Participants: Pr. Stephen Bohr
Series Code: SMTF
Program Code: SMTF000011
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00:35 Shall we bow our heads for prayer?
00:39 Father in heaven, what a joy it is to be in Your presence. 00:43 We thank You for being our Father. 00:46 And for caring enough for us, 00:48 that You would give us Your word, 00:50 so that we will not be ignorant about the final events 00:54 that will take place upon this earth, 00:56 before the coming of Jesus. 00:58 We ask, Father, that as we study today, 01:01 that Your Holy Spirit will be here to guide our thoughts, 01:05 and also to soften our hearts. 01:08 I ask not only for those who are gathered here, 01:10 but also all of those who are watching 01:14 this on worldwide broadcast. 01:17 And I thank you, Father, 01:18 for hearing and answering our prayer, 01:20 for we ask it in the precious name of Jesus. Amen. 01:27 I'd like to invite you to open your Bibles with me 01:29 to the passage that we are going to take a look at 01:33 in our study today. 01:35 It's found in Matthew 24:32-35. 01:42 Matthew 24:32-35. 01:48 The title is "The Budding of the Fig Tree." 01:53 Now I'm gonna read those versus, 01:54 and then we're going to take a look at their meaning. 01:59 Jesus is speaking here and He says this, 02:02 "Now learn this parable from the fig tree. 02:07 When its branch has already become tender 02:11 and puts forth leaves, 02:13 you know that summer is near. 02:17 So you also, when you see all these things, 02:22 know that it is near at the doors!" 02:26 Assuredly, I say to you, 02:28 this generation will buy no means pass away 02:32 till all these things take place. 02:35 Heaven and earth will pass away, 02:37 but My words will by no means pass away." 02:43 Now I would like to share with you 02:45 the way in which most 02:48 conservative Christians today interpret 02:52 what this passage says about the fig tree. 02:55 Basically they say that the fig tree 02:58 in these versus represents the nation of Israel. 03:03 And the "Budding of the Fig Tree" 03:06 represents the fact that Israel was reestablished 03:10 as a nation in the year 1948. 03:15 In other words they believed 03:17 that Jesus here was giving a specific prophecy 03:21 about the re-birth of the Jewish nation in 1948 03:27 after the terrible Holocaust of the Jews 03:30 during the Second World War. 03:32 In fact many dispensationalist writers, 03:36 many conservative Christian writers have said 03:41 that this is the greatest sign of the imminent 03:45 coming of Jesus Christ to planet earth again. 03:49 In fact they believed that most of those 03:50 who write on Bible prophecy today, 03:53 conservative Christians that is say, 03:56 that this is the greatest sign 03:58 that the coming of Jesus is even at the doors. 04:04 Now we want to take a look at this 04:06 and find out whether Matthew 24:32-35 04:12 are speaking about the re-birth of the Jewish nation or not? 04:18 Now allow me to say as we begin our study 04:21 that in the Old Testament, 04:23 the fig tree does represent the nation of Israel. 04:29 Not only does the fig tree represent the nation of Israel, 04:33 but also the vineyard is a symbol of literal Israel. 04:39 I would like to read Hosea 9:10 as a text, 04:45 where the Jewish nation is compared to a fig tree 04:50 and also to a vine or to a vineyard. 04:54 Hosea 9:10. 04:59 God is speaking here about 05:01 when He found Israel in Egypt and then delivered them. 05:05 It says there, God is speaking, 05:08 "I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness. 05:14 I saw your fathers as the firstfruits 05:18 on the fig tree in its first season. 05:23 But they went to Baal Peor, 05:25 and separated themselves to that shame. 05:29 They became an abomination like the thing they loved." 05:34 And so very clearly in this one verse, 05:37 God compares Israel to grapes-- 05:40 by the way if you want another passage 05:42 that compares Israel to a vineyard, 05:44 you could read all of Isaiah Chapter 5, 05:48 where Israel is compared to a vineyard. 05:50 And you'll notice also here 05:52 that Israel is compared to a fig tree. 05:57 We're talking about literal Israel now. 05:59 So it is true that in the Old Testament, 06:03 the fig tree and the vine or the vineyard 06:06 are symbols of national Israel or of literal Israel. 06:12 Now the question is, what about the New Testament? 06:15 Does the New Testament also present 06:18 literal Israel or national Israel 06:21 under the symbol of a fig tree and a vineyard? 06:26 The fact is, that the gospels make it very, very clear 06:30 that both of these still symbolized 06:33 literal Israel in the times of the New Testament. 06:38 I invite you to go with me in your Bibles 06:40 to the Gospel of Matthew Chapter 3, 06:44 and I would like to read versus 9 and 10. 06:48 Matthew 3:9-10. 06:52 This passage is speaking about the message and mission 06:57 of John the Baptist. 06:59 And just to give you a little chronological detail 07:02 which is very important, 07:03 John the Baptist began his ministry 07:06 approximately six months before Jesus began His. 07:10 In other words John the Baptist began preaching 07:13 about half a year before Jesus began His public ministry. 07:19 And we all know that John the Baptist 07:21 had the intention and the purpose 07:23 of preparing the way for the coming of the Messiah, 07:26 for the coming of Jesus Christ. 07:29 Now John the Baptist was baptizing in the Jordan River. 07:33 And I want you to notice 07:35 the call that he made to those who came out to his baptism. 07:39 Matthew 3:9-10. 07:42 And there are certain details 07:43 that I'm going to stop and amplify. 07:47 He said this, "Therefore bear" What? "Fruits." 07:54 This is verse 9, remember that. 07:56 "Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance." 08:01 Two key words, they're supposed to repent 08:04 and they're supposed to bear, what? Fruit. 08:07 Notice, this is actually verse 8, 08:09 let's go to verse 9. 08:10 "And do not think to say to yourselves" 08:13 Notice this "We have Abraham as our father." 08:18 Who would be the ones who would say, 08:20 Abraham is our father? 08:22 It would be the literal Jews. 08:25 It would be national Israel 08:27 who would say, Abraham is our father. 08:31 So to whom is John the Baptist speaking here? 08:34 He's speaking to national Israel. 