The subject of
our study in this hour
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is The Parable of the Fig Tree.
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We are discussing
the role of Israel
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in Bible prophecy.
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And this is a continuation
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of the study that
we did previously,
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number 11 in the series.
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But before we
study about the fig tree,
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we do want to ask
for the Lord's blessing
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as we do for every presentation
before we open the Lord's Word.
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So let's bow our
heads for a word of prayer.
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Father in heaven,
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we thank You so much
for Your presence here.
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It's so comforting to
know that You are here
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through the
ministry of Your Holy Spirit
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and Your angels.
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We need Your help
because our wisdom is limited.
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We know very little,
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just barely enough
to get us to heaven.
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But You know it all.
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We ask that Your
wisdom and Your knowledge
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will be shared
with us now as we study
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this very important
subject about the fig tree.
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We ask, Lord, that You will
not only help us understand it,
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but also to understand it
in a way that we can share it
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with those who
are perhaps misguided
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in their concepts
of Bible prophecy.
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We place
ourselves in Your hands,
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thanking You for Your presence.
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In Jesus' name, amen.
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I invite you to
turn in your Bibles
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with me to Matthew 24.
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And we are going to
read verses 32 to 35.
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Matthew 24:32-35.
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This is towards the end
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of what is known as
the Olivet Discourse,
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which is the sermon
that Jesus presented
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to His disciples about the signs
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that would
precede His Second Coming.
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And towards the
end of His presentation
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of the different signs
before the Second Coming,
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Jesus used this
analogy to let us know
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when we could be sure
that the coming of Jesus
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is imminent, is
soon to take place.
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I read now from
Matthew 24:32-35.
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Jesus stated, "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
the summer is near."
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This is speaking about
the fig tree in Israel.
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So Jesus is saying, you know,
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when you look at the fig tree
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and the fig tree becomes tender,
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the branches become tender
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and it starts to
put forth leaves,
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you know that
the summer is near.
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Now that gives you the
sign that the summer is near.
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And now he draws the
comparison in verse 33.
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"So you also,
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when you see all these things,
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know that it is
near at the doors!"
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So the fig tree is a
parable or an analogy
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for those who live near
the time of the Second Coming.
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And then in verse
34, Jesus continued,
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"Assuredly, I say to you,
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this generation will
by 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 want to share with you
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the view that is
held by futurists
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concerning the fig
tree in these verses.
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Basically, their
idea is that the fig tree
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is a symbol of Israel.
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And by the way,
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they are right in
saying that the fig tree
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is a symbol of Israel.
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But the question is,
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is the fig tree
here a symbol of Israel?
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You see, folks, in prophecy,
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in symbolic
portions of scripture
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symbols do not
always mean the same thing
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in every context.
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For example, if I asked
you what leaven represents?
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What would you say?
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Everybody says
leaven represents sin.
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But in the Parable of
the Leaven that Jesus gave,
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the leaven
represents the Holy Spirit
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that is placed in the church
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and as a result
the church grows.
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So leaven can
represent sin in one context.
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And leaven can represent
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the Holy Spirit
in another context.
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You have to take
into account the context,
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likewise with a sword.
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In Ephesians 6:17,
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the sword is a
symbol of the Word of God,
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the sword of the
Spirit is the Word of God.
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But in Romans 13:4,
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the sword is what
the civil power has
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to keep the civil order.
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And so when you
find the word sword,
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don't assume that the word sword
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symbolically means the
same thing in every context.
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The same could be
said, for example of a lion.
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In the Bible, a
lion can represent Jesus,
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the lion of the tribe of Judah.
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The lion can
represent Satan who goes forth
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as a roaring lion
seeking whom he may devour.
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The lion can represent
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the kingdom of
Babylon in Daniel 7,
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and it can represent Judah,
the son of Jacob in Genesis 49.
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So just because the
fig tree is mentioned here
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in Matthew 24,
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does not necessarily mean
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that the fig tree
here represents Israel,
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even though in other passages
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it does clearly
represent Israel.
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So basically, the
concept that futurists have
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is that this fig tree
represents literal Israel,
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the nation of Israel.
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And that the fig
tree, so to speak,
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began to sprout in the year 1948
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when the nation of Israel
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resurrected or
was reestablished,
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when the Jewish nation
was established in 1948.
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Futurists also say,
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in the war of 1967
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where Israel won over the Arabs,
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that's a further sign
that Israel is now about
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to fulfill the plan
that God has for her.
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Soon they say it's an indication
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that the rapture will take place
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and then God's
plan for literal Israel
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will begin again,
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the plan that was suspended
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at the end of week
number 69 of the 70 weeks.
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So basically, they understand
the sprouting of the fig tree
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as a sign that Israel
would resurrect in 1948.
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And that would indicate
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that the rapture
of the church is near.
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We need to take a
close look at this concept.
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Incidentally, by the way,
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they say that this
is the greatest sign
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that the rapture
is soon to take place,
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the
reestablishment of the nation
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of Israel in 1948.
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They say of all signs,
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this is the greatest sign
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that the final
events of the rapture
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and the tribulation
for the Jews, etcetera,
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is soon to take place.
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Now the first thing
that I want us to notice
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in responding to this concept
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is that the
vine and the fig tree
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do represent literal Israel.
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Go with me to the
Book of Hosea 9:10.
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Hosea 9:10.
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We're gonna see
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that they are
right in one sense,
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and that is that the fig
tree can represent Israel
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and the vine or the vineyard
can also represent Israel.
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We're not gonna deny that.
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The question is,
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does the fig
tree in this passage
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represent literal Israel?
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So let's read Hosea 9:10.
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God is speaking
here and He says,
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"I found Israel like grapes..."
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See there you have the vineyard.
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"I found Israel like
grapes in the wilderness,
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I saw your fathers
as the first-fruits
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on the fig tree
in its first season."
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So you see here,
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the grapes or the
vineyard represents Israel,
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and the fig tree
also represents Israel.
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And then it continues saying,
"But they went to Baal Peor,
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and separated
themselves to that shame,
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they became an abomination
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like the thing that they loved."
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So the fig tree and the vineyard
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both represent
Israel, no doubt about it.
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But once again, the question is,
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does the fig
tree represent Israel
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in Matthew Chapter 24?
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Now, we are gonna study
in the next few minutes,
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three passages
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that describe Israel as a tree.
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And we're gonna find
some very important lessons
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in these three passages
that describe Israel as a tree.
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The first passage
that we're gonna study
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does not mention the
tree has being a fig tree.
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However, by looking at
the other two passages,
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we're gonna see that that
tree was really a fig tree,
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even though it
doesn't mention the fig tree.
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Let's go to the
first passage that mentions
00:10:27.56\00:10:30.83
Israel like a tree.
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Matthew 3:8-10.
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Matthew 3:8-10.
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This is describing the preaching
00:10:42.34\00:10:44.24
of John the Baptist.
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And John the
Baptist began his preaching
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six months before
Jesus began His ministry.
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That's a very important detail.
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John the Baptist
began his preaching
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six months before Jesus
began His public ministry.
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And let's notice
what John the Baptist said
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to the Pharisees and the Scribes
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that were present there
listening to his sermon.
00:11:10.67\00:11:14.80
And I want you to remember
the details of this portion
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of John the Baptist sermon.
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It says there in verse 8,
he's speaking to literal Jews,
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to the leadership
of the literal Jews.
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"Therefore bear
fruits worthy of repentance."
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That means bear fruit
that flows from repentance.
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So what is John the
Baptist telling them to do?
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He's telling them to, what?
00:11:41.13\00:11:43.16
To bear fruit that
comes from repentance.
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And then he continues,
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"And do not think
to say to yourselves,
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'We have
Abraham as our father.'"
00:11:53.71\00:11:58.11
So he's saying you must repent.
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Bear fruits.
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Don't say or don't brag.
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"'We have
Abraham as our father.'
00:12:05.25\00:12:08.29
For I say to you,
00:12:08.32\00:12:10.03
that God is able
to raise up children
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to Abraham from these stones.'"
00:12:12.39\00:12:16.13
Now if you read
Desire of Ages, page 63,
00:12:16.16\00:12:19.93
Ellen White explains
that John the Baptist
00:12:19.97\00:12:23.37
was not pointing
at literal stones.
00:12:23.41\00:12:27.38
You see, the parallel
passage in Luke tells us
00:12:27.41\00:12:31.28
that there were
Gentile soldiers present there
00:12:31.31\00:12:34.15
listening to John
the Baptist as well.
00:12:34.18\00:12:36.58
Besides the Jews who claim to be
00:12:36.62\00:12:39.15
the children or
the sons of Abraham.
00:12:39.19\00:12:41.82
And when John the Baptist said,
00:12:41.86\00:12:43.59
God is able to raise up
00:12:43.63\00:12:44.96
children of
Abraham from the stones,
00:12:44.99\00:12:47.30
he was pointing at the Gentiles
because the Jews considered
00:12:47.33\00:12:51.37
the Gentiles to be stones
because they had a stony heart.
