Messiah in Yom HaBikkurim Chapter 62
Parable #42. Signs of the future from a Fig Tree:
- Today is Day #42
- The Forty-second Mashal of Messiah
- The Fig Tree and Figs in Israel – 14 Insights
- Messiah’s Prophecies about the Future of Israel
- Messiah’s Return to Israel – 12 Points
- The Mashal of the Fig Tree – 3 Perspectives
- The Death of the Old Fig Tree
- The Mashal of the Bramble Bush and All the Trees; as it relates to the Fig Tree
- The Revival of the New Fig Tree (Messianic Judaism)
Today is Day #42:
1. Today is “Day #42” in the forty-nine day Countdown to Shavuot.
2. Today is Forty-two days in the Omer.
Today is forty-two days which are six weeks in the Omer.
היום שניים וארבעים יום, שהם שישה שבועות בעומר. פ
Haiyom shnayim v-arba’im yom shehaym shishah shavuot ba’omer.
“You shall count for yourselves — from the day after the Shabbat, from the day when you bring the Omer of the waving — seven Shabbats, they shall be complete. Until the day after the seventh sabbath you shall count, fifty days.” (Leviticus). “You shall count for yourselves seven weeks, from when the sickle is first put to the standing crop shall you begin counting seven weeks. Then you will observe the Festival of Shavu’ot for Adonai Eloheinu.” (Deuteronomy).
“Blessed are You, Adonai Eloheinu, King of the universe, Who sanctified us with Your commandments and commanded us to count the Omer.”
ברוך אתה, אדוני אלוהינו, מלך העולם, אשר קדשנו במצוותיו וציוונו על ספירת העומר.פ
Baruch atah, Adonai Eloheinu, melech ha’olam, asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu al sefirat ha’omer.
The Forty-second Mashal of Messiah:
וּמִן־הַתְּאֵנָה לִמְדוּ אֶת־הַמָּשָׁל הַזֶּה כַּאֲשֶׁר יִרְטַב עֲנָפָהּ וּפָרְחוּ עָלֶיהָ יְדַעְתֶּם כִּי קָרוֹב הַקָּיִץ׃ כֵּן גַּם־אַתֶּם בִּרְאוֹתְכֶם אֶת־כָּל־אֵלֶּה דְּעוּ כִּי־קָרוֹב הוּא בַּפָּתַח׃
למדו את המשל מן התאנה: כאשר ענפיה מתרככים והעלים צצים יודעים אתם שהקיץ קרוב. כן גם אתם, כראותכם את כל אלה דעו כי קרוב הוא בפתח. פ
[Mattai 24:32] And from the fig tree, learn this mashal: “When its branch is lush (softens) and its leaves sprout (pop up), you know that *the summer (קַיִץ-kayitz) is near. So, you too, when you see all these things, know that he (the Messiah) is close, at the entrance” (near, at the door).
וּמִן־הַתְּאֵנָה לִמְדוּ־נָא אֶת־מְשַׁל הַדָּבָר כְּשֶׁיִּרְטַב עֲנָפָהּ וּפָרַח עָלֶהָ יְדַעְתֶּם כִּי קָרוֹב הַקָּיִץ׃ כֵּן גַּם־אַתֶּם בִּרְאֹתְכֶם כִּי־הָיוּ אֵלֶּה דְּעוּ כִּי־קָרוֹב הוּא בַּפָּתַח׃
למדו את המשל מן התאנה: כאשר ענפיה מתרככים והעלים צצים יודעים אתם שהקיץ קרוב. כן גם אתם, כשתראו את הדברים האלה מתקימים דעו כי קרוב הוא בפתח. פ
[Markos 13:28] And from the fig tree, learn the parable of the matter. “When its branch is lush (softens) and its leaves sprout (pop up), you know that the *summer is near. Likewise, you too, when you see these things come into being, know that he (the Messiah) is near, at the entrance” (at the door).
