A layman's commentary on Matthew 24. This generation will by no means pass away. Matthew 24:32-35

We are in Matthew 24 and now looking at the parable of the Fig Tree.

Let’s open this with a broad mental attitude. 

Finis Jennings Dake tells us that this parable is the “First of five parables in Matthew 24-25: the fig tree, illustrating the nearness of His return.”

The parable has everything to do with Jesus returning as the Messiah. This has nothing to do with the church.

"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. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors!”
Matthew 24:32-33 NKJV

Because I have heard questions like this, doesn't this apply to the church? It is particularly pointed at Israel and the Jewish people who are looking for a warring Messiah. The passage speaks to the generation that witnessed the birth of the nation of Israel. Wouldn't this imply that the baby, born that day, would be included? Doesn't this imply that the global population that would eventually pay attention would be included? Of course, it does, with the exception that the nations can never be the nation of Israel. We can, however, be adopted into the family, and, therefore, we look and wait intently first for the Father to collect His bride, knowing that only moments later, the Father will pour His wrath upon a world that refuses to see or acknowledge Him.

“So you also, when you see all these things,”

Now, back to the context of the conversations, which is directed at the Jewish mindset, as they look for Jesus to come as the warring Messiah.

Parable is the Greek word parabolē. It is “the placing of one thing by the side of another for the purpose of comparing, or comparison.” (We need to find out what Jesus compares the fig tree to.) It is also an example by which a doctrine or precept is illustrated. (If the fig tree demonstrates a precept, what is the precept?)

Jesus told them (the Jewish disciples and those Jews that followed closely.)

“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;” 
Matthew 24:32 NAS95

Not that it matters, but was there an actual fig tree? 

I ask because I am a visual learner and understand that fig trees are relatively common around Jerusalem. One commentator seemed to think that they were purposely grown on the Mount of Olives, and because of environmental factors and the season of the year, they all came into bud and then fruit at about the same time.

Pay attention to this statement: “When its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near.” I can imagine Him pointing to a fig tree that must have been nearby and mentioning things that they could see and relate to. 

So, what do I gather from this concerning Israel? 

That spring has come, the trees have already come into bud, and in no time, we should be able to pick and eat the fruit. But this is NOT about figs, and eating them is it. It is about Israel and the conditions by which they rule their lives. These wars, governmental affairs, and rabbinical teachings are parallels to the factors hindering growth or advancement, as the Rabbis instruct the congregants to stay away from Isaiah 53 and the prophet Daniel's writings. Other factors that define the fruit are streets filled with protests and terrorist attacks; all this makes it difficult to see Israel growing. 

Matthew 24 opens with this, “What shall be the sign of the end of the age?”

What could Matthew have meant by the end of the age? It is the end of the seven years of God's wrath and the transition into the millennial reign of Christ. 

But what signifies that this is about to happen?

• Israel became a nation in 1948.

  “Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall the earth be made to give birth in one day? Or shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion was in labor, She gave birth to her children. Shall I bring to the time of birth, and not cause delivery?" says the LORD. "Shall I who cause delivery shut up the womb?" says your God. "Rejoice with Jerusalem, And be glad with her, all you who love her; Rejoice for joy with her, all you who mourn for her;”
  Isaiah 66:8-10 NKJV

• Matthew 24:4 NIV  Jesus, in response to their questions, answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you.”

  What is my takeaway from this? That many will be deceived.

  Matthew 24:5 For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Messiah,' and will deceive many.”

• Matthew 24:7a NIV  “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.

  I can barely remember a time when there has not been at least a skirmish.

• Matthew 24:7b NIV “There will be famines.”

  The majority of famines are created by ruling authorities in an effort to gain total control.

• Matthew 24:7c NIV “and earthquakes in various places.”

  Earthquakes are associated with tectonic plate shifts and volcanic activity.

Jesus told them all these things.

• Matthew 24:10 NIV  “At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other,”

  When you see the word faith in this context, they are talking about church folk. Try making a peaceful comment in a chat room or on a post. In just a matter of minutes, you will be denounced for what you believe or communicate.

• Matthew 24:11 NIV  “and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.”

  This shouldn't be new news to you, as this type of person has been popping up for years. People will be deceived.

• Matthew 24:12 NIV  “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold,”

  Just try watching the evening news; in a matter of minutes, hatred and rage will rise within you. At this point, your love is growing cold.

We should know by now that the focus of these things is part of what will happen during the seven years of wrath that comes after the catching away of the church; however, it becomes obvious, since evil people are involved, that what we are seeing today 04/30/24 are merely a warm-up to the global, cataclysmic events that will take place during the seven years of God's wrath.

