The fig tree represents Israel? That [Edit: may, in my opinion, be] Gnosticism

[David Kent]

The catching away of believers before the time of great tribulation was taught by Ephraim the Syrian who said in his book, Antichrist and the End of the World published in 376. He wrote, "Because all Saints and the elect of the Lord are gathered together before the Tribulation which is about to come and are taken to the Lord in order that they may not see at anytime the confusion that overwhelms the world because of our sins."

Also note the words of Joseph Mede, "I will add this more, namely, what may be conceived to be the cause of this RAPTURE of the saints on high to meet the Lord in the clouds, rather than to wait his coming to earth....What if it be, that they may be PRESERVED during the Conflagration of the earth and the works thereof, 2 Pet.3:10, that as Noah and his family were preserved from the Deluge by being lift up above the waters in the Ark; so should the saints at the Conflagration be lift up in the clouds unto their Ark, Christ, to be preserved there from the deluge of fire, wherein the wicked shall be consumed?" ("The Works of Joseph Mede," 1672, London edition, Book IV, p.776)

So a one odd bod, Ephraim, taught that, does that mean it should be a teaching of the church? Mede's writing was nothing like modern dispensationalism. It does agree, I think with Matthew 13:30 At the time of he harvest.the tares would be burnt, and good grain harvested. Saints will be raised on the last day, John 6:40, 39,44,54. John 11:24. It will also be he day of judgment. John 12:48.

 

[JonC]

Sometimes a tree is just a tree.

 

[HankD]

Sometimes a tree is just a tree.

Sometimes not.

HankD

 

[Deacon]

Sometimes a tree is just a tree.

From The Sermon on the Mount and Human Flourishing by Jonathan T. Pennington (2017)
Chapter 5 of the book alone makes the book worth its price, The Structure(s) of the Sermon and Its Setting within Matthew

"Matthew appears to be concerned less with the individual narratives per se than with how these stories fit together in conjunction with major teaching blocks to tell a larger story. Matthew's literary skill is all about structure. Many of the most important aspects of Matthew can only be discerned by paying attention to broader structures and themes rather than the individual story, noting how various aspects of the material are structured together.
Therefore, in reading and rereading Matthew one begins to sense that there is much more going on than first meets the eye in the arranging and crafting of the stories into groups and patterns." (p. 106)​

Basic Outline of Section

Sins of the leaders of Israel (Matthew 23)

Jesus lament over Jerusalem (23:37-39)​

Judgment of Jerusalem (Matthew 24)

Setting [WHEN WILL THESE THINGS HAPPEN? WHAT WILL BE THE SIGN OF YOUR COMING AND OF THE END OF THE AGE?] Two questions – two part answer in chapters 24-25​

To answer to disciples questions: “they are concerned about when he will renew his presence with them, and he is concerned about how they will live in his absence.” (Matthew, David Turner, 570)

Birth pangs
Abomination of desolation
Coming of the Son of Man
Lesson of the fig tree
Necessity of alertness
Parable of the servant
Parable of the ten virgins
Parable of the talents judgment of the nations​

Major views [and where dispensationalists fit in]
Preterist (past – predictions fulfilled in 70AD)
Futurist (speaking of Second Coming) [many dispensationalists]
Preterist-futurist (addressing both historical destruction of Jerusalem and yet-future coming of Jesus) [some other dispensationalists]

Does the fig tree represent Israel – without a doubt!

Almost anyone who has visited Israel can tell you about seeing ancient carvings depicting the fig​

Does the fig tree present a clear prophecy of the rebirth of the nation Israel in the last days prior to Christ's return?

Could be.​

It's not a sin to be wrong - but it's very harmful not to be ready (the very point of the passage)

Rob

 

[JonC]

From The Sermon on the Mount and Human Flourishing by Jonathan T. Pennington (2017)
Chapter 5 of the book alone makes the book worth its price, The Structure(s) of the Sermon and Its Setting within Matthew

"Matthew appears to be concerned less with the individual narratives per se than with how these stories fit together in conjunction with major teaching blocks to tell a larger story. Matthew's literary skill is all about structure. Many of the most important aspects of Matthew can only be discerned by paying attention to broader structures and themes rather than the individual story, noting how various aspects of the material are structured together.
Therefore, in reading and rereading Matthew one begins to sense that there is much more going on than first meets the eye in the arranging and crafting of the stories into groups and patterns." (p. 106)​

Basic Outline of Section

Sins of the leaders of Israel (Matthew 23)
Jesus lament over Jerusalem (23:37-39)

Judgment of Jerusalem (Matthew 24)

Setting [WHEN WILL THESE THINGS HAPPEN? WHAT WILL BE THE SIGN OF YOUR COMING AND OF THE END OF THE AGE?] Two questions – two part answer in chapters 24-25​

To answer to disciples questions: “they are concerned about when he will renew his presence with them, and he is concerned about how they will live in his absence.” (Matthew, David Turner, 570)

Birth pangs
Abomination of desolation
Coming of the Son of Man
Lesson of the fig tree
Necessity of alertness
Parable of the servant
Parable of the ten virgins
Parable of the talents judgment of the nations​

Major views [and where dispensationalists fit in]
Preterist (past – predictions fulfilled in 70AD)
Futurist (speaking of Second Coming) [many dispensationalists]
Preterist-futurist (addressing both historical destruction of Jerusalem and yet-future coming of Jesus) [some other dispensationalists]
Does the fig tree represent Israel – without a doubt!

Almost anyone who has visited Israel can tell you about seeing ancient carvings depicting the fig​

Does the fig tree present a clear prophecy of the rebirth of the nation Israel in the last days prior to Christ's return?

Could be.​

It's not a sin to be wrong - but it's very harmful not to be ready (the very point of the passage)

Rob

The danger is that much too often "could be" becomes "obviously is". (I agree in the passage the fig tree represented Israel. I don't believe every mention of a fig tree must refer to Israel as a whole).