וַיְדַבֵּר אֲלֵיהֶם בְּמָשָׁל לֵאמֹר רְאוּ אֶת־הַתְּאֵנָה וְאֵת כָּל־הָעֵצִים׃ כִּי־תִרְאוּ אֹתָם מוֹצִיאִים אֶת־פִּרְחָם הֲלֹא יְדַעְתֶּם כִּי קָרַב הַקָּיִץ׃ כֵּן גַּם־אַתֶּם בִּהְיוֹת אֵלֶּה לְנֶגְדְּכֶם דְּעוּ כִּי קְרוֹבָה מַלְכוּת הָאֱלֹהִים׃
ספר להם משל: ראו את התאנה ואת כל העצים. כשאתם רואים אותם מלבלבים, יודעים אתם בעצמכם כי קרוב הקיץ. כן גם כשתראו את הדברים האלה מתקימים, דעו כי קרובה מלכות האלוהים. פ
[Lukas 21:29] He (the Messiah) spoke to them in a mashal, saying, “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. When you see them putting forth their flowers (blooming), you know for yourselves that *the summer is near. Yes, so when you see these things being fulfilled, know that the kingdom of God is near!”
*In Hebrew the word for “summer” (קַיִץ-kayitz) is similar to the word for the “end” (קֵץ-ketz).
The Fig Tree and Figs in Israel – 14 Insights:
Insight #1. The Fig Tree and its fruit are designated by the same word te’enah and the plural te’enim (the fruit is distinct from the tree).
Insight #2. Te’enah is the common term for fig; specifically this term denotes the figs which ripen in August and form the largest crop.
Insight #3. The early figs that appear in March or April and ripen in June are called bikkurah; meaning the “first ripe fig.”
Insight #4. In ancient times the early fig was considered a great delicacy.
Insight #5. The late or green figs that ripen after the fall of the leaf and remain on the tree during the winter months are called pag.
Insight #6. The term kayiz that indicate “the harvest of fruits” and “summer fruits” is sometimes used for the fig itself (for the late fig).
Insight #7. The fig was one of the principal fruits of Canaan; even before the entrance of our father Abraham into the Promised Land (almost four millennia ago).
Insight #8. Figs were sometimes dried and pressed into cakes called debelah on account of their round shape.
Insight #9. The debelah were used as food and as a remedy for medically treating boils.
Insight #10. “Fig leaves” were used as a covering by Adam and his wife (at first also called Adam; later called Chavah, Eve).
Insight #11. The leaves of the Fig Tree are larger than those of any other tree that is native to the land of Israel.
Insight #12. The failure of the fig-crop and the destruction of the fig-tree were regarded as a misfortune and as a punishment from God.
Insight #13. The fig-tree was associated with the vine as an emblem of peace and prosperity (cf. Micah 4:4).
Insight #14. In Jotham’s parable of the “Bramble Bush who would be King” (Judges 9) the fig is distinguished for its sweetness and good fruit (Judges 9:11):
ותאמר להם התאנה החדלתי את־מתקי ואת־תנובתי הטובה והלכתי לנוע על־העצים׃
וַתֹּאמֶר לָהֶם הַתְּאֵנָה הֶחֳדַלְתִּי אֶת־מָתְקִי וְאֶת־תְּנוּבָתִי הַטֹּובָה וְהָלַכְתִּי לָנוּעַ עַל־הָעֵצִֽים׃
But the fig tree (te’enah) said to them, “Shall I leave my sweetness (motek) and my good fruit (tov tenuvah), and go to wave over the trees?”
Messiah’s Prophecies about the Future of Israel:
Just previous to today’s mashal, “Signs of the future of Israel from a Fig Tree,” the Messiah of Israel answered a number of important questions raised by his twelve talmidin (Jewish disciples, students) concerning the end of the age and his own coming into his kingdom (the restoration of Israel). Rabbeinu Yeshua dealt first of all with the general signs which would characterize the future age of the kingdom of Adonai (the LORD) as a whole. Then the Righteous One (Tzaddik) revealed the signs of the great tribulation (still yet to come) which would begin seven years ‘before’ his *second coming.
