Category: Non Fiction

a fig tree – part two

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. (Matthew 24:32-34 KJV)

 

Key to this parable is properly identifying the fig tree. The fig tree is the tree of self-righteousness because of the law of first mention. Way back in Genesis 3 when Adam and Eve sinned they sewed fig leaves together as clothes to cover their nakedness that they were both aware of and ashamed about. Sin had removed their covering provided by God – the innocence and glory of being created beings by God. So they made their own which is translated as self-righteousness. Self-righteousness is the method of trying to be what God wants you to be and more plainly put – you trying to please God on your own instead of obeying Him. Methods of self-righteousness become incorporated and they are known as religion. It is the only tree that God ever cursed and it stands for religious Israel without fruit. You may remember just a couple chapters earlier Jesus curses a fig tree for appearing ripe and ready with fruit but was actually fruitless —- religion and what Israel was and is to this day. Jesus in Luke 21 explains that all trees and the fig tree are references to nations.  That is the background of why Judaism and Christianity are in agreement that the parable is about the nation of Israel.

The first part of the parable then is to observe the sign of nationalism and in particular the beginning of Israel as one of the nations yet unable to put forth fruit that will please God (John 15:1-6). “When his branch is yet tender” means that the person hearing or reading this parable must find some place in history when Israel begins as a nation. It can’t be references to things in the past because the parable points out that the current state of the nation is that she is not one. The prophecies of this event are in the Old Testament: Isaiah 11:11, Jeremiah 3:18 & 16:14 to reference a few. It had to be a date in the future and we all now know that the date was May 14, 1948.

Next post: the parable and the timetable

icubudLeave a comment

a generation – part three

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. (Matthew 24:34-35 KJV)

 

This may very well be the first time I had read and heard about something and grasped it enough to launch me into my love of timetables and the future.  Jesus is very specific – the generation that sees the budding of the fig tree will not pass from the earth without seeing all those things mentioned in the earlier verses come to be. So just how long is that? See – then we have a timetable. We can get a very clear idea of some of what our future holds. Yeah – OUR future.

A key to Bible understanding is to always let the Bible interpret itself. To the best of my knowledge (which obviously means the accumulated books of experts that I have) there are three different definitions for the word generation in the Bible.  Why different definitions – that can be a possible subject for a post in the future – it’s not important to the question now because we are aware of the fact we are looking at three possible scenarios.

One definition for generations is in Matthew 1:17 which work out to 42 years in a generation. That means Jesus would have come back in 1990 – obviously that did not happen.

Another definition for generation is in Psalm 90:10 which work out to be 70 years which puts the Second Advent at no later than 2018.

The third definition is given in Genesis 15:13 which puts it at 100 years and that would means the Second Advent would occur no later than 2048.

So timetable date for the beginning of the millennial reign of Christ on earth is no later than 2048; which also tells us that the latest date that the great tribulation will begin is 2041. And knowing that the abomination of desolation is smack in the middle of the great tribulation places it in the year (no later) than mid 2045.

We can also determine a way to quickly rule out 2018 if indeed it is the wrong definition of a generation. Assuming the Second Advent occurs in 2018 we know the great tribulation will begin in 2011 (yes, I know) which means anytime in the next 400 days a global event is going to occur in which millions of people will disappear. If you are here and witness the hysteria after such an event you can know quite a few things with absolute certainty about your life over the next handful of years (at the most) – the great tribulation is about to start and it begins with a peace treaty being signed that involves Israel. Life on earth is going to get rougher than you could have ever imagined.

Next post: what is the exact date?

icubudLeave a comment

Exactly when? – part four

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. (Matthew 24:36-42 KJV)

We don’t know the exact date, no one does except God the Father but we have been given enough information to know we are in the times it will occur and we need to be ready for it.

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

(Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV)

more on that later…

icubudLeave a comment

Predicament

“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”

“THE Conventions of a number of the States, having at the time of their adopting the Constitution, expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added: And as extending the ground of public confidence in the Government, will best ensure the beneficent ends of its institution.”

I wish I was so eloquent so as to share with you/anyone my feelings and belief about our country, our government and our predicament. If I had the patience and time I would comb through my books and other texts to provide many quotes, examples for why I “feel” and “believe” what I do. I lack the patience to wait and prepare such a draft because I fear that by the time I actually completed the draft it would be too late.

One truth, I believe there is a time, a parcel of the future where once we reach it that it will indeed be too late. At this moment I believe we are quite close to that parcel.

Second truth, I believe that our country has been the victim of deliberate actions meant to undermine and ruin what the country was meant to be. It began in the days of the nation’s founding but gained traction in the early 1800s and ever since has quietly and destructively rolled onto its goals – sabotage.

Third truth, our nation has been and is being sabotaged. Sabotaged as defined in the Random House dictionary “1. any underhand interference with production, work, etc., in a plant, factory, etc., as by enemy agents during wartime or by employees during a trade dispute. 2. any undermining of a cause.“

Fourth truth, the vast majority of our country’s citizens do not know enough about what America was suppose to be and founded as to be aware of the acts of sabotage that have occurred and are occurring.

Fifth truth, as I see it, the only way our country can be saved and restored to what it was founded as and meant to be is by revolution. Revolution as defined in the Random House dictionary “an overthrow or repudiation and the thorough replacement of an established government or political system by the people governed.”

icubudLeave a comment