00:12:51.40\00:12:55.70
The Jews
referred to the Gentiles
00:12:55.74\00:12:58.37
as dogs and as pigs or swine.
00:12:58.41\00:13:02.54
Very politically incorrect
and very unkind, I might say.
00:13:02.58\00:13:07.25
So what John the
Baptist is saying,
00:13:07.28\00:13:08.88
don't you brag because you claim
00:13:08.92\00:13:10.49
to be children of Abraham?
00:13:10.52\00:13:12.02
No, no, no, God can
raise up children of Abraham
00:13:12.05\00:13:14.66
from these Gentiles.
00:13:14.69\00:13:16.19
So is it possible for Gentiles
to be children of Abraham,
00:13:16.22\00:13:19.36
even though they don't
have the blood of Abraham?
00:13:19.39\00:13:21.66
Yes or no?
00:13:21.70\00:13:23.03
Absolutely.
00:13:23.06\00:13:24.43
He continues,
00:13:24.47\00:13:26.40
"And even now the ax
00:13:26.43\00:13:28.87
is laid at the
root of the trees.
00:13:28.90\00:13:32.31
Therefore every tree
which does not," what?
00:13:32.34\00:13:37.41
"Bear good fruit is cut down
00:13:37.45\00:13:42.72
and thrown into the fire."
00:13:42.75\00:13:46.69
So what is John the
Baptist telling the literal Jews
00:13:46.72\00:13:49.72
that he's speaking to?
00:13:49.76\00:13:51.49
He's saying, "Listen,
repent, and bear fruit."
00:13:51.53\00:13:56.60
Don't brag because
you're literal Jews,
00:13:56.63\00:13:58.97
children of Abraham.
00:13:59.00\00:14:00.34
God can raise up
children of Abraham
00:14:00.37\00:14:02.04
from these Gentiles.
00:14:02.07\00:14:04.27
And if you don't bear
fruit, the tree will be what?
00:14:04.31\00:14:09.21
Cut down and
thrown into the fire.
00:14:09.24\00:14:15.08
At this point we don't know
00:14:15.12\00:14:17.99
if the Jewish tree
produce fruit or not?
00:14:18.02\00:14:22.52
But two and a half years later,
00:14:22.56\00:14:25.36
Jesus told a
parable of a fig tree.
00:14:25.39\00:14:30.30
By this time, mind you,
00:14:30.33\00:14:32.93
three years have
passed since John the Baptist
00:14:32.97\00:14:35.94
began to preach.
00:14:35.97\00:14:38.31
Six months John
the Baptist preached
00:14:38.34\00:14:40.34
and Jesus now tells this parable
00:14:40.38\00:14:42.54
two and a half
years into His ministry.
00:14:42.58\00:14:45.08
So three years have passed
00:14:45.11\00:14:48.02
since when John the
Baptist began to preach,
00:14:48.05\00:14:50.32
and when Jesus
told this parable.
00:14:50.35\00:14:52.85
The parable is
found in Luke 13:1-9.
00:14:52.89\00:14:58.63
Luke 13:1-9.
00:14:58.66\00:15:04.03
Three years
after John the Baptist
00:15:04.07\00:15:06.03
began his preaching.
00:15:06.07\00:15:08.30
By the way,
00:15:08.34\00:15:09.67
how many years did the
ministry of Jesus last?
00:15:09.70\00:15:13.64
Three and a half years.
00:15:13.68\00:15:16.54
So this is one year
before He finishes His ministry.
00:15:16.58\00:15:20.45
Very important
chronological details.
00:15:20.48\00:15:23.65
Here is the parable.
00:15:23.69\00:15:25.82
"There were
present at that season
00:15:25.85\00:15:28.62
some who told him
about the Galileans
00:15:28.66\00:15:32.36
whose blood Pilate had
mingled with their sacrifices."
00:15:32.39\00:15:37.60
And, of course, they
believe that when calamity came,
00:15:37.63\00:15:40.74
God was doing it
because the people were bad.
00:15:40.77\00:15:44.34
God was punishing them.
00:15:44.37\00:15:46.27
But Jesus says in verse 2,
00:15:46.31\00:15:49.61
"And Jesus
answered and said to them,
00:15:49.64\00:15:51.78
'Do you suppose that these
Galileans were worse sinners
00:15:51.81\00:15:56.02
than all other Galileans,
00:15:56.05\00:15:57.62
because they
suffered such things?
00:15:57.65\00:16:00.56
I tell you, no, but
unless you repent..."
00:16:00.59\00:16:04.63
Is that a common theme
00:16:04.66\00:16:05.99
with what John the Baptist said?
00:16:06.03\00:16:07.36
Yes.
00:16:07.40\00:16:08.73
"But unless you repent
you will all likewise," what?
00:16:08.76\00:16:12.03
"Perish."
00:16:12.07\00:16:13.40
Which is the same ax
cutting down the tree.
00:16:13.44\00:16:17.37
Verse 4,
00:16:17.41\00:16:18.84
"Or those eighteen on
whom the tower of Siloam fell
00:16:18.87\00:16:22.81
and killed them,
00:16:22.84\00:16:24.41
do you think that
they were worse sinners
00:16:24.45\00:16:27.22
than all other men
who dwelt in Jerusalem?
00:16:27.25\00:16:30.85
I tell you, no,
but unless you repent,
00:16:30.89\00:16:34.62
you will all likewise perish."
00:16:34.66\00:16:36.73
Once again, you have to repent.
00:16:36.76\00:16:40.40
And if you don't
repent, you will perish.
00:16:40.43\00:16:42.60
And then Jesus is
going to illustrate
00:16:42.63\00:16:45.63
what He has just
said with the parable.
00:16:45.67\00:16:49.94
In verse 6, we find the
beginning of the parable.
00:16:49.97\00:16:53.64
"He also spoke this parable,
00:16:53.68\00:16:56.98
'A certain man,"
and I'm gonna interpret
00:16:57.01\00:16:58.81
the parable as we go along
because parables have symbols,
00:16:58.85\00:17:02.38
the actors represent
something besides themselves.
00:17:02.42\00:17:06.15
So it says a certain
man that's God the Father,
00:17:06.19\00:17:08.02
by the way, "had a fig tree,"
00:17:08.06\00:17:11.89
Israel, "planted his vineyard,"
00:17:11.93\00:17:16.46
the world, "and he
came seeking fruit,"
00:17:16.50\00:17:20.90
the fruit of the Spirit.
00:17:20.94\00:17:22.27
And what happened
when it came seeking fruit
00:17:25.37\00:17:27.88
on the fig tree?
00:17:27.91\00:17:29.81
"And on it,
00:17:29.84\00:17:33.28
he found none."
00:17:33.31\00:17:37.59
So three years
have passed for the tree
00:17:37.62\00:17:39.75
that John the
Baptist spoke about.
00:17:39.79\00:17:42.89
And Jesus come
seeking fruit on the fig tree
00:17:42.92\00:17:46.96
and there is no fruit.
00:17:47.00\00:17:49.53
So now notice
what's gonna happen.
00:17:49.56\00:17:52.43
"Then he said," by
the way, once again,
00:17:52.47\00:17:55.94
it's the certain
man God the Father,
00:17:55.97\00:17:58.01
who is speaking here.
00:17:58.04\00:17:59.57
"Then he said to the keeper
of his vineyard," that's Jesus.
00:17:59.61\00:18:04.28
"'Look for three years..."
00:18:04.31\00:18:08.95
Oh, interesting chronology.
00:18:08.98\00:18:11.29
John the Baptist
preached six months,
00:18:11.32\00:18:12.79
Jesus was two and a
half years into His ministry,
00:18:12.82\00:18:14.79
that's three years.
00:18:14.82\00:18:17.59
"Then he said to the
keeper of the vineyard,
00:18:17.63\00:18:19.76
'Look, for these three
years I have come seeking fruit
00:18:19.79\00:18:22.50
on this fig tree and find none."
00:18:22.53\00:18:27.10
And then he says, "Cut it down."
00:18:27.14\00:18:31.94
Is that what
John the Baptist said
00:18:31.97\00:18:33.31
if the tree
didn't produce fruit?
00:18:33.34\00:18:35.88
Yes.
00:18:35.91\00:18:37.25
"Cut it down,
00:18:37.28\00:18:40.28
why does it use up the ground?'"
00:18:40.32\00:18:44.62
Oh, but the vine dresser Jesus,
00:18:44.65\00:18:47.29
He loves that fig tree.
00:18:47.32\00:18:51.09
So he says in verse 8,
00:18:51.13\00:18:53.36
"But he
answered and said to him,
00:18:53.40\00:18:55.50
'Sir,
00:18:55.53\00:18:57.20
let it alone this year also.'"