*His return (second appearance) to Israel.
The Great Tribulation is also referred to as the time of Jacob’s Trouble (עֵֽת־צָרָ֥ה הִיא֙ לְיַֽעֲקֹ֔ב); also called the “Great Tribulation” (צָרָה גְדוֹלָה). This time will be marked by two periods of time that will exist within a single seven year time period.
First period of time. In this former segment of time (forty-two months; three and one half years) a great deceiver will rise to power. This man will successfully deceive most of the entire world populace into believing he is an incredibly brilliant international peacemaker.
Second period of time. In this latter segment of time (a second three and one half years) this false peacemaker will become a world-wide satanic dictator (the anti-messiah). This latter (three and one half years) period of time will be climaxed by the second coming of the Messiah ben David.
At that time, the second appearance and return of Messiah to Israel, the heavens will break forth with the glory of Adonai Eloheinu when His Anointed One (מְשִׁיחֹֽו-His Messiah), Yeshua HaMashiach, will return to Israel in great power and triumphant glory.
The following is a description in the Messiah’s own words of what some of the signs will be that will prepare his Jewish followers for his second coming to (modern) Israel:
The Messiah’s Return – 12 Points:
כאשר ישב על הר הזיתים נגשו אליו התלמידים לבדם ואמרו: הגד נא לנו מתי יהיה הדבר הזה ומה הוא אות בואך וקץ העולם? השיב ישוע ואמר להם: פ
כי רבים יבואו בשמי ויאמרו אני המשיח ויתעו רבים. ואתם עתידים לשמע מלחמות ושמועות מלחמה. שימו לב, אל תבהלו; כי צריך להיות הדבר הזה, ובכל זאת עוד לא בא הקץ. גוי יקום על גוי וממלכה על ממלכה ויהיו רעב ורעידות אדמה במקומות רבים, אך כל אלה ראשית הצרות. אז ימסרו אתכם לרודפים ויהרגו אתכם ותהיו שנואים על כל הגויים בגלל שמי. רבים יכשלו באותה עת ויסגירו זה את זה וישנאו זה את זה. נביאי שקר יקומו ויתעו רבים, ומאחר שתרבה ההפקרות תתקרר אהבת רבים. אבל המחזיק מעמד עד קץ הוא יושע. ובשורה זו של המלכות תכרז בכל העולם לעדות לכל הגויים ואחרי כן יבוא הקץ. לכן כאשר תראו את השקוץ המשמם, כנאמר בפי דניאל הנביא, עומד במקום קדוש – על הקורא להבין – אזי הנמצאים ביהודה, שינוסו אל ההרים; מי שעל הגג אל ירד לקחת חפצים מביתו, ומי שבשדה אל יחזר לקחת את בגדו. ואוי להרות ולמיניקות בימים ההם. ברם התפללו שלא תהיה מנוסתכם בחרף אף לא בשבת, כי אז תהיה צרה גדולה אשר לא היתה כמוה מראשית העולם ועד עתה, אף לא תהיה כמוה. ואלולא קצרו הימים ההם לא היה נצל כל בשר, אך למען הבחירים יקצרו הימים ההם. אם יאמר לכם איש בעת ההיא, ‘הנה פה המשיח’ או ‘הנהו שם’, אל תאמינו, כי יקומו משיחי שקר ונביאי שקר ויתנו אותות גדולים ומופתים כדי להתעות, אם אפשר, גם את הבחירים. הנה מראש אמרתי לכם. לכן אם יאמרו לכם ‘הנהו במדבר’, אל תצאו; ‘הנהו בחדרי חדרים’, אל תאמינו; כי כברק היוצא ממזרח ומאיר עד מערב כן יהיה בואו של בן-האדם. במקום שהגויה נמצאת, שם יקבצו הנשרים. פ
As the Messiah (יֵשׁוּעַ-the Salvation of Adonai; הוֹשׁוּעַ-derivation of “He [Adonai] will save”) was sitting on the Mount of Olives, his disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of your coming, and of the consummation (end) of the age?” And the Messiah answered and said to them:
[First] “See to it that no one misleads you. For many will come in my name saying, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars.”
