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As I mentioned in part two, once one begins going down this deep rabbit hole of prophetic misinterpretation, there is no end to it. Not surprisingly, this is exactly what happened with the person with whom I was engaged on Twitter. After weakly suggesting that some Bible prophecies have partial and then complete fulfillments, as well as multiple fulfillments -- which, as I said, I reject -- they then proceeded to jump right to Matthew chapter twenty-four 24, where, according to their particular understanding at least, Jesus addressed the issue of the re-establishment of the state of Israel in our modern day. More specifically, although they did not quote the actual verses in their response to me, I am assuming that they were more than likely referring to the following ones:

"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. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only."


As I said, being a former, longtime Futurist myself, I knew exactly what this person was referring to. Furthermore, I've discussed this topic in my articles before, such as in my 2008 series entitled "Sorry . . . Jesus Is Not Coming at Any Moment!", which you will find listed at the end of this same series. So exactly what is Jesus saying in those verses? Is it what the Futurist-leaning Christians insist that the Lord is inferring? If you are currently a Futurist yourself, well, I am sorry to inform you, but I don't believe so. Allow me to explain.

The simple truth of the matter is that while it has been commonly assumed by some Bible teachers, popular radio and television preachers and lay Christians that the Parable of the Fig Tree is a reference to Israel becoming a nation in 1948, there is absolutely nothing in the Scriptures found in Matthew chapter twenty-four, which clearly states that this is so. Nowhere in those verses does Jesus outright say that the fig tree represents Israel becoming a nation in 1948. In fact, as I will explain to you in a moment, those verses are NOT even talking about events 2,000 years in the far distant future. In other words, in our current time.

If we are being perfectly honest with ourselves, this claim of the fig tree representing Israel becoming a nation almost two millennia later in 1948 is nothing more than speculation. It is in fact an assumption and a theory which has long been promoted by pro-Israel Christians, and perhaps even by the Zionist Jews themselves, even though the latter for the most part reject Christ as being the Messiah. To reiterate, Jesus does NOT directly say that the fig tree represents Israel in His Olivet discourse in Matthew chapter twenty-four.

Despite this obvious truth, some fifteen years ago, someone who embraces this erroneous interpretation of these verses in Matthew chapter 24 wrote to me and stated "He [meaning Jesus] said that the 'generation' that lives to see Israel become a nation would not pass from the earth." Well, as I've already made clear, Jesus most certainly did not say that in Matthew, or in any of the other three Gospels. That is simply how that person chose to interpret the verses, just like the person I engaged on Twitter recently.

This interpretation of the fig tree verses is very typical of Futurist thinking. It is a key pillar of their belief system when it comes to Bible prophecy. In fact, as you may possibly already know, for many decades now, certain popular preachers and Bible teachers have erroneously taught their flocks that so-called "Endtime Bible prophecy" finds its anchor point in the year 1948, when the Zionists declared Israel a nation on May 14, 1948. This occurred while Stephen S. Wise was the president of the World Jewish Congress. The proclamation was publicly made by David Ben-Gurion, who became Israel's first Prime Minister that same year.

Tragically, their whole theological perspective is based on this one event, and other events which have occurred since that time. Furthermore, some of these misguided shepherds, pastors and teachers have been so convinced of their wayward views, that they have even foolishly made some very public, time-specific predictions regarding the timing of Christ's return. You may possibly still be able to find some of their erroneous predictions on the Internet.

Well, needless-to-say, as I point out in my series entitled "Sorry . . . Jesus Is Not Coming at Any Moment!", without exception, every single one of their misguided predictions has utterly failed to materialize, leaving all of these false teachers seriously embarrassed. Sadly, despite being exposed for the false teachers that they are, a lot of very gullible Christians still continue to follow them anyway. I am reminded of what the Apostle Paul wrote regarding people having itching ears, and following false teachers who tell them exactly what they want to hear. Well, all I have to say concerning these misguided teachers and preachers is the following. I think these verses speak for themselves:

"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;"


"But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die. And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken? When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him."


"Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart. Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning the prophets that prophesy in my name, and I sent them not, yet they say, Sword and famine shall not be in this land; By sword and famine shall those prophets be consumed."


"Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the LORD, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the LORD."


"For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the midst of you, deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed. For they prophesy falsely unto you in my name: I have not sent them, saith the LORD."


"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them."


"And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many . . . For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect."


"For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect."


"For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works."


"But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived."


"But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction."


"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world."