00:18:57.23\00:19:02.30
In other words,
00:19:02.34\00:19:03.67
let the fig tree
remain for how long?
00:19:03.71\00:19:06.07
One more year.
00:19:06.11\00:19:07.44
How many years still remained
in the ministry of Jesus?
00:19:07.48\00:19:11.48
One year.
00:19:11.51\00:19:13.11
It's important to have
these chronological details.
00:19:13.15\00:19:16.08
So, "'Sir,
00:19:16.12\00:19:19.05
let it alone this year also,
00:19:19.09\00:19:23.12
until I dig around
it and fertilize it."
00:19:23.16\00:19:26.86
In other words, I'm gonna
dedicate special attention
00:19:26.90\00:19:29.80
to this fig tree the last year.
00:19:29.83\00:19:33.77
And then in verse 9, he says,
00:19:33.80\00:19:36.50
"And if it bears fruit, well.
00:19:36.54\00:19:40.88
But if not,
00:19:40.91\00:19:42.58
after that you
can cut it down.'"
00:19:42.61\00:19:45.71
You catching the picture?
00:19:49.08\00:19:51.22
So we need to learn to
connect passages in the Bible.
00:19:51.25\00:19:54.82
Not only read
individual passages,
00:19:54.86\00:19:57.09
but see how
different passages are linked.
00:19:57.13\00:19:59.49
You know, these three
passages are all interconnected,
00:19:59.53\00:20:04.30
very clearly interconnected.
00:20:04.33\00:20:07.57
By the way, when
the parable ends,
00:20:07.60\00:20:09.50
the parable ends in suspense.
00:20:09.54\00:20:12.87
We don't know whether
the tree produce fruit
00:20:12.91\00:20:15.14
or not at this
point in the parable,
00:20:15.18\00:20:17.88
it's left open
00:20:17.91\00:20:19.75
because there's
still another year.
00:20:19.78\00:20:22.75
And nobody yet knows
what the fig tree is gonna do
00:20:22.78\00:20:25.79
if it's gonna
produce fruit or not.
00:20:25.82\00:20:28.46
Are you following me?
00:20:28.49\00:20:30.73
It's similar to the
story of the oldest son
00:20:30.76\00:20:34.76
in the story of
the prodigal son.
00:20:34.80\00:20:38.07
You know, that that
story also ends in suspense
00:20:38.10\00:20:42.20
because the real prodigal
was not the younger son,
00:20:42.24\00:20:45.17
the prodigal was the older one.
00:20:45.21\00:20:49.04
He was lost at home.
00:20:49.08\00:20:52.11
The other son was
lost away from home
00:20:52.15\00:20:53.78
but he came back home,
00:20:53.82\00:20:55.55
but the older
brother, he was lost at home.
00:20:55.58\00:20:59.79
And when his brother
comes back smelling like swine,
00:20:59.82\00:21:03.89
you know,
00:21:03.93\00:21:05.26
probably his breath
smell like swine's food
00:21:05.29\00:21:07.46
because he was competing
for with the pigs for the food.
00:21:07.50\00:21:12.97
And his father
receives him with open arms,
00:21:13.00\00:21:16.91
covers him with his choice robe
00:21:16.94\00:21:18.31
and puts his that
signet ring on him,
00:21:18.34\00:21:20.48
the sign of his authority.
00:21:20.51\00:21:23.01
And now the
father calls a party.
00:21:23.04\00:21:26.25
He says to all, let's celebrate.
00:21:26.28\00:21:28.35
My son that was
lost has come back home.
00:21:28.38\00:21:32.52
A reason to celebrate.
00:21:32.55\00:21:34.09
And the older son, you
know, he sees, he hears music,
00:21:34.12\00:21:37.13
and he sees heads
moving in the house.
00:21:37.16\00:21:40.43
And he says,
"What's going on there?"
00:21:40.46\00:21:41.80
He calls the sir,
"What's going on there?"
00:21:41.83\00:21:43.16
Oh, you haven't heard?
00:21:43.20\00:21:44.53
Your brother came home.
00:21:44.57\00:21:45.90
Oh, you should have smelled him.
00:21:45.93\00:21:47.80
I'm embellishing the story.
00:21:47.84\00:21:50.51
Ooh,
00:21:50.54\00:21:53.27
you wouldn't
believe the dirty clothes
00:21:53.31\00:21:55.11
that he had on.
00:21:55.14\00:21:56.48
And you know what your dad did?
00:21:56.51\00:21:58.11
He gave him a great big
hug, gave him the best robe,
00:21:58.15\00:22:02.95
gave him the signet
ring and called the party.
00:22:02.98\00:22:07.69
The older son who represents
the Scribes and the Pharisees,
00:22:07.72\00:22:11.59
self-sufficient.
00:22:11.63\00:22:12.96
The older son says,
00:22:16.06\00:22:18.47
"If anybody
deserved a party, it is me.
00:22:18.50\00:22:22.24
I stayed home.
00:22:22.27\00:22:24.51
I served my father."
00:22:24.54\00:22:26.31
He was a son with a
servant's mentality.
00:22:26.34\00:22:31.41
He served as a
slave, not as a son.
00:22:31.45\00:22:33.65
And so he doesn't
even go into the house.
00:22:37.72\00:22:42.49
His dad has to come out
00:22:42.52\00:22:45.83
and he doesn't refer
to his father as father.
00:22:45.86\00:22:49.56
It's you.
00:22:49.60\00:22:52.33
And he doesn't refer to
his brother as my brother.
00:22:52.37\00:22:54.47
He said, "This your son."
00:22:54.50\00:22:58.21
Wow!
00:22:58.24\00:23:01.31
Jesus says to him, you know,
00:23:01.34\00:23:04.98
"You, I always have with me."
00:23:05.01\00:23:09.02
There was reason to celebrate
the return of your brother.
00:23:09.05\00:23:13.42
The story ends
and you don't know
00:23:13.46\00:23:15.06
if the father was able to talk
any sense into his older son.
00:23:15.09\00:23:20.63
You don't know how the reaction
00:23:20.66\00:23:23.20
of the Scribes and
Pharisees was until
00:23:23.23\00:23:26.17
the end of Jesus' life.
00:23:26.20\00:23:29.64
Now we need to go to
the third fig tree episode.
00:23:29.67\00:23:35.31
It's in Matthew 21:17-19.
00:23:35.34\00:23:38.25
And we're gonna read two
other parallel passages as well.
00:23:38.28\00:23:42.88
This episode is taking place
00:23:42.92\00:23:46.35
at the very end
of Christ's ministry.
00:23:46.39\00:23:49.56
This is taking place the
last week before his death,
00:23:49.59\00:23:54.30
just two or three
days before his death.
00:23:54.33\00:23:56.16
Let's read Matthew 21:17-19.
00:23:59.13\00:24:04.07
"Then He left them
00:24:04.11\00:24:06.51
and went out of
the city to Bethany,
00:24:06.54\00:24:09.38
and He lodged there.
00:24:09.41\00:24:12.21
Now in the morning, as
He returned to the city,
00:24:12.25\00:24:14.38
He was hungry."
00:24:14.42\00:24:16.99
And when you're hungry
you look for something to eat.
00:24:17.02\00:24:19.69
So Jesus is hungry.
00:24:19.72\00:24:22.29
"And seeing a
fig tree by the road,
00:24:22.32\00:24:26.49
He came to it
00:24:26.53\00:24:28.16
and found nothing
on it but leaves."
00:24:28.20\00:24:30.77
Now the fig tree in
Israel is very interesting
00:24:33.84\00:24:35.60
because in Israel,
00:24:35.64\00:24:38.37
first the fig tree
00:24:38.41\00:24:40.44
bears the fruit and
then the leaves come out
00:24:40.48\00:24:42.81
announcing that
the fig tree has fruit.
00:24:42.84\00:24:47.52
An unusual order.
00:24:47.55\00:24:49.88
So if the fig tree had leaves,
00:24:49.92\00:24:52.99
it would be expected
that the fig tree have fruit.
00:24:53.02\00:24:58.19
And Ellen White
has a whole chapter
00:24:58.23\00:24:59.89
in Christ's Object Lessons
where she describes this tree
00:24:59.93\00:25:01.93
had a beautiful
leaves, a beautiful tree,
00:25:01.96\00:25:05.00
just like the Jewish nation had
00:25:05.03\00:25:06.37
lots of external
beautiful things.
00:25:06.40\00:25:09.94
But the problem is
the fig tree had no fruit
00:25:09.97\00:25:11.67
just like the
Jewish nation had no fruit,
00:25:11.71\00:25:15.68
not the fruit of the Spirit.