[Second] “See that you are not frightened (do not panic), for these things must take place, but it is not yet the end. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be famines and earthquakes in many places.”
[Third] “However, all of these things are just the *beginning of trouble.”
*Birth pangs.
[Fourth] “Then they will deliver you (היהודים) to tribulation, and will kill you (בני ישראל), and you (ישראל) will be hated by all nations because of *my Name. See to it that no one deceives you” (ישראל):
*The Messiah came in the Name of Adonai (ה’-HaShem). He is the Messiah of HaShem (the NAME). As the Messiah of HaShem he did not come in his own name. He came in the Name of HaShem. For there is only one God (מֵאֱלֹהִים הָאֶחָד).
Therefore [#1], the Messiah our Jewish brother never came in his own name or spoke to us his own words. As the true (perfectly obedient, sinless) servant of God he spoke only the d’varim (words) of HaShem (all of the time).
Therefore [2#], the teaching of the (real) Messiah of Israel is not the teaching of a man. For the Messiah of Israel (in his most holy submission to God) only speaks those things (d’varim. words) that Adonai Avinu (God our Father) commands him to speak.
Therefore [#3], all of the words that the (real) Messiah of God speaks to us (Israel) are from the Spirit of the Holy One who he (the Voice of Adonai) always hears, understands, and obeys.
Therefore [#4], all of the good works that the Holy Servant (Eved HaKadosh) of HaShem has ever done has (always) been done out of perfect submission and obedience to HaShem—who is his Father and his God and our (Israel’s) Father and our God.
Therefore, [#5], the (real) Messiah of Israel has glorified Adonai Avinu. For this reason Adonai our Father has honored him—by perfectly Indwelling him (His Beloved) with all of His Divine Presence (forever).
[Fifth] “At that time (the near future of modern Israel and of this present world) many will fall away (now) and will betray one another and hate one another. Many false prophets (in Israeel and throughout the world) will arise and will mislead many. Because lawlessness is increased (now), the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end, he will be *saved.”
*He (she) will overcome and be greatly blessed (cf. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7).
[Sixth] “This besorah (בְשׂוֹרָה-good news) of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.”
[Seventh] “Therefore when you (עם ישראל) see the *Abomination of Desolation (הַשִּׁקּוּץ הַמְּשֺׁמֵם) (soon to come) which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then those (בני ישראל) who are in Judah must flee to the mountains. Whoever is on the housetop must not go down to get the things out that are in his house. Whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his cloak. But woe to those (נשים יהודיות) who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! But pray that your flight will not be in the winter, or on a Sabbath.”
*These prophetic words are couched in a prophetic ‘riddle’ whose meanings we will discuss later before this Jewish calendar year is out; before Rosh HaShanah (this fall 2019).
[Eighth] “For then there will be a Great Tribulation (צָרָה גְּדוֹלָה), such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will.”
[Ninth] Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect (הַבְּחִירִים-the nation and the people of Israel) those days will be cut short.
[Tenth] Then if anyone says to you, ‘Behold, here is the Messiah,’ or ‘There He is,’ do not believe him. For false messiahs and false prophets will arise and give great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect (הַבְּחִירִים).”
[Eleventh] “Behold, I have told you in advance. So if they say to you, ‘Behold, he (המשיח) is in the wilderness,’ do not go out, or, ‘Behold, he is in the inner rooms’ do not believe them. For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes even to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man (בֶּן־הָאָדָם) be. Wherever the corpse (שֶׁהַגְּוִיָּה-a body that is “alive” or “dead”) is, there the *eagles (הַנְּשָׁרִים-large birds of prey) and vultures will gather.”