“So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors!” 
Matthew 24:33 NKJV

When the seven years have come to an end, Jesus will ride back into the picture on a white horse, wearing a blood-stained robe and a sword proceeding out of His mouth. At this time, He slaughters all those who choose to fight with Him.

When could we even consider that there was a fig tree?

It was not until May of 1948 that Israel became a nation. Israel is moments away from turning 76.

The next clue. 

“Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.” 
Matthew 24:34 NKJV

Which generation is He talking about?

The youngest of the generations that witnessed the birth of Israel as a nation is today, about 76 years old. 

His final word as He finished this “parable” may have been one of comfort, particularly since it might have become painfully obvious that this would never happen in the lifetime of the disciples. If He had spoken to them about the trials that would befall them, I can see how they might become discouraged and, therefore, need a word like this to hold on to. 

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.” 
Matthew 24:35 NKJV

“Pass away” is Strong's number G3928. It is the Greek word parerchomai and, in this context, means to come near or aside, to go by (or away), (figuratively) to perish.

“Pass away,” is the speaker verbalizing the same Greek word twice to emphasize a concept.

I want you to consider something. 

When and why would the earth and the heavens pass away?

If you had pointed to the millennial reign as the time this could happen, then I see a problem as God has allowed those from the nations who are still exhibiting their free will to live freely. It is evident that many will NOT accept Jesus as the Lord over their life. If God turned loose the heat necessary to burn and purify the earth, then people would die. Some might not see that as a problem, but God is NOT a murderer.

So, the best time is after the judgment from the great white throne.

Why? 

1. Revelation 19 shows us the devil, at the end of the time of wrath, cast into the lake of fire for a thousand years. The plus side of this is that there has been no deception or temptation coming from Satan for 1000 years, and yet, upon his release, he deceives the nations, and scripture tells us that God kills them with the breath of His mouth – actually, this sounds a lot like Jesus. Nonetheless, they are dead without Christ.

   Do all the persons from the nations gather for this stupidity? We are not told that they do, however, it is quite a number. Since only the dead are judged at the white throne, then one can assume that the remainder are changed and given entrance into the eternal kingdom.

2. The same people who want to reset us and the earth are the ones who have destroyed the earth with their industrial pollution. There is only one way, and that is to burn it completely and start over. The damage, that is part of Adam's handing over the dominion to Satan, was extensive and rarely talked about. Doesn't it seem odd that God would have to burn it to cleanse the earth?

Who, then, are the rest of the dead?

Let's start this interrogation by determining who the dead it is NOT.

Revelation 20:4 tells us that the souls of those who had been martyred during the seven years are reunited with their bodies, and they now sit as judges over Christ's 1,000-year reign. So, the martyred are not included in this crowd of raised dead people.

“But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.” 
Revelation 20:5 NKJV

Revelation 20:6 states that the martyred saints, who will be resurrected, are the first resurrection. I realize that this messes with the theology of many, but we are not in a position to argue against the Scriptures. (This information, explaining that the martyred saints are resurrected at the end of the seven-year period, is monumental in terms of defining when they arise, as it describes when the first resurrection happens and who takes part in that moment of time.)

So it is NOT the martyred saints.

The catching away of the church is not a resurrection, although there are (allegedly) dead folk who will have their souls re-associated with their bodies ( I cannot imagine why it is necessary for us to reconnect with these abused bodies of ours.) The understanding you need to apply here is that those caught up in the rapture are in Christ and, therefore, alive. They are never perceived as being dead. 

And it is NOT those who are part of the church.

How is it possible that the martyred saints are among the dead seen in Revelation 20:5?

“But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.”
Revelation 20:5 NKJV

This, quite possibly, is where people become confused. To be honest, I think it is a grammatical and interpretive error. Look at how the NLT translation states this verse.

“This is the first resurrection. (The rest of the dead did not come back to life until the thousand years had ended.)”
Revelation 20:5 NLT

The NLT leaves no room for questions or doubts.

In his second letter to the church in Corinth, Paul tells us that when we (who are in Christ) are absent from the body — death, we are present with the Lord. 

“So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord.” 
2 Corinthians 5:6 NKJV

These dead, who may have existed since the beginnings of humanity and were not raised in the rapture of the Church, are now being brought to stand before Jesus, the judge, who will be seated upon that throne. This is the second resurrection.

“Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them.” 
Revelation 20:11 NKJV

Revelation 20:15 conveys that anyone not written in the Lamb's Book of Life is cast into the Lake of Fire. This is the end of all judgment. 

We who remain after this final judgment are all immortals, and our lives are hidden in Christ. So, we cannot be harmed in any manner, including the fire that burns up the earth and the heavens – if you can imagine that.