Shall we bow our
heads for prayer?
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Father in heaven, what a joy
it is to be in Your presence.
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We thank You for
being our Father.
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And for caring enough for us,
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that You would
give us Your word,
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so that we will not be
ignorant about the final events
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that will take
place upon this earth,
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before the coming of Jesus.
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We ask, Father,
that as we study today,
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that Your Holy Spirit will
be here to guide our thoughts,
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and also to soften our hearts.
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I ask not only for
those who are gathered here,
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but also all of
those who are watching
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this on worldwide broadcast.
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And I thank you, Father,
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for hearing and
answering our prayer,
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for we ask it in the
precious name of Jesus. Amen.
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I'd like to invite you
to open your Bibles with me
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to the passage that we
are going to take a look at
00:01:29.97\00:01:33.40
in our study today.
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It's found in Matthew 24:32-35.
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Matthew 24:32-35.
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The title is "The
Budding of the Fig Tree."
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Now I'm gonna read those versus,
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and then we're going to
take a look at their meaning.
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Jesus is speaking
here and He says this,
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"Now learn this
parable from the fig tree.
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When its branch has
already become tender
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and puts forth leaves,
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you know that summer is near.
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So you also, when
you see all these things,
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know that it is
near at the doors!"
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Assuredly, I say to you,
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this generation will
buy no means pass away
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till all these
things take place.
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Heaven and earth will pass away,
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but My words will
by no means pass away."
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Now I would like
to share with you
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the way in which most
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conservative
Christians today interpret
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what this passage
says about the fig tree.
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Basically they
say that the fig tree
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in these versus
represents the nation of Israel.
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And the
"Budding of the Fig Tree"
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represents the fact
that Israel was reestablished
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as a nation in the year 1948.
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In other words they believed
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that Jesus here was
giving a specific prophecy
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about the re-birth of
the Jewish nation in 1948
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after the terrible
Holocaust of the Jews
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during the Second World War.
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In fact many
dispensationalist writers,
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many conservative
Christian writers have said
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that this is the
greatest sign of the imminent
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coming of Jesus
Christ to planet earth again.
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In fact they
believed that most of those
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who write on
Bible prophecy today,
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conservative
Christians that is say,
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that this is the greatest sign
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that the coming of
Jesus is even at the doors.
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Now we want to
take a look at this
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and find out
whether Matthew 24:32-35
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are speaking about the re-birth
of the Jewish nation or not?
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Now allow me to say
as we begin our study
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that in the Old Testament,
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the fig tree does
represent the nation of Israel.
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Not only does the fig tree
represent the nation of Israel,
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but also the vineyard is
a symbol of literal Israel.
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I would like to read
Hosea 9:10 as a text,
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where the Jewish nation
is compared to a fig tree
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and also to a
vine or to a vineyard.
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Hosea 9:10.
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God is speaking here about
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when He found Israel in
Egypt and then delivered them.
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It says there, God is speaking,
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"I found Israel like
grapes in the wilderness.
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I saw your
fathers as the firstfruits
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on the fig tree
in its first season.
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But they went to Baal Peor,
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and separated
themselves to that shame.
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They became an abomination
like the thing they loved."
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And so very
clearly in this one verse,
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God compares Israel to grapes--
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by the way if you
want another passage
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that compares
Israel to a vineyard,
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you could read all
of Isaiah Chapter 5,
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where Israel is
compared to a vineyard.
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And you'll notice also here
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that Israel is
compared to a fig tree.
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We're talking
about literal Israel now.
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So it is true that
in the Old Testament,
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the fig tree and
the vine or the vineyard
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are symbols of national
Israel or of literal Israel.
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Now the question is,
what about the New Testament?
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Does the New
Testament also present
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literal Israel
or national Israel
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under the symbol of a
fig tree and a vineyard?
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The fact is, that the
gospels make it very, very clear
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that both of
these still symbolized
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literal Israel in the
times of the New Testament.
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I invite you to go
with me in your Bibles
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to the Gospel of
Matthew Chapter 3,
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and I would like to
read versus 9 and 10.
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Matthew 3:9-10.
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This passage is speaking
about the message and mission
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of John the Baptist.
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And just to give you a
little chronological detail
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which is very important,
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John the Baptist
began his ministry
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approximately six
months before Jesus began His.
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In other words John
the Baptist began preaching
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about half a year before
Jesus began His public ministry.
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And we all know
that John the Baptist
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had the
intention and the purpose
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of preparing the way for
the coming of the Messiah,
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for the coming of Jesus Christ.
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Now John the Baptist was
baptizing in the Jordan River.
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And I want you to notice
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the call that he made to those
who came out to his baptism.
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Matthew 3:9-10.
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And there are certain details
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that I'm going
to stop and amplify.
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He said this,
"Therefore bear" What? "Fruits."
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This is verse 9, remember that.
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"Therefore bear
fruits worthy of repentance."
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Two key words,
they're supposed to repent
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and they're supposed
to bear, what? Fruit.
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Notice, this is
actually verse 8,
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let's go to verse 9.
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"And do not think
to say to yourselves"
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Notice this "We have
Abraham as our father."
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Who would be the
ones who would say,
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Abraham is our father?
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It would be the literal Jews.
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It would be national Israel
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who would say,
Abraham is our father.
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So to whom is John
the Baptist speaking here?
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He's speaking
to national Israel.
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And notice, he
calls them to repentance
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and he calls them to
bear what? To bear fruit.
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So notice again verse 9,
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"And do not think
to say to yourselves,
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We have Abraham as our father.
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For I say to you that
God is able to raise up
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children to
Abraham from these stones."
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By the way, Jesus
was not only pointing
00:09:01.53\00:09:04.28
to literal stones
there next to the river.
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Actually, He was referring
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in symbolic
language to the Gentiles.
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You see the Jews
at that time believed
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that the Gentiles were stones
because they had stony hearts,
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hearts that had
not been circumcised.
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They also called
the Gentiles, swine
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and they called
the Gentiles, dogs.
00:09:24.30\00:09:27.13
So imagine being called a swine,
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and being called a dog,
and being called a stone.
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So John the
Baptist is saying, listen,
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God is able to raise
up children of Abraham
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from these stones
or from these Gentiles.
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I want you to
remember that the Gentiles
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come into view here.
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And then notice verse 10.
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"And even now the axe is
laid at the root of the trees."
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So is there a
mention of a tree here?
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Absolutely, at
the root of the trees,
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therefore every tree singular,
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every tree which
does not bear what?
00:10:03.40\00:10:07.10
Good fruit, what's
gonna be the end of it?
00:10:07.13\00:10:10.70
Is cut down and
thrown into the fire.
00:10:10.73\00:10:15.48
Now let's review the
elements of this passage,
00:10:15.51\00:10:17.31
because it's
very, very important.
00:10:17.34\00:10:19.58
You have a call to repentance.
00:10:19.61\00:10:21.72
John the Baptist is calling
national Israel to repentance.
00:10:21.75\00:10:25.86
He's saying, don't think
that there's something special
00:10:25.89\00:10:28.31
in the fact that you're
literally children of Abraham,
00:10:28.34\00:10:31.30
because God can raise
up children of Abraham
00:10:31.33\00:10:33.88
from these stones
or from these Gentiles.
00:10:33.91\00:10:36.66
He says, the key is
that the tree produce what?
00:10:36.69\00:10:40.80
Fruit, good fruit.
00:10:40.83\00:10:42.20
And if the tree singular,
does not produce good fruit,
00:10:42.23\00:10:46.04
it obviously is
gonna be cut down
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and it is going
to suffer judgment.
00:10:48.74\00:10:50.74
It is going to be
thrown, where? In the fire.
00:10:50.77\00:10:54.29
Now this is the
first tree episode
00:10:54.32\00:10:56.27
that I want us to remember.
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There are three that we're
gonna look at in the gospels.
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This is the first one.
00:10:59.87\00:11:02.10
Now let's go to the
second reference to a tree.
00:11:02.13\00:11:06.36
Notice Luke Chapter 13
00:11:06.39\00:11:08.72
and we're going to
read versus 1 to 9.
00:11:08.75\00:11:11.73
Luke 13:1-9.
00:11:11.76\00:11:15.44
By the way, this is taking place
00:11:15.47\00:11:17.98
according to
those who have studied
00:11:18.01\00:11:19.38
the chronology of the gospels.
00:11:19.41\00:11:21.21
Approximately
two and a half years
00:11:21.24\00:11:23.16
into the ministry of Jesus,
00:11:23.19\00:11:25.11
in another words if
you figure six months
00:11:25.14\00:11:27.34
that John the Baptist preached
before Jesus began His ministry,
00:11:27.37\00:11:30.70
plus two and a half
years of Jesus ministry
00:11:30.73\00:11:33.63
at this point from John till
when Jesus told the parable,
00:11:33.66\00:11:37.59
you have a
period of three years,
00:11:37.62\00:11:39.50
that's very significant.
00:11:39.53\00:11:41.45
Notice Luke 13:1-9,
00:11:41.48\00:11:44.26
and you're going
to see the same themes
00:11:44.29\00:11:46.55
that we read in
Matthew Chapter 3.
00:11:46.58\00:11:49.60
Notice verse 1.
00:11:49.63\00:11:52.35
"There were present at
that season some who told Him"
00:11:52.38\00:11:57.59
that is Jesus
"About the Galileans
00:11:57.62\00:12:01.48
whose blood Pilate had
mingled with their sacrifices."
00:12:01.51\00:12:06.27
And of course they
felt self-righteous,
00:12:06.30\00:12:07.80
they said that didn't happen
to us because we're righteous.
00:12:07.83\00:12:10.91
Notice verse 2.
