This article has been written as part of a series of studies that present varied interpretations of different aspects of eschatology. It is an area where there are many different viewpoints, and we want to encourage healthy and constructive discussion and thought. We encourage readers to reflect on the various studies put forward, and we very much welcome comments that are made in a respectful and thoughtful manner that reflects the brotherly love we should have for one another. If you wish to contribute an article to this particular series, then you can find our guidelines here.  You can find the previous articles here. 

In Luke 21:24-33, Jesus spoke of the end-times, and he gave a parable – not just of the fig tree, but all the trees:

“Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” He told them this parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.  Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”

It is clear from this passage that Jesus is using the fig tree as a symbol of Israel, as he did in many other passages. However, what is unique in this parable is the addition of two other elements.

The end of the times of the Gentiles

First is the description that Jerusalem will be trampled by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. From the destruction of Jerusalem at the conclusion of the Jewish revolt in 70AD, Jerusalem was in the hands of Gentile nations. However, that situation began to change on December 11th 1917, during a Shemitah Year, when General Allenby, a committed Christian, took Jerusalem from the Ottoman Empire, eleven months before the Armistice on 11th November 1918. Having said that, Great Britain was still a Gentile nation, so the times of the Gentiles continued – though drawing rapidly to an end. Even after the declaration of independence, Jerusalem remained divided until June 1967, curiously 2,300 years after Alexander the Great defeated the Persian forces to become the third of Daniel’s empires (see Dan 8:13-14), and in the same year that the Greek military deposed their Royal family in a coup d’etat. I would contend that it would be entirely possible to read the liberation of Jerusalem in 1967 as constituting the fulfilment of the times of the gentiles.

The fig tree and all the trees

Alongside that, in a similar timeframe, I would suggest that this parable of Jesus was being fulfilled. With the collapse of the Ottoman Empire in the wake of WWI and the actions of Britain and France as they created new nations in its stead, the world witnessed the trees sprout leaves.

•  In 1932, Saudi Arabia became a sovereign nation, bordering what became Israel. As it came into being, it took as its emblem the palm tree featured on its flag.
•  Eleven years later in 1943 Lebanon became an independent nation, again bordering what would become Israel, with its cedar tree emblem featured on its flag.
•  A further three years later two nations, again adjacent to Israel, were formed: Syria, known for its olive trees and Jordan, famed for its oaks, both came into being.
•  Finally, two years on, in 1948, Israel the ‘fig tree’ sprouted. It may have been the last of the tree nations to sprout, but with the return of King Jesus, it will become the head rather than the tail.

Fulfilled prophecies, like this one, point to the coming of the Kingdom of God, and the return of our Lord Jesus.

Shemitah Years – an update

Returning to the Shemitah (or Sabbath) year theme, in the recent article ‘The Broad Road’ I highlighted some key events that had happened during Shemitah years and flagged that we should not be surprised if there were events of great magnitude that occurred in the coming months. (Shemitah, or Sabbath, years occur every seven years, running from Rosh HaShannah, which this year is the 26th September.) I would suggest that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with all its attendant issues, may well be one of those events. It is already having a devastating impact on food and fuel prices, with recessions looming across the world.

In continuing to reflect on these matters, I have become aware that events of financial magnitude have frequently occurred on the final trading day of a Shemitah year. In 2001, following the dreadful events of 9/11, the American Stock Exchange re-opened on 17th September (Elul 30) and fell by over 600 points. In 2008, on 30th September (Elul 30), the American Congress voted down President Bush’s $700bn Wall Street protection bill, and precipitated the stock market crash that saw the US exchange fall by 778 points , beginning the global recession.

This current Shemitah year will come to an end in September, and the final trading day of the year will be Friday 23rd September, Elul 28. So, if a large financial issue happens on Friday 23rd September maybe we should not be surprised.

What fascinates me is that, in addition, Rosh HaShannah, the Jewish New Year, this year begins on a Sunday evening. As a result, the final trading day of the Shemitah year is a Friday. It means that the final trumpet of Rosh HaShannah, which many link to Paul’s reference to the ‘last trump’ in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, will sound three and a half days later on Monday 26th September.

For those who perceive that there will be a literal manifestation of the final half week of Daniel’s 70 weeks of prophecy, or three and a half days, this could be understood as a potentially momentous date. Just a thought.