Heres just a small look into end time prophecy.


Luk 21:29 says:

"And he spake to them a parable; BEHOLD the fig tree, and all the trees;"

Jesus says, BEHOLD, or "look and pay attention to" the "fig tree", first of all.........and then "all the trees”.

He refers to the “fig tree” as being a specific kind of tree in nature, and biblically, it is the specific nation of Israel. “All the trees” that Jesus spoke of next, then, are general trees in nature and biblically, all the general nations.

He's saying to look and pay attention to the specific nation of Israel and all the other, general nations, in the preceding context of signs of the end times.

Now, from the “Jewish dispersion” until 1948, Israel did not even exist as a nation. So, until then, there was nothing to “look and pay attention to”.

Also, before the advent of technology, it would have been nearly impossible to “look and pay attention to ” all the other nations, let alone non-existent Israel.

With no radio, TV, Internet, worldwide newspapers, magazines, worldwide transportation systems, etc., it would be awfully difficult to access information even about our own nation, let alone other ancient nations.

But now, according to Daniel’s prophecy regarding the end times, KNOWLEDGE has been increased and people travel TO and FRO.

"But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, [even] to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased." Dan 12:4

I believe Dan.12:4 indirectly coincides with what Jesus was talking about in the passage of Luke. It would not be until the time of the end, that it would even be POSSIBLE to BEHOLD the "fig tree" and "all the trees".

When Jesus said to "Behold the fig tree" (the Nation of Israel), He would not have been speaking to any generation before 1948, because there was no national Israel (fig tree) to BEHOLD before that time. We ARE the generation for whom it is possible to behold the fig tree. We are the generation that can see it. We are the generation that with the advent of technology, can SEE ALL of these things taking place in the world, as quickly as they happen. This in itself is astounding when you stop to think about it.

This, and other things, simply confirms in my mind, that we are in the END TIMES, specifically recognizable because, #1, Israel is in fact EXISTING as a nation after being NON-EXISTENT for almost 2000 years. And #2, our world has been changed with lightning speed, in just the last century, by a flood of technology, which has ENABLED God's people to do just what Jesus said to do.............WATCH!

This was not possible before, because there was no "fig tree" to look at and pay attention to, and so it proves to me that Jesus was speaking to our generation when He said to Behold the fig tree and all the trees. We are the ones who can literally SEE THESE THINGS COMING TO PASS.... other generations could not. Praise God.

In addition to the previous verses I mentioned from Luke, there's another passage in Matthew that says:

44 "Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them MEAT in DUE SEASON?

46 Blessed [is] that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.

47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.

48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;

49 And shall begin to smite [his] fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;

50 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,

51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint [him] his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Mat 24:44-51

The verse that stood out to me here is verse 45. This should be an encouragement to all those who are busily giving meat to the saints of God in "due season".

When I looked up "due season" in Strong's , one definition described it as:

• a) a fixed and definite time, the time when things are brought to crisis, the decisive epoch waited for

I believe that this verse is speaking specifically to the servant living in the end-times (which is the context of the passage), who KNOWS we are in the end-times, or the "due season", and is giving the saints the warning and instruction that they need.

Verse 45 implies that not all servants of Christ, will give the saints end-times teaching (“give them meat in due season”). Of course we all know how true this is.

"Meat" is the word used to describe "teaching" or "doctrine".

• "For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which [be] the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat." Heb. 5:12

Here's my paraphrase of v. 45....what I think it's referring to:

• Who then is a faithful and wise servant of Christ, that believes in and watches for the fulfillment of bible prophecy, whom God has put in a place of leadership, to give the saints the end-time teaching that they need, when they see the season for His return beginnning to come to pass.

When the "due season" came upon us, which I believe it did in 1948, it was time for the church to wake up and WATCH. Unfortunately, many churches do not teach anything about the end-times. How can this be?

Therefore, God has raised up regular people, not necessarily "leaders" of churches, to teach the saints about end-time prophecy that relates to real events taking place in our world on a daily basis.

V. 46-47 of the above passage says this:

• 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.

Another item I recently found interesting was in the Parable of the Ten Virgins.

In Matthew, immediately following the passage on the Fig Tree and Watchfulness, is the Parable of the Ten Virgins. Read in conjunction with the preceding passages, this verse took on new meaning to me:

• "And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him." Mat 25:6

I believe that the birth of the nation of Israel, the Fig Tree, is the major indicator that we are in the Season of the End-Times. And sure enough, it came into being literally, at midnight, Palestine time, on May 14th, 1948.

I truly believe that the "midnight cry" that signaled the birth of Israel, is telling all those who have "ears to hear" it...."Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him." It began, what I call the Due Season, the season that Jesus is due to come.

So, when the cry went out, it was time to WAKE UP and GET READY, He's ON HIS WAY!

JayD,

I am just wondering, if you had not been taught to view the Bible as containing End Time Prophecy, if you had not been told what certain things stand for or mean, such as the fig tree and such...

Do you think that you would see the Scriptures in the same way as you do for having been taught doctrines of eschatology?

And how does your dispensational outlook, do you suppose reflect in your worldview?

Thank you, as I anticipate you will address my curiosity.

OD

Oh Dear

How are you today? Very well I hope. I was acually writing this as an over view of a study I taught not to long ago. But going over it now, I realized people who are not familure with bible prophecy would be like wth is he talking about? I mean How could I point to a scripture like this
45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them MEAT in DUE SEASON?


And expect everyone to grasp the full implications of it regrding end times, with probably zero back ground of end time prophecy to begin with. My bad. I was more thinking out loud with this one.