00:12:10.94\00:12:12.48
"And Jesus
answered and said to them,
00:12:12.51\00:12:15.10
"Do you suppose
that these Galileans
00:12:15.13\00:12:17.83
were worse sinners
than all other Galileans,
00:12:17.86\00:12:21.69
because they
suffered such things?
00:12:21.72\00:12:24.78
I tell you, no,
but unless you" What?
00:12:24.81\00:12:29.95
Did we find that word
already in Matthew 3? Yes.
00:12:29.98\00:12:33.23
But unless you repent you
will all likewise, what? Perish.
00:12:33.26\00:12:41.19
Now notice verse
4, "Or those eighteen
00:12:41.22\00:12:44.37
on whom the tower of
Siloam fell and killed them,
00:12:44.40\00:12:48.02
do you think that
they were worse sinners
00:12:48.05\00:12:50.60
than all other men
who dwelt in Jerusalem?
00:12:50.63\00:12:54.66
I tell you, no, but unless
you" Here's the word again,
00:12:54.69\00:12:58.80
"Unless you repent you
will all likewise perish."
00:12:58.83\00:13:05.20
So He's talking to
this group of literal Jews
00:13:05.23\00:13:09.44
who are feeling
very self-righteous
00:13:09.47\00:13:11.30
and they say, these
calamities don't happen to us
00:13:11.33\00:13:14.27
because we're righteous.
00:13:14.30\00:13:15.74
They only happen to those people
because they were sinners.
00:13:15.77\00:13:18.62
And Jesus is
saying, unless you repent
00:13:18.65\00:13:21.01
the same thing is going to
happen to you, you will perish.
00:13:21.04\00:13:24.51
And now Jesus is
going to illustrate
00:13:24.54\00:13:27.50
this lesson with a parable.
00:13:27.53\00:13:30.10
Notice what we find
beginning in verse 6
00:13:30.13\00:13:32.93
and I'm gonna interpret
the symbols that we have here.
00:13:32.96\00:13:35.96
"He also spoke this
parable." A certain man."
00:13:35.99\00:13:40.67
By the way this
certain man is God the Father.
00:13:40.70\00:13:43.36
I'm gonna go interpret
the symbols as we go along.
00:13:43.39\00:13:46.40
"A certain man" that is God
the Father, "had a fig tree."
00:13:46.43\00:13:51.88
What does the
fig tree represent?
00:13:51.91\00:13:53.64
We've already noticed
from the Old Testament.
00:13:53.67\00:13:55.73
The fig tree represents Israel.
00:13:55.76\00:13:58.14
So God the Father
had a fig tree Israel,
00:13:58.17\00:14:02.00
planted in his vineyard.
00:14:02.03\00:14:04.19
The vineyard
represents the world.
00:14:04.22\00:14:06.57
See the fig tree is planted
in the midst of the world.
00:14:06.60\00:14:10.51
Israel was planted in
the midst of the world.
00:14:10.54\00:14:13.80
And now notice, "And
he came seeking fruit."
00:14:13.83\00:14:17.75
What does fruit
represent in scripture?
00:14:17.78\00:14:20.64
You all know that
in Galatians Chapter 5,
00:14:20.67\00:14:22.87
it speaks about
the fruit of the what?
00:14:22.90\00:14:25.11
The fruit of the spirit?
00:14:25.14\00:14:27.23
And of course, the
first fruit is love.
00:14:27.26\00:14:29.64
And there and
there are many others
00:14:29.67\00:14:31.37
long suffering,
peace, joy, etcetera.
00:14:31.40\00:14:34.48
"And so he came looking
for fruit on this fig tree."
00:14:34.51\00:14:38.37
He's looking for fruit
00:14:38.40\00:14:39.77
from the nation of
Israel in other words.
00:14:39.80\00:14:43.30
And now notice the tragic story.
00:14:43.33\00:14:45.91
It says here, in verse 7,
00:14:45.94\00:14:50.69
because it didn't have
fruit because he found none,
00:14:50.72\00:14:53.41
it says in verse 6.
00:14:53.44\00:14:55.15
Then verse 7 says, "Then he said
to the keeper of his vineyard,"
00:14:55.18\00:14:58.32
By the way the keeper
of the vineyard is whom?
00:14:58.35\00:15:00.96
The keeper of the
vineyard is Jesus.
00:15:00.99\00:15:02.68
He got the Father,
chose the nation of Israel
00:15:02.71\00:15:06.35
and he put it under the tutelage
or under the care of Jesus.
00:15:06.38\00:15:10.90
So it says, "Then he said
to the keeper of his vineyard
00:15:10.93\00:15:14.13
'Look, for three years" do you
understand the chronology now?
00:15:14.16\00:15:18.86
Six months John the
Baptist had been preaching.
00:15:18.89\00:15:21.32
This is two and a half years
into the ministry of Jesus,
00:15:21.35\00:15:24.16
that's a total of three years.
00:15:24.19\00:15:26.82
So he says,
"Look for three years
00:15:26.85\00:15:29.52
I come seeking" what?
00:15:29.55\00:15:32.37
Fruit on this fig
tree and find none."
00:15:32.40\00:15:36.86
Are these the same basic themes
00:15:36.89\00:15:38.67
that we found in
Matthew Chapter 3?
00:15:38.70\00:15:40.65
A tree, that
needs to bear fruit.
00:15:40.68\00:15:43.57
If it doesn't bear
fruit, it will suffer judgment
00:15:43.60\00:15:46.58
and be cast into
the fire? Absolutely.
00:15:46.61\00:15:49.89
So notice what the
owner of the vineyard says,
00:15:49.92\00:15:53.55
because no fruit is found,
because the fruit of the spirit
00:15:53.58\00:15:56.59
is not found during
this period of three years.
00:15:56.62\00:16:00.25
The owner of the vineyard
says this, "Cut it down."
00:16:00.28\00:16:05.81
He said the same thing
that John the Baptist said.
00:16:05.84\00:16:08.35
Sure, we have the same
themes in this parable.
00:16:08.38\00:16:11.16
Cut it down.
00:16:11.19\00:16:13.08
Why doesn't use up the ground?
00:16:13.11\00:16:17.02
And now notice, "The vinedresser
00:16:17.05\00:16:20.37
or the keeper of the
vineyard loved this fig tree.
00:16:20.40\00:16:24.58
And so it says in
verse 8, "But he answered
00:16:24.61\00:16:27.58
and said to him, 'Sir,
let it alone this year"'
00:16:27.61\00:16:33.54
How many more
years? One more year.
00:16:33.57\00:16:37.53
How long did the
ministry of Jesus last?
00:16:37.56\00:16:41.23
Three and a half years, right?
00:16:41.26\00:16:45.03
How far into the
ministry of Jesus
00:16:45.06\00:16:47.51
and John the Baptist are
we at this point? Three years.
00:16:47.54\00:16:51.72
How many years left
in the ministry of Jesus?
00:16:51.75\00:16:54.37
One year.
00:16:54.40\00:16:56.33
So this is Jesus saying,
this last year of My ministry,
00:16:56.36\00:17:00.60
I'm going to dedicate special
attention to this fig tree.
00:17:00.63\00:17:04.66
Verse 8, "But he
answered and said to him,
00:17:04.69\00:17:07.02
'Sir, let it
alone this year also,
00:17:07.05\00:17:11.54
until I dig around
it and fertilize it.
00:17:11.57\00:17:15.90
And if it bears fruit, well.
00:17:15.93\00:17:19.84
But if not, after
that you can"' what?
00:17:19.87\00:17:23.60
"You can cut it down."
00:17:23.63\00:17:27.24
Is this parable connected with
what John the Baptist taught?
00:17:27.27\00:17:30.80
Absolutely. It
speaks about a tree.
00:17:30.83\00:17:33.90
It speaks about fruit.
00:17:33.93\00:17:36.13
It speaks about cutting
it down if there is no fruit.
00:17:36.16\00:17:39.36
It speaks about repentance.
00:17:39.39\00:17:41.34
And even the chronology fits
00:17:41.37\00:17:43.85
the ministry of John the Baptist
00:17:43.88\00:17:45.90
along with the
ministry of Jesus.
00:17:45.93\00:17:48.55
Now the parable ends there
00:17:48.58\00:17:50.82
and you're left
with the question.
00:17:50.85\00:17:52.97
Did this fig tree
produce fruit in its last year?
00:17:53.00\00:17:59.11
The fact is that you don't
know at this point in the story.
00:17:59.14\00:18:02.60
Jesus closes the
parable in suspense.
00:18:02.63\00:18:05.81
By the way he did the same thing
00:18:05.84\00:18:07.29
in the Parable
of the Prodigal Son.
00:18:07.32\00:18:09.74
You know the prodigal son
was not the one who left home.
00:18:09.77\00:18:12.44
The prodigal son was
the one who was at home.
00:18:12.47\00:18:15.09
He was lost at home.
00:18:15.12\00:18:17.76
You know, and his
father goes out to him
00:18:17.79\00:18:19.51
and he tries to reason with him.
00:18:19.54\00:18:21.74
And the story
ends without us knowing
00:18:21.77\00:18:24.90
whether the
older son was convinced
00:18:24.93\00:18:26.90
by the arguments
of his father or not.
00:18:26.93\00:18:28.80
You see the older son
represented the Jewish nation.
00:18:28.83\00:18:31.69
They said we've served you.
00:18:31.72\00:18:33.13
We've done everything you said.
00:18:33.16\00:18:34.84
And we deserve the reward not
those Gentiles who are sinners
00:18:34.87\00:18:38.47
and they wasted
everything that you have.
00:18:38.50\00:18:40.76
You know if anybody deserves
a party, it's us not them.
00:18:40.79\00:18:44.94
And so the
parable ends in suspense.