08:37 And notice, he calls them to repentance 08:39 and he calls them to bear what? To bear fruit. 08:44 So notice again verse 9, 08:46 "And do not think to say to yourselves, 08:48 We have Abraham as our father. 08:52 For I say to you that God is able to raise up 08:56 children to Abraham from these stones." 09:01 By the way, Jesus was not only pointing 09:04 to literal stones there next to the river. 09:07 Actually, He was referring 09:09 in symbolic language to the Gentiles. 09:13 You see the Jews at that time believed 09:15 that the Gentiles were stones because they had stony hearts, 09:18 hearts that had not been circumcised. 09:20 They also called the Gentiles, swine 09:24 and they called the Gentiles, dogs. 09:27 So imagine being called a swine, 09:29 and being called a dog, and being called a stone. 09:32 So John the Baptist is saying, listen, 09:35 God is able to raise up children of Abraham 09:38 from these stones or from these Gentiles. 09:41 I want you to remember that the Gentiles 09:43 come into view here. 09:45 And then notice verse 10. 09:48 "And even now the axe is laid at the root of the trees." 09:54 So is there a mention of a tree here? 09:56 Absolutely, at the root of the trees, 09:59 therefore every tree singular, 10:03 every tree which does not bear what? 10:07 Good fruit, what's gonna be the end of it? 10:10 Is cut down and thrown into the fire. 10:15 Now let's review the elements of this passage, 10:17 because it's very, very important. 10:19 You have a call to repentance. 10:21 John the Baptist is calling national Israel to repentance. 10:25 He's saying, don't think that there's something special 10:28 in the fact that you're literally children of Abraham, 10:31 because God can raise up children of Abraham 10:33 from these stones or from these Gentiles. 10:36 He says, the key is that the tree produce what? 10:40 Fruit, good fruit. 10:42 And if the tree singular, does not produce good fruit, 10:46 it obviously is gonna be cut down 10:48 and it is going to suffer judgment. 10:50 It is going to be thrown, where? In the fire. 10:54 Now this is the first tree episode 10:56 that I want us to remember. 10:57 There are three that we're gonna look at in the gospels. 10:59 This is the first one. 11:02 Now let's go to the second reference to a tree. 11:06 Notice Luke Chapter 13 11:08 and we're going to read versus 1 to 9. 11:11 Luke 13:1-9. 11:15 By the way, this is taking place 11:18 according to those who have studied 11:19 the chronology of the gospels. 11:21 Approximately two and a half years 11:23 into the ministry of Jesus, 11:25 in another words if you figure six months 11:27 that John the Baptist preached before Jesus began His ministry, 11:30 plus two and a half years of Jesus ministry 11:33 at this point from John till when Jesus told the parable, 11:37 you have a period of three years, 11:39 that's very significant. 11:41 Notice Luke 13:1-9, 11:44 and you're going to see the same themes 11:46 that we read in Matthew Chapter 3. 11:49 Notice verse 1. 11:52 "There were present at that season some who told Him" 11:57 that is Jesus "About the Galileans 12:01 whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices." 12:06 And of course they felt self-righteous, 12:07 they said that didn't happen to us because we're righteous. 12:10 Notice verse 2. 12:12 "And Jesus answered and said to them, 12:15 "Do you suppose that these Galileans 12:17 were worse sinners than all other Galileans, 12:21 because they suffered such things? 12:24 I tell you, no, but unless you" What? 12:29 Did we find that word already in Matthew 3? Yes. 12:33 But unless you repent you will all likewise, what? Perish. 12:41 Now notice verse 4, "Or those eighteen 12:44 on whom the tower of Siloam fell and killed them, 12:48 do you think that they were worse sinners 12:50 than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? 12:54 I tell you, no, but unless you" Here's the word again, 12:58 "Unless you repent you will all likewise perish." 13:05 So He's talking to this group of literal Jews 13:09 who are feeling very self-righteous 13:11 and they say, these calamities don't happen to us 13:14 because we're righteous. 13:15 They only happen to those people because they were sinners. 13:18 And Jesus is saying, unless you repent 13:21 the same thing is going to happen to you, you will perish. 13:24 And now Jesus is going to illustrate 13:27 this lesson with a parable. 13:30 Notice what we find beginning in verse 6 13:32 and I'm gonna interpret the symbols that we have here. 13:35 "He also spoke this parable." A certain man." 13:40 By the way this certain man is God the Father. 13:43 I'm gonna go interpret the symbols as we go along. 13:46 "A certain man" that is God the Father, "had a fig tree." 13:51 What does the fig tree represent? 13:53 We've already noticed from the Old Testament. 13:55 The fig tree represents Israel. 13:58 So God the Father had a fig tree Israel, 14:02 planted in his vineyard. 14:04 The vineyard represents the world. 14:06 See the fig tree is planted in the midst of the world. 14:10 Israel was planted in the midst of the world. 14:13 And now notice, "And he came seeking fruit." 14:17 What does fruit represent in scripture? 14:20 You all know that in Galatians Chapter 5, 14:22 it speaks about the fruit of the what? 14:25 The fruit of the spirit? 14:27 And of course, the first fruit is love. 14:29 And there and there are many others 14:31 long suffering, peace, joy, etcetera. 14:34 "And so he came looking for fruit on this fig tree." 14:38 He's looking for fruit 14:39 from the nation of Israel in other words. 14:43 And now notice the tragic story. 14:45 It says here, in verse 7, 14:50 because it didn't have fruit because he found none, 14:53 it says in verse 6. 14:55 Then verse 7 says, "Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard," 14:58 By the way the keeper of the vineyard is whom? 15:00 The keeper of the vineyard is Jesus. 15:02 He got the Father, chose the nation of Israel 15:06 and he put it under the tutelage or under the care of Jesus. 15:10 So it says, "Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard 15:14 'Look, for three years" do you understand the chronology now? 15:18 Six months John the Baptist had been preaching. 15:21 This is two and a half years into the ministry of Jesus, 15:24 that's a total of three years. 