.
Luke's telling has something very peculiar in it. He says that "not an hair of your head will perish". But almost all of the apostles were martyred for their faith. So, why does He say this? Because this prophecy is two-fold. The disciples will preach and die for Jesus testimony during their lifetimes. But they will also come back and preach during the Great Tribulation, and at that time they will not be harmed.
Revelation 10:11- And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.
Matthew 24:11-12 gives us the state of humanity during this time.
Matthew 24:11-12- And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
Matthew 24:15-22 is Christ going back and answering what will happen during the Great Tribulation, which is before His Second Coming. We understand this now because of the book of Revelation, but the disciples were just as confused as most people who read these passages!
Mark gives a warning to those during this time. He tells them what to watch for and when it happens, to flee! This is the beginning of the Great Tribulation.
Mark 13:14-20- But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains: And let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house, neither enter therein, to take any thing out of his house: And let him that is in the field not turn back again for to take up his garment. But woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! And pray ye that your flight be not in the winter. For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be. And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.
Matthew 24:21- For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
When the AntiChrist goes into the rebuilt temple and sits down on the ark of the covenant proclaiming himself to be god, the people are to flee. And they're still suppose to follow the commandments- pray that your flight be not on the Sabbath. Why? Because they have to keep the Sabbath day!
Luke gives a general overview of the land of Israel from the destruction of the temple through to the Tribulation.
Luke 21:20-24- And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
The time of the Gentiles, I believe, is over when the rapture happens and the Church is called out. That's when God turns His attention back to the Jewish people.
Mark 13:21-23- And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not: For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.
Matthew 24:13 shows that it's going to be rough to endure through the end. Why? Because the Jews are always looking for a sign, and the AntiChrist is going to be full of them!
2 Thessalonians 2:8-12- And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
Those who have pleasure in unrighteousness will gladly accept this fake messiah because he fits in with them and their wickedness. Those who get into the Scriptures and learn to believe the Bible instead of the "signs" will be persecuted and killed if they are caught!
The reason people get so messed up is that they expect God to be linear, and He's outside of time. He doesn't put everything on a timeline for us to connect the dots in a row. He wants us to study, and sadly many people don't want to put in the effort.
Matthew 24:14 says that the end of the world would be after the gospel of the kingdom has been preached to every nation. This is not the same gospel that was preached by the disciples and Paul! Paul said our gospel which saves us is to believe on the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. The gospel of the kingdom is something preached during the Millennium.
This is after the Second Advent has happened, when Christ has already wiped out the AntiChrist and His armies and is ruling the world from Jerusalem.
He warns them in Matthew 24:23-28 not to be deceived by people claiming to know when He is coming.
Matthew 24:23-28- Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.
When Christ is ready to come again, it's going to be quick. He's not going to come do surveillance for a while and then show Himself. It's going to be like lightening striking- loud, bright, powerful, and fast!
Then He tells them exactly what to observe just before His Second Coming in Matthew 24:29-31.
Luke 21:25-28- And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
When all the crazy stuff in Revelation has come to pass, then start looking up, because He is about to make His entrance!
Mark 13:24-27- But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.
And after all these things, He goes back and answers their original query about the destruction of the temple with the parable of the fig tree.
I'm certain the disciples had some pretty interesting looks on their faces. So, Christ continues with a notice and a warning. There are different warnings to different people in the gospels.
Matthew 24:36-41- But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
The world is going to get very wicked, just like in the days of Noah when God destroyed the entire world with a flood. (There's a lesson here!) And, like Enoch, some people are going to be taken out before that wrath falls.
Matthew 24:42-44- Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
Luke is warning them to watch their actions and warns that this is something that will effect the entire world!
Luke 21:34-36- And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
Mark warns people to watch and not get lazy, because they won't know when Christ will come.
Mark 13:32-37- But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.
Matthew finishes with what will happen to those who aren't ready.
Matthew 24:45-51- Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Those who watch their actions toward others, are waiting and watching for the Lord's return, and are being faithful to obey the commandments that He has given will be rewarded. But those who follow the world and betray the ones around them will end up with the same punishment as all the others- outer darkness!
