by Dr. Ralph L. Keiper
BUDDING FIG TREE
G od ’ s W ord is often revealed to us by means, of beautiful illus trations. Such is the case with Mat thew 24:32, “Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh.” Someone has well described a parable as noth ing more than an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. Christ took the things of nature and taught great spiritual truths with them. Matthew 13 gives us several of these very beau tifully. The same is true with the Ser mon on the Mount. The fig tree has been used as a sym bol of the nation of Israel. He says, “When you observe the fig tree in bloom, when its branches begin to break forth and bud, then you know it will not be long before the summer and the time of harvest.” The signs which He described in the previous verses of Matthew 24 are indicative that Israel’s summer is nigh and that He Himself will return. In verse 33 we read, “So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.” What does Christ mean by “like wise” ? This actually takes us all the way back to verse five wherein we are reminded of the time of great decep tion. He also warns that there will be a period of great trouble with wars, p e s t ile n c e s , famines, earth quakes and trouble everywhere. There is not to be a place on earth where rest and peace will be known. When there are such disturbances and dis tress, anyone who does appear to be a deliverer might readily be accepted as such. During all this time, the gospel of the kingdom is to be preached throughout the entire world, and then the end will come. Verse 15 indicates that there will be a time of great abomination in in tensifying Israel’s trouble. One of the greatest insults that ever could be
hurled at a Jew will be when their holy temple will be profaned. This is why these strong words are used, “The abomination of desolation.” Not only are there disturbances on the earth but also there are disturbances in heaven itself. The sun will not shine, the moon no longer gives her reflected light, the stars fall, and the powers of heaven are violently shak en. This makes up the total picture of the phrase, “Likewise when ye see these things come to pass” (and there is an absolute certainty concerning th is), “know that it i§ near, even at the doors.” That which is near is, of course, the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the Son of man, the conquering Messiah, the One Who is alone able to deliver His ancient people Israel. Those of us who are interested in prophetic truth take a fresh inter est in the events which are occurring in the world. Reading and listening to the news of our day, we can see the beginning of these trends even now. It goes without saying that there is trouble everywhere. Nation is rising against nation; kingdom is rising against kingdom. We must be very careful, however, not to “jump the gun” on the timing. As we have Prof. Marvin KisSick (at console), director of the Biota Music Dept., goes over a score with trumpet instructor, Dr. Lester Remsen.
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