Episode 8: The Nation of Israel Under the Microscope

Bible Prophecy Under the Microscope: Episode 8

Gary discusses the idea put forth by nearly all modern pop prophecy writers that Israel becoming a nation again in 1948 is a “major prophetic sign” of the “end times.”

A very popular argument for modern-day Israel being the fulfillment of Bible prophecy uses the fig tree illustration found in Matthew 24:32: “Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near.”

The general consensus is that the fig tree has always represented the nation of Israel. Sometimes Israel is compared to a fig tree (Judges 9:10-11), a vine (Hosea 9:10; Judges 9:12-13), an olive tree (Judges 9:8-9), and the cedars of Lebanon (9:15). In fact, there is no single tree, bush, or shrub that is exclusively identified with Israel. “The vine dries up and the fig tree fails; the pomegranate, the palm also, and the apple tree, all the trees of the field dry up. Indeed, rejoicing dries up from the sons of men” (Joel 1:12). The vine and fig tree are often used together (1 Kings 4:25), neither one being a distinctive identifier for Israel (Joel 2:22; Micah 4:4; Hab. 3:17, with the olive tree).

The New Testament identifies the olive tree as Israel’s representative tree (Rom. 11:17, 24). It seems rather odd that Paul would choose the olive tree when so many claim “the fig tree has always been representative of the nation of Israel.” Notice that in the parallel account in Luke’s version of the Olivet Discourse, Jesus says, “Behold the fig tree and ALL THE TREES; as soon as THEY put forth leaves, you see it and know for yourselves that summer is now near” (Luke 21:29-30).

If the fig tree represents Israel, then there is the problem of what Jesus says about the fig tree earlier in Matthew’s gospel: “Now in the morning, when He was returning to the city, He became hungry. Seeing a lone fig tree [Israel] by the road, He came to it [Israel] and found nothing on it [Israel] except leaves only; and He said to it [Israel], ‘NO LONGER SHALL THERE EVER BE ANY FRUIT FROM YOU [ISRAEL]’” (Matt. 21:18-22). Notice that Matthew 24:32 does not say anything about fruit; it only mentions leaves. It was a “leaves-only” tree, the same type of tree that Jesus said would never bear fruit. So, if the fig tree represents Israel, then there is a contradiction. You can’t have it both ways (not Israel in Matthew 21 and Israel in Matthew 24).

Ten Popular Prophecy Myths Exposed and Answered

Since the reestablishment of Israel in 1948, “end-time” prophetic speculation has been on the rise. While there is a long history of date setting, the past century has seen an exponential increase in the number of books proclaiming that the end is near. A seismic shift in biblical eschatology is taking place around the world because Christians, some for the first time, are willing to challenge what they have been taught based on what the Bible actually says.

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Gary discusses the idea put forth by nearly all modern pop prophecy writers that Israel becoming a nation again in 1948 is a “major prophetic sign” of the “end times.” There is no verse for this supposed hermeneutical key, but this doesn’t stop authors and preachers from continually repeating it. Let’s be Bereans and “see if this is so.”

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