*הַנְּשָׁרִים-eagles and vultures; lit. “large birds of prey.” There is a Hebraic ‘double meaning’ here of life (the eagle) and death (the vultures).
The Eagle consumes what is living.
When the eagle attacks, lacerates, and consumes it is ingesting what is living and edible (the living body). This life of the body (what is wholesome, palatable, good to eat) is then accepted into and thereafter preserved in the the life (body) of the eagle. Therefore, the life of the body becomes the life of the eagle.
The Vultures consume what is ‘left behind’—what is dead.
In great contrast to the *eagle are the **vultures. The vultures consume only what is dead. When all of the acceptable life of the “body” is removed, then only what is ‘left behind’ is food for the vultures. Therefore, the unfit remains of the dead body becomes the life of the vultures.
*Eagle – The Judaism of our Messiah only consumes (ingests) what is living (God’s true-teaching). The Oral Law of the Spirit of Life– Living Torah is the actual (supernatural) Indwelling Presence of the Spirit of the Holy One (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7).
**Vultures – Rabbinic Judaism only consumes (ingests) what is dying or dead (man’s false-teaching). The Dead Oral Law of Men is a bunch of (naturalistic) man-made laws that do not possess the life of the Indwelling Presence of the Spirit of the Holy One (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6).
מיד אחרי צרת הימים ההם תחשך השמש והירח לא יגיה אורו, הכוכבים יפלו מן השמים וכחות השמים יזדעזעו. אז יראה אות בן-האדם בשמים ואז יספדו כל משפחות הארץ ויראו את בן-האדם בא עם ענני השמים בגבורה ובכבוד רב. והוא ישלח את מלאכיו בשופר גדול ויקבצו את בחיריו מארבע הרוחות, מקצות השמים עד קצותם. פ
[Twelfth] Immediately after the tribulation of those days (soon to come) THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED, AND THE MOON WILL NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT, AND THE STARS WILL FALL from the sky, and the powers (forces) of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man (בן האדם) shall appear (be seen) in the sky, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn; and they shall see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a great shofar and gather his elect [the physical descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob] from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.”
The Mashal of the Fig Tree – 3 Perspectives:
Perspective #1. “Now learn the mashal from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near; so, you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door.” {Learn about the Fig Tree (Singular).}
Perspective #2. “Now learn the mashal from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. Even so, you too, when you see these things happening, recognize that He is near, right at the door.” {Learn more about the Fig Tree (Singular).}
Perspective #3. “Behold the fig tree and all the trees; as soon as they put forth leaves, you see it and know for yourselves that summer is now near. So you also, when you see these things happening, recognize that the kingdom of Adonai is near.” {Learn about the Fig Tree and All the Trees (Plural).}
The Death of the Old Fig Tree:
Today’s mashal is on the Fig Tree (עץ התאנה של ישראל). The Fig Tree is the well-known symbol of Jewish spirituality. We saw in the first century (CE) the religious life of Israel previously bearing nothing but leaves (no fruit). Here the spiritual life of God’s Jewish people is depicted as both an old Fig Tree (old Israel) and a new Fig Tree (new, modern Israel).
Modern Israel (the new Fig Tree) will soon become the worship center for all of the nations, peoples, and families of the world.
Today’s mashal of the (new) Fig Tree is not about the restoration of the nationhood of Israel. The teaching of the Messiah of God here is about more than the physical restoration Israel (1948). Today’s mashal is a prophecy that modern Israel shall soon (we believe this 21st century) become the worship center of all of the nations, peoples, and families of the world!
Previously, we saw the hyper-orthodox (legalistic) religion of Judaism depicted as a (old, withered, dead) Fig Tree (cf. mashal #10).