00:25:15.71\00:25:19.11
And so He's hungry,
He says to His disciples,
00:25:19.15\00:25:20.98
"Let's go over there
00:25:21.02\00:25:22.35
and see if we can
find fruit on the tree."
00:25:22.38\00:25:25.99
No fruit, only leaves.
00:25:26.02\00:25:30.33
And now Jesus
says something drastic
00:25:30.36\00:25:32.26
to this fig tree.
00:25:32.29\00:25:34.50
"Let no fruit
00:25:34.53\00:25:36.60
grow on you ever again."
00:25:36.63\00:25:42.17
What does ever again mean?
00:25:42.20\00:25:43.54
It means you
have 2000 years past
00:25:47.04\00:25:49.11
and then it bears fruit.
00:25:49.14\00:25:50.48
Of course, not.
00:25:53.25\00:25:55.38
Ever again means
00:25:55.42\00:25:57.25
that it's not
gonna bear fruit ever.
00:25:57.29\00:26:01.49
It's finished.
00:26:01.52\00:26:04.63
So it says, "'Let no
fruit grow in you ever again.'
00:26:04.66\00:26:08.80
And immediately the
fig tree withered away.'"
00:26:08.83\00:26:13.74
It didn't wither away overnight,
00:26:13.77\00:26:15.60
it immediately had withered.
00:26:15.64\00:26:19.71
Now let's read
the parallel passage
00:26:19.74\00:26:22.54
in Mark 11:12-14.
00:26:22.58\00:26:26.58
The parallel
passage in Mark 11:12-14.
00:26:26.61\00:26:32.75
"Now the next day,
00:26:32.79\00:26:34.82
when they had come out
from Bethany, He was hungry.
00:26:34.86\00:26:40.33
And seeing from afar
a tree having leaves,
00:26:40.36\00:26:45.87
He went to it
00:26:45.90\00:26:48.14
to see if perhaps He
would find something on it.
00:26:48.17\00:26:51.97
And when He came to it,
He found nothing but leaves,
00:26:52.01\00:26:57.65
for it was not
the season for figs."
00:26:57.68\00:27:00.42
Now you say how
do we explain that?
00:27:00.45\00:27:03.69
The Spirit of Prophecy
explains what that means.
00:27:03.72\00:27:06.89
In that orchard
were many fig trees.
00:27:06.92\00:27:11.99
But only one fig tree
had an abundance of leaves.
00:27:12.03\00:27:16.83
It was a fig tree
00:27:16.87\00:27:19.83
out of season.
00:27:19.87\00:27:21.20
Let me ask you.
00:27:24.04\00:27:25.71
Did God benefit
the Jewish nation
00:27:25.74\00:27:27.78
before He benefited
any other nation on earth?
00:27:27.81\00:27:32.01
He most certainly did.
00:27:32.05\00:27:33.38
Did God expect fruit from Israel
00:27:33.42\00:27:35.45
before He expected
fruit from everyone else?
00:27:35.48\00:27:39.19
Absolutely.
00:27:39.22\00:27:41.69
So in other words, there
are many fig trees there.
00:27:41.72\00:27:44.13
The fig trees
that have no leaves.
00:27:44.16\00:27:46.53
They don't
raise any expectations
00:27:46.56\00:27:49.30
because they
represent the Gentiles.
00:27:49.33\00:27:52.17
But this tree that
receive special privileges,
00:27:52.20\00:27:55.70
this tree that had
leaves should have had fruit.
00:27:55.74\00:27:59.67
Israel received great
blessings and advantages.
00:27:59.71\00:28:02.71
They should have borne fruit.
00:28:02.74\00:28:05.61
And so we find here
continuing our reading
00:28:05.65\00:28:11.62
in verse 14,
00:28:11.65\00:28:14.06
"In response Jesus said to it,
00:28:14.09\00:28:16.46
'Let no one eat
fruit from you ever again.'
00:28:16.49\00:28:22.80
And His disciples heard it.'"
00:28:22.83\00:28:26.07
Now the next day,
according to Mark 11:20-21,
00:28:26.10\00:28:30.97
the following verses,
they came by that tree again.
00:28:31.01\00:28:36.75
Where Jesus had said,
00:28:36.78\00:28:38.11
"Let this tree not
produce fruit ever again."
00:28:38.15\00:28:41.98
And notice what
condition the tree was in.
00:28:42.02\00:28:45.22
Beginning with verse 20.
00:28:45.25\00:28:47.86
"Now in the
morning, as they passed by,
00:28:47.89\00:28:51.99
they saw the fig tree
dried up from the roots."
00:28:52.03\00:28:57.70
Not only did it
wither the leaves wither,
00:28:57.73\00:29:00.97
but it dried up from the roots.
00:29:01.00\00:29:05.41
"And Peter,
remembering, said to Him,
00:29:05.44\00:29:07.54
'Rabbi, look!
00:29:07.58\00:29:08.91
The fig tree which You
cursed has withered away.'"
00:29:08.94\00:29:13.65
What happens when a
tree dries up by the roots?
00:29:13.68\00:29:18.02
That is it.
00:29:18.05\00:29:22.02
You don't revive it in 1948.
00:29:22.06\00:29:24.53
Never again will this
fig tree produce fruit.
00:29:28.60\00:29:31.53
It represents the
Jewish nation here.
00:29:31.57\00:29:35.57
And it dried up by its roots.
00:29:35.60\00:29:38.34
Are you understanding now
the connection between this
00:29:41.68\00:29:44.05
and the previous two
references to the tree?
00:29:44.08\00:29:46.92
Now we know whether the
tree that Jesus spoke about
00:29:46.95\00:29:51.45
in Luke Chapter
13 bore fruit or not?
00:29:51.49\00:29:56.46
A year past
00:29:56.49\00:29:59.66
and a fig tree had no fruit.
00:29:59.69\00:30:04.30
Now listen up,
00:30:04.33\00:30:06.97
what happened?
00:30:07.00\00:30:08.34
It says, that John
the Baptist had said
00:30:08.37\00:30:09.90
the tree will be cut
down and thrown into the fire.
00:30:09.94\00:30:13.34
When was Jerusalem,
00:30:13.38\00:30:14.71
when was the Jewish
theocracy destroyed with fire?
00:30:14.74\00:30:20.55
In the year 70 AD, the temple,
00:30:20.58\00:30:24.35
the city were
burnt to the ground
00:30:24.39\00:30:27.96
in fulfillment
00:30:27.99\00:30:30.83
of this
declaration by Jesus Christ.
00:30:30.86\00:30:35.36
Are you understanding me?
00:30:35.40\00:30:37.70
So does God still
have a special plan
00:30:37.73\00:30:40.10
for literal Israel,
00:30:40.14\00:30:42.27
for the literal
nation of Israel,
00:30:42.30\00:30:43.97
for the Jewish theocracy?
00:30:44.01\00:30:45.34
No, and we need
to understand, folks,
00:30:45.37\00:30:47.64
that God's plan hasn't changed.
00:30:47.68\00:30:51.01
Did God give Israel the
gospel to preach to the world?
00:30:51.05\00:30:54.82
Yes, but the plan in
the Old Testament for Israel
00:30:54.85\00:30:57.99
was that Israel will be
so prosperous and so blessed
00:30:58.02\00:31:01.62
that all of the
nations would say,
00:31:01.66\00:31:03.06
"Wow, this
nation, they're healthier,
00:31:03.09\00:31:06.39
their crops grow bigger,
00:31:06.43\00:31:08.23
and they have more
crops than anyone else.
00:31:08.26\00:31:10.97
The weather is good."
00:31:11.00\00:31:12.33
You know, they
have so many blessings
00:31:12.37\00:31:13.87
like the Queen of Sheba
when she came to visit Solomon,
00:31:13.90\00:31:16.71
that people would say,
"Surely this is a wise nation.
00:31:16.74\00:31:20.81
What's the secret?"
00:31:20.84\00:31:23.28
And then they would
say, "We serve the Lord."
00:31:23.31\00:31:27.68
And they would explain to
them the sacrificial system.
00:31:27.72\00:31:30.42
The Messiah was gonna come
00:31:30.45\00:31:32.92
and prepare the world
for the coming of Messiah.
00:31:32.95\00:31:35.62
That's why God chose Israel.
00:31:35.66\00:31:38.56
He didn't choose them
because they were special,
00:31:38.59\00:31:41.20
according to Deuteronomy
7 because they were more
00:31:41.23\00:31:43.73
than any other nation
because they were the least.
00:31:43.77\00:31:47.14
He chose them to
be a center of light
00:31:47.17\00:31:50.04
that people would
come to their light,
00:31:50.07\00:31:52.07
according to Isaiah 61,
but instead of shedding light,
00:31:52.11\00:31:57.61
they hid their
light under a bushel.
00:31:57.65\00:32:02.08
So when the Jewish
theocracy is rejected,
00:32:02.12\00:32:06.12
God says now instead of people
coming to the center of light,
00:32:06.15\00:32:10.59
go and teach all nations.
