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The Fig Tree parable was recorded by the apostles in, [Matthew 24:32, Mark 13:28, and in Luke 21:29]. The message from the parable is that we are to watch for the [fig tree], because the very generation that sees the return of the [fig tree], would see the fulfillment of all the end time prophesies, including the Rapture of the Church, then the 7 year Tribulation Period, and then the Second Coming. These events occur, all inside one generation. We don’t know the length of that generation. In the scripture a generation is usually 40, 60, or 70 years. We also don’t know at what point inside that generation, the “end time” events will begin to occur, or end. We are told to Watch, with emphasis in [Mark 13:37] [And what I say unto you, I say unto all, Watch,.] He wanted us to know the general time period, but not the exact day, or hour. Please avoid anyone, who says they know the day or the hour of the Rapture of the Church.
[Now learn a parable of the fig tree; when her branch is yet tender; and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near;
So ye in like manner, when you shall see these things come to pass, know that is near, even at the doors.
Truly I say to you, that this generation will not pass, until all these things be done.
Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words will not pass away.
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 heed, watch and pray; for you know not when the time is.
And what I say unto you, I say unto all, Watch.] [Mark 13:28-33,37]
There are several passages that indicate that the country of Israel, is the [fig tree]. The first passage I would like to reference is from the book of Hosea:
[I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness, I saw your fathers as the first ripe in the “fig tree” at her first time.] [Hosea 9:10 ]
In scripture, the word [tree], is used often to denote a nation. In this verse, Israel is that nation.
In other verses, the Jewish people are described by God, as [good figs], and [bad figs].
[The Lord showed me, and, behold, two baskets of figs….one basket had very good figs, even like the figs that are first ripe; and the other basket had very naughty figs, which could not be eaten, they were so bad. Then the Lord said to me, what do you see Jeremiah? And I said figs; the good figs, very good; and the evil, very evil, that cannot be eaten, they are so evil. Again the word of the Lord came to me,…The God of Israel; Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge them that are carried away captive of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of Chaldeans for their good. For I will set My eyes upon them for good, and I will bring them again to this land; and I will build them, and not pull them down; and I will plant them and not pluck them up. And I will give them a heart to know me,…And they shall be My people, and I will be their God.] [Jeremiah 24: 1-7]
The Jewish people are referred to as, [My people], either as [good figs], or [bad figs], 7 times in those verses.
Another reference to Israel described by God as the [fig tree]:
[For a nation is come upon My land, strong and without number,….He has laid my vine waste, and barked My fig tree;] [Joel 1:6,7].
My land; My fig tree, says it all, Israel is the [fig tree].
[Awake, awake, stand up Jerusalem.] [Isaiah 51:17]
[Awake, awake; put on your strength Zion.] [Isaiah 52:1]
[Your watchmen shall lift up their voice; with the voice together shall they sing; for they shall all see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion {Israel}.] [Isaiah 52:8] All the respected scholars of scripture see eye to eye and agree, that Israel is the [fig tree].
In A.D. 70, the Roman army destroyed Jerusalem and the Second Temple. The Jewish people were driven from their homeland and were dispersed or fled into many countries, until May 14, 1948.
The “birth” of Israel, was the fulfillment of this prophesy written about 2600 years ago, [And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I bring you into the land of Israel, into the country which I gave to your fathers.] [Ezekiel 20:42]
And also the fulfillment of the prophesy; [For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and I will bring you into your own land. And you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and you shall be My people, and I will be your God.] [Ezekiel 36:24,28]
The prophet Jeremiah wrote down this prophesy over 2600 years ago; [Hear the word of the Lord, all nations, and declare it in the Isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him.] [Jeremiah 31:10]
God’s Word to The Watchman
[Again the word of the Lord came to me saying,
Son of Man, speak to the children of thy people, and say to them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man,….and set him for their watchman:
If when he sees the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people;
Then whoever hears the sound of the trumpet, and takes not the warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.