Returning to the verses in Matthew 24 regarding the fig tree, we are not quite done yet. There are a few other things that you need to know concerning them. In fact, I have saved the very best -- and perhaps the most shocking things for some of you -- for very last. First of all, it is important that you understand the audience to whom Jesus was speaking on this occasion, as well as on many other occasions. They were very simple folk. They weren't learned people like the Scribes and the Pharisees. In fact, as you may recall, in the Book of the Acts of the Apostles, we find the following interesting verse:

"Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were UNLEARNED AND IGNORANT MEN, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus."


Thus, because many of His listeners typically came from this kind of background where they had scant education -- that is, being farmers, fishermen, animal herders, etc. -- Jesus spoke to them like the spiritual children that they were. In other words, the Lord purposely came down to their level. He constantly used things in nature, and things with which they would obviously be very familiar in their daily lives -- such as seeds, fields, wheat, tares, fish, birds, flowers, goats, sheep, weather, nets, etc. -- for the purpose of teaching them valuable lessons regarding the Kingdom of God.

Jesus also used trees in some of His sermons. For example, in the particular sermon we find in Matthew twenty-four, the Lord chose to use a fig tree. However, as I will now clearly explain to you, He did NOT choose the fig tree because that tree had some profound, far-future, prophetic implication -- which His listeners obviously would never understand anyway -- but simply because the Lord knew that they would better comprehend what He was trying to convey to them.

My friends, think about it. The Israelites spent a lot of time in the fields. In fact, as all Christians know, it was to the shepherds in the fields that the Angels appeared on the night that Christ was born. It was also a young shepherd boy named David who eventually became Israel's most popular king. So, because of all the time which they spent outdoors, the Israelites were very familiar with the changing of the seasons, changes in the vegetation, the rising and setting of the Sun, Moon and stars, etc.

I am convinced that it was in this context that Jesus spoke of the fig tree. In Matthew 24, the Lord lists a variety of telltale signs which precede and occur before and lead up to the time of His return. He then basically tells His listeners that just as they watch the foliage change on the fig tree, so too must they watch for the signs which will lead up to His return. This thought is likewise made perfectly clear in similar verses which are found in the Gospel of Luke, as we see here:

"And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled."


Wow! Do you see that? Whereas in Matthew we see Jesus mention the fig tree, in Luke's account of the very same incident, we see that the Lord says "the fig tree, and all the trees". Now wait just one minute! If the fig tree truly represents Israel being declared a nation in May of 1948 as the Zionist Jews and the Zionist Christians continually insist, why in the world do these verses add "and all the trees"? Isn't the answer rather obvious? I have already given it to you. The Parable of the Fig Tree had absolutely nothing to do with 1948. Jesus simply told them to watch for the signs of His return, just as they watch the foliage change on the trees. Period. End of story.

Earlier, I mentioned how Jesus often used things from nature to share valuable lessons with His listeners regarding the nature of the Kingdom of God. One of the things I mentioned to you was the weather. I find it very interesting that Jesus used the weather in the very same way that He used the fig tree, to advise His listeners to keep their eyes on the signs of the times. What signs, times and events was Jesus talking about in those verses? Signs, times and events which would all occur during that very same century. In fact, within a period of forty years following His death and resurrection. Consider the following group of verses:

"The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven. He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times? A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed."


It should be rather obvious to you that Jesus was NOT using the weather to tell the unbelieving Pharisees and Sadducees to watch for signs which would serve as precursors for any events which would occur two thousand years in the future. Doing so would have been totally meaningless to them. Thus, clearly, He was warning them of events which had transpired, and which would yet transpire, during their own generation of the First Century. It is evident that the Lord used both the fig tree and the weather in the exact same manner. That is, to advise His listeners to open their eyes to the events which were happening around them. "Look at the weather. Look at the fig tree. Look at what God is doing right now in your own time." That is basically what Jesus was saying.

To reiterate, there's absolutely nothing in those five verses in Matthew 24 to indicate that Jesus was talking about Israel becoming a nation almost two thousand years in the future in 1948. In fact, as I have already clearly explained, if one uses a little bit of logic and common sense, he will come to understand that it makes no sense for Jesus to speak to His First Century listeners regarding His imminent return to the Earth, and in fact, even tell them to watch for it, if those events -- including the budding fig tree -- were not going to happen for another two thousand years until our current time, as Futurist Christians believe.

After all, if this were the case, if Jesus really was talking about far-future events as these misguided Christians like to continually insist, then such events would have absolutely no effect on the lives of First Century believers. That being the case, why even tell them such things? What possible good purpose would this information serve First Century Believers? In fact, it might have even discouraged them and given them false hope, if Jesus truly wasn't going to return for another two thousand years.