00:32:10.63\00:32:13.93
Go into all the world
and preach the gospel.
00:32:13.96\00:32:18.03
So in other words,
instead of people coming,
00:32:18.07\00:32:21.04
now the message goes.
00:32:21.07\00:32:24.91
Is that the same message?
00:32:24.94\00:32:28.21
Is God's faithful Israel
to proclaim the same message?
00:32:28.24\00:32:32.81
Is the purpose for the church
the same purpose for Israel?
00:32:32.85\00:32:37.32
So what is Israel?
00:32:37.35\00:32:39.35
Those who are faithful
in discerning the Messiah
00:32:39.39\00:32:42.39
and proclaiming the
Messiah to the world?
00:32:42.42\00:32:45.69
That's Israel.
00:32:45.73\00:32:47.60
That's true Israel.
00:32:47.63\00:32:50.00
It is not a literal
Israel separated from Jesus,
00:32:50.03\00:32:53.77
who supposedly were
re-gathered to their land
00:32:53.80\00:32:56.71
in disobedience in 1948.
00:32:56.74\00:32:59.27
Why would God disperse them
00:32:59.31\00:33:01.68
in the year 70 among
all nations for disobedience
00:33:01.71\00:33:04.45
and then re-gather
them in disobedience.
00:33:04.48\00:33:08.42
Are you following me?
00:33:08.45\00:33:11.62
Israel is also
described as a vineyard.
00:33:11.65\00:33:15.42
See, we're studying here
00:33:15.46\00:33:16.79
the false
prophetic scenario, folks.
00:33:16.83\00:33:20.33
We have to deal with huge groups
00:33:20.36\00:33:22.86
of evangelicals,
and Pentecostals,
00:33:22.90\00:33:24.80
and Charismatics, and
conservative Christians
00:33:24.83\00:33:27.87
that believe this
false prophetic scenario
00:33:27.90\00:33:30.34
that we've been talking about.
00:33:30.37\00:33:32.07
And we need to be informed.
00:33:32.11\00:33:33.94
We need to know how to present
00:33:33.98\00:33:36.85
what the Bible
says about prophecy.
00:33:36.88\00:33:40.58
So Israel is
compared to a vineyard.
00:33:40.62\00:33:43.99
Matthew 21:33-46.
00:33:44.02\00:33:47.82
We took a look at this
in our last presentation,
00:33:47.86\00:33:50.73
next to last presentation,
00:33:50.76\00:33:52.63
but we need to look at it
again because we began by saying
00:33:52.66\00:33:55.80
that Israel is
compared with a fig tree
00:33:55.83\00:33:58.20
and is compared with a vineyard.
00:33:58.23\00:34:00.90
So we've already
looked at the fig tree.
00:34:00.94\00:34:02.90
Now let's look at the vineyard.
00:34:02.94\00:34:04.87
Do you remember how many
stages of Israel there were?
00:34:04.91\00:34:10.31
Four.
00:34:10.35\00:34:11.68
Four, you're sharp,
00:34:11.71\00:34:13.05
either I'm a good
teacher or you're good students,
00:34:13.08\00:34:15.95
or maybe a combination of both.
00:34:15.98\00:34:18.19
What was the first stage?
00:34:18.22\00:34:20.46
Eight hundred years.
00:34:20.49\00:34:23.02
From the time that
God chose them on Sinai
00:34:23.06\00:34:25.39
to the Babylonian captivity.
00:34:25.43\00:34:27.76
The second stage
was from the times
00:34:27.80\00:34:31.37
after the captivity
to John the Baptist,
00:34:31.40\00:34:34.17
the end of week number 69.
00:34:34.20\00:34:37.14
The third stage and last of all,
00:34:37.17\00:34:39.91
he sends his son,
they will respect my son.
00:34:39.94\00:34:45.68
They take him and throw
him out of the vineyard.
00:34:45.71\00:34:48.82
But even after they do that,
00:34:48.85\00:34:51.85
there are still
three and a half years
00:34:51.89\00:34:55.26
to the prophecy of the 70
weeks which we'll study next.
00:34:55.29\00:34:58.26
It's our next subject.
00:34:58.29\00:35:00.06
They still have
three and a half years
00:35:00.10\00:35:03.60
to think about this
00:35:03.63\00:35:05.37
and to still
receive the Messiah.
00:35:05.40\00:35:07.44
Probation is not closed
for the Jewish theocracy
00:35:07.47\00:35:10.01
until the year 34.
00:35:10.04\00:35:12.71
Four stages.
00:35:12.74\00:35:15.28
Now let's notice this parable.
00:35:15.31\00:35:18.41
"Hear another
parable:" verse 33,
00:35:18.45\00:35:21.58
"There was a certain landowner,"
00:35:21.62\00:35:23.35
that's God the
Father, by the way,
00:35:23.39\00:35:24.72
I'm gonna interpret the parable,
00:35:24.75\00:35:27.09
"who planted a
vineyard," that's Israel,
00:35:27.12\00:35:30.63
"and set a hedge around it,"
00:35:30.66\00:35:33.43
the hedge or the
wall is the law of God,
00:35:33.46\00:35:37.67
"dug a winepress in
it and build a tower,"
00:35:37.70\00:35:40.17
the tower represents the temple.
00:35:40.20\00:35:44.94
"And he leased
it to vinedressers,"
00:35:44.97\00:35:47.54
that's the Jewish leaders,
"and went into a far country."
00:35:47.58\00:35:52.75
Heaven.
00:35:52.78\00:35:55.68
"Now when
vintage-time came drew near."
00:35:55.72\00:36:00.69
Is fruit to be
expected at vintage time?
00:36:00.72\00:36:04.33
Could the owner of
the vineyard expect fruit?
00:36:04.36\00:36:07.43
See, it's all
about fruit, isn't it?
00:36:07.46\00:36:10.17
Had Israel produce
the fruit of the Spirit.
00:36:10.20\00:36:13.67
No.
00:36:13.70\00:36:15.04
So it says,
00:36:15.07\00:36:16.40
"Now when
vintage-time drew near,
00:36:16.44\00:36:18.41
he sent his servants
to the vinedressers,"
00:36:18.44\00:36:21.81
that is to the Jewish leaders.
00:36:21.84\00:36:24.68
This has been before
the Babylonian captivity,
00:36:24.71\00:36:27.45
the first
messengers that are sent,
00:36:27.48\00:36:29.75
"that they might
receive its fruit.
00:36:29.78\00:36:33.46
And the vinedressers
took his servants, beat one,
00:36:33.49\00:36:37.73
killed another,
and stoned another."
00:36:37.76\00:36:41.96
That's what Israel
did with the prophets
00:36:42.00\00:36:43.70
during those 800 years.
00:36:43.73\00:36:47.47
"Again he sent other
servants," stage number two,
00:36:47.50\00:36:52.87
"more than the first,"
this is after the captivity,
00:36:52.91\00:36:57.28
"and they did likewise to them.
00:36:57.31\00:37:00.92
Then last of all
00:37:00.95\00:37:05.75
he sent his son,"
00:37:05.79\00:37:08.36
who is that?
00:37:08.39\00:37:10.23
Jesus.
00:37:10.26\00:37:11.59
This is the
last of the 70 weeks.
00:37:11.63\00:37:15.26
Is that when Jesus was
here the last of the 70 weeks?
00:37:15.30\00:37:18.20
He was baptized at the beginning
00:37:18.23\00:37:19.73
of that week number 70.
00:37:19.77\00:37:23.54
In the middle of the week,
00:37:23.57\00:37:24.91
he was sacrificed
and Stephen is stoned.
00:37:24.94\00:37:28.51
At the end of the last week,
00:37:28.54\00:37:30.55
so "last of all, he sent his son
00:37:30.58\00:37:33.21
to them, saying,
'They will respect my son.'
00:37:33.25\00:37:37.39
But when the
vinedresser saw the son,
00:37:37.42\00:37:40.59
they said among
themselves, 'This is the heir.
00:37:40.62\00:37:43.96
Come, let us kill him
00:37:43.99\00:37:47.43
and seize his inheritance.'"
00:37:47.46\00:37:51.23
That's the death
of Christ, isn't it?
00:37:51.27\00:37:55.34
Verse 39,
00:37:55.37\00:37:56.71
"So they took him and
cast him out of the vineyard."
00:37:56.74\00:37:58.91
Did Jesus die outside Jerusalem?
00:37:58.94\00:38:01.58
Yes, He did.
00:38:01.61\00:38:03.24
"And killed him."
00:38:03.28\00:38:06.48
Now Jesus asked
them a question...
00:38:06.51\00:38:07.85
They still don't know
that he's talking about them.
