64
e Concerning that day and hour.
f No one knows.
f Not even the angels of heaven.
e But My Father (knows) only.
A2 37-41. THE DAYS OF NOAH. Its lessons concerning the coming of the Son of Man.
The
a The days of Noah.
A2 37.
days.
b The coming of the Son of man.
c Eating, drinking, marrying.
B2 38,39.
d Till the day that Noah
entered ark.
The
d Till the flood came.
People.
c And swept them all away,
a Even so (like days of Noah).
A3 39.
The
b The coming of the Son of man.
days.
c Two men in field.
B3 40,41.
The
d One taken, other left.
c Two women grinding at mill. People.
d One taken, other left.
B2 42.
WHAT NO ONE KNOWS. Ye know not at what day your Lord cometh.
The majority of our readers will require no proof that the fig tree typifies Israel in the Scriptures, and together
with the olive and vine presents its destiny under the three phases, national, covenant privilege, and blessing. The fig
tree is used particularly in the Gospels, where national fruitfulness and national excision is in view. The olive
figures prominently in Romans 11 where covenant privileges are in view. The vine in Isaiah 5 and Psalm 80 speaks
of blessing. Apart from the reference in Matthew 24:32 the fig tree is mentioned in one other place in that Gospel,
namely, in chapter 21:19,20,21. There the tree, having `nothing thereon but leaves only' is cursed and withers away.
This typified the fruitless condition of Israel when the Lord came `seeking fruit'.
Luke's Gospel provides another reference which supplements the statements of Matthew.
`He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought
fruit thereon, and found none. And he said to the vine dresser, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on
this fig-tree, and find none: cut it down; why should it render the earth unproductive' (Luke 13:6.7 Author's
translation).
The `fruit' is explained by John the Baptist:
`Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance ... and now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees ...'
(Matt. 3:8,10).
At the first coming of Christ, Israel proved a failure, there was `nothing but leaves', and the national fig tree was
cut down.
As the days shorten, and the coming again of the Son of man draws near, the fig tree begins to show signs of life.
The fig tree is putting forth its leaves. Once again eyes are turning to Jerusalem and Palestine. We may live to see
great things transpiring in connection with Israel and the Holy Land. Luke 21:29 adds the words, `Behold the fig
tree, and all the trees'. This addition refers to the `times of the Gentiles' of verse 24. The times of the Gentiles will
`be fulfilled' when Israel comes forth from its long night of rejection.
In Matthew 24:34 we read, `This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled'. The expression, `this
generation', must not be quickly disposed of as having reference only to those who lived during what we call the
lifetime of a generation - it carries with it something more than length of time - it indicates character also.