Secrets Unsealed

ANCHOR School of Theology

Stephen Bohr

1. Principles for the Study of Bible Prophecy- Part 1

2. Principles for the Study of Bible Prophecy- Part 2

3. Principles for the Study of Bible Prophecy- Part 3

4. Notes on Daniel 2

5. The Importance of the Historical Flow Method- Part 1

6. The Importance of the Historical Flow Method- Part 2

7. Christ is the Center of Bible Prophecy Part 1

8. Christ is the Center of Bible Prophecy Part 2

9. A Providential Election

10. The Sabbath and Redemption

11. The Son (God) and the number 666

12. Who’s Hero Is Jesus Christ?

13. What Was Literal & Local is Spiritual & Global

14. The Flood Story As An Illustration of Historical Typology

15. The Year-Day Principle

16. God’s Israel: Understood Globally and Spiritually

17. Israel and the Fig Tree Part 1

18. Israel and the Fig Tree Part 2

19. The Stoning of Steven.. The Last Straw

20. How to Interpret Biblical Symbolism Part 1

21. How to Interpret Biblical Symbolism Part 2

22. The Sanctuary Sequence in the Book of Revelation

23. Daniel’s Little Sealed Book

24. Revelation 10

25. The Importance of Literary Structure in the Study of the Millennium Part 1

26. The Importance of Literary Structure in the Study of the Millennium Part 2

27. Revelation 12-22

28. How All the Books of the Bible Meet and End in Revelation

29. Learn how to use the writings of Ellen G. White- Part 1

30. Learn how to use the writings of Ellen G. White- Part 2

We need to continue our study of this principle that God's Israel today is spiritual Israel, the nation of Israel is no longer God's vehicle to take the gospel to the world, it is God's worldwide church that has that mission.

Now we're going to take a look at the material that is titled Israel and the fig tree.

We're not going to look at all of this material, we are going to skip certain sections because in our next study we are going to cover those sections that are in this document Israel and the fig tree.

So let's begin at the top of the page where it says Introduction, we're going to read from Matthew 24 and verses 32 to 35.

Matthew 24 of course has the signs of the second coming and this is how it reads.

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.

So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near at the doors.

Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will by no means pass away.

Now we want to focus on what this text says about the fig tree.

Now dispensationalists say that the fig tree here is a symbol of Israel and that the budding of the fig tree is a prophecy concerning the reestablishment of the Jewish nation in the year 1948.

They teach that this is the greatest sign that the coming of Jesus is imminent or even at the door.

So we need to carefully examine whether this is true, we need to examine this passage to see if the budding of the fig tree is the reestablishment of Israel in the holy land as a nation.

Now first of all we must say that it is true that the fig tree and the vine are associated with literal Israel in the Old Testament.

Notice Hosea Chapter 9 and verse 10, the fig tree and the vine are associated with literal Israel.

I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness.

I saw your fathers as the firstfruits on the fig tree in its first season, but they went to Baal Peor and separated themselves to that shame, they became an abomination like the thing they loved.

And so it's true that the vineyard and the fig tree in the Old Testament symbolized literal Israel, there's no doubt about it.

But the question is, does Matthew 24 when it refers to the fig tree refer to the Jewish nation or does it have another meaning?

Well we want to take a look at this idea of the tree in 3 different moments of time leading up to the ministry of Christ.

Go on your Bibles with me to Matthew Chapter 3 and verses 8 through 10.

Here John the Baptist is going to begin his preaching and he begins his preaching 6 months before Jesus begins his public ministry, that's an important chronological detail.

John the Baptist is beginning his preaching 6 months or half a year before Jesus began His public ministry, and of course John's mission was to prepare the way for the first coming of Jesus.

Now let's notice what John said in his message to the Jewish nation.

It says there, Therefore, he's calling upon the nation, therefore bear, what?

Fruits, that's important, bear fruits worthy of repentance.

And do not think to say to yourselves, we have Abraham as our father.

Now they're saying, don't you just think that it's a great thing to be a literal descendant of Abraham.

For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.

And by the way Desire of Ages says that Jesus was not pointing at literal stones, He was pointing at some Gentiles, I mean John wasn't pointing at some stones, he was pointing at Gentiles that were present there at his baptism, because the Jews felt that the Gentiles had stony hearts and so they called them stones, they called them swine, and they called them dogs, not very complimentary.

But anyway John says God is able to raise up children of Abraham from these stones, and then notice verse 10.

And even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees.

Therefore every tree, notice he's using the analogy of the tree for the nation of Israel, and he's saying that they need to repent.

So therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit, in other words a fruitless tree, is cut down and thrown into the fire.

Now remember all of these elements first of all he calls them to repentance, secondly he says don't you think that it's a great thing simply to be a literal descendant of Abraham?

And then he says that you're like a tree and if the nation of Israel does not produce fruit it will be cut down.

Now let's go to our next passage Luke 13 and verses 1 through 9, Luke 13 and verses 1 through 9, and a chronological detail is very important here.

Jesus is telling this parable according to those who have studied the chronology of the Gospels 2 and a half years into Christ's ministry.

So how long has this tree existed at that 0.3 years, 6 months or half a year, John the Baptist preaching he calls Israel a tree, and then Jesus gives this parable 2 and a half years into Christ's ministry, so 6 months plus 2 and a half years is what?

That's an important chronological detail we're going to notice and we're going to see many similarities in this parable to what John the Baptist preached.

There were present at that season some who told him about the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.

And Jesus answered and said to them, Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered these things?

I tell you, no, but unless you, there's 1 of the key words, unless you repent you will all likewise perish.

Verse 4 Or those 18 on whom the tower of Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem?

I tell you no, but unless you repent, there's the key word again that John the Baptist used, you will all likewise perish.

And now he's going to tell a parable, verse 6.

A certain man, this is God the Father, had a fig tree, what would the fig tree represent?

Israel, that's right, and plant it in his vineyard.

He had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, what does the vineyard represent?

And he came seeking fruit, what fruit was he seeking?

So 3 years after John the Baptist began his preaching, had the Jewish tree produced fruit?

Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, who is the keeper?

Look, for 3 years, there's a chronological detail, For 3 years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree.

Did John the Baptist speak about a fig tree?

So the owner of the tree says cut it down.

Did John say something about cutting down the tree?

But the vinedresser loved the tree, notice what he says.

But he answered and said to him, Sir, let it alone this year.

How long still remained in his ministry when he told this parable?

Sir let it alone this year also until I dig around it and fertilize it.

So is He going to dedicate special attention to it?

Well, but if not, after that you can cut it down.

Did Jesus dedicate special attention to the Jewish nation the last year of His ministry?

He most certainly did, He did everything that He could for this fig tree.

Now the parable ends and we don't know what happened to the fig tree.

Did it produce fruit or did it not produce fruit?

We don't know until the year is almost over.

Go with me to Matthew Chapter 21 and verses 17 through 19.

Matthew 21 17 through 19, you remember Jesus saw a fig tree in the distance right?

And he was hungry, so he says to the disciples, let's go over to that fig tree and see if there's any figs I'm hungry.

And we need to understand that in Israel the fig tree first of all bears the fruit and then the leaves come out indicating that the tree has fruit.

Part 1 of 30

17. Israel and the Fig Tree Part 1