00:18:44.97\00:18:47.61
You don't know at this point,
00:18:47.64\00:18:49.82
one year before the end
of the ministry of Jesus,
00:18:49.85\00:18:53.07
whether this fig tree,
whether the Jewish nation
00:18:53.10\00:18:56.27
actually bore fruit
and was not cut down.
00:18:56.30\00:19:00.22
Of course, we who are
living in the 21st Century
00:19:00.25\00:19:02.97
can look back and
know the end of the story.
00:19:03.00\00:19:05.03
But at this point they did
not know the end of the story,
00:19:05.06\00:19:07.94
whether national Israel
would accept this calling
00:19:07.97\00:19:11.66
and bear the fruit
of the spirit or not.
00:19:11.69\00:19:15.27
That's the
reason why we need to go
00:19:15.30\00:19:17.36
to a third passage
that refers to this tree.
00:19:17.39\00:19:21.13
You see the last week
00:19:21.16\00:19:22.80
of the ministry of
Jesus on this earth.
00:19:22.83\00:19:25.69
It is actually
taking place on the Monday
00:19:25.72\00:19:28.68
before His crucifixion.
00:19:28.71\00:19:30.68
We meet this fig tree again.
00:19:30.71\00:19:34.99
This is almost at
the end of that last year
00:19:35.02\00:19:38.41
of the ministry of Jesus.
00:19:38.44\00:19:40.22
Notice Matthew 21:17-19.
00:19:40.25\00:19:44.55
Matthew 21:17-19.
00:19:44.58\00:19:50.29
Same tree all over again.
00:19:50.32\00:19:52.19
But now we're going to know
the destiny of the fig tree.
00:19:52.22\00:19:56.44
We're going to notice
that it did not bear fruit
00:19:56.47\00:19:59.13
at the end of that year.
00:19:59.16\00:20:01.44
It says there,
beginning in verse 17,
00:20:01.47\00:20:05.21
"Then He left them and
went out of the city to Bethany,
00:20:05.24\00:20:10.21
and He lodged there.
00:20:10.24\00:20:12.37
Now in the
morning, as He returned
00:20:12.40\00:20:16.11
to the city, He was hungry."
00:20:16.14\00:20:20.02
What was Jesus hungry for?
00:20:20.05\00:20:21.60
He was hungry for the
fruit of spirit, right?
00:20:21.63\00:20:23.91
He was hungry.
00:20:23.94\00:20:25.83
"And seeing a what? A fig tree.
00:20:25.86\00:20:28.99
Is that the same fig
tree that He spoke about
00:20:29.02\00:20:30.85
in His parable in Luke
Chapter 13? Absolutely.
00:20:30.88\00:20:33.94
It says, "And seeing
a fig tree by the road,
00:20:33.97\00:20:38.37
he came to it and found
nothing on it but leaves."
00:20:38.40\00:20:44.82
Any fruit? No fruit.
00:20:44.85\00:20:47.72
And said to it, "Let no fruit
00:20:47.75\00:20:51.36
grow on you" until 1948.
00:20:51.39\00:20:56.88
Is that what it says?
That's not what it says.
00:20:56.91\00:21:00.79
Jesus actually says,
00:21:00.82\00:21:04.55
"Let no fruit grow
on you ever again."
00:21:04.58\00:21:10.23
Now what part of ever
again don't you understand?
00:21:10.26\00:21:13.78
It says, let no fruit
grow on you ever again.
00:21:13.81\00:21:18.88
And immediately the fig
tree, what? Withered away.
00:21:18.91\00:21:25.32
Now notice the
passage in Mark 11:20, 21.
00:21:25.35\00:21:29.39
This is taking
place the very next day.
00:21:29.42\00:21:31.55
Mark 11:20, 21.
00:21:31.58\00:21:36.22
Now in the
morning as they passed by,
00:21:36.25\00:21:40.67
they saw the fig
tree, notice this,
00:21:40.70\00:21:43.75
dried up from the roots.
00:21:43.78\00:21:49.54
Let me ask you what happens
00:21:49.57\00:21:50.94
when the tree
dries up from the roots?
00:21:50.97\00:21:54.11
Will it grow
again? No, absolutely not.
00:21:54.14\00:21:59.08
What would you do
with the tree like that?
00:21:59.11\00:22:00.90
You have to what?
Cut it down, of course.
00:22:00.93\00:22:04.36
So it says, "Now in the morning,
00:22:04.39\00:22:06.13
as they passed by,
they saw the fig tree
00:22:06.16\00:22:07.99
dried up from the roots.
00:22:08.02\00:22:10.00
And Peter, remembering,
said to Him, "Rabbi, look!
00:22:10.03\00:22:16.36
The fig tree which
You cursed has" what?
00:22:16.39\00:22:20.08
"Withered away."
00:22:20.11\00:22:22.04
By the way, do
you know what happened
00:22:22.07\00:22:23.44
to the Jewish
nation in the year 70?
00:22:23.47\00:22:25.85
The City of
Jerusalem was burned.
00:22:25.88\00:22:29.94
Do you remember what
John the Baptist said?
00:22:29.97\00:22:31.73
He said that if the
tree did not bear fruit
00:22:31.76\00:22:33.94
it would be cut
down and cast where?
00:22:33.97\00:22:37.07
And it would be
cast into the fire.
00:22:37.10\00:22:39.84
That's exactly what
happened with national Israel,
00:22:39.87\00:22:43.35
because of the
rejection of the Messiah.
00:22:43.38\00:22:47.69
Now I would like
to take a few moments
00:22:47.72\00:22:49.44
also to speak about
the vineyard, even though
00:22:49.47\00:22:52.12
this is not brought
forth in Matthew Chapter 24,
00:22:52.15\00:22:56.13
still because the
vineyard is a symbol of Israel,
00:22:56.16\00:22:59.29
I think we need to also
take a look at a parable
00:22:59.32\00:23:02.84
that Jesus told
in Matthew 21:33-46.
00:23:02.87\00:23:08.87
And I'm going to interpret
this parable as we go along.
00:23:08.90\00:23:11.29
Do you remember then Hosea 9:10,
00:23:11.32\00:23:13.98
the vineyard also
represented Israel.
00:23:14.01\00:23:16.15
So we notice the fig tree,
00:23:16.18\00:23:17.62
now let's talk
about the vineyard,
00:23:17.65\00:23:19.56
the other symbol of Israel.
00:23:19.59\00:23:21.62
Verse 33, here another parable.
00:23:21.65\00:23:26.04
"There was a certain landowner"
by the way that's God the Father
00:23:26.07\00:23:30.62
"who planted a
vineyard." That's Israel.
00:23:30.65\00:23:35.11
"And set a hedge around it."
00:23:35.14\00:23:37.68
That's the law of God.
00:23:37.71\00:23:39.93
"Dug a winepress in
it and built a tower."
00:23:39.96\00:23:42.97
That's the temple.
00:23:43.00\00:23:45.09
"And he leased
it to vinedressers."
00:23:45.12\00:23:47.68
That's the Jewish leaders.
00:23:47.71\00:23:50.28
"And went into a far country."
00:23:50.31\00:23:52.56
That is to heaven
is the far country.
00:23:52.59\00:23:54.86
Are you getting the
picture of what this is saying?
00:23:54.89\00:23:57.69
Now notice verse 34,
00:23:57.72\00:24:00.50
"Now when
vintage-time drew near,
00:24:00.53\00:24:03.35
he sent his servants
to the vinedressers."
00:24:03.38\00:24:06.29
By the way these
servants that are sent
00:24:06.32\00:24:08.30
are those that are sent
before the Babylonian captivity.
00:24:08.33\00:24:11.12
God sent many prophets to
Israel to get them to come back
00:24:11.15\00:24:14.30
to the Lord, to
follow the way of the Lord.
00:24:14.33\00:24:16.50
That's the stage
that's been mentioned here.
00:24:16.53\00:24:18.59
So it says, "Now
when vintage-time
00:24:18.62\00:24:20.81
drew near, he sent his
servants to the vinedressers."
00:24:20.84\00:24:23.75
This is before the
Babylonian captivity.
00:24:23.78\00:24:26.49
"That they might
receive its fruit."
00:24:26.52\00:24:28.72
So God expected fruit.
00:24:28.75\00:24:30.12
He says, I've given
you all of the advantages,
00:24:30.15\00:24:31.80
I fertilized you, I watered you,
00:24:31.83\00:24:33.74
I've given you
all of the blessing
00:24:33.77\00:24:35.14
above every nation on earth,
now I expect some returns,
00:24:35.17\00:24:38.88
I expect the
fruit of the spirit.
00:24:38.91\00:24:41.33
Verse 35, "And the vinedressers
00:24:41.36\00:24:43.93
took his servants, beat one,
killed one, and stoned another."
00:24:43.96\00:24:48.77
Is this what they
did with the prophets
00:24:48.80\00:24:50.33
in the Old Testament? Yes.
00:24:50.36\00:24:52.28
In fact Jesus tells
about it in Matthew 23:36.
00:24:52.31\00:24:57.37
Again He sent other servants.
00:24:57.40\00:24:59.94
By the way this is after
the Babylonian captivity.
00:24:59.97\00:25:02.80
So he sends other
servants more than the first.
00:25:02.83\00:25:05.98
Prophets like Zechariah,
Haggai, Malachi, Zerubavel,
00:25:06.01\00:25:10.19
Joshua the high
priest, many, many individuals,
00:25:10.22\00:25:14.29
after the Babylonian captivity.
00:25:14.32\00:25:16.13
But notice what
happened to them.
00:25:16.16\00:25:17.73
They did likewise to them.
00:25:17.76\00:25:21.03
And now notice,
"Then last of all."
