Mat 24:33 | KingComments | STEP | The Lord gives His disciples directions from nature (cf. ). In nature they can see from certain signs that winter is coming to an end and summer is near. We can think of the winter of tribulation that will be over and the summer of the kingdom of peace that will come after that. The Lord uses the picture of the fig tree. That tree represents the people of Israel. Signs of life will become visible in it. The softening of the branch and the sprouting of the leaves can be recognized in the national restoration of Israel, the restoration as a nation which has been a fact since 14 May 1948. The summer with its fruit indicates the spiritual restoration of Israel when it has accepted its Messiah. When the disciples see the things He has just described, they will know He is about to come. All His warnings for an abomination of desolation and for false Christs are all proof that His coming is imminent. But first these things must come over this generation that rejected Him. Heaven and the earth will pass away in their present state. If that happens, it will prove to be a confirmation of His words. He speaks the truth and all that He says happens as He has said it.

‏ Matthew 24:33

The Parable of the Fig Tree

The Lord gives His disciples directions from nature (cf. Mt 16:1-4). In nature they can see from certain signs that winter is coming to an end and summer is near. We can think of the winter of tribulation that will be over and the summer of the kingdom of peace that will come after that. The Lord uses the picture of the fig tree. That tree represents the people of Israel. Signs of life will become visible in it. The softening of the branch and the sprouting of the leaves can be recognized in the national restoration of Israel, the restoration as a nation which has been a fact since 14 May 1948. The summer with its fruit indicates the spiritual restoration of Israel when it has accepted its Messiah.

When the disciples see the things He has just described, they will know He is about to come. All His warnings for an abomination of desolation and for false Christs are all proof that His coming is imminent. But first these things must come over this generation that rejected Him.

Heaven and the earth will pass away in their present state. If that happens, it will prove to be a confirmation of His words. He speaks the truth and all that He says happens as He has said it.