15:26 So he says, "Look for three years 15:29 I come seeking" what? 15:32 Fruit on this fig tree and find none." 15:36 Are these the same basic themes 15:38 that we found in Matthew Chapter 3? 15:40 A tree, that needs to bear fruit. 15:43 If it doesn't bear fruit, it will suffer judgment 15:46 and be cast into the fire? Absolutely. 15:49 So notice what the owner of the vineyard says, 15:53 because no fruit is found, because the fruit of the spirit 15:56 is not found during this period of three years. 16:00 The owner of the vineyard says this, "Cut it down." 16:05 He said the same thing that John the Baptist said. 16:08 Sure, we have the same themes in this parable. 16:11 Cut it down. 16:13 Why doesn't use up the ground? 16:17 And now notice, "The vinedresser 16:20 or the keeper of the vineyard loved this fig tree. 16:24 And so it says in verse 8, "But he answered 16:27 and said to him, 'Sir, let it alone this year"' 16:33 How many more years? One more year. 16:37 How long did the ministry of Jesus last? 16:41 Three and a half years, right? 16:45 How far into the ministry of Jesus 16:47 and John the Baptist are we at this point? Three years. 16:51 How many years left in the ministry of Jesus? 16:54 One year. 16:56 So this is Jesus saying, this last year of My ministry, 17:00 I'm going to dedicate special attention to this fig tree. 17:04 Verse 8, "But he answered and said to him, 17:07 'Sir, let it alone this year also, 17:11 until I dig around it and fertilize it. 17:15 And if it bears fruit, well. 17:19 But if not, after that you can"' what? 17:23 "You can cut it down." 17:27 Is this parable connected with what John the Baptist taught? 17:30 Absolutely. It speaks about a tree. 17:33 It speaks about fruit. 17:36 It speaks about cutting it down if there is no fruit. 17:39 It speaks about repentance. 17:41 And even the chronology fits 17:43 the ministry of John the Baptist 17:45 along with the ministry of Jesus. 17:48 Now the parable ends there 17:50 and you're left with the question. 17:53 Did this fig tree produce fruit in its last year? 17:59 The fact is that you don't know at this point in the story. 18:02 Jesus closes the parable in suspense. 18:05 By the way he did the same thing 18:07 in the Parable of the Prodigal Son. 18:09 You know the prodigal son was not the one who left home. 18:12 The prodigal son was the one who was at home. 18:15 He was lost at home. 18:17 You know, and his father goes out to him 18:19 and he tries to reason with him. 18:21 And the story ends without us knowing 18:24 whether the older son was convinced 18:26 by the arguments of his father or not. 18:28 You see the older son represented the Jewish nation. 18:31 They said we've served you. 18:33 We've done everything you said. 18:34 And we deserve the reward not those Gentiles who are sinners 18:38 and they wasted everything that you have. 18:40 You know if anybody deserves a party, it's us not them. 18:44 And so the parable ends in suspense. 18:47 You don't know at this point, 18:49 one year before the end of the ministry of Jesus, 18:53 whether this fig tree, whether the Jewish nation 18:56 actually bore fruit and was not cut down. 19:00 Of course, we who are living in the 21st Century 19:03 can look back and know the end of the story. 19:05 But at this point they did not know the end of the story, 19:07 whether national Israel would accept this calling 19:11 and bear the fruit of the spirit or not. 19:15 That's the reason why we need to go 19:17 to a third passage that refers to this tree. 19:21 You see the last week 19:22 of the ministry of Jesus on this earth. 19:25 It is actually taking place on the Monday 19:28 before His crucifixion. 19:30 We meet this fig tree again. 19:35 This is almost at the end of that last year 19:38 of the ministry of Jesus. 19:40 Notice Matthew 21:17-19. 19:44 Matthew 21:17-19. 19:50 Same tree all over again. 19:52 But now we're going to know the destiny of the fig tree. 19:56 We're going to notice that it did not bear fruit 19:59 at the end of that year. 20:01 It says there, beginning in verse 17, 20:05 "Then He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, 20:10 and He lodged there. 20:12 Now in the morning, as He returned 20:16 to the city, He was hungry." 20:20 What was Jesus hungry for? 20:21 He was hungry for the fruit of spirit, right? 20:23 He was hungry. 20:25 "And seeing a what? A fig tree. 20:29 Is that the same fig tree that He spoke about 20:30 in His parable in Luke Chapter 13? Absolutely. 20:33 It says, "And seeing a fig tree by the road, 20:38 he came to it and found nothing on it but leaves." 20:44 Any fruit? No fruit. 20:47 And said to it, "Let no fruit 20:51 grow on you" until 1948. 20:56 Is that what it says? That's not what it says. 21:00 Jesus actually says, 21:04 "Let no fruit grow on you ever again." 21:10 Now what part of ever again don't you understand? 21:13 It says, let no fruit grow on you ever again. 21:18 And immediately the fig tree, what? Withered away. 21:25 Now notice the passage in Mark 11:20, 21. 21:29 This is taking place the very next day. 21:31 Mark 11:20, 21. 21:36 Now in the morning as they passed by, 21:40 they saw the fig tree, notice this, 21:43 dried up from the roots. 21:49 Let me ask you what happens 21:50 when the tree dries up from the roots? 21:54 Will it grow again? No, absolutely not. 21:59 What would you do with the tree like that? 22:00 You have to what? Cut it down, of course. 22:04 So it says, "Now in the morning, 22:06 as they passed by, they saw the fig tree 22:08 dried up from the roots. 22:10 And Peter, remembering, said to Him, "Rabbi, look! 22:16 The fig tree which You cursed has" what? 22:20 "Withered away." 22:22 By the way, do you know what happened 22:23 to the Jewish nation in the year 70? 22:25 The City of Jerusalem was burned. 22:29 Do you remember what John the Baptist said? 22:31 He said that if the tree did not bear fruit 22:33 it would be cut down and cast where? 22:37 And it would be cast into the fire. 22:39 That's exactly what happened with national Israel, 22:43 because of the rejection of the Messiah. 22:47 Now I would like to take a few moments 22:49 also to speak about the vineyard, even though 22:52 this is not brought forth in Matthew Chapter 24, 22:56 still because the vineyard is a symbol of Israel, 22:59 I think we need to also take a look at a parable 23:02 that Jesus told in Matthew 21:33-46. 