00:25:21.06\00:25:25.02
Does that have
some finality to it
00:25:25.05\00:25:26.77
when it says, last of all?
00:25:26.80\00:25:28.67
Is this the last
straw? Yes, it is.
00:25:28.70\00:25:31.16
Then last of all He
sent His son, who is that?
00:25:31.19\00:25:35.61
Jesus to them, saying,
they will respect my Son.
00:25:35.64\00:25:41.19
But when the
vinedressers saw the son,
00:25:41.22\00:25:43.25
they said among
themselves, this is the heir.
00:25:43.28\00:25:47.23
Come, let us kill him
and seize his inheritance.
00:25:47.26\00:25:53.80
Who are those who said that?
00:25:53.83\00:25:55.20
Let us kill him and
seize his inheritance?
00:25:55.23\00:25:57.92
It was national Israel.
00:25:57.95\00:26:00.01
Verse 39, "So they took him
00:26:00.04\00:26:02.50
and cast him out
of the vineyard."
00:26:02.53\00:26:04.62
Did Jesus die
outside of Jerusalem,
00:26:04.65\00:26:06.97
outside the gate
according to Hebrews?
00:26:07.00\00:26:09.11
"Yes, and killed him."
00:26:09.14\00:26:12.51
Now Jesus is
going to ask a question,
00:26:12.54\00:26:15.14
"Therefore, when the
owner of the vineyard comes,
00:26:15.17\00:26:17.86
what will he do to
those vinedressers?"
00:26:17.89\00:26:21.86
They said to
Him, "He will destroy
00:26:21.89\00:26:24.54
those wicked men miserably,
00:26:24.57\00:26:27.41
and lease his
vineyard to other vinedressers"
00:26:27.44\00:26:31.36
who would those be?
00:26:31.39\00:26:33.11
Those would be the Gentiles,
exactly and lease his vineyard
00:26:33.14\00:26:37.29
to other vinedressers who
will render to him the what?
00:26:37.32\00:26:41.63
"The fruits in their seasons."
00:26:41.66\00:26:43.91
So did the original
recipients produce fruit?
00:26:43.94\00:26:47.06
No. So God is saying,
I'm going to give my vineyard
00:26:47.09\00:26:50.85
to another people who
will bear the fruits there off.
00:26:50.88\00:26:55.83
Verse 42, "Jesus said to them,
00:26:55.86\00:26:58.72
"Have you never
read in the Scriptures,
00:26:58.75\00:27:01.27
'The stone' that is Jesus,
00:27:01.30\00:27:03.06
"The stone which
the builders rejected
00:27:03.09\00:27:05.62
has become the
chief cornerstone.
00:27:05.65\00:27:07.87
This was the Lord's doing,
00:27:07.90\00:27:09.57
and it is
marvelous in our eyes'?
00:27:09.60\00:27:12.07
Therefore I say
to you," Notice this,
00:27:12.10\00:27:15.56
"The kingdom of
God will be" what?
00:27:15.59\00:27:18.78
"Taken from you and given
to a nation bearing" the what?
00:27:18.81\00:27:25.71
"The fruits of it."
00:27:25.74\00:27:27.22
Was the kingdom taken
away from national Israel,
00:27:27.25\00:27:29.96
according to Jesus?
00:27:29.99\00:27:31.36
Absolutely, whom was it given
00:27:31.39\00:27:33.29
to according to
the Book of Acts?
00:27:33.32\00:27:35.25
It was given to the Gentiles
00:27:35.28\00:27:37.55
who received Jesus
as Savior and Lord.
00:27:37.58\00:27:40.74
Notice verse 44, "And
whoever falls on this stone
00:27:40.77\00:27:44.65
will be broken,"
Jesus is the stone,
00:27:44.68\00:27:46.77
"but on whomever it falls,
it will grind him to powder."
00:27:46.80\00:27:51.31
Now when the chief
priests and Pharisees
00:27:51.34\00:27:54.82
heard His
parables, they perceived
00:27:54.85\00:27:57.46
that He was speaking of, whom?
00:27:57.49\00:27:59.76
That He was speaking of them.
00:27:59.79\00:28:04.07
Now let's go back
to the fig tree episode
00:28:04.10\00:28:06.63
in Matthew Chapter 24.
00:28:06.66\00:28:09.53
The argument is that fig tree,
the budding of the fig tree
00:28:09.56\00:28:13.01
represents national Israel
and that this budding of Israel
00:28:13.04\00:28:18.54
as a nation in 1948
is the greatest sign
00:28:18.57\00:28:22.60
of the imminence of
the coming of Jesus.
00:28:22.63\00:28:26.03
The fact is if you
read these versus carefully
00:28:26.06\00:28:29.35
you're gonna notice
that it is not this sign
00:28:29.38\00:28:32.52
that shows that the
coming of Jesus is imminent,
00:28:32.55\00:28:35.25
but actually it says there,
when you see all these things
00:28:35.28\00:28:39.90
know that His coming is near.
00:28:39.93\00:28:42.10
It's not that
one particular sign
00:28:42.13\00:28:44.51
that shows that the end is near.
00:28:44.54\00:28:46.78
It is the whole
accumulation of signs,
00:28:46.81\00:28:49.55
because in Matthew 24 it says,
00:28:49.58\00:28:51.12
"When you see all these things,
then know that it is near."
00:28:51.15\00:28:57.14
Also in Luke 21:29-31,
00:28:57.17\00:29:02.27
we find a very
interesting detail
00:29:02.30\00:29:04.60
about the fig tree that is
not found in Matthew Chapter 24.
00:29:04.63\00:29:09.44
And I want you to notice
this very important detail.
00:29:09.47\00:29:12.59
By the way what I'm saying
is that in Matthew Chapter 24,
00:29:12.62\00:29:15.93
Jesus is not
refereeing to the fig tree
00:29:15.96\00:29:18.67
as representing national Israel.
00:29:18.70\00:29:20.79
He's simply saying, you know,
00:29:20.82\00:29:22.31
when you see the
fig tree budding,
00:29:22.34\00:29:24.31
you know, that
the summer is near.
00:29:24.34\00:29:25.88
So, you know, when
you see all these signs,
00:29:25.91\00:29:28.60
it's a sign that
Jesus is soon to come.
00:29:28.63\00:29:31.06
In another words, the fig tree
00:29:31.09\00:29:32.46
has no particular
relevance or important
00:29:32.49\00:29:34.78
as the symbol of
Israel and Luke proves that.
00:29:34.81\00:29:38.16
Notice Luke 21:29-31.
00:29:38.19\00:29:42.78
"Then He spoke
to them a parable,
00:29:42.81\00:29:45.86
'Look at the fig tree,'"
and now don't miss this point
00:29:45.89\00:29:48.92
"Look at the fig tree and what?
00:29:48.95\00:29:52.14
"All the trees."
00:29:52.17\00:29:53.54
Is there something
specifically important
00:29:53.57\00:29:55.03
about the fig tree in itself?
00:29:55.06\00:29:56.78
No. it says, look at the
fig tree and all the trees.
00:29:56.81\00:30:01.67
"When they are already budding,"
00:30:01.70\00:30:04.67
not only the fig tree but when
all of the trees are budding
00:30:04.70\00:30:08.73
"you see and know for yourself
that summer is now near.
00:30:08.76\00:30:13.12
So you also," notice this
00:30:13.15\00:30:15.76
"when you see
these things happening,"
00:30:15.79\00:30:19.21
not just the-- you know,
00:30:19.24\00:30:21.24
the sign of the
budding of the fig tree
00:30:21.27\00:30:23.39
but when you see all
these things happening
00:30:23.42\00:30:25.88
"know that the
kingdom of God is near."
00:30:25.91\00:30:31.40
Now I want to go
to another episode
00:30:31.43\00:30:33.41
that speaks about the fig tree
and in this passage the fig tree
00:30:33.44\00:30:37.31
is particularly significant
as a symbol of Israel.
00:30:37.34\00:30:41.84
Go with me to John Chapter 1
and we'll read verses 43 to 48.
00:30:41.87\00:30:46.47
John 1:43-48. This is
the encounter of Jesus
00:30:46.50\00:30:52.54
with one of His
disciples, Nathanael.
00:30:52.57\00:30:55.89
And you probably
read this before,
00:30:55.92\00:30:58.42
but now let's take a look
at some of the details here.
00:30:58.45\00:31:01.21
John 1 beginning with verse 43,
00:31:01.24\00:31:05.47
"The following day
Jesus wanted to go to Galilee,
00:31:05.50\00:31:09.70
and He found Philip and
said to him, 'Follow Me.'
00:31:09.73\00:31:13.76
Now Philip was from Bethsaida,
the city of Andrew and Peter.
00:31:13.79\00:31:19.35
Philip found
Nathanael and said to him,
00:31:19.38\00:31:21.68
'We have found Him of
whom Moses in the law,
00:31:21.71\00:31:26.00
and also the prophets,
wrote--Jesus of Nazareth,
00:31:26.03\00:31:30.11
the son of
Joseph.' And Nathanael--"
00:31:30.14\00:31:32.72
Notice that at
first he's incredulous.
00:31:32.75\00:31:34.53
He doesn't believe.
"And Nathanael said to him,
00:31:34.56\00:31:37.57
'Can anything good
come out of Nazareth?'
00:31:37.60\00:31:41.59
Philip said to
him, 'Come and see.'
00:31:41.62\00:31:45.57
Jesus saw
Nathanael coming toward Him,
00:31:45.60\00:31:47.99
and said of him, 'Behold,--"
00:31:48.02\00:31:50.79
A what? "An Israelite indeed."
00:31:50.82\00:31:57.32
Now let me ask you if
there is an Israelite indeed
00:31:57.35\00:32:00.60
must there be Israelites
not indeed. Absolutely.
