One of the more favorite Zionist passages from the Bible, in hoping to explain their present beloved Israel, is the parable of the fig tree in Matthew 24:32. To these people of faith this is just one more bit of proof that Israel of today is the Israel spoken of in endtimes prophecy. They believe and go on to say when Israel (the fig tree) puts forth fruit(the 144,000) one can expect to see end time prophecy being fulfilled.
The 144,000 are young virgin men, all Hebrew, from each of the 12 tribes of Israel. They are witnesses for Jesus and the Word of God during the time of tribulation in the land of Israel.
The leaves of the fig tree show forth a tree that is mature and it's fruit ready to be picked.
This is a great theory...except for the part that Matthew 24 nowhere mentions the 144,000 nor does it say Israel is the fig tree.
If Israel is the fig tree, though...as is presented, what do these Zionists do with these verses?
1) Luke's parallel account: Who is the other trees?
Luke 21:29 "And Jesus 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."
Their (Zionist) theory when applied to Luke's version of the passage, would have the 144,000 coming out of all the trees....not solely the Israel-fig tree. So Luke pretty much squashes the notion of anything related to the 144,000 being inserted into the Olivet Discourse.
2) Now consider their theory, and make the same application of (Israel=The Fig Tree) to this other Matthew passage:
Matthew 21:19 "And when Jesus saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away. And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away!"
If the scenerio of the fig-tree being Israel was correct, Jesus cursed it and said it was withered away from the first-century time, forward and forever.
Now, getting away from this peculiar notion, consider this application of the fig-tree verse from Matthew 24 and Luke 21.
Matthew 24:32 "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.
Luke 21:29 "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."
An alternate application of that passage:
Any view that is in rejection of Christ and His gospel; whether the message taught by the Jewish leadership (Fig Tree) aka Sanhedrin and Pharisees and Saducees which rejected Christ for their traditions and self-righteousness, or the message taught by the heathen Gentiles (all the other trees) who rejected Christ for their pagan idols; will wither and pass away.
Christ's Kingdom, established in His blood on the cross of Calvary (of which they would all witness), is the only true message that would last and that would show the true manifestation of God's kingdom.
Very soon, it would be made abundantly clear to the Jews of His day, that their system, (which excluded Him as the true Messiah), would fail and be ground asunder by the true Cornerstone; and the true Kingdom of God would be made known to the world and all its trees, via the name of Jesus Christ and what He accomplished on Calvary.