23:08 And I'm going to interpret this parable as we go along. 23:11 Do you remember then Hosea 9:10, 23:14 the vineyard also represented Israel. 23:16 So we notice the fig tree, 23:17 now let's talk about the vineyard, 23:19 the other symbol of Israel. 23:21 Verse 33, here another parable. 23:26 "There was a certain landowner" by the way that's God the Father 23:30 "who planted a vineyard." That's Israel. 23:35 "And set a hedge around it." 23:37 That's the law of God. 23:39 "Dug a winepress in it and built a tower." 23:43 That's the temple. 23:45 "And he leased it to vinedressers." 23:47 That's the Jewish leaders. 23:50 "And went into a far country." 23:52 That is to heaven is the far country. 23:54 Are you getting the picture of what this is saying? 23:57 Now notice verse 34, 24:00 "Now when vintage-time drew near, 24:03 he sent his servants to the vinedressers." 24:06 By the way these servants that are sent 24:08 are those that are sent before the Babylonian captivity. 24:11 God sent many prophets to Israel to get them to come back 24:14 to the Lord, to follow the way of the Lord. 24:16 That's the stage that's been mentioned here. 24:18 So it says, "Now when vintage-time 24:20 drew near, he sent his servants to the vinedressers." 24:23 This is before the Babylonian captivity. 24:26 "That they might receive its fruit." 24:28 So God expected fruit. 24:30 He says, I've given you all of the advantages, 24:31 I fertilized you, I watered you, 24:33 I've given you all of the blessing 24:35 above every nation on earth, now I expect some returns, 24:38 I expect the fruit of the spirit. 24:41 Verse 35, "And the vinedressers 24:43 took his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another." 24:48 Is this what they did with the prophets 24:50 in the Old Testament? Yes. 24:52 In fact Jesus tells about it in Matthew 23:36. 24:57 Again He sent other servants. 24:59 By the way this is after the Babylonian captivity. 25:02 So he sends other servants more than the first. 25:06 Prophets like Zechariah, Haggai, Malachi, Zerubavel, 25:10 Joshua the high priest, many, many individuals, 25:14 after the Babylonian captivity. 25:16 But notice what happened to them. 25:17 They did likewise to them. 25:21 And now notice, "Then last of all." 25:25 Does that have some finality to it 25:26 when it says, last of all? 25:28 Is this the last straw? Yes, it is. 25:31 Then last of all He sent His son, who is that? 25:35 Jesus to them, saying, they will respect my Son. 25:41 But when the vinedressers saw the son, 25:43 they said among themselves, this is the heir. 25:47 Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance. 25:53 Who are those who said that? 25:55 Let us kill him and seize his inheritance? 25:57 It was national Israel. 26:00 Verse 39, "So they took him 26:02 and cast him out of the vineyard." 26:04 Did Jesus die outside of Jerusalem, 26:07 outside the gate according to Hebrews? 26:09 "Yes, and killed him." 26:12 Now Jesus is going to ask a question, 26:15 "Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, 26:17 what will he do to those vinedressers?" 26:21 They said to Him, "He will destroy 26:24 those wicked men miserably, 26:27 and lease his vineyard to other vinedressers" 26:31 who would those be? 26:33 Those would be the Gentiles, exactly and lease his vineyard 26:37 to other vinedressers who will render to him the what? 26:41 "The fruits in their seasons." 26:43 So did the original recipients produce fruit? 26:47 No. So God is saying, I'm going to give my vineyard 26:50 to another people who will bear the fruits there off. 26:55 Verse 42, "Jesus said to them, 26:58 "Have you never read in the Scriptures, 27:01 'The stone' that is Jesus, 27:03 "The stone which the builders rejected 27:05 has become the chief cornerstone. 27:07 This was the Lord's doing, 27:09 and it is marvelous in our eyes'? 27:12 Therefore I say to you," Notice this, 27:15 "The kingdom of God will be" what? 27:18 "Taken from you and given to a nation bearing" the what? 27:25 "The fruits of it." 27:27 Was the kingdom taken away from national Israel, 27:29 according to Jesus? 27:31 Absolutely, whom was it given 27:33 to according to the Book of Acts? 27:35 It was given to the Gentiles 27:37 who received Jesus as Savior and Lord. 27:40 Notice verse 44, "And whoever falls on this stone 27:44 will be broken," Jesus is the stone, 27:46 "but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder." 27:51 Now when the chief priests and Pharisees 27:54 heard His parables, they perceived 27:57 that He was speaking of, whom? 27:59 That He was speaking of them. 28:04 Now let's go back to the fig tree episode 28:06 in Matthew Chapter 24. 28:09 The argument is that fig tree, the budding of the fig tree 28:13 represents national Israel and that this budding of Israel 28:18 as a nation in 1948 is the greatest sign 28:22 of the imminence of the coming of Jesus. 28:26 The fact is if you read these versus carefully 28:29 you're gonna notice that it is not this sign 28:32 that shows that the coming of Jesus is imminent, 28:35 but actually it says there, when you see all these things 28:39 know that His coming is near. 28:42 It's not that one particular sign 28:44 that shows that the end is near. 28:46 It is the whole accumulation of signs, 28:49 because in Matthew 24 it says, 28:51 "When you see all these things, then know that it is near." 28:57 Also in Luke 21:29-31, 29:02 we find a very interesting detail 29:04 about the fig tree that is not found in Matthew Chapter 24. 29:09 And I want you to notice this very important detail. 29:12 By the way what I'm saying is that in Matthew Chapter 24, 29:15 Jesus is not refereeing to the fig tree 29:18 as representing national Israel. 29:20 He's simply saying, you know, 29:22 when you see the fig tree budding, 29:24 you know, that the summer is near. 29:25 So, you know, when you see all these signs, 29:28 it's a sign that Jesus is soon to come. 29:31 In another words, the fig tree 29:32 has no particular relevance or important 29:34 as the symbol of Israel and Luke proves that. 29:38 Notice Luke 21:29-31. 29:42 "Then He spoke to them a parable, 29:45 'Look at the fig tree,'" and now don't miss this point 29:48 "Look at the fig tree and what? 29:52 "All the trees." 29:53 Is there something specifically important 29:55 about the fig tree in itself? 