This depiction of (old) Israel as a dead fig tree reveals what happened to the spiritual health of our nation and our people when our first century (CE) religious rulers rejected the (real) Messiah of Adonai (the LORD), who was sent to us (בני ישראל) to redeem and to save our own people (בני אברהם, יצחק ויעקב) and through our missionary service to God our Father—-all the nations, peoples, and families of the earth. For it is written:
לכן שגרירי המשיח אנו ואלהים כמו מפציר באמצעותנו. ובכן מפצירים אנו בשם המשיח: התרצו נא לאלהים!פ
Therefore as ambassadors and emissaries of Messiah, we plead as God is pleading through us – in the name of Messiah: Be reconciled to God!
The Mashal of the Bramble Bush and All the Trees; as it relates to the Fig Tree:
Since the first century (CE) the rabbinical movements of Orthodox Judaism have succeeded in maintaining a stranglehold on Judaism. These spiritual descendants of the Bramble Bush (cf. the Book of Judges, chapter nine) have enjoyed a monopolistic control over Judaism for almost twenty centuries now. But that is not the case anymore. At present a majority of the ‘assembly’ of Israel (the Yehudim of the world), while saying yes to many of our Jewish traditions, have said a resounding “no” to the hyper-legalistic lifestyle of our orthodox brothers.
So what are the people of Israel spiritually saying “yes” to today?
Not a whole lot. This new freedom of the children of Israel moving-away from the age-old tyranny of ultra-orthodoxy has led most Jews to want no religion at all. Most of us are agnostics. Most of us are secular Jews. For instance in a Pew Research Center (Religion and & Public Life) Survey, entitled “A Portrait of Jewish Americans,” it was noted: “Secularism has a long tradition in Jewish life in America, and most U.S. Jews seem to recognize this: 62% say being Jewish is mainly a matter of ancestry and culture, while just 15% say it is mainly a matter of religion. Even among Jews by religion, more than half (55%) say being Jewish is mainly a matter of ancestry and culture, and two-thirds say it is not necessary to believe in God to be Jewish.”
So how is this temporary modern secularization of the physical descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob a good thing?
What is good about this freedom movement toward a modern secularization of the Jewish culture is that it allows the Jewish people (physical descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) to take another look at the very controversial life of Rabbi Yeshua. This is so because there is an atmosphere of free-thinking in the contemporary Jewish culture that has not existed before (cf. “A Closer Look at Jewish Identity in Israel and the U.S.“).
Today every person of Jewish ancestry is free to believe whatever he or she wants to believe without fear of physical harm or completely being shunned by one’s own immediate family and the extended family of Yehudim everywhere.
Today, in the democratic nations of the world, the individual Yehudi (Jew) is free to believe whatever he (or she) wants.
On the one hand, you can choose to believe in the orthodox religious dogma and on the other hand you can choose not to believe in the orthodox dogma. On the one hand, you can choose to believe in the teachings of the Messiah and on the other hand you can choose not to believe in His (God’s) teachings; the words that Adonai speaks to us through His Messiah.
At present we are free in Israel to follow our own individual beliefs; whatever those beliefs may be.
We are free to follow our own individual conscience. However, we are not free to choose what to believe for each other. All that is asked of each one of us is that in the international market place of free-thinking and free-believing that each one must exercise a minimum degree of civility and self-control. There must be room for all of us to be passionate about our beliefs; nevertheless, respect and self-control must be extended by each one of us to the other:
Why is this insistence on a basic respect for one another so important?
The entire conception of respect for one another and the sacredness of the value of each one’s life is a *Hebrew-Jewish conception. We are a free people. We must act like a free people. We live in a land of freedom. We must act like a free people not just toward each other but even to the stranger in the land. Freedom and democracy lead to the pursuit of truth and finding truth brings wellness and happiness to all. Even Adonai Avinu said, when speaking (prophecy) through the Messiah:
*The term “Hebrews” (הָעִבְרִ֑ים) is used eighteen times in the Tanakh to refer to our most ancient Jewish ancestors who were the earliest physical descendants (second millennium BCE) of our founding fathers—fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (for first and last use of the term הָעִבְרִ֑ים: cf. Genesis 40:15; 1 Samuel 29:3).
