Olivet Discourse: when will it happen? - (Mat 24:32-35)
Learn the parable of the fig tree: When its branch becomes tender and it puts out leaves, you know that the summer is near; so also you, when you see all these things, know that it is near at the doors. (vs32-33)
OK. We're back to the question the disciples asked originally. Remember how He begins by saying that all the bad stuff was only the "beginning of throes." (vs8) But that "the end is not yet." (vs6) In the next chapter He is going to talk about the duties of His followers during the "long time" (Lk20:9) that He is away, "preparing a place". (Jn14:2) They thought, because He was there 'now', that the "kingdom of God was immediately to be revealed." (Lk19:11)
So He says, essentially, Yes, things will be quite rough for a long time. But it's not yet -the- "time". And then paints various parts of that 'painting' we spoke of previously. We know what the 'continual' conditions will be: wars, rumors of wars, famines, etc. Then, we know what His return will be characterized by. The parable of the fig tree is a lesson in how things progress. We know the seasons by observation. When plants are budding and putting forth leaves, we know we are in the spring time, going into summer. When leaves turn yellow, red and brown, we know that fall is here, and that winter follows soon. When will the first 80-degree day occur? We don't know. But we can know it's soon as we watch the plants grow. When will the first snow fly? We don't know the date, but as the trees are all bare of their leaves, and the winds are blowing cold, we know we had better have the house prepared for winter. And as we stick our nose out the door, we can "smell" that storm coming, feel the 'crisp air' and we know it's "soon".
In the same way, as we read the Scriptures, read all the prophecies of what is to come, and see how the world is progressing and lining up with Scripture, we also know that Christ's return is close, "at the doors." We're not going to discuss at this point in the study what all these indicators of His "soon" return are; we have done so numerous other times.
But -come- they will. And His return is -sure-. What can be more sure than the sun rising every morning and setting every evening? Well, Jesus says that "the heaven and the earth will pass away." (vs35) And Peter tells us how this will be so, with great noise and heat as they are burned up. (2Pt3:10)
"..but My words will not pass away, never!" (vs35b) And 'when' will these events occur? "In no way will this generation pass away until all these things have occurred." (vs34) What does "generation" mean? It can mean anything from "the whole of humanity" to specific periods of years, as represented by the time from father-to-son, and from that son to the son he fathers; generation after generation. Some view a generation as 30-33 years. Others, 40 years. Gen15:16 seems to indicate a period of 100 years.
Somehow it doesn't seem to make sense that He would be saying the "whole of humanity" because these events include and involve humanity. It would be somewhat silly to suggest that judgment of humanity is going to occur, if humanity is already gone.
Some sort of time-frame would -seem- to make more sense. But 'how long' a generation is He speaking of? And at what date does "this" generation begin? If we don't know the "day and hour" (vs36) of His return, we can't very well know when that generational period begins, either, can we. But we do see ourselves living during a time when Israel has become a nation again, in their original geographic location. We live in a time when "knowledge [has] increased" (Dan12:4) and people "run to and fro." All the things written in Revelation have all the preparations 'in place' and 'ready-to-go'. We hear the rumblings almost daily as nations are getting situated for Gog/Magog (Ezek38-39) and the "kings from the east". (Rev16:12) As we observe the "fig tree" it seems -quite- apparent that we, now, are part of -that- 'generation' when these things will be fulfilled.
But as we are in that generation, Jesus assures... It WILL happen! "..knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. Let us walk decently, as in the day...putting on the Lord Jesus Christ .... redeeming the time, because the days are evil." Romans 13:11-14~ Ephesians 5:16
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