Matthew 24:32 “Now let the fig tree teach you its lesson: when its branches begin to sprout and leaves appear, you know that summer is approaching. 33 In the same way, when you see all these things, you are to know that the time is near, right at the door. 34 Yes! I tell you that this people will certainly not pass away before all these things happen. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
This is a very simple parable to understand. Seeing buds and watching leaves unfold is something we can comprehend with our plain minds. The hard part here is in not watching leaves but watching life. Getting our minds out of the gutter of our lifestyle long enough to see what’s happening around us.
There is a progression that takes place throughout Matthew 24 and the transition of a fig tree going from bare branches to a leafy green canopy is our analogy.
Have you ever been near a tree coming out of its winter hibernation? There is something intriguing about this process when the leaves barely begin to peak out. Branches with no signs of life begin to show that indeed life is there and it has been all long.
The leaves make a sudden push as if they can’t wait to get out. It’s almost as if they have been wrapped up for so long they have no choice but to explode out onto the branches. And the branches yield to the pressure.
Yeshua uses the language of “birth pains” to describe what will be happening during this time. No baby yet, but it is most certainly coming soon. The pressure mounts and mounts, and there must be a yielding that takes place or else the woman would literally explode.
And there is a story to be told within these branches. You can even set your watch by it.
Do you really need a fig tree to tell you when summer is coming? Not really because summer always comes. The days get a bit longer and the weather gets a bit warmer -- everyday. But you may not have a watch and the weather can cycle up and down as it steadies itself over time. Sure, you know it’s coming but we are considering a situation where the exact timing matters. Ballparking it will work for the people that don’t really care but we are being tasked with something much deeper.
The leaves are very predictable and consistent. They never retreat back into the branches. No, they keep coming. Daily they grow, then a bit more the day after. Larger and larger until they fully block the light of the sun. (Of course, the leaves we are looking at will block out the Light of the Son.)
We have a real-time snapshot of the progression and we know summer is fast approaching. No hand waving, no excuses. The evidence is there before you, and you, being wise, can see exactly the signs of the times. The time of the birth is closing in and this is the birth for which we all eagerly await.
It will be painful but, oh, so worth it!
This parable was given in response to the unfolding of the return of the Messiah. Simple and sweet. We just need to know what leaves we are to be watching.
Is it the leaves of your lifestyle? Well, sure. If it takes you being affected negatively to get you to pay attention, then yes, this is all about your lifestyle. Because in the end your lifestyle will be absolutely destroyed. That in itself is a huge win. But I digress.
We want to see how the people of THE Kingdom (not your kingdom) will know the arrival of their King is fast approaching. His people will not perish during this time -- even though they may die.
Since we like lists and evidence, I’m going to bullet point the “action items” so we can get our bearings and be as the Sons of Isaachar, discerning the signs of the times.
Keep in mind that these don’t need to be fully sequential (see verse 14 for the use of the word “then”). Many branches are on the tree and many leaves will unfold at the same time. They will start small then grow in size and intensity.
Here are the branches:
Do any of these sound familiar? Go through and measure each of these on a scale from 1-10 where 1 is “this is NOT happening” and 10 is “holy crap!” The closer you are to 100, the closer we are to summer.
I personally think we’re in the 65-70 range.
But whoever holds out till the end will be delivered. And this Good News about the Kingdom will be announced throughout the whole world as a witness to all the Goyim.
Notice we aren’t in the fall. We are not in the harvest season. That’s still 3 ½ months out. We are in summer. It is then that the end will come.
He’s coming! And He’s coming with power!!
Can you fathom this at all? Seriously. Stop right now and picture this moment. Close your eyes and let Him open them. You need to understand the gravity of this moment.
Sit.
Wait.
Listen.
Hear.
There! I have told you in advance! So if people say to you, ‘Listen! He’s out in the desert!’ don’t go; or, ‘Look! He’s hidden away in a secret room!’ don’t believe it. For when the Son of Man does come, it will be like lightning that flashes out of the east and fills the sky to the western horizon. Wherever there’s a dead body, that’s where you find the vultures. “But immediately following the trouble of those times,
Study the fig tree. Look closely. Look even more closely.
Are you one of His chosen?