Matthew Chapter 24

As taken from the Book of Matthew (Brother Frank Shallieu)

Verse 32 “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near.”

The “fig tree” represents the Jewish nation, as shown by several Scriptures. Jer 24:15 mentions two baskets of figs, and Jer 8:13 also connect figs with the nation of Israel. In the New Testament, Jesus cursed the fig tree, picturing the nation of Israel. “When his [the fig tree’s] branch is yet tender, and puts forth leaves” refers to the year 1878 when the first Jewish colony, Petatikva (meaning “Door of Hope”), was established in Israel under the Zionist movement.

Leaves come out in stages starting with the green bud, and this was the earliest sign of green life. In 1878 the Jew could purchase real estate in Palestine for the first time in almost 2,000 years. As a result of General Allenby’s victory, which broke the Turkish yoke, England encouraged the establishment of a homeland for the Jew in Palestine via the Balfour Declaration of 1917. And in 1948 Israel was recognized as a nation once again; this was the “blossoming,” not the initial putting forth of a leaf. A “blossom” signifies fruit.

Luke 21:29, 30 includes an additional thought: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near.” Notice the phrase “and all the trees,” meaning the springing forth of other nations too. When Cordell Hull and others started to form the United Nations, the number of existing nations was far more limited than today. A ratio was figured out to keep the superpowers (England, France, Russia, and the United States) as the top echelon. In the General Assembly, every nation, large or small, had one vote. But the organizers never foresaw the number of new and additional nations that would develop afterwards, thus upsetting the balance of power. All the little nations in Africa want their independence; they are really tribes, but each gets one vote in the United Nations. These Third World new nations keep clamoring for their rights with tremendous squabbling, confusion, and deafening noise so that the UN is unworkable today. This modern phenomenon—that in a relatively short time so many little nations have blossomed forth with their independence just as Israel did—is a sign of the nearness of the Kingdom (“summer”).

“So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.” (Luke 21:31). This verse in Luke is telling us that the Church will still be here in the flesh when “the fig tree and all the trees” shoot forth. Since 1948 we have seen the development of many new nations (“trees”).

Luke 21, Matthew 24, and Mark 13 are now beginning to narrow down and constrict to more specific information pertaining to OUR day. We are living in the time when these things are happening.

Verse 33 “So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors!”

 The progression in Matthew 24 is “summer” (when the Church is still here), “winter” (the great Time of Trouble when the Church is gone), and “summer” (when the Kingdom is established)—see Verses 20 and 32. The “summer” of favor at the end of the Gospel Age is followed by a “winter” of trouble and then the “summer” of the Kingdom. (The Hebrews divided their year into only two seasons, summer and winter.)

Luke 21 is the same sermon as Matthew 24 except that Luke’s narration stresses some different aspects. Luke 21:33 shows the emphasis Jesus placed upon statements uttered earlier in the chapter. “Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.” The ecclesiastical heavens and earth’s present social order will pass away, but Jesus’ words stand and will be fulfilled. This prophecy is of the utmost importance and all the minutiae of detail will come to pass!

Luke 21:34 warns, “And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.” To repeat, Luke warns us to take heed against surfeiting, drunkenness, and the cares of this life.

“Surfeiting” is dissipation (over indulgence), a “hangover” from gluttony. The Lord’s people are cautioned not to be distracted from the momentous occasions about to take place, from the nearness of their own change, and from the need to be more zealous in making their calling and election sure. In other words, we are admonished not to let the spirit of the world become the spirit of the Church. The world is dedicated to sports, pleasure, music, etc. The minds of the people are occupied with worldly things and distractions of one kind or another. “Cares of this life” would be anxieties over family or business (for example, worry about the status of a job). We must take heed lest these things distract us.

Jesus is warning: “DO NOT LET THE SPIRIT OF THE TIMES BECOME THE SPIRIT OF THE CHURCH. Do not be intoxicated (drunk) with the pleasures of this life.” In the phrase “cares of this life,” “this life” refers to them become overburdening.

Luke 21:35 reads, “For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.” Jesus is referring to a contagious spirit that affects the whole human race except a Christian who takes heed. The implication is that this spirit could creep into the Church unless one is on guard against it.

And Luke 21:36 states, “Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” “To stand before the Son of man” means to have his approval as one of the 144,000, as one of the saints. This would be standing intimately in Jesus’ presence—an honor the Great Company will not have.

Continued with next post.