He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not the warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that takes the warning shall deliver his soul.
But if the watchman sees the sword come, and does not blow the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in iniquity;…] [Ezekiel 33:1-6]
These verses from Ezekiel, are similar to a parable, in that there is a lesson here:
God has set certain people as His watchmen. Their responsibility is to warn the people, when He is about to; [bring a sword] “or Divine Judgment” [upon a land]. If the watchmen do their job, and warn the people, then; if any man does not heed the warning, and is lost, that person has no one to blame but himself. But if a person takes that warning; that person will save his soul.
And if the watchmen, see “the sword” coming, and do not sound the warning, then the blood of those people, is on the watchmen’s hands. And those watchmen will be held accountable.
It is time for all you watchmen around the world, to sound the trumpet, and sound the WARNING! The Rapture of the Church is upon us.
Although Part 2: is about the parable of the [Fig Tree], I would like to bring you these words concerning “end time” prophesy.
[And He said, Go thy way, Daniel; for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.] [Daniel 12:9]
[Many shall be purified, and made white; but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.] [Daniel 12:10 ]
The Lord had just revealed to Daniel the events that were to take place during the Tribulation Period. I am not going to discuss those prophesies in this section, but I do want to focus briefly on the words from these two verses. In the first verse, God tells Daniel, that the words are [closed up and sealed until the time of the end]. We can take from that, that the words will be “unsealed”, during the “end times”. In the second verse God says, [and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.] The lesson here, is that during the “end times”, the wise will understand and recognize all the signs that we have been given, that we are are living in the “end times”, and that we would see that the prophesies written elsewhere in scripture are about to be fulfilled.
The birth of Israel in 1948, unsealed those words, and all the “end time” prophesies could now be taken literally. The emergence of the state of Israel is mainly responsible for the growing Evangelical movement in this country, and around the world. Without the birth of the nation of Israel, the other “end time” events could not occur, because Israel is the focal point of the “end time” prophesies. I must point out here that 1948, was the first time in history that this land was officially called Israel. In the times of Abraham and Moses it was called the land of Canaan. And even in Jesus’ time it was known by the names of it’s three subdivisions; Judeah, Samaria, and Galilee. The land of Israel is mentioned hundreds of times throughout the Old Testament prophesies from Genesis through Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel.
Concerning prophesy, we have these words from the apostle Peter;
[We have also a more sure word of prophesy;….Knowing this first, that no prophesy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophesy came not in old time by the will of man; but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.] [2 Peter 1:19-21]
Jesus spoke these words:
[Then He said to them; O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken.] [Luke 24:25] The four major “old time” prophets were Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel.
More words concerning prophesy from the apostle Paul:
[If anything be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. For you may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace.] [1 Cor. 14:30-31, 33]
With regard to the Book of Revelation, the Lord says this; [Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophesy, and keep those things which are written therein.] [Revelation 1:3]
Also from the Book of Revelation; [For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophesy of this Book, if any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this Book; and if any man shall take away from the words of the Book of this prophesy; God shall take away his part out of the Book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this Book.] [Revelation 22:18,19]
Paul, the appointed apostle to the Gentiles; [Despise not prophesyings.] [ 1 Thess. 5:20]
To all you pastors, ministers, and evangelists around the world. Take heed from Paul’s words; [I charge you by the Lord that this letter be read to all the holy brethren.] [1 Thess. 5:27]. The time is short, our ministries are fast coming to an end. Please feel free to use this message as a sermon, or for teaching. And please also, add it to your websites. Thank you. I believe I was inspired by the Lord to put this message together. These are not my words. These words came from scripture. I am merely a watchman, the Nazarene Watchman.
A special note to all the people who receive this message. If you believe in this message of Hope, please e-mail it to as many people as you can, to believers, and also to non-believers. We also must provide for those of us who don’t have access to a computer, or the internet. So please make hard copies, and give them to those people.
We love you, and we know you love us. Be steadfast and unmoveable in your faith. Be of good cheer!
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