| by: Pastor Bill “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near.” Matthew 24:32 Dr. George Sweeting once estimated that “more than a fourth of the Bible is predictive prophecy…Both the Old and New Testaments are full of promises about the return of Jesus Christ. Over 1800 references appear in the O.T., and seventeen O.T. books give prominence to this theme. Of the 260 chapters in the N.T. there are more than 300 references to the Lord’s return–one out of every 30 verses. Twenty-three of the 27 N.T. books refer to this great event. For every prophecy on the first coming of Christ there are 8 on Christ’s second coming. Here in Matthew 24, Jesus is sitting with His disciples on the Mount Of Olives looking out over the temple mount, where then the Dome of the Rock was not present, but Herod’s Temple was still standing. There Jesus marks out for us from the beginning of the Tribulation period’s seven year time frame until the end the signs of the times… all the way to His eventual Second Coming event (Revelation 16). After finishing that part up He tells the disciples the great miracle and prophecy that would mark the LAST GENERATION before His return and He points to Israel “the fig tree” and it’s blossoming “the rebirth of the Nation of Israel” as the great miracle that would mark the LAST GENERATION before His return. Israel, after 2,000 years of being dispersed throughout all the nation was REBORN and became a nation on May 14, 1948… fulfilling Christ’s prophecy and all the Old Testament prophets who said the same. In verse 34 Jesus said, “Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.” Well, what is a generation? If we use 80 years that would say before the year 2028… we can expect Christ’s Return. Are you ready? What in your life do you need to hand over to God? Are you as close to Jesus as you have ever been? Draw near to Him today! Upcoming Church Scriptures To Read: Matthew 24-25 / 1 Kings 22 By His Spirit, Pastor Bill |