00:32:00.63\00:32:05.32
By the way, this
is becomes very clear
00:32:05.35\00:32:08.65
when you notice the
Greek word that is used here.
00:32:08.68\00:32:11.82
It's the Greek word 'Alethinos'
00:32:11.85\00:32:14.38
which is better
translated 'genuine.'
00:32:14.41\00:32:17.67
In other words a better
translation would be "Behold,
00:32:17.70\00:32:21.75
a genuine Israelite,
in whom is no deceit."
00:32:21.78\00:32:28.23
The word "deceit"
here is the word 'pseudos'.
00:32:28.26\00:32:31.88
The word
pseudos, there is no lie,
00:32:31.91\00:32:33.84
there is no deceit,
00:32:33.87\00:32:35.24
there is no counterfeit
in Him, in other words.
00:32:35.27\00:32:39.11
Now, if there are
genuine Israelites,
00:32:39.14\00:32:41.97
if Nathanael was
a genuine Israelite.
00:32:42.00\00:32:45.45
Let me ask you,
00:32:45.48\00:32:46.85
must there be
Israelites who are not genuine?
00:32:46.88\00:32:50.35
Sure, in fact the
new International Version
00:32:50.38\00:32:52.91
instead of
translating 'Israelite indeed'
00:32:52.94\00:32:56.60
it translates
'a true Israelite',
00:32:56.63\00:33:00.22
'a genuine real
Israelite' in other words.
00:33:00.25\00:33:04.71
Now the interesting
thing is, if you read verse 49,
00:33:04.74\00:33:08.39
when Jesus
finally finds Nathanael,
00:33:08.42\00:33:11.49
He finds him sitting where?
00:33:11.52\00:33:14.45
He finds him
sitting under a fig tree.
00:33:14.48\00:33:17.24
Now isn't this interesting?
00:33:17.27\00:33:20.24
In fact, going
once again to verse 48,
00:33:20.27\00:33:23.61
it says "Nathanael said
to Him, 'How do You know me?'
00:33:23.64\00:33:28.07
Jesus answered and said to him,
00:33:28.10\00:33:30.04
'Before Philip called you,
when you were under the" What?
00:33:30.07\00:33:33.95
"When you were under
the fig tree, I saw you."
00:33:33.98\00:33:37.61
Now, what I find
interesting here is that
00:33:37.64\00:33:39.83
the true Israelite was sitting
under the symbol of Israel.
00:33:39.86\00:33:44.30
In other words,
Nathanael was a true Israelite
00:33:44.33\00:33:47.26
and he was
sitting under a fig tree
00:33:47.29\00:33:49.37
which was a symbol of
what? Was a symbol of Israel.
00:33:49.40\00:33:54.42
In other words
what wee find here
00:33:54.45\00:33:56.73
is an indication that
there are genuine Israelites
00:33:56.76\00:34:00.83
and there are
counterfeit Israelites.
00:34:00.86\00:34:03.99
Now the question is,
how do you distinguish
00:34:04.02\00:34:06.73
the genuine
from the counterfeit?
00:34:06.76\00:34:08.80
Is it simply because you know,
you're a genuine Israelite,
00:34:08.83\00:34:12.13
because you have Jewish
blood flowing though your veins
00:34:12.16\00:34:16.18
or because you live
perhaps in Jerusalem
00:34:16.21\00:34:18.52
or perhaps your last
name is Goldstein or Goldberg?
00:34:18.55\00:34:22.31
You know, I don't think so.
00:34:22.34\00:34:23.71
In fact I know that
that's not the case.
00:34:23.74\00:34:25.69
Do you know what made Nathanael
a true Israelite indeed?
00:34:25.72\00:34:30.95
Verse 49 explains it,
when Jesus spoke to Nathanael
00:34:30.98\00:34:35.74
and He said, "You
are a genuine Israelite."
00:34:35.77\00:34:39.96
What did Nathanael confessed?
00:34:39.99\00:34:42.23
He says, "You are the Christ,
the Son of the living God."
00:34:42.26\00:34:48.16
In other words, Nathanael
recognized Jesus as the what?
00:34:48.19\00:34:52.49
As the Messiah. That's
what made him true Israel.
00:34:52.52\00:34:56.99
So you have this true Israelite
00:34:57.02\00:34:58.81
because he
confesses Jesus Christ
00:34:58.84\00:35:01.06
and he's sitting
under the fig tree
00:35:01.09\00:35:03.12
which is a symbol of Israel.
00:35:03.15\00:35:06.08
All of these
things merge together
00:35:06.11\00:35:08.34
to indicate what
a true Israelite is.
00:35:08.37\00:35:11.90
In other words
there is genuine Israel
00:35:11.93\00:35:14.33
and there is counterfeit Israel.
00:35:14.36\00:35:16.18
Genuine Israel
are those who received
00:35:16.21\00:35:19.10
Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
00:35:19.13\00:35:22.07
By the way, Jesus
also made this distinction.
00:35:22.10\00:35:25.81
Notice John Chapter 8 and
we'll read several texts here,
00:35:25.84\00:35:30.36
John 8:37-45. John 8:37-45.
00:35:30.39\00:35:37.58
Did Jesus believe
that there are Jews
00:35:37.61\00:35:39.43
and then there are Jews?
00:35:39.46\00:35:41.14
He most certainly did.
00:35:41.17\00:35:42.54
What is that defines a
true one from a counterfeit one?
00:35:42.57\00:35:46.19
Notice John 8:37,
00:35:46.22\00:35:50.60
Jesus says to those literal
Jews who are listening to Him,
00:35:50.63\00:35:54.05
"I know that you are
Abraham's descendants,
00:35:54.08\00:35:58.59
but you seek to kill Me,
00:35:58.62\00:36:00.52
because My word
has no place in you.
00:36:00.55\00:36:03.35
I speak what I have
seen with My Father,
00:36:03.38\00:36:06.14
and you do what you
have seen with your father."
00:36:06.17\00:36:09.89
Now Jesus is gonna
reach a very climatic
00:36:09.92\00:36:12.75
and disturbing
argument in a few moments.
00:36:12.78\00:36:16.47
He says, "I got my Father
and you have your father."
00:36:16.50\00:36:19.68
Verse 39, "They
answered and said to Him,
00:36:19.71\00:36:22.67
"Abraham is our father."
00:36:22.70\00:36:24.65
Jesus said to them, "If--"
Notice, this is a big 'if.'
00:36:24.69\00:36:28.09
"If you were
Abraham's children--"
00:36:28.12\00:36:30.47
Is Jesus denying that they
are Abraham's children here?
00:36:30.50\00:36:33.60
Of course, he's
saying, "If you were."
00:36:33.63\00:36:36.48
Which means that they
are what? That they are not.
00:36:36.51\00:36:39.67
He saying, "If you
were Abraham's children
00:36:39.70\00:36:42.96
you would do the--" what?
00:36:42.99\00:36:44.88
"The works of Abraham."
00:36:44.91\00:36:46.28
So are they Abraham's children
00:36:46.31\00:36:47.68
according to the
definition of Jesus?
00:36:47.71\00:36:49.08
Absolutely not.
They are but they aren't.
00:36:49.11\00:36:51.73
Notice verse 40, "But--"
00:36:51.76\00:36:55.20
Say, if you were
Abraham's children you know,
00:36:55.23\00:36:58.25
you would do the
works of Abraham,
00:36:58.28\00:36:59.76
"But now you seek to kill Me,
00:36:59.79\00:37:04.52
a Man who has told you the
truth which I heard from God.
00:37:04.55\00:37:08.28
Abraham did not do this."
00:37:08.31\00:37:11.07
In other words,
what Jesus is saying
00:37:11.10\00:37:12.47
is you claim to be
the children of Abraham.
00:37:12.50\00:37:14.57
Abraham look forward to My day,
00:37:14.60\00:37:16.75
he loved Me when he saw Me
00:37:16.78\00:37:18.36
from a far and
you want to kill Me.
00:37:18.39\00:37:20.09
So how is that you say
that you are Abraham's children
00:37:20.12\00:37:23.21
if he loved Me and
you want to kill Me?
00:37:23.24\00:37:26.63
He's denying that they
are Abraham's children.
00:37:26.66\00:37:29.15
Notice, Jesus
continues saying in verse 41,
00:37:29.18\00:37:33.35
"You do the
deeds of your father."
00:37:33.38\00:37:36.74
Then they said to Him,
00:37:36.77\00:37:38.14
'We were not
born of fornication.
00:37:38.17\00:37:39.60
We have one Father, God.'
00:37:39.63\00:37:42.55
Jesus said to them, 'If--'"
00:37:42.58\00:37:44.26
Notice once again the key word,
"If God were your Father--"
00:37:44.29\00:37:49.01
Is Jesus denying that
God is their father? Yes.
00:37:49.04\00:37:51.99
"If God were your
Father you would love Me,
00:37:52.02\00:37:55.45
for I proceeded
forth and came from God
00:37:55.48\00:37:58.88
nor have I come of
Myself, but He sent Me.
00:37:58.91\00:38:02.30
Why do you not
understand My speech,
00:38:02.33\00:38:05.31
because you are not
able to listen to My word."
00:38:05.34\00:38:08.12
And then Jesus says something
very politically incorrect,
00:38:08.15\00:38:11.63
He says, "You are of
your father the devil."
00:38:11.66\00:38:15.59
Were they literal Jews?
00:38:15.62\00:38:17.76
Were they literally
children of Abraham?
00:38:17.79\00:38:20.06
Yes, they were but
were they really Jews
00:38:20.09\00:38:22.68
or children of Abraham?
00:38:22.71\00:38:24.08
No, because they had to
have the faith of Abraham.
