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Parable of the Fig Tree Part of this text was copied from a website, but I lost the reference. My apologies to the webmaster and/or author - whoever you are. Jesus taught us the parable of the fig tree. Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. Mat 24:32-34 One interpretation of this parable is this... Many bible scholars believe that it is clear from this parable that Israel would REVIVE, or spring up again from the root PALESTINE. This happened in 1948. There is general agreement that the fig tree symbolizes the nation of Israel. Israel once again became a nation in 1948. If this sign were not present in the world today, no other signs would be relevant. Every generation has had some of the signs of the return of Christ, so that it always seemed that He might come in their time. However, there has never been a time before our generation when this sign has appeared. The generation to witness this event is the generation which will witness the fulfillment of all end time prophecy. How many years are represented by a bible generation? The year of Jubilee was every 50 years and other Scriptures would indicate a Bible generation to be 40 years. Jesus was saying that the generation that was alive and saw these signs would in no way pass away (die) before the signs were fulfilled. Why is a generation 40 years in the Bible? Numbers 14:31-35 Your children will be shepherds here for forty years, suffering for your unfaithfulness, until the last of your bodies lies in the desert. In the days of Moses, when the children of Israel murmured against God, they were made to wander in the wilderness for 40 years, this was done so that a new generation would enter the promise land. This happened; the new generation entered the promised land. A generation viewed in the Bible, is every 40 years. When did the Fig-Tree (Israel) Blossom? If one were to assign 1948 as the blossoming of the fig tree, Israel, adding 40 would give 1988. However, in June 1967 Israel recaptured Jerusalem. This could be interpreted as the fig-tree blossoming, taking Israel from 1948-1967 to establish the nation before putting forth 'branches'. Adding 40 years would give us the year 2007. Let's assume that this interpretation is not accurate and look at it from a different perspective... If a person was born in 1967, they will be 40 years old in 2007. However, with modern technology, people are living longer (70 years or so). Therefore, if these events are not all fulfilled in the year 2007, this generation will still be alive for yet another 30 years or until around the year 2037. None of us knows when, but... Jesus Said, "Be ready!" The Faithful and Wise Servant This is one of the things Jesus said about His second coming... But know this, that if the householder had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have watched and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready; for the Son of man is coming at an hour you do not expect. Matthew 24:43-46 Therefore, we do NOT know the time, but even without fixing any specific dates, we may have reason to believe that we are the generation to witness the fulfillment of all end time prophecy and witness the Lord's return in great power and glory! Click here to go to the last study Our Time is Short.