Luk 21:33 | KingComments | STEP | What is a horror for the world is an encouragement for the disciples. They may know that their redemption is drawing near when these things begin to take place. In the same way, instead of worrying about the developments in the world, we too should be encouraged by these developments, because thereby we know that our redemption is near. To the people of Israel, redemption means that the Lord Jesus comes to redeem them from their enemies by judging their enemies. To us as members of the church, redemption means that Christ comes to take us out of the world, from among our enemies. In our days we see the omens of everything He has said. It is therefore important to pay attention to the signs of the times. To help us with this, the Lord tells us a parable with which He illustrates His teaching. With this He shows us how we can recognize the things that begin to take place even more clear. We have to behold the fig tree and all the trees. It is again characteristic of Luke that he not only speaks about the fig tree, but also about all the trees. The fig tree is a picture of Israel and all the trees are a picture of the nations around Israel. It shows again how much Luke is the evangelist for the Gentiles, the nations. When we see that these trees put forth leaves, we know that winter is over and summer is near. The putting forth leaves of the trees indicates new life. We recognize this picture in the beginning of the restoration of Israel as a nation. After being trampled on and despised by the nations for a long time – and this is still the case – we have seen since 1948 that Israel is once again a state. Life begins to come into it (cf. ). It is not yet summer, but we can see the first signs of the people’s restoration. The nations around Israel also come to life. The nations spoken of by the prophets, will make themselves heard again after many centuries. We could think, for example, of Syria and Egypt, but also of the restoration of the Roman empire that we are seeing taking shape again in the Europe Union. They are trees putting forth leaves. With this we see the signs of the times presenting themselves. By observing these developments the disciples, and we too, know that the kingdom of God has come near. Summer is coming. The Lord Jesus, when He was on earth, preached the kingdom of God as having come near. Then it did not come because He was rejected, but it will not pass away. He will not be rejected again. When He comes, He will establish it in public glory. What we see happening in the Middle East indicates that the kingdom of God, in terms of its public form, has come near again in our days and will soon actually be established. The Lord adds to His example the assurance that “this generation” will experience everything He has painted. This generation is the kind of people living around Him at that moment, the kind that brings Him to the cross. The same kind is still present, for He is still the rejected One and the world still has no place for Him. The certainty of His words – “My words”, the words of the Lord Jesus – is more certain than heaven and earth. Heaven and the earth will pass away and instead a new heaven and a new earth will come ( ). Such a change His words does not know. He is God and His words are God’s words. What is true of God’s Word applies to His words in the same way ( ; ).

‏ Luke 21:33

The Fig Tree and All the Trees

What is a horror for the world is an encouragement for the disciples. They may know that their redemption is drawing near when these things begin to take place. In the same way, instead of worrying about the developments in the world, we too should be encouraged by these developments, because thereby we know that our redemption is near. To the people of Israel, redemption means that the Lord Jesus comes to redeem them from their enemies by judging their enemies. To us as members of the church, redemption means that Christ comes to take us out of the world, from among our enemies. In our days we see the omens of everything He has said. It is therefore important to pay attention to the signs of the times.

To help us with this, the Lord tells us a parable with which He illustrates His teaching. With this He shows us how we can recognize the things that begin to take place even more clear. We have to behold the fig tree and all the trees. It is again characteristic of Luke that he not only speaks about the fig tree, but also about all the trees. The fig tree is a picture of Israel and all the trees are a picture of the nations around Israel. It shows again how much Luke is the evangelist for the Gentiles, the nations. When we see that these trees put forth leaves, we know that winter is over and summer is near. The putting forth leaves of the trees indicates new life.

We recognize this picture in the beginning of the restoration of Israel as a nation. After being trampled on and despised by the nations for a long time – and this is still the case – we have seen since 1948 that Israel is once again a state. Life begins to come into it (cf. Eze 37:1-8). It is not yet summer, but we can see the first signs of the people’s restoration.

The nations around Israel also come to life. The nations spoken of by the prophets, will make themselves heard again after many centuries. We could think, for example, of Syria and Egypt, but also of the restoration of the Roman empire that we are seeing taking shape again in the Europe Union. They are trees putting forth leaves. With this we see the signs of the times presenting themselves. By observing these developments the disciples, and we too, know that the kingdom of God has come near. Summer is coming.

The Lord Jesus, when He was on earth, preached the kingdom of God as having come near. Then it did not come because He was rejected, but it will not pass away. He will not be rejected again. When He comes, He will establish it in public glory. What we see happening in the Middle East indicates that the kingdom of God, in terms of its public form, has come near again in our days and will soon actually be established.

The Lord adds to His example the assurance that “this generation” will experience everything He has painted. This generation is the kind of people living around Him at that moment, the kind that brings Him to the cross. The same kind is still present, for He is still the rejected One and the world still has no place for Him.

The certainty of His words – “My words”, the words of the Lord Jesus – is more certain than heaven and earth. Heaven and the earth will pass away and instead a new heaven and a new earth will come (2Pet 3:11-13). Such a change His words does not know. He is God and His words are God’s words. What is true of God’s Word applies to His words in the same way (Lk 16:17; 1Pet 1:25).