29:56 No. it says, look at the fig tree and all the trees. 30:01 "When they are already budding," 30:04 not only the fig tree but when all of the trees are budding 30:08 "you see and know for yourself that summer is now near. 30:13 So you also," notice this 30:15 "when you see these things happening," 30:19 not just the-- you know, 30:21 the sign of the budding of the fig tree 30:23 but when you see all these things happening 30:25 "know that the kingdom of God is near." 30:31 Now I want to go to another episode 30:33 that speaks about the fig tree and in this passage the fig tree 30:37 is particularly significant as a symbol of Israel. 30:41 Go with me to John Chapter 1 and we'll read verses 43 to 48. 30:46 John 1:43-48. This is the encounter of Jesus 30:52 with one of His disciples, Nathanael. 30:55 And you probably read this before, 30:58 but now let's take a look at some of the details here. 31:01 John 1 beginning with verse 43, 31:05 "The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, 31:09 and He found Philip and said to him, 'Follow Me.' 31:13 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 31:19 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, 31:21 'We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, 31:26 and also the prophets, wrote--Jesus of Nazareth, 31:30 the son of Joseph.' And Nathanael--" 31:32 Notice that at first he's incredulous. 31:34 He doesn't believe. "And Nathanael said to him, 31:37 'Can anything good come out of Nazareth?' 31:41 Philip said to him, 'Come and see.' 31:45 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, 31:48 and said of him, 'Behold,--" 31:50 A what? "An Israelite indeed." 31:57 Now let me ask you if there is an Israelite indeed 32:00 must there be Israelites not indeed. Absolutely. 32:05 By the way, this is becomes very clear 32:08 when you notice the Greek word that is used here. 32:11 It's the Greek word 'Alethinos' 32:14 which is better translated 'genuine.' 32:17 In other words a better translation would be "Behold, 32:21 a genuine Israelite, in whom is no deceit." 32:28 The word "deceit" here is the word 'pseudos'. 32:31 The word pseudos, there is no lie, 32:33 there is no deceit, 32:35 there is no counterfeit in Him, in other words. 32:39 Now, if there are genuine Israelites, 32:42 if Nathanael was a genuine Israelite. 32:45 Let me ask you, 32:46 must there be Israelites who are not genuine? 32:50 Sure, in fact the new International Version 32:52 instead of translating 'Israelite indeed' 32:56 it translates 'a true Israelite', 33:00 'a genuine real Israelite' in other words. 33:04 Now the interesting thing is, if you read verse 49, 33:08 when Jesus finally finds Nathanael, 33:11 He finds him sitting where? 33:14 He finds him sitting under a fig tree. 33:17 Now isn't this interesting? 33:20 In fact, going once again to verse 48, 33:23 it says "Nathanael said to Him, 'How do You know me?' 33:28 Jesus answered and said to him, 33:30 'Before Philip called you, when you were under the" What? 33:33 "When you were under the fig tree, I saw you." 33:37 Now, what I find interesting here is that 33:39 the true Israelite was sitting under the symbol of Israel. 33:44 In other words, Nathanael was a true Israelite 33:47 and he was sitting under a fig tree 33:49 which was a symbol of what? Was a symbol of Israel. 33:54 In other words what wee find here 33:56 is an indication that there are genuine Israelites 34:00 and there are counterfeit Israelites. 34:04 Now the question is, how do you distinguish 34:06 the genuine from the counterfeit? 34:08 Is it simply because you know, you're a genuine Israelite, 34:12 because you have Jewish blood flowing though your veins 34:16 or because you live perhaps in Jerusalem 34:18 or perhaps your last name is Goldstein or Goldberg? 34:22 You know, I don't think so. 34:23 In fact I know that that's not the case. 34:25 Do you know what made Nathanael a true Israelite indeed? 34:30 Verse 49 explains it, when Jesus spoke to Nathanael 34:35 and He said, "You are a genuine Israelite." 34:39 What did Nathanael confessed? 34:42 He says, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 34:48 In other words, Nathanael recognized Jesus as the what? 34:52 As the Messiah. That's what made him true Israel. 34:57 So you have this true Israelite 34:58 because he confesses Jesus Christ 35:01 and he's sitting under the fig tree 35:03 which is a symbol of Israel. 35:06 All of these things merge together 35:08 to indicate what a true Israelite is. 35:11 In other words there is genuine Israel 35:14 and there is counterfeit Israel. 35:16 Genuine Israel are those who received 35:19 Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. 35:22 By the way, Jesus also made this distinction. 35:25 Notice John Chapter 8 and we'll read several texts here, 35:30 John 8:37-45. John 8:37-45. 35:37 Did Jesus believe that there are Jews 35:39 and then there are Jews? 35:41 He most certainly did. 35:42 What is that defines a true one from a counterfeit one? 35:46 Notice John 8:37, 35:50 Jesus says to those literal Jews who are listening to Him, 35:54 "I know that you are Abraham's descendants, 35:58 but you seek to kill Me, 36:00 because My word has no place in you. 36:03 I speak what I have seen with My Father, 36:06 and you do what you have seen with your father." 36:09 Now Jesus is gonna reach a very climatic 36:12 and disturbing argument in a few moments. 36:16 He says, "I got my Father and you have your father." 36:19 Verse 39, "They answered and said to Him, 36:22 "Abraham is our father." 36:24 Jesus said to them, "If--" Notice, this is a big 'if.' 36:28 "If you were Abraham's children--" 36:30 Is Jesus denying that they are Abraham's children here? 36:33 Of course, he's saying, "If you were." 36:36 Which means that they are what? That they are not. 36:39 He saying, "If you were Abraham's children 36:42 you would do the--" what? 36:44 "The works of Abraham." 36:46 So are they Abraham's children 36:47 according to the definition of Jesus? 36:49 Absolutely not. They are but they aren't. 36:51 Notice verse 40, "But--" 36:55 Say, if you were Abraham's children you know, 36:58 you would do the works of Abraham, 36:59 "But now you seek to kill Me, 37:04 a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. 37:08 Abraham did not do this." 37:11 In other words, what Jesus is saying 37:12 is you claim to be the children of Abraham. 