Anyhow, I love to study end time prophecy. And sister, if we are not in the end times, there are some amazing,near impossible coincidences goin on as we speak. I'd be happy to go over with you If you'd like. I'll be back

Yes, I believe we are that very generation spoke of in end times prophesy. The signs are all around us.

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Oh Dear How are you today? Very well I hope. I was acually writing this as an over view of a study I taught not to long ago. But going over it now, I realized people who are not familure with bible prophecy would be like wth is he talking about? I mean How could I point to a scripture like this 45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them MEAT in DUE SEASON? And expect everyone to grasp the full implications of it regrding end times, with probably zero back ground of end time prophecy to begin with. My bad. I was more thinking out loud with this one. Anyhow, I love to study end time prophecy. And sister, if we are not in the end times, there are some amazing,near impossible coincidences goin on as we speak. I'd be happy to go over with you If you'd like. I'll be back

JayD,

First, I am splendidly fair to midland today. Thanks for askin'

I am not saying this as a "brag" or somethin' but I am familiar with Bible Prophecy. I use to be a dispensationalist too.

I don't even know what I am now...just glad to believe in God at all.

Scripture is used to support dispensational, amillinial, and preterist viewpoints.
I think most people come to embrace what their church teaches and it ends there.

I am not here to persuade you to change what you believe about the end times, or to cause you to doubt what you believe. But I do think that most people, me included, have approached these subjects when looking into the Bible to study, already set to find confirmation for the doctrine that our particular church and denomination teaches.

So more to the point of my inquisitive post, I am wondering how this endtimes theology that you embrace is reflected in how you live your life here and now. And what posits from the dispensational teaching you hold to are integral to the worldview you have.

That is most what I care to know about from you and others here.

Thanks to JayD and anyone else who might share your mind and heart addressing that query.

OD

Oh Dear,

Though I've been interested in the end times for quite awhile now, I never let it interfere with my life. For "no man shall know the day nor hour" But the more I get into it, the more I realize Jesus commanded us to watch and to wait for him. Regarding the prophecy's of his time, he said "oh ye hypocrites, you can look into the sky and decern the weather, but you cant even recognize the signs of your times." From old to new test you can put together a very clear order of events regarding end times. To be a Preterists, you have to straight denie a great deal of scripture, from the fall of Damascus, to the 1000 year reign of Christ, and lots in between. That was thought up at a time when they thought Israel would never again be a nation. Putting together prophecy from Isaiah, Daniel, Ezekiel, Mathew, Mark, Luke, John, Revelations, ect ect (There are lots of end time prophecy even in books like Psalms). It breaks down somthing like this.

Israel, along with the temple, would be destroyed. Now this happened a few times in the past, but remember since Jesus predicted it, it only happened once. His people (the Jews) would be scattered all across the globe, and be hated by all nations. (which as we all know has happened). Then God would bring the Jews back to there home land.They would speak Hebrew (soon to be a dead laugage for the next 2000 years) and they wont be ruled by a king. (democracy)There will be a land for peace deal conducted by the whole world (UN) brokered between Israel, and "philistine". That Jerusalam would be a burden to the whole world (which is the #1 conflict between the Jews and the Pals today. Hence the worlds problem)

The Roman empire would brought back (the EU)
There will be a aliance between Pursia ( modern day Iran ) and Russia. There will also be others in the ME in the aliance. Pursia (modern day Iran) will say "let Israel fall into the sea." ( Iran now everyday calls for Israel to be "wiped off the map") That is where we are now in prophecy. The next events will lead to the #1 the rapture #2 the destruction of Damascus#3the rise of the anti Christ#4 the destruction of 2/3rds of Israel, #5 7 year peace deal, #6 breaking of that peace deal, #7 Gog Magog battle, #8 the return of Christ.

Sorry Oh Dear, that was for the folks who might not have known what I was talking about.

Anyhow, Now I feel like God wants me to shine the light of his truth, and to sheperd as many as possible before its to late. Its is said, the generation that see's israel become a nation will not pass till ALL these things are full filled. So even now, the hour is late. I feel now is the time for me to buckle down, to get things as right as they can be between me and God, and to do what he instructed, wait, watch. "for when you see these things BEGIN to happen, look to the sky your redemption draws near."

In all honesty JayD, I have seen a number of dispensationalists get all lit with the current events.

And with a gleam in their eye, nearly rub their hands back and forth in eager glee, at yet another "sign" of the end times...

Signs like ravaging natural disasters of tsunamis, earthquakes and hurricanes.

Signs like ravaging diseases like AIDS

Signs like wars and rumors of war.

There is, you must know, a fringe of rapture-maniacs that seem oblivious to the pain, the anguish, the destruction others face while they excitedly count that suffering to be one more confirmation that they will soon have a ticket to ride!

It seems an irresponsibility toward the planet and toward others sets in with that particular doctrine. And I am not saying everyone at all that believes that way, but enough. They give end times bad press.

Plus, this is what I think. If there really is a rapture, and if there really is an end time, and if it really is soon... And if we believe all of that, then why not completely disarm and speak the gospel love of Jesus instead of fighting to preserve freedom at all?

Why not demonstrate the freedom in our hearts now since this is our last chance to really live by faith.

We won't need freedom when we are dancing on the clouds with Jesus. And we won't need faith then either.

OD

I see what you're saying OD. However, I think the bible tells us to occupy and to go about our daily business until it's time.

Yes, Alias!

Now to discover and have the guts to do what it is we are to do to occupy the time!

OD

I think we're doing okay. I don't worry about it. I have all my faith in Jesus.