00:38:07.88\00:38:11.79
So Jesus now says in verse 40,
00:38:11.82\00:38:13.66
"Therefore, when the
owner of the vineyard comes,
00:38:13.69\00:38:16.49
what will he do to
those vinedressers?
00:38:16.52\00:38:20.70
Oh, they said to Him,
00:38:20.73\00:38:22.06
'He will destroy
those wicked men miserably,
00:38:22.10\00:38:25.53
and lease his
vineyard to other vinedressers
00:38:25.57\00:38:28.67
who will render to him
the fruits in their seasons.'"
00:38:28.70\00:38:32.41
Who are those
other vinedressers?
00:38:32.44\00:38:37.31
The Gentiles.
00:38:37.35\00:38:41.25
Are you following me?
00:38:41.28\00:38:44.42
Verse 42,
00:38:44.45\00:38:46.32
"Jesus said to them,
00:38:46.35\00:38:47.69
'Have you never
read in the Scriptures,
00:38:47.72\00:38:51.56
'The stone, which is
speaking about Himself,
00:38:51.59\00:38:53.90
"which the builders rejected
00:38:53.93\00:38:55.30
has become the
chief cornerstone.
00:38:55.33\00:38:57.30
This was the Lord's doing
00:38:57.33\00:38:58.77
and it is
marvelous in our eyes?'"
00:38:58.80\00:39:02.84
In other words, don't you know
00:39:02.87\00:39:04.51
that the son that is
spoken up in this parable is Me?
00:39:04.54\00:39:09.14
The stone that
the builders rejected,
00:39:09.18\00:39:11.35
just like you are rejecting Me.
00:39:11.38\00:39:13.52
And then Jesus explains
who the other vinedressers are.
00:39:13.55\00:39:18.12
In verse 43, Jesus says,
00:39:18.15\00:39:21.06
"Therefore I say to you,
00:39:21.09\00:39:23.26
the kingdom of God
will be taken from you."
00:39:23.29\00:39:30.23
Will the kingdom anymore belong
00:39:30.27\00:39:32.37
to the literal nation of Israel?
00:39:32.40\00:39:34.70
No.
00:39:34.74\00:39:36.07
"The kingdom
will be taken from you
00:39:36.10\00:39:38.51
and given to a
nation," by the way,
00:39:38.54\00:39:40.54
the word nation
is the word ethne
00:39:40.58\00:39:44.85
which in the New
Testament is consistently used
00:39:44.88\00:39:47.22
for the Gentiles.
00:39:47.25\00:39:48.58
God's people are Laos,
00:39:48.62\00:39:53.39
ethne is a word that
refers to Gentiles to non Jews.
00:39:53.42\00:39:59.16
And so when Jesus says,
"Therefore I say to you,
00:39:59.19\00:40:01.90
the kingdom of God
will be taken from you
00:40:01.93\00:40:04.13
and given to a nation."
00:40:04.17\00:40:05.50
He saying, I will
give it to the ethne,
00:40:05.53\00:40:08.94
"who bear the fruits of it."
00:40:08.97\00:40:11.97
And then it says,
"Whoever falls on this stone,
00:40:12.01\00:40:14.24
speaking about
himself, will be broken."
00:40:14.28\00:40:16.31
In other words,
you'll be converted
00:40:16.34\00:40:17.68
if you fall into stone.
00:40:17.71\00:40:19.95
"But on whomever it falls,
00:40:19.98\00:40:22.78
it will grind him to powder."
00:40:22.82\00:40:26.35
So you better fall on the stone,
00:40:26.39\00:40:28.49
lest the stone fall on you
00:40:28.52\00:40:31.86
is what Jesus is saying.
00:40:31.89\00:40:33.90
And then in verse 45, it says,
00:40:33.93\00:40:35.70
"Now when the chief
priests and Pharisees
00:40:35.73\00:40:38.73
heard His parables,
00:40:38.77\00:40:40.10
they perceive that He
was speaking of them."
00:40:40.14\00:40:43.84
And instead of saying, man,
00:40:47.18\00:40:48.54
this guy makes all
the sense in the world
00:40:48.58\00:40:50.05
we need to shape up.
00:40:50.08\00:40:52.38
They were filled
with greater rage.
00:40:52.41\00:40:55.45
And they eventually did
00:40:55.48\00:40:56.82
what Jesus
predicted in His parable,
00:40:56.85\00:40:58.19
they killed the son.
00:40:58.22\00:41:01.89
Oh, blindness.
00:41:01.92\00:41:04.79
Now we need to go
back to the fig tree.
00:41:04.83\00:41:09.00
Let's go back to Matthew 24.
00:41:09.03\00:41:12.60
Is the budding of the
fig tree in Matthew 24
00:41:12.63\00:41:18.04
assigned it when
the nation of Israel
00:41:18.07\00:41:20.58
is re-gathered to the line
00:41:20.61\00:41:22.64
and disobedience in 1948
00:41:22.68\00:41:24.91
that that is the greatest sign
00:41:24.95\00:41:27.15
that the rapture
is soon to take place?
00:41:27.18\00:41:31.65
Is that the
greatest sign, the only sign?
00:41:31.69\00:41:35.29
Well, we need to read carefully.
00:41:35.32\00:41:38.66
Notice Matthew 24:32-33.
00:41:38.69\00:41:44.17
Jesus stated, "As
you see the fig tree bud
00:41:44.20\00:41:48.87
it is a sign
that summer is near.
00:41:48.90\00:41:52.87
In the same way,"
now listen carefully,
00:41:52.91\00:41:56.24
"when you see all these things,"
00:41:56.28\00:42:02.78
is Jesus referring only to
the budding of the fig tree
00:42:02.82\00:42:07.92
as the one sign?
00:42:07.96\00:42:09.29
No.
00:42:09.32\00:42:10.66
He says, "When you
see all of the signs
00:42:10.69\00:42:12.86
that are spoken
up in Matthew 24,
00:42:12.89\00:42:16.26
know that it is
near even at the doors."
00:42:16.30\00:42:20.50
So the budding of the fig
tree is not really a great sign.
00:42:20.54\00:42:25.51
It is an accumulation of signs
00:42:25.54\00:42:29.84
that the end is near.
00:42:29.88\00:42:32.48
Now it's important for us
00:42:32.51\00:42:35.22
to also read Luke 21:29-31,
00:42:35.25\00:42:38.25
where you have the parallel.
00:42:38.29\00:42:40.36
We always need to look
00:42:40.39\00:42:41.72
for the parallel
passage in the gospels
00:42:41.76\00:42:43.93
because the
parallel can add details.
00:42:43.96\00:42:47.90
In Luke 21:29-31.
00:42:47.93\00:42:52.80
It says, "Then He
spoke to them a parable.
00:42:52.83\00:42:56.67
'Look at the fig
tree, and all the trees.'"
00:42:56.71\00:43:02.58
Does He single
out only the fig tree?
00:43:02.61\00:43:05.15
No.
00:43:05.18\00:43:06.58
"Look at the fig
tree, and all the trees.
00:43:06.61\00:43:10.22
When they are already budding,"
00:43:10.25\00:43:11.85
because in
springtime they all bud
00:43:11.89\00:43:14.39
basically at the same time,
00:43:14.42\00:43:16.56
"when they are budding,
00:43:16.59\00:43:18.26
you see and know for yourselves
that summer is now near.
00:43:18.29\00:43:21.70
So you also, when you
see these things happening,
00:43:21.73\00:43:26.13
know that the
kingdom of God is near."
00:43:26.17\00:43:28.67
Are you following me?
00:43:31.91\00:43:34.44
So Matthew Chapter 24,
00:43:34.48\00:43:36.18
the fig tree has
nothing to do with Israel.
00:43:36.21\00:43:38.31
Jesus is just using an
analogy, He's saying, you know,
00:43:38.35\00:43:41.02
when you see the
trees that are budding,
00:43:41.05\00:43:43.39
you know that
the summer is near.
00:43:43.42\00:43:45.95
Well, in the same way
when you see all these signs,
00:43:45.99\00:43:48.82
not the Israel
sign, but all the signs
00:43:48.86\00:43:51.19
you can know that
My coming is near.
00:43:51.23\00:43:56.13
So it's the fig tree
like in other passages,
00:43:56.16\00:43:58.83
but in this case it's
only used as an analogy
00:43:58.87\00:44:02.84
that indicates by the signs
00:44:02.87\00:44:05.01
that Jesus is soon to come.
00:44:05.04\00:44:09.18
Now there's one more passage
00:44:09.21\00:44:10.55
that we
especially need to look at.
00:44:10.58\00:44:13.72
John 1:43-48.
00:44:13.75\00:44:17.95
John 1:43-48.
00:44:17.99\00:44:22.96
This is the encounter
of Jesus with Nathanael,
00:44:22.99\00:44:27.90
one of the
lesser known disciples,
00:44:27.93\00:44:29.83
but this passage puts
him on the map, so to speak.