37:14 Abraham look forward to My day, 37:16 he loved Me when he saw Me 37:18 from a far and you want to kill Me. 37:20 So how is that you say that you are Abraham's children 37:23 if he loved Me and you want to kill Me? 37:26 He's denying that they are Abraham's children. 37:29 Notice, Jesus continues saying in verse 41, 37:33 "You do the deeds of your father." 37:36 Then they said to Him, 37:38 'We were not born of fornication. 37:39 We have one Father, God.' 37:42 Jesus said to them, 'If--'" 37:44 Notice once again the key word, "If God were your Father--" 37:49 Is Jesus denying that God is their father? Yes. 37:52 "If God were your Father you would love Me, 37:55 for I proceeded forth and came from God 37:58 nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. 38:02 Why do you not understand My speech, 38:05 because you are not able to listen to My word." 38:08 And then Jesus says something very politically incorrect, 38:11 He says, "You are of your father the devil." 38:15 Were they literal Jews? 38:17 Were they literally children of Abraham? 38:20 Yes, they were but were they really Jews 38:22 or children of Abraham? 38:24 No, because they had to have the faith of Abraham. 38:26 So notice verse 41, 38:28 "You are of your father the devil 38:29 and the desires of your father you want to do. 38:32 He was a murderer from the beginning, 38:34 and does not stand in the truth, 38:36 because there is no truth in him. 38:38 When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources 38:42 for he is a liar and the father of it." 38:46 Do you see the contrast here? 38:48 Nathanael, there was no deceit, there was no lie. 38:53 And in Jesus there was no what? In Jesus there was no lie. 38:59 By the way the great Apostle Paul 39:01 also confirms what Jesus taught 39:03 in "The Parable of the Fig Tree, in the Parable of Vineyard" 39:07 and what He thought in John Chapter 8 39:09 as well as in John Chapter 1. 39:11 Let's notice what the Apostle Paul says, 39:13 because most Christians today use the Apostle Paul 39:16 and they say, "Well, you know, 39:18 the Apostle Paul believed that God had two peoples, 39:20 the literal Jews and then He turn to the Gentiles. 39:23 And then when the times of the Gentiles are over-- 39:25 we'll have a lecture on the times of Gentiles later on, 39:27 then the church is gonna be rapture to heaven 39:30 and then God is gonna pick up of a literal Jews again, 39:32 with nation Israel again." 39:34 Let's see what the Apostle Paul defines as true Israel. 39:38 Romans 2:28 and 29. Romans 2:28 and 29. 39:45 This is explicit. 39:47 It's hard to understand how anybody in the world 39:50 could misunderstand what the Apostle Paul is saying. 39:53 "For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly." 39:59 Let me ask you, 40:00 are there outward Jews that are not really Jews, 40:03 according to the definition of the Apostle Paul? Absolutely. 40:06 He says, "For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, 40:10 nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh." 40:14 See, the Jews were distinguished by their circumcision. 40:16 He says, "Circumcision doesn't make you a Jew." 40:19 Verse 29, "But he is a Jew who is one--" What? 40:24 "Inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart, 40:29 in the spirit not in the letter 40:31 whose praise is not from men, but from God." 40:37 So let me ask you, are there Jews 40:39 and then are there Jews? 40:40 Absolutely. What is a true Israelite? 40:44 A true Israelite is one who has accepted 40:47 Jesus Christ as Savor and Lord, 40:49 their heart has been circumcised by Jesus 40:52 and their life is under the control of Holy Spirit 40:55 because it says here 40:57 "In the spirit not in the letter." 40:59 Of course the Jews love to live by the letter. 41:02 Notice, Romans Chapter 9:6-8. 41:05 And by the way, 41:06 when I speak about the Jews of Christ day 41:08 I am not-- this is not any reflection 41:10 on any individual who is a Jew today. 41:14 God loves the Jews, intensely. 41:16 He loves them with a deep love. 41:19 And by the way, it's not saying 41:21 either that Israel cannot exist as a nation. 41:24 I am simply taking 41:26 the biblical definition of what true Israel is, 41:30 what a true Jew is according to scripture, 41:33 because it has huge prophetic implications. 41:36 Notice Romans 9:6-8, Romans 9:6-8. 41:42 Here the Apostle Paul says this, 41:44 "But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect." 41:47 Now, notice this, 41:49 "For they are not all Israel, who are of Israel." 41:54 You'll say that's ridiculous. 41:56 So not all Israelites are Israelites? 41:59 That's what the Apostle Paul is saying. 42:01 So what is that, that determines a true Israelite? 42:05 "Nor are they all children 42:08 because they are the seed of Abraham." 42:10 Not everybody is Abraham's child 42:13 just because he descends physically from Abraham. 42:16 "But, In Isaac your seed shall be called. 42:20 That is, those who are the children of the flesh," 42:24 there is literal nations Jews. 42:27 "Those who are the children of the flesh, 42:29 these are not the children of God 42:33 but the children of the promise--" 42:35 that is the promise of the Messiah 42:37 "are counted as the seed." 42:39 How could the Apostle Paul be more explicit than this 42:43 about the identity of Israel? 42:44 You see, God has transition 42:47 from literal Israel as a chosen nation, 42:50 national Israel as his chosen nation 42:52 the fig tree apostatize and therefore it withered up 42:56 and it was burned in the fire in the year 70. 42:59 That doesn't mean that literal Jews could not be saved 43:01 who become linked with Jesus Christ, the Messiah. 43:04 Then they become true Jews. 43:06 That's why you have a huge number of Jews these days 43:09 that are becoming messianic Jews. 43:12 Notice Galatians 3:26-29. Galatians 3:26-29. 43:19 Here the Apostle Paul says this, 43:21 "For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 43:26 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ--" 43:31 Notice this, "Into Christ have put on Christ." 43:36 So if you are baptized, you put on Christ. 43:39 What is the implication? 43:40 Verse 28, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, 43:43 there is neither slave nor free, 43:46 there is neither male nor female, 43:48 for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 43:51 And if you are Christ then you are Abraham's seed, 43:56 and heirs according to the promise." 