Matthew 24:32-33 says,
“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:
33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.”
Modern worldly Bible scholars rightly connect the FIG TREE to Israel because of Hosea 9:10 which says,
“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 Baalpeor, and separated themselves unto that shame; and their abominations were according as they loved.”
This is the only passage that connects Israel to a FIG TREE in scripture and is the only thread that modern worldly Bible scholars hang on to back up their claim that the FIG TREE in Matthew 24:32-33 is Israel, but I do believe that it is sound.
In Matthew 21 Jesus curses a FIG TREE because He finds leaves on it but no fruit, and it quickly withers away. Everything that Jesus did had a parabolic meaning. Thus the FIG TREE is the FIG TREE Israel and bearing no fruit it is cursed and withers away.
But as Job says parabolically by inspiration of the Holy Spirit
“For there is hope of a TREE, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the TENDER BRANCH thereof will not cease.” -Job 14:7
Thus we find in Matthew 24:32-33 that the sign to watch for is the “BRANCH” that is “TENDER”
“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:
33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.”
Zechariah 3:8-10, 6:12-13 and Isaiah 53:2 tell us,
“8 Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH.
9 For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone shall be seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.
10 In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, shall ye call every man his neighbour under the vine and under the fig tree.”
“12 And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH;
and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD:
13 Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.”
“For he shall grow up before him as a TENDER plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor? Comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.”
These are all prophecies of Jesus, thus the “BRANCH” that is “TENDER” in Matthew 24:32-33 is Jesus and is the sign that He is telling us to watch for.
“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:
33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.”
Beyond this Matthew 24:32-33 also says “AND PUTTETH FORTH LEAVES” giving this a double meaning. The leaves of the BRANCH/Jesus are New Covenant Israel/The Church.
In John 12:24-25 Jesus tells us,
“… Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth? alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.”
and Revelation 12:10-11 says,
“10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”
Thus in Matthew 24:32-33 Jesus is saying here that one of the signs to watch for is His offspring.
“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:
33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.”
I understand the generation to be that of the BRANCH however and not the LEAVES as the leaves can fade and bloom with the passage of time, but as Job 14:7 says,
“For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the TENDER BRANCH thereof will not cease.”
Jesus always spoke with the intention of revealing Truth/Himself to those whose hearts were able to see and hear via the Holy Spirit bringing understanding and blinding/confusing those who could not/would not receive of the Holy Spirit and hear and see the Truth/Jesus.
If you have spiritual eyes to see and ears to hear then this understanding will both be beneficial and set you free from the traditions of men.
This information is of course not all inclusive as there are always more levels of The Gospel to be explored and the saints will spend all of Eternity exploring the wonder of it long after this world has ended.
God Bless