00:38:24.11\00:38:26.50
So notice verse 41,
00:38:26.53\00:38:28.15
"You are of
your father the devil
00:38:28.18\00:38:29.60
and the desires of
your father you want to do.
00:38:29.63\00:38:32.41
He was a murderer
from the beginning,
00:38:32.44\00:38:34.43
and does not stand in the truth,
00:38:34.46\00:38:36.13
because there
is no truth in him.
00:38:36.16\00:38:38.71
When he speaks a lie, he
speaks from his own resources
00:38:38.74\00:38:42.27
for he is a liar
and the father of it."
00:38:42.30\00:38:46.93
Do you see the contrast here?
00:38:46.96\00:38:48.54
Nathanael, there was no
deceit, there was no lie.
00:38:48.57\00:38:53.58
And in Jesus there was no
what? In Jesus there was no lie.
00:38:53.61\00:38:59.44
By the way the
great Apostle Paul
00:38:59.47\00:39:01.09
also confirms what Jesus taught
00:39:01.12\00:39:03.94
in "The Parable of the Fig Tree,
in the Parable of Vineyard"
00:39:03.97\00:39:07.52
and what He
thought in John Chapter 8
00:39:07.55\00:39:09.63
as well as in John Chapter 1.
00:39:09.66\00:39:11.87
Let's notice what
the Apostle Paul says,
00:39:11.90\00:39:13.68
because most Christians
today use the Apostle Paul
00:39:13.71\00:39:16.71
and they say, "Well, you know,
00:39:16.74\00:39:18.11
the Apostle Paul believed
that God had two peoples,
00:39:18.14\00:39:20.27
the literal Jews and
then He turn to the Gentiles.
00:39:20.30\00:39:23.12
And then when the times
of the Gentiles are over--
00:39:23.15\00:39:25.32
we'll have a lecture on
the times of Gentiles later on,
00:39:25.35\00:39:27.91
then the church is
gonna be rapture to heaven
00:39:27.94\00:39:30.19
and then God is gonna pick
up of a literal Jews again,
00:39:30.22\00:39:32.63
with nation Israel again."
00:39:32.66\00:39:34.81
Let's see what the Apostle
Paul defines as true Israel.
00:39:34.84\00:39:38.78
Romans 2:28 and
29. Romans 2:28 and 29.
00:39:38.81\00:39:45.95
This is explicit.
00:39:45.98\00:39:47.46
It's hard to understand
how anybody in the world
00:39:47.49\00:39:50.36
could misunderstand what
the Apostle Paul is saying.
00:39:50.39\00:39:53.74
"For he is not a Jew
who is one outwardly."
00:39:53.77\00:39:59.36
Let me ask you,
00:39:59.39\00:40:00.76
are there outward Jews
that are not really Jews,
00:40:00.79\00:40:03.26
according to the definition
of the Apostle Paul? Absolutely.
00:40:03.29\00:40:06.70
He says, "For he is not
a Jew who is one outwardly,
00:40:06.73\00:40:10.17
nor is circumcision that
which is outward in the flesh."
00:40:10.20\00:40:14.05
See, the Jews were distinguished
by their circumcision.
00:40:14.08\00:40:16.24
He says, "Circumcision
doesn't make you a Jew."
00:40:16.27\00:40:19.47
Verse 29, "But he is a
Jew who is one--" What?
00:40:19.50\00:40:24.10
"Inwardly, and circumcision
is that of the heart,
00:40:24.13\00:40:29.45
in the spirit not in the letter
00:40:29.48\00:40:31.84
whose praise is not
from men, but from God."
00:40:31.87\00:40:37.36
So let me ask
you, are there Jews
00:40:37.39\00:40:38.97
and then are there Jews?
00:40:39.00\00:40:40.61
Absolutely. What
is a true Israelite?
00:40:40.64\00:40:44.67
A true Israelite is
one who has accepted
00:40:44.70\00:40:47.67
Jesus Christ as Savor and Lord,
00:40:47.70\00:40:49.47
their heart has
been circumcised by Jesus
00:40:49.50\00:40:52.14
and their life is under
the control of Holy Spirit
00:40:52.17\00:40:55.79
because it says here
00:40:55.82\00:40:57.19
"In the spirit
not in the letter."
00:40:57.22\00:40:59.42
Of course the Jews
love to live by the letter.
00:40:59.45\00:41:02.10
Notice, Romans Chapter 9:6-8.
00:41:02.13\00:41:05.12
And by the way,
00:41:05.15\00:41:06.52
when I speak about
the Jews of Christ day
00:41:06.55\00:41:08.63
I am not-- this
is not any reflection
00:41:08.66\00:41:10.86
on any individual
who is a Jew today.
00:41:10.89\00:41:14.05
God loves the Jews, intensely.
00:41:14.08\00:41:16.55
He loves them with a deep love.
00:41:16.58\00:41:19.37
And by the way, it's not saying
00:41:19.40\00:41:21.50
either that Israel
cannot exist as a nation.
00:41:21.53\00:41:24.68
I am simply taking
00:41:24.71\00:41:26.08
the biblical definition
of what true Israel is,
00:41:26.11\00:41:30.13
what a true Jew is
according to scripture,
00:41:30.16\00:41:33.22
because it has huge
prophetic implications.
00:41:33.25\00:41:36.69
Notice Romans
9:6-8, Romans 9:6-8.
00:41:36.72\00:41:41.97
Here the Apostle Paul says this,
00:41:42.00\00:41:44.40
"But it is not that the word
of God has taken no effect."
00:41:44.43\00:41:47.90
Now, notice this,
00:41:47.93\00:41:49.30
"For they are not all
Israel, who are of Israel."
00:41:49.33\00:41:54.89
You'll say that's ridiculous.
00:41:54.92\00:41:56.32
So not all
Israelites are Israelites?
00:41:56.35\00:41:59.27
That's what the
Apostle Paul is saying.
00:41:59.30\00:42:00.98
So what is that, that
determines a true Israelite?
00:42:01.01\00:42:05.44
"Nor are they all children
00:42:05.47\00:42:08.87
because they are
the seed of Abraham."
00:42:08.90\00:42:10.77
Not everybody is Abraham's child
00:42:10.80\00:42:13.64
just because he descends
physically from Abraham.
00:42:13.67\00:42:16.31
"But, In Isaac your
seed shall be called.
00:42:16.34\00:42:20.59
That is, those who are
the children of the flesh,"
00:42:20.62\00:42:24.73
there is literal nations Jews.
00:42:24.76\00:42:27.42
"Those who are the
children of the flesh,
00:42:27.45\00:42:29.46
these are not
the children of God
00:42:29.49\00:42:33.24
but the children
of the promise--"
00:42:33.27\00:42:35.46
that is the
promise of the Messiah
00:42:35.49\00:42:37.35
"are counted as the seed."
00:42:37.38\00:42:39.87
How could the Apostle
Paul be more explicit than this
00:42:39.90\00:42:43.36
about the identity of Israel?
00:42:43.39\00:42:44.91
You see, God has transition
00:42:44.94\00:42:47.19
from literal
Israel as a chosen nation,
00:42:47.22\00:42:50.15
national Israel
as his chosen nation
00:42:50.18\00:42:52.50
the fig tree apostatize
and therefore it withered up
00:42:52.53\00:42:56.44
and it was burned in
the fire in the year 70.
00:42:56.47\00:42:58.97
That doesn't mean that
literal Jews could not be saved
00:42:59.00\00:43:01.42
who become linked with
Jesus Christ, the Messiah.
00:43:01.45\00:43:04.18
Then they become true Jews.
00:43:04.21\00:43:06.22
That's why you have a
huge number of Jews these days
00:43:06.25\00:43:09.11
that are
becoming messianic Jews.
00:43:09.14\00:43:12.15
Notice Galatians
3:26-29. Galatians 3:26-29.
00:43:12.18\00:43:19.01
Here the Apostle Paul says this,
00:43:19.04\00:43:21.65
"For you are all sons of God
through faith in Christ Jesus.
00:43:21.68\00:43:26.91
For as many of you as
were baptized into Christ--"
00:43:26.94\00:43:31.38
Notice this, "Into
Christ have put on Christ."
00:43:31.41\00:43:36.04
So if you are
baptized, you put on Christ.
00:43:36.07\00:43:39.19
What is the implication?
00:43:39.22\00:43:40.59
Verse 28, "There is
neither Jew nor Greek,
00:43:40.62\00:43:43.90
there is neither slave nor free,
00:43:43.93\00:43:46.00
there is
neither male nor female,
00:43:46.03\00:43:48.07
for you are all
one in Christ Jesus.
00:43:48.10\00:43:51.96
And if you are Christ
then you are Abraham's seed,
00:43:51.99\00:43:56.55
and heirs
according to the promise."
00:43:56.58\00:43:59.05
What determines
whether you are Abraham's seed?
00:43:59.08\00:44:01.49
It's not where you live,
00:44:01.52\00:44:02.98
it's not what
kind of blood you have,
00:44:03.01\00:44:04.90
it's not what your last name is.
00:44:04.93\00:44:07.12
It has to do with
whether you have linked up
00:44:07.15\00:44:09.75
your life with Jesus Christ
as your Savior and as your Lord.
00:44:09.78\00:44:15.66
By the way, the Apostle Paul
00:44:15.69\00:44:17.21
had this very, very clear
in his own life experience.
00:44:17.24\00:44:20.39
Notice what we find in
the Book of Philippians 3:3-8.
00:44:20.42\00:44:25.84
Philippians Chapter 3:3-8.
00:44:25.87\00:44:30.69
He's reminiscing
about his own experience.