00:44:29.86\00:44:35.90
Let's read
beginning in verse 43.
00:44:35.94\00:44:39.24
"The following day
Jesus wanted to go to Galilee,
00:44:39.27\00:44:43.04
and He found Philip and
said to him, 'Follow me.'
00:44:43.08\00:44:47.28
Now Philip was from Bethsaida,
00:44:47.32\00:44:50.45
the city of Andrew and Peter.
00:44:50.49\00:44:53.29
Philip found
Nathanael and said to him,
00:44:53.32\00:44:57.36
'We have found Him of
whom Moses in the law,
00:44:57.39\00:45:01.96
and also the prophets, wrote,
00:45:02.00\00:45:04.00
Jesus of Nazareth,
the son of Joseph.'"
00:45:04.03\00:45:08.34
They're saying, "We
have found the Messiah."
00:45:08.37\00:45:10.57
And now Nathanael
00:45:14.51\00:45:17.55
said something that,
00:45:17.58\00:45:19.28
that we've all read before.
00:45:19.31\00:45:21.72
"And Nathanael said to him,
00:45:21.75\00:45:23.85
'Can anything good
come out of Nazareth?'"
00:45:23.89\00:45:29.19
You're saying the Messiah
is from Nazareth, be real.
00:45:29.22\00:45:33.29
It's kind of like
saying Caracas, Venezuela.
00:45:33.33\00:45:38.13
These days,
00:45:38.17\00:45:40.70
the most
dangerous city in the world
00:45:40.74\00:45:43.51
that would be like say
00:45:43.54\00:45:46.51
that the Messiah
is from Nazareth.
00:45:46.54\00:45:47.94
Continues, "Philip
said to him, 'Come and see.'
00:45:50.98\00:45:56.65
Jesus saw
Nathanael coming toward Him,
00:45:56.69\00:46:00.39
and said of him,"
00:46:00.42\00:46:02.56
now listen carefully,
00:46:02.59\00:46:04.29
"said of him,
00:46:04.33\00:46:06.19
'Behold, an Israelite indeed."
00:46:06.23\00:46:11.60
What does Jesus
say about Nathanael?
00:46:11.63\00:46:14.70
An Israelite indeed, by the way,
00:46:14.74\00:46:16.84
if there are Israelites indeed
00:46:16.87\00:46:18.94
there are also
Israelites not indeed.
00:46:18.97\00:46:24.71
In fact, in the Greek
00:46:24.75\00:46:29.72
the word Israelite indeed
00:46:29.75\00:46:33.02
means a genuine Israelite
00:46:33.05\00:46:37.73
not a counterfeit
one, a genuine one.
00:46:37.76\00:46:41.43
So it says,
"Behold, an Israelite indeed,
00:46:41.46\00:46:44.30
in whom is no deceit!"
00:46:44.33\00:46:47.50
And now notice,
"Nathanael said to Him,
00:46:52.17\00:46:55.61
'How do you know me?'
00:46:55.64\00:46:59.58
Jesus answered and said to him,
00:46:59.61\00:47:01.75
'Before Philip called you,
00:47:01.78\00:47:03.79
when you were under
the fig tree, I saw you.'"
00:47:03.82\00:47:07.26
So the Israelite indeed is
sitting under the fig tree.
00:47:10.43\00:47:16.56
In other words,
you have the symbol
00:47:16.60\00:47:18.83
and what the symbol represents.
00:47:18.87\00:47:22.24
Now the question is,
00:47:22.27\00:47:24.37
why did Jesus say to Nathanael,
00:47:24.41\00:47:28.11
that he was an Israelite indeed,
00:47:28.14\00:47:33.15
or a genuine
Israelite, a real Israelite.
00:47:33.18\00:47:36.28
He said that
because in verse 49,
00:47:40.52\00:47:45.99
Nathanael said,
00:47:46.03\00:47:48.46
"You are the Messiah,
00:47:48.50\00:47:51.73
the Son of God."
00:47:51.77\00:47:55.54
Whom did Nathanael confess?
00:47:55.57\00:47:58.71
The Messiah.
00:47:58.74\00:48:00.54
And therefore he
was an Israelite,
00:48:00.58\00:48:03.51
what kind of Israelite?
00:48:03.55\00:48:05.58
An Israelite indeed is one
00:48:05.61\00:48:08.15
who confesses
Jesus as Savior and Lord.
00:48:08.18\00:48:13.72
Are you catching the picture?
00:48:13.76\00:48:16.39
So let me ask you,
00:48:16.42\00:48:18.93
the literal Israelites today
00:48:18.96\00:48:20.83
that reject the
Messiah, are they Israel?
00:48:20.86\00:48:25.90
No.
00:48:25.93\00:48:27.40
Now they're
physically Israel, okay?
00:48:27.44\00:48:29.67
They're physically Jews.
00:48:29.70\00:48:32.51
But the Apostle Paul said,
"That not every Jew is a Jew."
00:48:32.54\00:48:37.58
And the amazing thing is that,
00:48:37.61\00:48:39.05
for example, in
Galatians Chapter 4,
00:48:39.08\00:48:41.12
the Apostle Paul
gives an allegory.
00:48:41.15\00:48:43.65
It's the allegory
of Sarah and Hagar
00:48:43.69\00:48:48.49
and their respective sons.
00:48:48.52\00:48:50.63
Isaac is Sarah's son,
00:48:50.66\00:48:53.03
and Ishmael is the son of Hagar.
00:48:53.06\00:48:57.67
And if you read
Galatians 4:21-31.
00:48:57.70\00:49:01.54
I mean, Paul makes a
revolutionary statement.
00:49:01.57\00:49:04.74
He says that the Jews of his day
00:49:04.77\00:49:08.11
are sons of Hagar
00:49:08.14\00:49:11.81
and the Gentiles
are sons of Sarah.
00:49:11.85\00:49:14.52
What he's saying is,
spiritually speaking,
00:49:17.55\00:49:22.22
the Jews are Arabs
and the Arabs are Jews.
00:49:22.26\00:49:26.80
And the reason why
00:49:31.30\00:49:33.54
is because Sarah and
Isaac are the free ones.
00:49:33.57\00:49:38.11
Jesus said, "If
you accept the son,
00:49:38.14\00:49:41.48
the son will
make you free indeed."
00:49:41.51\00:49:46.58
And they say we've never
been in bondage to anyone.
00:49:46.61\00:49:48.45
Let's read that passage
in closing, John 8:37-45.
00:49:48.48\00:49:53.02
John 8:37-45, we looked
at in our last presentation,
00:49:53.05\00:49:57.29
but let's take
a look at it again
00:49:57.33\00:49:58.79
in the light of
what we're studying now.
00:49:58.83\00:50:02.96
Jesus is
speaking to literal Jews
00:50:03.00\00:50:05.27
who claim to be
children of Abraham.
00:50:05.30\00:50:08.04
By the way, I hope
that you will understand
00:50:08.07\00:50:11.31
that I have nothing
against individual Jews,
00:50:11.34\00:50:14.41
we can never be anti-Semitic.
00:50:14.44\00:50:18.28
We love people from
every nation in the world.
00:50:18.31\00:50:22.05
God has no favorites, okay?
00:50:22.08\00:50:25.85
We need to love individual Jews.
00:50:25.89\00:50:27.69
What we're talking about is that
00:50:27.72\00:50:29.06
God no longer uses
the Jewish theocracy
00:50:29.09\00:50:32.59
to fulfill His purpose.
00:50:32.63\00:50:34.90
It's the Christian church
00:50:34.93\00:50:36.63
that continues
the legacy of Israel
00:50:36.67\00:50:39.27
of preaching the same gospel
00:50:39.30\00:50:40.84
that they preached and
promised that are Israel.
00:50:40.87\00:50:46.04
Jesus says, "'I know that
you are Abraham's descendants,"
00:50:46.07\00:50:48.71
literally speaking,
"but you seek to kill Me,
00:50:48.74\00:50:53.11
because My word
has no place in you.
00:50:53.15\00:50:56.35
I speak what I have
seen with My Father,
00:50:56.38\00:50:59.72
and you do what you
have seen with your father.'
00:50:59.75\00:51:04.56
They answered and said to
Him, 'Abraham is our father.'"
00:51:04.59\00:51:09.93
Was Abraham their father?
00:51:09.96\00:51:13.74
Yes and no.
00:51:13.77\00:51:16.37
Physically, yes.
00:51:16.40\00:51:18.74
Spiritually, no.
00:51:18.77\00:51:21.64
They were not spiritual Israel.
00:51:21.68\00:51:25.48
They were literal Israel.
00:51:25.51\00:51:28.78
Verse 39, "They
answered and said to Him,
00:51:28.82\00:51:31.99
'Abraham is our father.'