This brings us directly to our next point of discussion, and it is an important one indeed. As I point out in the series entitled "Jesus Christ's Return: Have We Been Deceived?", in all four Gospels, the Lord uses the phrase "this generation" multiple times, as we can determine by the following group of verses. What I would like for you to specifically notice as you read this group of verses, is that in every single case without fail, "this generation" is referring to Jesus' actual listeners, as well as to other people who were alive during the First Century. This phrase has absolutely nothing to do with Christians who are living two thousand years in the far future in our current time:

"But whereunto shall I liken THIS GENERATION? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows, And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented. For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil. The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children."


"Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with THIS GENERATION, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here. The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with THIS GENERATION, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here."


"Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell? Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar. Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon THIS GENERATION. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord."


"And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him. And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto THIS GENERATION."


"And the Lord said, Whereunto then shall I liken the men of THIS GENERATION? and to what are they like? They are like unto children sitting in the marketplace, and calling one to another, and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept. For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil. The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners! But wisdom is justified of all her children."


"And when the people were gathered thick together, he began to say, This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet. For as Jonas was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to THIS GENERATION. The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with the men of THIS GENERATION, and condemn them: for she came from the utmost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here. The men of Nineve shall rise up in the judgment with THIS GENERATION, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here . . . Woe unto you! for ye build the sepulchres of the prophets, and your fathers killed them. Truly ye bear witness that ye allow the deeds of your fathers: for they indeed killed them, and ye build their sepulchres. Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute: That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of THIS GENERATION; From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of THIS GENERATION."


"For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day. But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of THIS GENERATION."


Now, if we are being honest with ourselves, there should be no doubt in our minds that all of the previous verses are in fact truly referring to a generation of people who lived two thousand years ago during the First Century. It's very plain to see once we read all of the verses together as a group, that the phrase refers to people who were actually listening to the Lord speak, and to that generation of people as a whole.

Now here comes the problem. If you agree with me that all of the previous verses where the phrase "this generation" is used are referring to the generation which was alive at the time that Jesus walked the Earth in the flesh, then why do the Futurist Christians suddenly change course, violate the continuity of the Holy Scriptures, and totally change the meaning of the phrase "this generation" in certain verses?

In other words, why do they claim that the phrase now refers to a far-future generation -- meaning our current generation -- in certain verses where Jesus speaks of the fig tree and of His return, while in other verses it is referring to a generation which lived during the First Century? Can you see how totally confusing and contradictory such a belief is? It is very much like properly identifying twenty red automobiles as being red, but then when automobile number twenty-one is in front of us, we suddenly claim that it's blue, even though it is also really red. Let me refresh your memory by sharing those verses with you again:

"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."


"Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near: So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, that THIS GENERATION shall not pass, till all these things be done."


"And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. Verily I say unto you, THIS GENERATION shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled."


Perhaps you have already realized this, but I have just now demonstrated to you another way in which Zionist Jews and a lot of pro-Israel, Futurist-leaning Christians purposely or ignorantly alter the meaning of the Scriptures. Not only do they take ancient already-fulfilled prophecies and push them up into the future as if they have not occurred yet, or are in the process of being fulfilled, but they also change the audience to whom certain words are being directed. They do this repeatedly. I have seen it online so many times. These people take verses that are not even talking to us today, and they say "That's us! He's talking to us! We are the "we" in that verse!". Sorry, but not so!

In short, when Jesus says "ye", He is speaking to the people who are right there within listening range. Likewise when He says "this generation", He is referring to the generation of the First Century. In similar fashion, when the Apostles use "ye" in the Book of Acts or in one of their Epistles, they are directing their words to the audience who is in front of them, or to the people of the First Century who will receive and read their Epistles. To think or believe otherwise is to pervert and change the meaning of the Scriptures. It is to alter the context of what is being said or written.

Sadly, as we have seen, that is exactly what a lot of modern Christians do, because that is the only way in which they can force the Bible to fit their understanding, and the doctrines which they have chosen to embrace. Instead of comparing verse with verse and allowing the Bible to interpret itself as much as possible, and instead of beginning with an open heart and mind, and simply letting the Holy Spirit lead them in their understanding as they ought to do, many modern Christians in fact begin with a preconceived list of ideas and beliefs, and then they intentionally look for verses which will support their views, while ignoring those verses which don't support them.

My friends, this is simply NOT the way to do it. We are NOT supposed to try to rewrite the Bible so that it agrees with our own thoughts and beliefs. We are in fact supposed to do the exact opposite by allowing God's Word to conform, renew and mold our thoughts so that we have the mind of Christ. We are supposed to agree with the Scriptures. The Scriptures are not supposed to agree with us. I have spoken about this renewing process a number of times before. Please consider the following group of verses:

"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."


"For to be carnally minded ‭is‭ death; but to be spiritually minded ‭is‭ life and peace.‭"


"For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ."


"Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;"


"And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;"


Please go to part four for the conclusion of this series.

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