43:59 What determines whether you are Abraham's seed? 44:01 It's not where you live, 44:03 it's not what kind of blood you have, 44:04 it's not what your last name is. 44:07 It has to do with whether you have linked up 44:09 your life with Jesus Christ as your Savior and as your Lord. 44:15 By the way, the Apostle Paul 44:17 had this very, very clear in his own life experience. 44:20 Notice what we find in the Book of Philippians 3:3-8. 44:25 Philippians Chapter 3:3-8. 44:30 He's reminiscing about his own experience. 44:34 So we should listen very careful to the Apostle Paul, 44:36 because he's not just giving a discourse in theology, 44:40 he's speaking about his own practical life. 44:43 He says this, "For we are the circumcision, 44:49 who worship God in the Spirit, 44:53 rejoice in Christ Jesus 44:55 and have no confidence in the flesh." 44:59 What according to the Apostle Paul 45:01 is the true circumcision? 45:03 It's not being a literal Jew, 45:05 it's not been a national Israelite, 45:07 He says circumcision are those who worship God in the spirit, 45:11 rejoice in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh. 45:16 And then he explains 45:17 what he means by confidence in the flesh. 45:19 He says, "Though, I also might have confidence in the flesh." 45:22 Now he's gonna describe what it means to be in the flesh? 45:24 It means to be a literal Jew 45:26 or a little literal national Israelite. 45:29 He says, "Though, I also might have confidence in the flesh. 45:33 If anyone else thinks 45:35 he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so." 45:38 And then he gives a list. 45:40 He says, "Circumcised the eighth day, 45:43 of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, 45:46 a Hebrew of the Hebrews, concerning the law of Pharisee, 45:51 concerning zeal, persecuting the church, 45:54 concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless." 45:58 So he says if you want to have confidence 46:00 in being a literal Jew and being a Pharisee 46:03 and the tribe of Benjamin and zealous for the law etcetera, 46:06 hey, here's the prime example of it. 46:10 Now what else does he say? 46:12 Notice verse 7, "But what things were gain to me 46:17 these I have counted loss for Christ." 46:20 Well, none of these things counted anything, 46:22 he says, "Except for Christ." 46:25 Verse 8, "Yet indeed 46:26 I also count all things loss for the excellence 46:31 of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, 46:35 for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, 46:37 and count them as rubbish, that I may gain--" 46:42 Whom? "That I may gain Christ." 46:47 Are you understanding what this is talking about? 46:50 Is Jesus then saying in Matthew Chapter 24 46:54 that the reestablishment of the literal Jewish 46:57 national Israel in 1947 was a fulfillment of prophecy? 47:01 Listen folks, when you read the prophecies 47:04 in the Old Testament, God told Israel, 47:07 "If you forsake me and you do not listen to my voice, 47:11 I am gonna scatter you among all nations. 47:15 But if when you are scattered you repent, 47:19 and you're sorry for what you've done, 47:20 and you come back to me, 47:22 I will gather you once again to your land, 47:25 and I will heal you." 47:27 Let me ask you, what was that scattered national Israel 47:31 when Jerusalem was destroyed? 47:32 It was the fact that they refused to listen 47:35 to the voice of Jesus, their Messiah. 47:38 And therefore what happened to them? 47:40 We read in Luke Chapter 21 and also Luke Chapter 19, 47:44 they were scattered among all of the nations, weren't they? 47:48 So let me ask you, 47:50 did they all suddenly come to believe in 1948? 47:54 Did they repent? 47:55 Did national Israel say, 47:56 "Oh, we're sorry that we crucified the Messiah?" 47:58 You know, "we now receive Him 48:00 as our Savior and as our Lord." Did they? 48:02 No, they were restored to Jerusalem in unbelief. 48:10 But that goes against everything 48:12 that bible prophecy contemplates. 48:15 In other words that restoration in 1948 48:17 was not a fulfillment of prophecy, 48:20 it was a political circumstance that took place. 48:24 In other words, they could never 48:25 have been restored in 1948 as God's chosen nation 48:29 in their land as a fulfillment of prophecy, 48:31 unless they repented and receive Jesus Christ as Savor and Lord, 48:36 because that's the total pattern in the Old Testament. 48:39 No one is rewarded in unbelief. 48:43 Repent and be converted that your sins will be blotted out. 48:47 If we confess our sins, 48:49 He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins 48:52 and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 48:54 There is a condition 48:55 that had to be fulfilled for Israel to be restored. 48:58 And the condition to this day has never been fulfilled, 49:03 because national Israel with the exception 49:05 of the Messianic Jews is still rejecting Jesus Christ 49:10 as their promised Messiah. 49:12 I would like to read a couple of passages, 49:15 very significant passages from the writings of Ellen White 49:19 about the Jewish nation, about national Israel. 49:25 The first is found in the journal 49:29 "Review and Herald", February 25, 1896. 49:33 And these are strong words 49:36 but it's in harmony with what Jesus thought. 49:39 Did Jesus teach that if He was rejected, 49:42 the result would be scattering and destruction 49:45 and being burnt by fire, absolutely. 49:48 Notice what she says, "The curse rests upon Jerusalem. 49:55 The Lord has obliterated those things 49:59 which men would worship in and about Jerusalem, 50:03 yet many hold in reverence literal objects in Palestine, 50:08 while they neglect to behold Jesus 50:10 as their advocate in the heaven of heavens." 50:13 There's people who'll say, 50:15 "Oh, if I could just visit the holy land, 50:16 if I could just walk where Jesus walked." 50:19 What Ellen White is saying is the curse is upon all Jerusalem. 50:22 It's not a holy place anymore. 50:23 You know what makes a place holy? 50:25 The presence of Jesus. 50:27 Jesus left the temple, it said, 50:29 "Your house is left onto you what?" Desolate. 