When You See the Leaves you Know Summer is Almost Here

Jesus had just made it very clear that the sign of the end of the world would be when the abomination described in Daniel appeared.   When that happened then thare would be a tremendous upsurge in persecution of those who believe and they should flee to safe places for the last three and half years of the Tribulation.  In Matthew 24:32-35, Jesus uses an illustration or parable to help us understand what he means again.  “Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.  Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.  Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.”

When we see the trees begin to bud, we know that summer is close, and when we see the leaves start growing we know that is is only a few days until summer comes.  Similarly, as we see the attacks on Israel, we know things are getting close. But when we see the Antichrist actually move in and set himself up as God we know that the Lord’s return is going to happen within a matter of days or weeks.  The end is so close the people will not all die before it is over. 

It is important to understand that until it reaches that point, no one knows what the schedule will be, according to Matthew 24:36-44.  “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.  But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.  For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.  Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.  Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.  Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.  But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.  Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” 

While there will be gathering clouds and indications that something is fixing to happen, there will be nothing specific to indicate just when it will occur.  When the flood came in Noah’s day, the people had been warned, and they had seen the clouds gather but there was nothing shouting that today is the day.  Nothing really changed until the day the rain started falling.  When it did, there was no time to run get ready.  When that time comes, they will either be ready or they will not.  Like Noah, we have had advance warning, and if we act on it we will be ready, but there will be no special warnings, no special signs of the times such as the prophetic teachers have taught, because as Acts 1:7 tells us, “…It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.” 

Instead of worrying about when the Lord will return, Christians need to be focused on doing the Job Christ gave us here on earth, as Matthew 24:45-51 warns.  “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?  Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.  Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.  But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 

Those who have faithfully taught people to obey God will be rewarded for their faithfulness.  Those who have used the ministry to enrich themselves or build their own reputation or empire will be severely punished.