Right now the watcher community is lit up with multiple videos being produced and posted on YouTube and such. If you’re not familiar with this community, they are those believers who are watching for the Master’s soon return. While many of them have been harassed (mocked) by their peers for doing this, but they continue to watch because their love for the Lord and for His Word is greater than the pace that weaker believers might impose upon them. I too am a watcher pastor; I am watching for the Master’s return. While we watchers may not all agree with each other as to some of the particulars of the Lord’s return and what awaits us in His kingdom; we do all agree that we love Jesus and as brothers and sisters in Christ, we long to be with the Lord and all of those who have loved His appearing. In this blog I should like to reference a few passages pertaining to the Parable of the Fig Tree and how it relates to the generation that is living in right now; I am talk’in ‘bout my generation, your generation, this generation.
Let’s begin with the parable that Jesus spoke in Luke 13. The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree:
“He also spoke this parable: “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 7 Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, ‘Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up (waste) the ground?’ 8 But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize (KJV – ‘dung’) it. 9 And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down.’” – Luke 13:6-9
- The type and shadow of this parable for our current time is amazingly precise when it comes to discerning the Lord’s soon return. If our assessment of this passage is correct, the relevant alignment may be as follows:
The certain man is Israel. The keeper of the vineyard is the Holy Spirit. The three years pertains to the three years after Israel’s 70th anniversary, which occurred on May 14, 2018. This was also when America formally recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel; and they moved their embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem to prove it. The act of fertilizing (dung) and cultivating the fig tree in an effort to get it to produce speaks to the increased preaching of the gospel over the last year, to both the Jews and Gentiles, the fourth year. During the 2020/21 C-19 pandemic we saw a significant increase in hits on Christian websites, an increased interest in Bible related teaching via Christian podcasts, and an increased effort that churches were making in presenting the gospel via live streaming due to the C-19 restrictions and such. This increased effort in the fourth year (2021/22) of presenting the gospel is considered by many believers to be the year of fertilizing or the ‘dunging’ this fig tree. To better prove this point you must ask yourself some relevant questions that pertain to what ‘fertilizing or dunging that tree might look like for you personally; ask yourself…
- What has happened to me since May of 2021?
- Have I made significant improvements in my spiritual life formation; in my overall walk with the Lord?
- Do I have a renewed sense of the Lord’s soon return in my life; as opposed to a year ago?
- How has my life changed in the last year? For better or worse?
- What has happened in the world at large that would scream that the Lord’s return is at the doors?
These questions are more relevant than one may think. If you answered ‘yes’ to any of them, than you are definitely recognizing your part in this terminal, fig tree generation. Let’s take a closer look at this parable in light of the Olivet Discourse as recorded in Luke’s gospel.
The Parable of the Fig Tree: “Then He spoke to them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. 30 When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near. 31 So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.” – Luke 21:29-33
In this passage we see Jesus telling us to ‘look at the fig free (singular – Israel) and all the trees’ (plural – the Gentile nations). It’s a simple, relevant phrase that identifies the target nations of this parable. The phrase, ‘when they are already budding’ is an identifier to the season, in this case, Spring. Jesus says that ‘you can know for yourselves that summer is near,’ but not quite yet. He further states that ‘when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.’ These things are the things He talked about in this chapter, Luke 21. The ‘kingdom of God’ is the rule of God, in this case, God’s end time plan unfolding before our eyes. For the Jews, it will be the tribulation; for the Church, it will be the Rapture. We don’t know specifically when it happens, but we do know when it’s close; how close? Like danger ‘near’ close. This generation, the fig tree generation, ‘will by no means pass away till all these things take place.’ This is a direct reference to the young people, the children, who were alive when Israel became a nation (May 14, 1948). Anyone born before 5/14/48 is part of the fig tree generation! They will be older now, but they were their when this happened. This defines who they are in relation to biblical prophecy; they are the fig tree generation. We who have been born afterward are also included in that generation. The ones who were there in May 1948 will not all pass away before ‘all these things are fulfilled.’ It should be noted that Jesus included His Second Coming when He said, ‘all these things.’ This same parable is recorded in Matthew’s gospel this way,
The Parable of the Fig Tree: “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. 33 So you also, when you see all these things, know that it (He) is near—at the doors!” – Matthew 24:32,33
- We see a similar write to Luke’s account here, but with the caveat of, ‘when you see all these things, know that it (He) is near – at the doors.’ Jesus wants us to know when He is near, when His kingdom is near, when the Rapture is soon to occur.
The Holy Spirit will confirm in your spirit that what Christ said in His Word is about to take place; like possibly in the next few weeks or even days! George, from ‘Return of the King’ YouTube channel, has targeted June 15th as a high watch date, referencing the story of the 153 fish incident (John 21:11) as a relevant source. I don’t have the time to go over that with you in this blog, but a quick visit to his channel will answer your questions. Israel will celebrate their 74th anniversary (birthday) on 5/14/15/2022! They turn 81 on 5/14/15/2029, which means that if Psalm 90:10 (the true length of a generation) is accurate, the expiration date on this fig tree generation cannot exceed 5/14/29.
