The Sign of Israel: Anticipating the Second Coming
Matthew 24:30-31 (ESV): "Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other
From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates." (Matthew 24:32-33)
In Matthew 24:30, Jesus alludes to the appearance of the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. Interpreting this symbolically, the "heaven" mentioned here is often understood in a figurative sense, representing political power rather than the celestial realm. The reference to heaven in this context isn't a mere gaze into the celestial realm but carries a figurative weight, representing political power. Drawing from Jeremiah 10:1-3, where Yahweh instructs the people of Israel not to emulate the ways of other nations and not to be dismayed by signs in the heavens, the understanding emerges that these "heavens" symbolize political spheres.
Jeremiah 10:1-3 New King James Version (NKJV)Thus says Yahweh: “Do not learn the way of the Gentiles; Do not be dismayed at the signs of heaven, For the Gentiles are dismayed at them.
When Jesus speaks of signs in the heavens in Matthew 24:30, the interpretation extends beyond celestial events to encompass political upheavals and transformations. The nations' responses to these signs underscore their significance on a broader, geopolitical scale.
Central to this prophetic narrative is the metaphor of the fig tree, which takes center stage in Jesus' teachings. He directs His followers to take lessons from its branches, emphasizing that the budding and rebirth of the fig tree symbolize the restoration and reemergence of the Jewish nation. The pivotal moment of Israel's rebirth in 1948 becomes a tangible signpost, indicating the imminent arrival of a new age or "summer" in the divine timeline.
Those who sow in winter reap in summer. The winter is this the world, the summer the other Aeon (age). Let us sow in the world that we may reap in the summer (Gospel of Philip)
This understanding aligns with the Gospel of Philip, where summer symbolizes the "other Aeon" or age—a concept resonating with the anticipation of Jesus' second coming
Drawing parallels between the fig tree and the prophetic timeline, Jesus implies a direct connection between the growth of Israel and the nearness of His return. Matthew 24:32-33 underscores this connection, urging believers to recognize the signs of the times, much like discerning the changing seasons.
The symbolism of the fig tree as representing the Jewish nation is not confined to Matthew's Gospel alone. In Luke 13:6 and 9, as well as Matthew 21:19, Jesus uses the fig tree as a metaphor for Israel. This interpretation finds consistency throughout scripture, echoed in Jeremiah 24, the book of Hosea 9:10, and Joel 1:7.
The growth and prosperity of the state of Israel since its establishment in 1948, therefore, stand as a remarkable sign of the Lord's impending return. This view gains support from various Old Testament prophecies, notably Jeremiah 23:3-6, which emphasizes the regathering of Israel as a precursor to a future kingdom.
Jeremiah 23:3-6 3 “I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and will bring them back to their pasture, where they will be fruitful and increase in number. 4 I will place shepherds over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid or terrified, nor will any be missing,” declares Yahweh. 5 “The days are coming,” declares Yahweh, “when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. 6 In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: Yahweh Our Righteous Savior
When Jesus speaks of signs in the heavens in Matthew 24:30, the interpretation extends beyond celestial events to encompass political upheavals and transformations. The nations' responses to these signs underscore their significance on a broader, geopolitical scale.
Central to this prophetic narrative is the metaphor of the fig tree, which takes center stage in Jesus' teachings. He directs His followers to take lessons from its branches, emphasizing that the budding and rebirth of the fig tree symbolize the restoration and reemergence of the Jewish nation. The pivotal moment of Israel's rebirth in 1948 becomes a tangible signpost, indicating the imminent arrival of a new age or "summer" in the divine timeline.
Those who sow in winter reap in summer. The winter is this the world, the summer the other Aeon (age). Let us sow in the world that we may reap in the summer (Gospel of Philip)
This understanding aligns with the Gospel of Philip, where summer symbolizes the "other Aeon" or age—a concept resonating with the anticipation of Jesus' second coming
Drawing parallels between the fig tree and the prophetic timeline, Jesus implies a direct connection between the growth of Israel and the nearness of His return. Matthew 24:32-33 underscores this connection, urging believers to recognize the signs of the times, much like discerning the changing seasons.
The symbolism of the fig tree as representing the Jewish nation is not confined to Matthew's Gospel alone. In Luke 13:6 and 9, as well as Matthew 21:19, Jesus uses the fig tree as a metaphor for Israel. This interpretation finds consistency throughout scripture, echoed in Jeremiah 24, the book of Hosea 9:10, and Joel 1:7.
The growth and prosperity of the state of Israel since its establishment in 1948, therefore, stand as a remarkable sign of the Lord's impending return. This view gains support from various Old Testament prophecies, notably Jeremiah 23:3-6, which emphasizes the regathering of Israel as a precursor to a future kingdom.
Jeremiah 23:3-6 3 “I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and will bring them back to their pasture, where they will be fruitful and increase in number. 4 I will place shepherds over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid or terrified, nor will any be missing,” declares Yahweh. 5 “The days are coming,” declares Yahweh, “when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. 6 In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: Yahweh Our Righteous Savior
Ezekiel 37:21-25
21 and say to them, ‘This is what the Lord Yahweh says: I will take the Israelites out of the nations where they have gone. I will gather them from all around and bring them back into their own land. 22 I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel. There will be one king over all of them and they will never again be two nations or be divided into two kingdoms. 23 They will no longer defile themselves with their idols and vile images or with any of their offenses, for I will save them from all their sinful backsliding, and I will cleanse them. They will be my people, and I will be their God. 24 “‘My servant David will be king over them, and they will all have one shepherd. They will follow my laws and be careful to keep my decrees. 25 They will live in the land I gave to my servant Jacob, the land where your ancestors lived. They and their children and their children’s children will live there forever, and David my servant will be their prince forever.
2 Samuel 7:12-16
12 When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be his Father, and he shall be my son; whom, in his being caused to bow down, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men. 15 But my mercy shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you. 16 And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever." "
Ezekiel 37:21-25 provides another significant link between the state of Israel and the anticipated kingdom of God. The reference to "David my servant" points to the Messiah, portrayed as the Son of David. This concept aligns with 2 Samuel 7:12-16, where the Messiah is foretold to be the God-appointed heir to the throne of David. The Gospel narratives reinforce this lineage, as seen in Luke 1:32-33, where the angel Gabriel conveys to Mary that Jesus will inherit the throne of His father David.
He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His Father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His Kingdom there will be no end.”
The personal, physical second coming of Christ stands as a foundational element in New Testament teaching. The return of the Jews to their homeland is positioned as a divinely orchestrated event, intricately linked to the preparation for the second coming. This connection emphasizes the divine order inherent in the unfolding of prophetic events.
He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His Father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His Kingdom there will be no end.”
The personal, physical second coming of Christ stands as a foundational element in New Testament teaching. The return of the Jews to their homeland is positioned as a divinely orchestrated event, intricately linked to the preparation for the second coming. This connection emphasizes the divine order inherent in the unfolding of prophetic events.
