IS ISRAEL THE FIG TREE?

REFERENCES TO ISRAEL AS GOD'S FIG TREE?

Deuteronomy 8:7-9 - For the LORD thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills; a land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey; a land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack any thing in it....

Hosea 9:10 - I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers as the firstripe in the fig tree at her first time:  but they went to Baal-peor, and separated themselves unto that shame; and their abominations were according as they loved.

Joel 1:6-7 - For a nation is come up upon My land, strong, and without number, whose teeth are the teeth of a lion, and he hath the cheek teeth of a great lion.  He hath laid My vine waste, and barked My fig tree:  he hath made it clean bare, and cast it away; the branches thereof are made white.

THE FIG TREE AS A SIGN OF THE SECOND COMING?

Matthew 24:32-34 - 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 shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.  Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.

Mark 13:28-30 - Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near:  so ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors.  Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.

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 said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none:  cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?  And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:  and if it bear fruit, well:  and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.

Luke 21:29-33 - And He spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; when they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.  So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.  Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.  Heaven and earth shall pass away: but My words shall not pass away.

THE BLOOMING OF THE FIG TREE; THE BIRTH OF MODERN ISRAEL?

Modern Israel's War of Independence began on the eve of the official establishment of Israel as a nation, on May 14, 1948, and continued until they declared victory in January of 1949.  According to the prophetic Scriptures above, the generation which sees this occur, will still be here at the time of Christ's Second Coming!  A Bible generation varies depending on when its length was stated over time:  

Genesis 6:3 - [120] And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.

Genesis 15:13-16 - [100 Years] And He said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; and also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance.  And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age.  But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.

Psalm 90:10 - [70-80 Years] The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.

So, although we do not know the actual length of the generation of living souls the day the Lord returns, it is likely to be the last stated length of life; 70-80 years.  If Israel is the Fig Tree in the parable concerning Christ's Second Coming, that would mean He could have already returned.  And yet, we know there will be a seven-year Tribulation that precedes His Second Coming (Comparing Daniel 9:27 with Matthew 24:29); therefore the Tribulation could begin today.  There is good news for born again believers though; we will not be here when the Tribulation begins; so look up - Jesus may come for us today!  See John 14:1-3; 1 Corinthians 15:50-54; 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10; 4:13-18; 5:9-10; and Revelation 4:1 for verses on the Rapture of the Church!

TIME IS DEFINITELY SHORT!

TRUST IN JESUS TODAY; WE

MAY BE GONE TOMORROW!