00:44:30.72\00:44:34.17
So we should listen very
careful to the Apostle Paul,
00:44:34.20\00:44:36.59
because he's not just
giving a discourse in theology,
00:44:36.62\00:44:40.79
he's speaking about
his own practical life.
00:44:40.82\00:44:43.65
He says this, "For
we are the circumcision,
00:44:43.68\00:44:49.78
who worship God in the Spirit,
00:44:49.81\00:44:53.21
rejoice in Christ Jesus
00:44:53.24\00:44:55.46
and have no
confidence in the flesh."
00:44:55.49\00:44:59.76
What according
to the Apostle Paul
00:44:59.79\00:45:01.20
is the true circumcision?
00:45:01.23\00:45:03.30
It's not being a literal Jew,
00:45:03.33\00:45:05.41
it's not been a
national Israelite,
00:45:05.44\00:45:07.65
He says circumcision are those
who worship God in the spirit,
00:45:07.68\00:45:11.44
rejoice in Christ Jesus and
have no confidence in the flesh.
00:45:11.47\00:45:16.21
And then he explains
00:45:16.24\00:45:17.61
what he means by
confidence in the flesh.
00:45:17.64\00:45:19.12
He says, "Though, I also might
have confidence in the flesh."
00:45:19.15\00:45:22.92
Now he's gonna describe what
it means to be in the flesh?
00:45:22.95\00:45:24.87
It means to be a literal Jew
00:45:24.90\00:45:26.88
or a little
literal national Israelite.
00:45:26.91\00:45:29.64
He says, "Though, I also might
have confidence in the flesh.
00:45:29.67\00:45:33.96
If anyone else thinks
00:45:33.99\00:45:35.36
he may have confidence
in the flesh, I more so."
00:45:35.39\00:45:38.74
And then he gives a list.
00:45:38.77\00:45:40.14
He says,
"Circumcised the eighth day,
00:45:40.17\00:45:43.16
of the stock of Israel,
of the tribe of Benjamin,
00:45:43.19\00:45:46.79
a Hebrew of the Hebrews,
concerning the law of Pharisee,
00:45:46.82\00:45:51.31
concerning zeal,
persecuting the church,
00:45:51.34\00:45:54.44
concerning the righteousness
which is in the law, blameless."
00:45:54.47\00:45:58.56
So he says if you
want to have confidence
00:45:58.59\00:46:00.37
in being a literal
Jew and being a Pharisee
00:46:00.40\00:46:03.33
and the tribe of Benjamin and
zealous for the law etcetera,
00:46:03.36\00:46:06.89
hey, here's the
prime example of it.
00:46:06.92\00:46:10.28
Now what else does he say?
00:46:10.31\00:46:12.19
Notice verse 7, "But
what things were gain to me
00:46:12.22\00:46:17.51
these I have
counted loss for Christ."
00:46:17.54\00:46:20.81
Well, none of these
things counted anything,
00:46:20.84\00:46:22.96
he says, "Except for Christ."
00:46:22.99\00:46:25.19
Verse 8, "Yet indeed
00:46:25.22\00:46:26.86
I also count all
things loss for the excellence
00:46:26.89\00:46:31.01
of the knowledge of
Christ Jesus my Lord,
00:46:31.04\00:46:35.34
for whom I have
suffered the loss of all things,
00:46:35.37\00:46:37.76
and count them as
rubbish, that I may gain--"
00:46:37.79\00:46:42.41
Whom? "That I may gain Christ."
00:46:42.44\00:46:47.18
Are you understanding
what this is talking about?
00:46:47.21\00:46:50.46
Is Jesus then saying
in Matthew Chapter 24
00:46:50.49\00:46:54.14
that the reestablishment
of the literal Jewish
00:46:54.17\00:46:57.43
national Israel in 1947
was a fulfillment of prophecy?
00:46:57.46\00:47:01.92
Listen folks, when
you read the prophecies
00:47:01.95\00:47:04.39
in the Old
Testament, God told Israel,
00:47:04.42\00:47:07.25
"If you forsake me and
you do not listen to my voice,
00:47:07.28\00:47:11.93
I am gonna scatter
you among all nations.
00:47:11.96\00:47:15.32
But if when you are
scattered you repent,
00:47:15.35\00:47:19.31
and you're sorry
for what you've done,
00:47:19.34\00:47:20.93
and you come back to me,
00:47:20.96\00:47:22.41
I will gather you
once again to your land,
00:47:22.44\00:47:25.95
and I will heal you."
00:47:25.98\00:47:27.48
Let me ask you, what was
that scattered national Israel
00:47:27.51\00:47:31.11
when Jerusalem was destroyed?
00:47:31.14\00:47:32.89
It was the fact that
they refused to listen
00:47:32.92\00:47:35.32
to the voice of
Jesus, their Messiah.
00:47:35.35\00:47:38.77
And therefore
what happened to them?
00:47:38.80\00:47:40.68
We read in Luke Chapter
21 and also Luke Chapter 19,
00:47:40.71\00:47:44.83
they were scattered among all
of the nations, weren't they?
00:47:44.86\00:47:48.94
So let me ask you,
00:47:48.97\00:47:50.34
did they all suddenly
come to believe in 1948?
00:47:50.37\00:47:54.07
Did they repent?
00:47:54.10\00:47:55.47
Did national Israel say,
00:47:55.50\00:47:56.87
"Oh, we're sorry that
we crucified the Messiah?"
00:47:56.90\00:47:58.29
You know, "we now receive Him
00:47:58.32\00:48:00.49
as our Savior and
as our Lord." Did they?
00:48:00.52\00:48:02.94
No, they were restored
to Jerusalem in unbelief.
00:48:02.97\00:48:10.25
But that goes against everything
00:48:10.28\00:48:12.75
that bible
prophecy contemplates.
00:48:12.78\00:48:15.01
In other words
that restoration in 1948
00:48:15.04\00:48:17.73
was not a
fulfillment of prophecy,
00:48:17.76\00:48:20.19
it was a political
circumstance that took place.
00:48:20.22\00:48:24.21
In other words, they could never
00:48:24.24\00:48:25.65
have been restored in
1948 as God's chosen nation
00:48:25.68\00:48:29.39
in their land as a
fulfillment of prophecy,
00:48:29.42\00:48:31.68
unless they repented and receive
Jesus Christ as Savor and Lord,
00:48:31.71\00:48:36.74
because that's the total
pattern in the Old Testament.
00:48:36.77\00:48:39.82
No one is rewarded in unbelief.
00:48:39.85\00:48:43.88
Repent and be converted that
your sins will be blotted out.
00:48:43.91\00:48:47.76
If we confess our sins,
00:48:47.79\00:48:49.87
He is faithful and just
to forgive us of our sins
00:48:49.90\00:48:52.51
and cleanse us from
all unrighteousness.
00:48:52.54\00:48:54.45
There is a condition
00:48:54.48\00:48:55.86
that had to be fulfilled
for Israel to be restored.
00:48:55.89\00:48:58.49
And the condition to this
day has never been fulfilled,
00:48:58.52\00:49:03.05
because national
Israel with the exception
00:49:03.08\00:49:05.88
of the Messianic Jews is
still rejecting Jesus Christ
00:49:05.91\00:49:10.44
as their promised Messiah.
00:49:10.47\00:49:12.87
I would like to read
a couple of passages,
00:49:12.90\00:49:15.30
very significant passages
from the writings of Ellen White
00:49:15.33\00:49:19.16
about the Jewish
nation, about national Israel.
00:49:19.19\00:49:25.36
The first is
found in the journal
00:49:25.39\00:49:28.99
"Review and
Herald", February 25, 1896.
00:49:29.02\00:49:33.75
And these are strong words
00:49:33.78\00:49:36.28
but it's in harmony
with what Jesus thought.
00:49:36.31\00:49:39.73
Did Jesus teach
that if He was rejected,
00:49:39.76\00:49:42.29
the result would be
scattering and destruction
00:49:42.32\00:49:45.71
and being burnt
by fire, absolutely.
00:49:45.74\00:49:48.45
Notice what she says, "The
curse rests upon Jerusalem.
00:49:48.48\00:49:55.70
The Lord has
obliterated those things
00:49:55.73\00:49:59.00
which men would
worship in and about Jerusalem,
00:49:59.03\00:50:03.12
yet many hold in reverence
literal objects in Palestine,
00:50:03.15\00:50:08.25
while they
neglect to behold Jesus
00:50:08.28\00:50:10.74
as their advocate in
the heaven of heavens."
00:50:10.77\00:50:13.67
There's people who'll say,
00:50:13.70\00:50:15.07
"Oh, if I could
just visit the holy land,
00:50:15.10\00:50:16.80
if I could just
walk where Jesus walked."
00:50:16.83\00:50:19.68
What Ellen White is saying is
the curse is upon all Jerusalem.
00:50:19.71\00:50:22.38
It's not a holy place anymore.
00:50:22.41\00:50:23.83
You know what
makes a place holy?
00:50:23.86\00:50:25.26
The presence of Jesus.
00:50:25.29\00:50:27.40
Jesus left the temple, it said,
00:50:27.43\00:50:29.01
"Your house is left
onto you what?" Desolate.
00:50:29.04\00:50:32.33
And you will not see me again
00:50:32.36\00:50:34.00
until you say blessed is he who
comes in the name of the Lord
00:50:34.03\00:50:38.22
which is referring
to His second coming.
00:50:38.25\00:50:40.60
The second statement is
found in "Review and Herald"
00:50:40.63\00:50:44.27
June 9, 1896. This
one is even stronger.
00:50:44.30\00:50:48.86
She says this,
"How many there are
00:50:48.89\00:50:51.86
who feel that it
would be a good thing
00:50:51.89\00:50:54.49
to tread the
soil of old Jerusalem,
00:50:54.52\00:50:58.03
and that their faith
would be greatly strengthened
00:50:58.06\00:51:01.44
by visiting the scenes of
the Savior's life and death."