“What do you say?” “What is your interpretation?”
Yes, we are an ancient people (almost four millennia in age) and we are a people who are culturally grounded in the “Torah, the Prophets, and the Writings.” But we are also a people of “What do you say?” and “How do you read it?”
It is in this renewal of the free exercise of will and conscience that Avinu Shebashamayim will reveal to all of us (one by one) the truth that shall set us free. For it is the will of HaAv that we all now know that our Messiah has already come, our sins are already atoned for and that our Father in heaven is only waiting for us to claim our birthright. Then immediately will our Messiah return. Then will Israel be restored to all the fulfillment of all of the promises that Adonai has made to our fathers and our prophets.
This Generation of Israel: we are the new and final generation of Israel and of the international commonwealth of Israel!
We are the seventh era of Judaism. We are the final generation of Israel that is destined to accept our Messiah. We are those (modern, 21st century) Jews who are already crying out to Avinu Shebashamayim to return to us our one true Tzaddik who now sits at the right hand His Throne in heaven. Therefore, we are awaiting the soon approaching time of the return of the Righteous One.
We know that when our Righteous Father sends the Messiah back to us from heaven that we shall see the revival and ascendancy of the new Fig Tree. The spiritual covering (favor) of the Presence of Adonai will soon rise-up and cover the land and people of Israel with blessedness (1, 2, 3, 4). This returning covering (favor) of the Presence of the Spirit of the Holy One is already beginning to manifest itself through a rising tide of support for Israel.
Remarkably, Adonai Eloheinu (the LORD our God) is blessing our nation and people through the friendship of hundreds of millions of gentiles around the world who are sincere followers of our Messiah. It is these modern day God-fearers who prayerfully seek to support our nation and our people.
Avi-Khol has now provided this critical support for us to establish a safe political haven so that our nation and people (Israel) shall survive the present heated summer-time of intense hatred and persecution that our modern enemies are attempting to heap upon us.
Therefore, we are to be encouraged at the manifestation of the new leaves of support that are a harbinger of good things to come. The blessing of the revived Fig Tree is a welcome sign of Divine support for all of the spiritual, political, and commercial institutions of Israel, in other words—-all of the “trees of Israel.”
This means when we see the revival and rise of the new (revived) Fig Tree of Messianic Judaism effectively acting as an international covering over all of the Institutions of Israel then know this that summer is near. So you also, when you see these things, recognize that the time for our Messiah to return is near and that the return of the Kingdom of Adonai to Israel is close at hand (imminent)!
The Revival of the New Fig Tree (Messianic Judaism):
What is the New Fig Tree in the New Israel and how can the Jewish faith be revived out of the vacuum of its present dead spiritual condition? Adonai Avinu is “how” the spiritual vacuum in Modern Israel will be filled. Adonai alone is the One who will revive us and make of us a great nation—-the greatest nation to ever exist (past, present, future) in all of the history of the world.
Adonai Avinu is once again with “open arms” supernaturally presenting His Besorah of Grace to our people (Israel). He is giving us a “second chance” to attend both the Banquet of our Redemption & Reconciliation (now) and the Wedding Banquet of His Son, the Marriage Supper of the Lamb (in the near future).
The Spirit of the Holy One Himself is the One Who will fill the spiritual vacuum of our people and our nation; not anyone or anything else. Not a religion! Not the old institutions of Judaism, Christianity, Islam (or secular philosophy, etc.). These tainted institutions in many ways are already obsolete. We don’t need dogma anymore:
We desperately need today a real living relationship with the Living God (Elohim Chayim); and not an obsolete dead religion.
