Luke 21:28 But when these things begin to come to pass, look up, and lift up your heads; because your redemption draweth nigh.
This is a concluding word to chapter 21 of Luke.
He continues with this word:
29 And he spake to them a parable: Behold the fig tree, and all the trees: 30 when they now shoot forth, ye see it and know of your own selves that the summer is now nigh. 31 Even so ye also, when ye see these things coming to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh. 32 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all things be accomplished. 33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
The fig tree is a national symbol for Israel. In 1948 the UN voted for Israel to be restored as a nation and in a single day the nation of Israel came back into existence after almost 2,000 years of diaspora. That was a major fulfillment of prophecy as Ezekiel had described seeing a valley of dry bones (a picture that we all saw of the Holocaust after WWII) and was asked if they could live again.
However, Jesus didn't just say the fig tree but "all the trees". Egypt got independence in 1922, also Turkey declared itself a republic and in 1923 they were cut off from all their holdings as the Ottoman Empire. Saudi Arabia and Iraq gain independence in 1932, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria get independence in 1946, Libya gains independence in 1951, Yemen gains independence in 1967 and the UAE gains independence in 1971.
The Lord told us this event tells us that "summer is near" a reference to the harvest time at the end of the age.
He then tells us "this generation shall not pass away, till all things be accomplished". Now this has several interpretations and we will take a look at several.
1. Psalm 91 says a generation is 70-80 years. We'll go into greater detail on this word in a future post, but for right now let's consider this as the time frame. May 1948 -- May 2029 gives you a time range, after that it would be 81 years. The context of "all things accomplished" is Luke 21 and the last thing that is mentioned in that chapter prior to this word is 27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
So this does not include Armageddon or the judgement seat.
2. However, some say this applies to the generation that was there at the time of Jesus speaking. There is a basis for this, and sure enough in 70AD the temple was destroyed as Jesus said without a stone being left upon a stone. An astounding prophecy in 30AD but the Jews had 40 years to repent for killing Jesus, after that the judgement came.
And it also refers to this word to the apostles who were there:
12 But before all these things, they shall lay their hands on you, and shall persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for my name’s sake. 13 It shall turn out unto you for a testimony. 14 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate beforehand how to answer: 15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to withstand or to gainsay. 16 But ye shall be delivered up even by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolk, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.
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