rjprince said:What evidence is there IN THE TEXT to support such a conclusion? And, if there is no evidence IN the text, but your idea is imposed ONTO the text, I really prefer Rev Mitchell's explanation. It is more in sync with where we are today! Especially from Al and Tipper's perspective!
RJP
I would say the entire text and the entire ministry of Jesus would point to my view. As does Gill:
and presently the fig tree withered away: immediately, upon Christ's saying these words, its sap was dried up, it lost its verdure; its leaves were shrivelled and shrunk up, and dropped off, and the whole was blasted. This tree was an emblem of the Jews: Christ being hungry, and very desirous of the salvation of men, came first to them, from whom, on account of their large profession of religion, and great pretensions to holiness, and the many advantages they enjoyed, humanly speaking, much fruit of righteousness might have been expected; but, alas! he found nothing but mere words, empty boasts, an outward show of religion, an external profession, and a bare performance of trifling ceremonies, and oral traditions; wherefore Christ rejected them, and in a little time after, the kingdom of God, the Gospel, was taken away from them, and their temple, city, and nation, entirely destroyed.
Albert Barnes though he dosn't necessarily agree wrote this:
It has been commonly thought that the Saviour performed this miracle to denote the sudden "withering away" or destruction of the Jewish people. They, like the fig-tree, promised fair. That was full of leaves, and they full of professions. Yet both were equally barren; and as that was destroyed, so they were soon to be.
Now I'm glad you can tell dispies to quit telling us how the fig tree is Israel in this verse:
Mat 24:32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:
Hal Lindsey and his ilk have made millions on this verse.