00:51:32.02\00:51:34.02
Jesus said to them,
00:51:34.06\00:51:35.42
if, basically the
implication is that they're not.
00:51:35.46\00:51:41.16
"'If you were
Abraham's children,
00:51:41.20\00:51:45.67
you would do the
works of Abraham."
00:51:45.70\00:51:49.10
Do you know Jesus
said in John 8:56,
00:51:49.14\00:51:51.77
Abraham saw my
day, and rejoiced,
00:51:51.81\00:51:57.95
and he was referring
to the sacrifice of Isaac,
00:51:57.98\00:52:01.42
who was not actually sacrifice?
00:52:01.45\00:52:03.02
That experience in Genesis 22.
00:52:03.05\00:52:06.19
Beautiful figure of the father
00:52:06.22\00:52:07.99
being willing to give
up his only begotten Son.
00:52:08.02\00:52:11.86
Abraham understood that
that represented the fact
00:52:11.89\00:52:14.36
that God the Father
was gonna give His Son
00:52:14.40\00:52:19.37
to deliver the human race.
00:52:19.40\00:52:21.20
So Jesus said, 'Abraham
saw my day and rejoiced."
00:52:21.24\00:52:26.61
But the literal Jews of Christ,
00:52:26.64\00:52:28.74
they didn't rejoice,
they want to kill Him.
00:52:28.78\00:52:31.71
So then their works show
00:52:31.75\00:52:33.48
that they were not
children of Abraham.
00:52:33.52\00:52:36.38
Yes, because they did not
have the Spirit of Abraham.
00:52:36.42\00:52:40.19
So Jesus said to them,
00:52:40.22\00:52:41.56
"If you were Abraham's children,
00:52:41.59\00:52:42.92
you would do the
works of Abraham.
00:52:42.96\00:52:45.99
But now you seek to kill Me,
00:52:46.03\00:52:48.40
a Man who has told you the truth
00:52:48.43\00:52:50.17
which I heard from God.
00:52:50.20\00:52:51.63
Abraham did not do this."
00:52:51.67\00:52:55.77
Abraham didn't want to kill me.
00:52:55.80\00:52:58.17
He recognized I
was the coming seed
00:52:58.21\00:53:00.81
that was gonna bless
every nation on earth.
00:53:00.84\00:53:03.98
And then in
verse 41, Jesus says,
00:53:04.01\00:53:05.78
"You do the
deeds of your father.'
00:53:05.81\00:53:08.32
They said to Him, 'We
were not born of fornication.
00:53:08.35\00:53:11.89
We have one Father God.'"
00:53:11.92\00:53:13.46
In other words, they're saying,
00:53:13.49\00:53:15.06
you know, you were
born of fornication,
00:53:15.09\00:53:16.96
we don't know
who your father is.
00:53:16.99\00:53:21.03
Our father's God, they say.
00:53:21.06\00:53:23.30
"Jesus said to
them, 'If," once again,
00:53:26.33\00:53:29.00
the implication
is that they're not.
00:53:29.04\00:53:31.21
"If God were your
Father, you would love Me,
00:53:31.24\00:53:35.68
for I proceeded
forth and came from God,
00:53:35.71\00:53:38.48
nor have I come of
Myself, but He sent Me.
00:53:38.51\00:53:41.78
Why do you not
understand My speech?
00:53:41.82\00:53:44.32
Because you are not
able to listen to My word."
00:53:44.35\00:53:48.32
And then he says
these terrible words.
00:53:48.36\00:53:51.73
"You are of your
father the devil,
00:53:51.76\00:53:55.76
and the desires of
your father you want to do."
00:53:55.80\00:53:58.53
Who wanted
00:53:58.57\00:54:02.14
to slay Christ?
00:54:02.17\00:54:05.71
Satan.
00:54:05.74\00:54:08.84
Right?
00:54:08.88\00:54:11.21
The murderous
spirit that they had
00:54:11.25\00:54:13.25
was the murderous
spirit of their father.
00:54:13.28\00:54:15.62
So he says, "You are
of your father the devil,
00:54:18.65\00:54:20.82
and the desires of
your father you want to do.
00:54:20.86\00:54:25.43
He was a murderer
from the beginning,
00:54:25.46\00:54:28.26
and does not stand in the truth,
00:54:28.30\00:54:30.17
because there
is no truth in him.
00:54:30.20\00:54:34.34
When he speaks a lie, he
speaks from his own resources,
00:54:34.37\00:54:38.11
for he is a liar
and the father of it."
00:54:38.14\00:54:43.85
Interesting Nathanael,
00:54:43.88\00:54:46.55
it says that in his
mouth, there was no deceit.
00:54:46.58\00:54:51.89
And here it says
00:54:51.92\00:54:53.25
that true
Israelites tell the truth.
00:54:53.29\00:54:59.29
Incidentally, this
has huge implications
00:54:59.33\00:55:01.30
for the interpretation
of the Book of Revelation.
00:55:01.33\00:55:04.90
Because in the Book of
Revelation we have 144,000.
00:55:04.93\00:55:08.97
By the way, I believe
the numbers is symbolic
00:55:09.00\00:55:11.37
because numbers in
prophecy are symbolic.
00:55:11.41\00:55:14.34
And we're not dealing
with literal Israelites.
00:55:14.38\00:55:17.68
We are dealing with
spiritual Israelites,
00:55:17.71\00:55:20.42
they have a seal of
God on their forehead,
00:55:20.45\00:55:22.12
they can't be just physical
Israelites without Christ.
00:55:22.15\00:55:27.16
And the interesting thing is
00:55:27.19\00:55:29.02
that one of the
characteristics of 144,000
00:55:29.06\00:55:32.13
it says that in their
mouth was found no deceit.
00:55:32.16\00:55:36.00
They are faithful Israel
00:55:39.23\00:55:42.80
that will remain and
be alive when Jesus comes.
00:55:42.84\00:55:47.38
Those are the ones
that are alive and remain
00:55:47.41\00:55:49.44
will be caught up in the clouds
00:55:49.48\00:55:50.81
with those who
resurrect from the grave.
00:55:50.85\00:55:54.52
They then travel to heaven
00:55:54.55\00:55:56.89
and be eternally
there with Jesus Christ.
00:55:56.92\00:56:01.09
And I repeat this, in
1948 the Jewish nation
00:56:04.26\00:56:09.86
was still rejecting the Messiah.
00:56:09.90\00:56:13.10
And therefore 1948 could
not be a fulfillment of prophecy
00:56:13.13\00:56:18.84
because God's scattered Israel
00:56:18.87\00:56:21.54
because they
rejected the Messiah.
00:56:21.58\00:56:23.65
We're gonna see that
when we study the 70 weeks.
00:56:23.68\00:56:27.18
Jesus said,
"Because you did not know
00:56:27.22\00:56:29.82
the time of your visitation,
00:56:29.85\00:56:32.55
the city is gonna be destroyed."
00:56:32.59\00:56:35.99
So the question is,
00:56:36.02\00:56:37.36
would God scatter literal Israel
00:56:37.39\00:56:41.46
for rejecting the Messiah,
00:56:41.50\00:56:43.77
and then re-gather them in 1948
00:56:43.80\00:56:47.07
when they are still
rejecting the Messiah?
00:56:47.10\00:56:52.51
All of the promises of God
00:56:52.54\00:56:55.64
are conditional.
00:56:55.68\00:56:59.15
God never makes
an absolute promise
00:56:59.18\00:57:02.82
without there being a condition.
00:57:02.85\00:57:06.52
A response from us,
00:57:06.55\00:57:09.26
when He makes
promises to human beings,
00:57:09.29\00:57:13.26
is conditioned on us,
meeting the conditions.
00:57:13.29\00:57:18.43
That's the reason why when God
00:57:18.47\00:57:20.37
established the covenant
with Israel on Mount Sinai,
00:57:20.40\00:57:22.87
He said, "If you
will obey My voice,
00:57:22.90\00:57:26.71
and keep My covenant,
00:57:26.74\00:57:28.54
then you will be
My special people
00:57:28.58\00:57:32.05
above all nations of the world."
00:57:32.08\00:57:36.45
So in short, 1948 is meaningless
00:57:36.48\00:57:42.29
in the
fulfillment of Bible prophecy.
00:57:42.32\00:57:44.69
And I'll tell you,
I think that Satan,
00:57:44.73\00:57:47.00
in fact, I know Satan
00:57:47.03\00:57:48.40
was the one
behind the holocaust.
00:57:48.43\00:57:51.03
And because of the holocaust,
00:57:51.07\00:57:53.23
the nations of the
world were so disgusted,
00:57:53.27\00:57:55.60
that that led them to lobby
00:57:55.64\00:57:58.11
for the establishment
of the nation of Israel.
00:57:58.14\00:58:02.34
In our next study we'll pick
up on this particular point.
00:58:02.38\00:58:06.18