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THE BUDDING OF THE FIG TREE
Bertrand L. Comparet
Many people are being greatly misled by sadly mistaken
religious propaganda dealing with the Jewish nation, which has been created by
violence, in Palestine. Clergymen who have never studied the subject are
bubbling over with enthusiasm over what they regard as a great fulfillment of
Bible prophecy, "The Budding of the Fig Tree". They say, Israel being
restored to its place! You, who have studied with us, already know that no Jew
is an Israelite and no Israelite is a Jew. The Jewish nation in Palestine has
nothing to do with the real Israel at all.
This is too big a subject to repeat here. The
establishment of the Jewish nation in Palestine is the fulfillment of certain
Bible prophecies but far different ones than these ignorant and misguided
clergymen have in mind. Let's look them over.
Nearly all Bible students agree on one thing, the fig
tree is the symbol of the Jewish nation, not Israel. Therefore, let's see
what the Bible has to say about the budding of the fig tree. Yahshua told
us about this. It was so important, He not only told a parable about it, but in
order to emphasize it, He also acted the parable out. We find the parable in Luke
13:6-9. "He spake also this parable: a certain man had a fig tree
planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon and found none.
Then he said to the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I have
come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth
the ground? And he answering unto him, Master, let it alone this year also, till
I shall dig around it and fertilize it: and if it bear fruit, well: and if not,
then after that thou shalt cut it down."
We know that Yahshua is the man who had come for the
three years of His ministry and found no fruit on the fig tree, the Jews. They
were offered only the brief time remaining, through the crucifixion and
resurrection, for repentance. If they would not accept the truth then, they
would soon be cut down.
So important was this lesson that He dramatized it by
action, so it could not be overlooked, Matthew 21:18-19 tells about it.
"Now in the morning, as He returned into the city, He hungered. And when He
saw a fig tree in the way, He came up to it and found nothing thereon but
leaves only; and said unto it, let no fruit grow on thee
henceforth forever. And presently the fig tree withered away." Mark
11:12-14,20-21 tells the same incident with a little more detail. Remember,
from the beginning it has been well understood that the fig tree symbolized the
Jewish nation. Yahshua said, "Let no fruit grow on thee henceforth forever."
This is not the first time that He said this about the Jews. In Matthew 21:43
Yahshua said to them, "Therefore I say unto you, The kingdom of Yahweh
shall be taken from you and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits
thereof."
The Jews had occupied Palestine then, as now. The place
where Yahweh had set up His kingdom was in their hands, but they brought forth
no fruit. The kingdom must be in the hands of those who did produce good fruit,
restored to the real Israel. Israel was then hundreds of miles away on their
migration to their new home in Europe, many having already arrived and settled
there. Only a few people of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin were still residing
in Palestine. These were the people that welcomed Yahshua and came to listen to
Him speak.
That Israel brings forth Yahweh's fruit is clear, Isaiah
27:6 tells about it. "He shall cause them that come of Jacob to take
root: Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with
fruit." Again in Hosea 14:8 we read, "Ephraim shall say, What
have I to do any more with idols? I have heard Him and observed Him: I am like a
green fir tree. From me is the fruit found." But Yahshua said that
the Jews would not produce any fruit forever. This is what these
clergymen have overlooked.
What can they base their claims upon? They misapply Matthew
24:32-33, "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 see these things, know that it is near, even at the doors".
Yahshua knew scripture too well to make any mistakes about it or use it
inconsistently. Note that this budding of the fig tree, as the preachers love to
call it, is still according to Yahweh's prophetic truth. It doesn't bring
forth fruit, only leaves forever. "Let no fruit grow on thee
henceforth, forever." It is not a thing of good, not bringing forth
Yahweh's fruit but bringing forth wickedness, with the empty promise of leaves,
but no fruit.
True, its timing is important. It was a sign that the
second coming of Yahshua is near, even at the doors. It fits into its place with
the other prophecies. In Matthew chapter 24 Yahshua states the seven
signs, which will indicate the approach of His second coming. The first six of
these, this present generation has already seen.
(1)
These were,
(2)
false prophets and
false Christ=s.
(3)
Great wars of
nation against nation and the kingdom of Satan against the kingdom of Yahweh.
(4)
Great famines in
several nations, notably Russia, India and China.
(5)
Pestilence among
them, the great influenza epidemic of 1917-1918, which killed more people than
any pestilence since the Black Death of the middle ages.
(6)
Earthquakes in
diverse places. We have seen many, beginning with the San Francisco quake in
1906, earthquake and tidal waves in Messina, Italy. A few years later, one so
severe in India in 1925 that an entire city had to be abandoned as the tomb of
its population buried in the ruins, and several great quakes since then.
(7) This
gospel of the kingdom, not just the gospel of personal salvation, but this gospel of the
kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all
nations; and then shall the end come." Only in our generation have we seen
the worldwide preaching of the gospel of the kingdom of Yahweh.
(8)
As confirmation of
the timing, we do find the fig tree putting forth leaves not fruit, but
only leaves, in mockery of Him who sought fruit on it in vain. Yahshua
tells us, "When we have seen all these things, we shall know that
his return is near and even at the doors." There remains only the seventh
and last sign to watch for.
(6)
"When the
abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stands in the holy
place." When we see this, the climax of the ages will be upon us so swiftly
that we can't dawdle around, but must seek shelter quickly. This last sign, the
abomination that maketh desolate, is a big subject in itself, far too big
for the time we have left for discussion of it. We will have to leave that for
some other time.
Take note, of all the signs of Yahshua's second coming,
only one is in itself good. The gospel of the kingdom of Yahweh shall be
preached, all of the others are bad. False Christ=s, false prophets, world wars, famines, pestilence and earthquakes. The
abomination of desolation standing in the holy place and the fig tree putting
forth leaves but no fruit forever. These are all part of Yahshua's
description of the conditions which would prevail in the world just before His
return. "As it was in the days of Noah." Genesis 6:5,11
describes it as follows. "And Yahweh saw that the wickedness of man was
great in the earth and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was
only evil continually. The earth also was corrupt before Yahweh and the earth
was filled with violence."
Don't be surprised at this. Yahweh's word is always
consistent with itself, if it were not it couldn't be true. So again Yahshua
foretells the fate of the fig tree, which can never bear fruit. In Matthew
7:18-20 He said, "A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither
can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth
good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire. Wherefore, by their fruits ye
shall know them."
The fig tree, which is now putting forth only leaves,
with our money, is a thing of evil. It is barren of any good, destined to be
cut down and cast into the fire, because no fruit can grow on it forever.
None of Yahweh's people Israel are in it. Then why are the Jews being thus
gathered into Palestine? Yahshua stated the reason in Luke 19:27,
"But those Mine enemies that would not that I should reign over them, bring
hither and slay them before Me!!" The fate of this abortive Jewish
nation is included in Yahshua's words in Matthew 15:13, "Every plant
which My heavenly Father hath not planted shall be rooted up." Therefore,
we see it in its true light, one of the manifestations of evil, which marks the
close of this age. |