“The days of our lives are seventy years; and if by reason of strength they are eighty years, yet their boast is only labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.” – Psalm 90:10
- The phrase ‘we fly away’ is a reference to the Rapture/Resurrection, depending on where a person is at when the Lord calls us home, in Paradise or on the earth.
So, to recap, after 70 years of Israel’s becoming a nation again, that same month America recognized Jerusalem as her capitol and moved its embassy there. Four years later, relating to the four years of the fig tree parable, we find ourselves days before Israel’s 74th birthday. If you add the 7 years of the tribulation, this places us somewhere between May 2028 and May 2029 for Jesus’ Second Coming to the earth, with His bride. Israel turns 81 years old on May 14, 2029, this extends beyond the Psalm 90:10 maximum time limit on a biblical generation. Many scholars believe that Jesus will return on a future Day of Atonement. If this is true, than the actual tribulation (Daniel’s 70th week) must begin around the Rosh Hashanah that is seven years prior for those dates to line up. If this scenario is true, then the tribulation must begin this Rosh Hashanah. Some may look at this passage and claim that we still have another 7 years to go, but I want to remind the press that Jesus included His Second Coming in these Fig tree Generation passages. This means we have to subtract those 7 years from a maximum of 80 years which places us in May 2022! Something ominous is about to happen, stand by one NASA! I like to call it ‘the bump.’ A ‘bump’ is an event or events that the Lord allows to happen to wake His people up. Some say this has already happened with C-19 and is currently happening with all the world events.
In the study of biblical gematria, that is when scholars will apply biblical numbers to people or events in scripture. For instance, the number 888 always refers to Jesus. The number 71 is the Holy Spirit, and the number 153 is the Church. While there is a ton more information on biblical gematria out there; for this blog, I will focus on the Fig tree Generation topic. Apparently, as of May 1st, it has been 888 months since May 1948, the month and year that Israel became a nation again. And now for the really scary and exciting news!
If the above is true and we are actually within weeks or even days of the Rapture, than the possibility of a major event occurring in the next few days is a stark reality. Most of us are not wired to think ‘terminally’ because we’re created to live and love long. However, this life, as we know it, is about to drastically change. For the non-believer, it’s going to be the most horrific season this world has ever seen. For the believer, it’s going to be the fulfillment of all that we have been longing for, to be with Jesus. The real question is, which person are you? Are you part of the saved and ready to go group, or are you part of that group that still needs to get your life right with Jesus? Whichever group you’re part of; the clock is ticking!
I find that a lot of people have a difficult time dealing with the ‘defining’ of their mortality. As believers in Jesus, our mortality was defined the day that we invited Jesus to be the Lord of our lives. In essence, we, like the great apostle, ‘have been crucified with Christ, I no longer live, but Christ lives in me’ (Galatians 2:20) and through me. Our mandate has never changed, but it can become more defined when we see the light at the end of the proverbial tunnel. If your doctor told you that you had a few weeks to live, how would you live? In essence, that’s what this blog is about. There are those who believe that life will continue to go on and things will eventually get back to normal. Newsflash for ya, normal isn’t coming back, but Jesus is, real soon! Our life is not over when He calls us home, in fact, it’s only the beginning. What we have going on in the here and now is nothing compared to what the Lord has instore for us in the there and then; the soon then.
If I am wrong about this timing and we get to the Fall feasts this year, I will have a lot of explaining to do. If I am not wrong about the timing, it won’t matter. In any case, like with a lot of watchman types, we just want folks to be ready to launch. This world is going to be a royal mess, way worse than what we are seeing in the Ukraine right now. It will be rampant with nuclear radiation, global famine (aka food shortages), destruction, blatant sin, and mass death. There will be demonic creatures who are loosed, permeating the planet, and tormenting those who dwell here. This tribulation is not to be messed with, it must be avoided. Get saved today and stay that way!
In my next blog I will be talking about the Millennial Reign of Jesus; this is the thousand-year time span that will begin just 75-days after the Lord’s Second Coming to the earth. It’s also known as the 7th dispensation. I feel strongly about blogging on this topic because a lot of believers don’t fully understand what they will be doing when we return to the earth with Jesus. It will be an exciting write, until then, get and stay ready.
Maranatha!
Encouragemen is a blog written by Pastor Rob Lee, recently relocated to Northwest Missouri. He lives with his wife of 32-years, near their three adult children, their spouses, and children (their grandchildren). Pastor Rob is an Ordained Assemblies of God minister, a former Lead Pastor (25 years), police chaplain, and community advocate. He continues to serve, consult, and disciple men of God, including those who are in the ministry.
Encourage Men 