We need the real experience of the Spirit of the Living God (Ruach Elohim Chayim) coming into our hearts, souls, minds, and bodies and flooding us with His Life (1, 2, 3). Therefore, it is time to open up the gates and let the King of Glory come in:
“Lift up your heads, O gates,
And lift them up, O ancient doors,
That the Melekh HaKavod (King of glory, מֶלֶךְ הַכָּבֹֽוד) may come in!”
For over nineteen hundred years now the Jewish people (physical ancestry) have wandered in a spiritual wilderness of false hopes and false dreams because we have been listening to and following the wrong leaders and the wrong teachers. Now, from a true spiritual point of view, we are back to square one. Therefore, it bears repeating:
We are still the lost sheep of Israel. For we have yet to believe in our Messiah who is our Good Shepherd.
The more than nineteen hundred year old assurances of the hyper-orthodox rabbis (the false shepherds) has finally reached a dead end. The Old Fig Tree (the priestly class) died the moment it rejected the Messiah. After the Old Fig Tree (the priestly class) died the Bramble Bush king took over. Now, due to its long-standing rejection of the Messiah, it is the rabbinical reign of the Bramble Bush king that is dying.
Due to the rejection of Messiah #1: Our Temple in Jerusalem was completely destroyed in 70 C.E.
Due to the rejection of Messiah #2: The priestly party of the Tzedukim (צְדוּקִים-Sadducees) died with the destruction of the second Temple.
Due to the rejection of Messiah #3: The long-standing reign of the Bramble Bush king (rabbinism) is coming to its end. (אחרונים-last ones)
In the first century C.E. the Bramble Bush king filled the vacuum of our Temple being destroyed and our priestly class thereby became obsolete. Then Rabbinic Judaism began to “ascend” with the fall of the Temple and its priesthood.
In the first century C.E. the Tannaim (תנאים) sages (Prushim sages) took over all of the “trees” (Institutions) of Israel (prophet, priest, king, etc.). These men replaced the rule of the Spirit of the Living God with their own man-made religion. In this way, the Bramble Bush king became a (illegitimate) ruler over our people of Israel for over nineteen hundred years.
Then finally Adonai gave our people a “second chance” when Israel was officially reconstituted as a “secular” democratic nation in 1948.
Since that wonderful day (יום העצמאות -Yom Ha’atzmaut, May 14, 1948) the old-invalid religious dictatorship (the old fruitless Fig Tree) began to die. For at that time “religious freedom” came into being.
Since that blessed “Declaration of Independence” (הכרזת העצמאות) the rule of the Bramble Bush has rapidly been in decline; while faith in the Messiah has slowly been on the rise. This is as the Messiah prophesied it to be almost two millennia ago. For in the near future, when the Messiah returns to Israel, he will become what he alone has a right to be, the “Lord of all the earth” (אֲד֖וֹן כָּל־הָאָ֑רֶץ-Adon kol-ha’arets).
In the day the Messiah ben David returns to Israel he will rule over all of the “revived” institutions of Israel (all of the trees of Israel) and the international Commonwealth of Israel (all of the nations, peoples, and families of the earth). Then will the true faith of our fathers, the prophets, and the Messiah be fully revived and spread out its leaves and bear in abundance its fruit again. Therefore, it is a true saying:
When you see the (new) Judaism of the (real) Messiah flourishing in the land of Israel then know that he is soon to return!
*The new Judaism of the prophets and Messiah (הברית החדשה) occurs when God puts His new heart and a new Spirit in His people of Israel. Therefore, when you see the (new) Judaism of the HaBrit HaChadashah (the new Fig Tree) alive, developing, and prospering—being communicated freely, without censorship—in the (modern) nation of Israel then know this:
It is this “Sign” that clearly tells us “He is near!”
This means that Adonai Avinu (God our Father) is now on the verge of restoring Israel to a complete fulfillment of all of the spiritual, national, and technological promises that He made so long ago to our fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; to all of the prophets of Israel; and to the one God has Blessed Forever—His Messiah— who is our Great High Priest, Prophet, and King!