00:51:01.47\00:51:07.27
Then she says this,
00:51:07.30\00:51:08.67
"But old Jerusalem will
never be a sacred place."
00:51:08.70\00:51:14.44
So much for the
rebuilding of the third temple.
00:51:14.47\00:51:18.29
"But old Jerusalem
will never be a sacred place
00:51:18.32\00:51:21.77
until it is cleansed by
the refining fire from heaven.
00:51:21.80\00:51:27.97
The darkest blot of
guilt rests upon the city
00:51:28.00\00:51:31.86
that refused
the light of Christ.
00:51:31.89\00:51:35.64
Do we want to walk in
the footsteps of Jesus?
00:51:35.67\00:51:38.46
We need not seek out
the paths in Nazareth,
00:51:38.49\00:51:42.20
Bethany, and Jerusalem.
00:51:42.23\00:51:44.41
We shall find the footprints
of Jesus by the sick-bed,
00:51:44.44\00:51:47.91
by the side of
suffering humanity,
00:51:47.94\00:51:50.69
in the hovels of the
poverty-stricken and distressed.
00:51:50.72\00:51:54.89
We may walk in these footsteps,
comforting the suffering,
00:51:54.92\00:51:58.60
speaking words of hope
and comfort to the despondent.
00:51:58.63\00:52:02.84
Doing as Jesus did
when He was upon earth,
00:52:02.87\00:52:06.34
we shall walk in
His blessed steps.
00:52:06.37\00:52:09.15
Jesus said, "If any
man will come after me,
00:52:09.18\00:52:12.38
let him deny himself,
00:52:12.41\00:52:14.30
and take up his
cross daily, and follow me.
00:52:14.33\00:52:17.90
When the sin-cursed earth
00:52:17.93\00:52:20.11
is purified from
every stain of sin,
00:52:20.14\00:52:23.95
when the Mount of
Olives is rent asunder"
00:52:23.98\00:52:26.39
this is after the millennium,
00:52:26.42\00:52:27.79
by the way
according to Zechariah 14.
00:52:27.82\00:52:30.26
She says, "when the Mount
of Olives is rent asunder,
00:52:30.29\00:52:33.49
and becomes an immense plain;
00:52:33.52\00:52:36.37
when the holy city
of God descends upon it,
00:52:36.40\00:52:39.14
the land that is
now called the Holy Land
00:52:39.17\00:52:43.16
will indeed become holy.
00:52:43.19\00:52:46.94
But God's cause and
work will not be advanced
00:52:46.97\00:52:50.89
by making
pilgrimages to Jerusalem.
00:52:50.92\00:52:53.95
The curse of God is upon
Jerusalem for the rejection
00:52:53.98\00:52:58.05
and crucifixion of
His only begotten Son.
00:52:58.08\00:53:01.43
But God will
cleanse away the vile blot.
00:53:01.46\00:53:05.23
The prophet says,
00:53:05.26\00:53:06.71
"I saw a new
heaven and a new earth,
00:53:06.74\00:53:08.79
for the first heaven and
the first earth are passed away,
00:53:08.82\00:53:11.50
and the sea is no more.
00:53:11.53\00:53:13.80
And I saw the holy
city, New Jerusalem,
00:53:13.83\00:53:16.51
coming down out
of heaven from God,
00:53:16.54\00:53:18.72
made ready as a bride
adorned for her husband."
00:53:18.75\00:53:25.56
So is prophecy being
fulfilled in the Middle East
00:53:25.59\00:53:29.20
with national
Israel? Absolutely not.
00:53:29.23\00:53:34.66
When will prophecy be fulfilled
with literal Jerusalem?
00:53:34.69\00:53:38.69
Only after the millennium,
00:53:38.72\00:53:41.24
when the feet of Jesus
split the Mount of Olives,
00:53:41.27\00:53:44.17
a plain is open so
that the New Jerusalem
00:53:44.20\00:53:46.71
can come down and
rest upon that plain.
00:53:46.74\00:53:50.33
Then the presence of
Jesus and the holy city
00:53:50.36\00:53:53.74
will make that
place once again holy
00:53:53.77\00:53:57.43
and will be cleansed from
the blot that was placed upon it
00:53:57.46\00:54:01.07
because of the rejection of
the only begotten Son of God.
00:54:01.10\00:54:05.21
You know what
the devil has done?
00:54:05.24\00:54:07.75
By taking text like this one
00:54:07.78\00:54:09.32
about the fig tree
in Mathew Chapter 24,
00:54:09.35\00:54:12.49
he has focused all eyes of
Christians upon the Middle East.
00:54:12.52\00:54:18.46
You read books on
Bible prophecy today,
00:54:18.49\00:54:21.54
you cannot find a
single book in bookstores,
00:54:21.57\00:54:25.20
in evangelical bookstores
where there's anything
00:54:25.23\00:54:28.73
other than
prophecy being fulfilled
00:54:28.76\00:54:30.91
at some point in literal Israel.
00:54:30.94\00:54:33.94
They teach that literal temple
00:54:33.97\00:54:36.18
is gonna be rebuilt
on the temple mount.
00:54:36.21\00:54:38.24
There's gonna be a
little literal antichrist
00:54:38.27\00:54:40.74
who will sit in that temple
00:54:40.77\00:54:42.40
and he will raise
up a literal image
00:54:42.43\00:54:45.24
and he will rule for a
literal three and a half years
00:54:45.27\00:54:47.94
and he will persecute
the literal Israelites.
00:54:47.97\00:54:50.66
And so what people do?
00:54:50.69\00:54:52.41
As a result of this preaching
00:54:52.44\00:54:54.31
of the false prophet
of Revelation Chapter 13,
00:54:54.34\00:54:57.02
all of the eyes of the people
are directed to the Middle East.
00:54:57.05\00:55:00.56
They say, "1948,
look the greater sign
00:55:00.59\00:55:03.77
Israel was re-established
as a nation at that date,
00:55:03.80\00:55:07.59
therefore we've
to look over there
00:55:07.62\00:55:09.82
for the
fulfillment of Bible prophecy."
00:55:09.85\00:55:12.79
The sad thing
is, because everybody
00:55:12.82\00:55:15.74
is looking over there for
the fulfillment of prophecy,
00:55:15.77\00:55:18.90
prophecy is fulfilled in
Rome and in the United States
00:55:18.93\00:55:23.57
and no one can see the
fulfillment of prophecy,
00:55:23.60\00:55:26.61
because they are
looking in the wrong place.
00:55:26.64\00:55:31.20
You see the devil is
an expert at misdirection.
00:55:31.23\00:55:35.81
You know, in
football there is a play,
00:55:35.84\00:55:39.65
a running play it is
called a counter-play.
00:55:39.68\00:55:43.01
Those of you who
you are into football
00:55:43.04\00:55:44.41
know what I am talking about.
00:55:44.44\00:55:45.95
Its when the ball carrier,
00:55:45.98\00:55:48.30
the half-back or the
full-back carries the ball
00:55:48.33\00:55:52.28
and all of the blockers on
the line move in one direction
00:55:52.31\00:55:57.46
and so all of the
contrary team thinks
00:55:57.49\00:56:00.22
that the one who
is carrying the ball
00:56:00.25\00:56:03.06
is moving in that direction
00:56:03.09\00:56:04.91
because all of his blockers
are blocking in that direction.
00:56:04.94\00:56:08.01
But then the
deception is in the fact
00:56:08.04\00:56:11.23
that instead of him
running around that end
00:56:11.26\00:56:14.35
where the blockers are blocking,
00:56:14.38\00:56:15.75
he fools everybody and he takes
an end-around on the other end
00:56:15.78\00:56:19.64
and many times makes many yards.
00:56:19.67\00:56:22.86
It is a misdirection play.
00:56:22.89\00:56:24.74
And that's exactly
what the devil is doing
00:56:24.77\00:56:27.27
with what's
happening in Bible prophecy.
00:56:27.30\00:56:29.40
People are
looking at the Middle East
00:56:29.43\00:56:31.40
for the fulfillment of
prophecy, it is a distraction.
00:56:31.43\00:56:34.70
In other words
it is a misdirection
00:56:34.73\00:56:37.26
to the
fulfillment of Bible prophecy
00:56:37.29\00:56:39.16
and therefore when
prophecy is truly fulfilled
00:56:39.19\00:56:42.46
here in the
United States and in Rome
00:56:42.49\00:56:45.64
and with the
nations of the world,
00:56:45.67\00:56:47.66
people just cannot
grasp it, they cannot see it,
00:56:47.69\00:56:50.81
because they are
looking in the wrong place.
00:56:50.84\00:56:54.38
So folks, the short
of all of this is that
00:56:54.41\00:56:57.52
God wants us to be true Israel.
00:56:57.55\00:56:59.73
God wants us to receive
00:56:59.76\00:57:01.50
Jesus Christ as
our Savior and Lord.
00:57:01.53\00:57:03.82
The final warfare will
be against the real Jews,
00:57:03.85\00:57:07.46
the spiritual Jews,
those who have a heart
00:57:07.49\00:57:09.96
circumcised by Christ
and by the Holy Spirit,
00:57:09.99\00:57:13.08
they will rise the enmity
of the world against them,
00:57:13.11\00:57:16.79
not literal Israel.
00:57:16.82\00:57:18.67
And at the end,
00:57:18.70\00:57:20.07
Jesus Christ will
intervene to deliver
00:57:20.10\00:57:23.15
His true spiritual Israel,
00:57:23.18\00:57:24.96
because He is the King of
kings and the Lord of lords.
00:57:24.99\00:57:29.91