50:32 And you will not see me again 50:34 until you say blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord 50:38 which is referring to His second coming. 50:40 The second statement is found in "Review and Herald" 50:44 June 9, 1896. This one is even stronger. 50:48 She says this, "How many there are 50:51 who feel that it would be a good thing 50:54 to tread the soil of old Jerusalem, 50:58 and that their faith would be greatly strengthened 51:01 by visiting the scenes of the Savior's life and death." 51:07 Then she says this, 51:08 "But old Jerusalem will never be a sacred place." 51:14 So much for the rebuilding of the third temple. 51:18 "But old Jerusalem will never be a sacred place 51:21 until it is cleansed by the refining fire from heaven. 51:28 The darkest blot of guilt rests upon the city 51:31 that refused the light of Christ. 51:35 Do we want to walk in the footsteps of Jesus? 51:38 We need not seek out the paths in Nazareth, 51:42 Bethany, and Jerusalem. 51:44 We shall find the footprints of Jesus by the sick-bed, 51:47 by the side of suffering humanity, 51:50 in the hovels of the poverty-stricken and distressed. 51:54 We may walk in these footsteps, comforting the suffering, 51:58 speaking words of hope and comfort to the despondent. 52:02 Doing as Jesus did when He was upon earth, 52:06 we shall walk in His blessed steps. 52:09 Jesus said, "If any man will come after me, 52:12 let him deny himself, 52:14 and take up his cross daily, and follow me. 52:17 When the sin-cursed earth 52:20 is purified from every stain of sin, 52:23 when the Mount of Olives is rent asunder" 52:26 this is after the millennium, 52:27 by the way according to Zechariah 14. 52:30 She says, "when the Mount of Olives is rent asunder, 52:33 and becomes an immense plain; 52:36 when the holy city of God descends upon it, 52:39 the land that is now called the Holy Land 52:43 will indeed become holy. 52:46 But God's cause and work will not be advanced 52:50 by making pilgrimages to Jerusalem. 52:53 The curse of God is upon Jerusalem for the rejection 52:58 and crucifixion of His only begotten Son. 53:01 But God will cleanse away the vile blot. 53:05 The prophet says, 53:06 "I saw a new heaven and a new earth, 53:08 for the first heaven and the first earth are passed away, 53:11 and the sea is no more. 53:13 And I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, 53:16 coming down out of heaven from God, 53:18 made ready as a bride adorned for her husband." 53:25 So is prophecy being fulfilled in the Middle East 53:29 with national Israel? Absolutely not. 53:34 When will prophecy be fulfilled with literal Jerusalem? 53:38 Only after the millennium, 53:41 when the feet of Jesus split the Mount of Olives, 53:44 a plain is open so that the New Jerusalem 53:46 can come down and rest upon that plain. 53:50 Then the presence of Jesus and the holy city 53:53 will make that place once again holy 53:57 and will be cleansed from the blot that was placed upon it 54:01 because of the rejection of the only begotten Son of God. 54:05 You know what the devil has done? 54:07 By taking text like this one 54:09 about the fig tree in Mathew Chapter 24, 54:12 he has focused all eyes of Christians upon the Middle East. 54:18 You read books on Bible prophecy today, 54:21 you cannot find a single book in bookstores, 54:25 in evangelical bookstores where there's anything 54:28 other than prophecy being fulfilled 54:30 at some point in literal Israel. 54:33 They teach that literal temple 54:36 is gonna be rebuilt on the temple mount. 54:38 There's gonna be a little literal antichrist 54:40 who will sit in that temple 54:42 and he will raise up a literal image 54:45 and he will rule for a literal three and a half years 54:47 and he will persecute the literal Israelites. 54:50 And so what people do? 54:52 As a result of this preaching 54:54 of the false prophet of Revelation Chapter 13, 54:57 all of the eyes of the people are directed to the Middle East. 55:00 They say, "1948, look the greater sign 55:03 Israel was re-established as a nation at that date, 55:07 therefore we've to look over there 55:09 for the fulfillment of Bible prophecy." 55:12 The sad thing is, because everybody 55:15 is looking over there for the fulfillment of prophecy, 55:18 prophecy is fulfilled in Rome and in the United States 55:23 and no one can see the fulfillment of prophecy, 55:26 because they are looking in the wrong place. 55:31 You see the devil is an expert at misdirection. 55:35 You know, in football there is a play, 55:39 a running play it is called a counter-play. 55:43 Those of you who you are into football 55:44 know what I am talking about. 55:45 Its when the ball carrier, 55:48 the half-back or the full-back carries the ball 55:52 and all of the blockers on the line move in one direction 55:57 and so all of the contrary team thinks 56:00 that the one who is carrying the ball 56:03 is moving in that direction 56:04 because all of his blockers are blocking in that direction. 56:08 But then the deception is in the fact 56:11 that instead of him running around that end 56:14 where the blockers are blocking, 56:15 he fools everybody and he takes an end-around on the other end 56:19 and many times makes many yards. 56:22 It is a misdirection play. 56:24 And that's exactly what the devil is doing 56:27 with what's happening in Bible prophecy. 56:29 People are looking at the Middle East 56:31 for the fulfillment of prophecy, it is a distraction. 56:34 In other words it is a misdirection 56:37 to the fulfillment of Bible prophecy 56:39 and therefore when prophecy is truly fulfilled 56:42 here in the United States and in Rome 56:45 and with the nations of the world, 56:47 people just cannot grasp it, they cannot see it, 56:50 because they are looking in the wrong place. 56:54 So folks, the short of all of this is that 56:57 God wants us to be true Israel. 56:59 God wants us to receive 57:01 Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord. 57:03 The final warfare will be against the real Jews, 57:07 the spiritual Jews, those who have a heart 57:09 circumcised by Christ and by the Holy Spirit, 57:13 they will rise the enmity of the world against them, 57:16 not literal Israel. 57:18 And at the end, 57:20 Jesus Christ will intervene to deliver 57:23 His true spiritual Israel, 57:24 because He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. |
Revised 2014-12-17