CHAPTER 9
There are generally two positions on the timing of Messiah's return. One group believes the date cannot be known. After all, Messiah Himself said, "Take heed, keep on the alert; for you do not know when the appointed time is" (Mark 13:33). Therefore, any effort to determine the date is thought to be a waste of time.
The other group approaches End Time prophecy like a jigsaw puzzle. They believe as End Time events develop, the missing pieces are supplied. At some point the events will shed enough light on the prophetic Scriptures to reveal the day of Messiah's return.
What is the correct approach? Can we know when this will happen, or is that information denied us? Reading the Scriptures, it appears that Messiah wanted us to know at least the approximate time of His return. In fact, He revealed how to identify the generation which would see His coming. And believe it or not, the necessary "pieces" to identify that generation have been in place for over three quarters of a century.
In studying prophecy you must be diligent to separate that which is "Bible" from that which is speculation. For instance, when His disciples asked for signs of the End Time, did Messiah mention a confederation of ten nations, or a coming treaty with Israel? No. What He gave them were these two signs:
Though they asked for signs to identify the end of the age, what they really wanted to know was—WHEN would it take place? And more importantly, would they personally see those signs or were they reserved for some future generation? It is not surprising that Messiah's followers in this day are asking the same question.
Doubtless, the disciples were disappointed at Messiah's answer. After all, He didn't tell them when the end would come. God rarely provides timetables for prophecy. Instead, He reveals enough information for His people to recognize when prophecy is unfolding. Then, they can respond appropriately. For example, Messiah didn't set a date for Jerusalem's destruction. Yet, because His followers remembered the prophecy and the warning sign He gave them, they were delivered.
In a similar vein, Messiah left the precise timing for the end of the age a mystery, but He did not leave us entirely in the dark. As mentioned, He explained how to identify the exact generation which would see the end. He did this by means of four signs given to mark the beginning of the end.
Messiah often addressed the crowds in parables. To His inner circle, however, He spoke in plain language. When they asked about the destruction of the Temple, Messiah didn't give them some obscure sign. Rather, He said to watch for armies surrounding Jerusalem! Is seems reasonable to expect equally obvious signs to mark His return—signs which everyone can recognize, provided they are looking for them. Here are the four signs which Messiah alerted His followers to watch for.
1. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.
We have already assumed that Messiah would not give a sign which could be misunderstood. Yet, the first sign mentioned was that of nations rising against nations. Because wars occur in every generation, you might question the helpfulness of that sign. What's more, hadn't Messiah already ruled out wars as a sign of His coming?
And you will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is NOT yet the end. (Matthew 24:6)
Perhaps this is one of those "contradictions" in the Bible we hear so much about. Or was there something unique about a conflict designated as "nation against nation, and kingdom against kingdom?" In his book, The Beginning of the End, Tim LaHaye explains that "Nation against nation, and kingdom against kingdom" is a Hebrew idiom describing an unusual conflict. It is one that starts between two nations, but is later joined by other countries on one side or the other. Mr. LaHaye convincingly argued that World War I was such a conflict.
In 1914 a Serbian zealot assassinated the prince of Austria. Before long, forty-three nations were involved in what came to be known as World War I. What is noteworthy about that war is that no great military prizes were at stake; the participants fought solely for nationalistic reasons. So, nineteen centuries after Messiah's prediction, a war finally occurred which fit the meaning of that Hebrew expression.
How can we be certain that World War I was the first beginning sign? To assist us in identifying the sign, Messiah furnished three additional, confirming signs. Those additional signs were as follows:
2. Famines
History shows that as a result of World War I and the revolutions which followed, more than 27,000,000 people died of starvation.
3. Plagues
It was estimated that influenza epidemics after the War resulted in 28,000,000 fatalities.
4. Earthquakes in various places
As a final confirmation Messiah said there would be earthquakes in various places. Scientists tell us that the only recorded multiple earthquakes have occurred since World War I. In addition, the quakes are increasing in frequency, with each century "out-quaking" the last.
"In the first 1,000 years after Jesus, there were approximately five recorded major earthquakes (although we are sure more occurred in remote locations). However, the trend has been on the increase:
Historians cannot present a more acceptable fulfillment of the "Nation against nation" idiom than World War I. Some of the wars since then would also qualify, but they weren't the first. What's more, naming a sign as visible as the first World War fits the pattern of Messiah's other warnings.
Jesus does not say what this sign is, but apparently it will be recognized by everyone. All the tribes will mourn when they see Messiah's sign in the sky. Then He will come on the clouds in great power:
And then the sign of the Son of Man (Messiah) will appear in the sky... (Matthew 24:30)
Having established the beginning and ending signs, we come to the obvious question—how long is the time between them? Again, we have Messiah's definitive answer:
Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until ALL these things take place. (Matthew 24:34).
First, let's make sure we understand what "All these things" is referring to. It is simply the beginning signs plus the ending ones. In other words, Jesus was saying that the generation which sees the four beginning signs will live to see the end signs as well.
This brings us to the question of how long is a generation. Is it 40 years? 70 years? Actually there is no need to debate. All Jesus was saying is that from the beginning sign (World War I) to the end sign, no more than one lifetime would pass. Obviously, there are many people living today who were eyewitnesses to World War I. If this understanding is correct, some of them will also witness His return in the clouds.
At this point we need to mention an interpretation that has confused many. Rather than World War I, the event most often used to "mark" the last generation is the rebirth of Israel. Quoting a leading prophecy teacher, "One of the last prophetic signs announcing His (Messiah's) return was the sign of the fig tree. Six times in the Old Testament the fig tree is used as a symbol of Israel." (7) He then went on to list those six references. There are two serious problems here.
Problem 1. The fig tree was not a sign; it was merely the subject of a parable.
Now learn the parable of the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender, and put forth leaves, you know that summer is near; even so you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door. (Matthew 24:32-33).
We have to ask if Messiah was introducing something new (Israel's rebirth?) as the beginning sign, or was He just making a point. It is not likely that He was replacing the signs just given. When He said "learn a parable," that is what He meant.
Problem 2. The fig tree is NEVER used as a symbol for Israel in the Old Testament.
For years I accepted the fig tree symbolism as fact—then I checked it out myself. Here are three of the references which that teacher cited:
So Judah and Israel lived in safety, every man under his vine and his fig tree... (I Kings 4:25).
I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your forefathers as the earliest fruit on the fig tree in its first season. (Hosea 9:10).
And each of them will sit under his vine and under his fig tree, with no one to make them afraid. (Micah 4:4).
After reading those verses, could you say for certain that the fig tree was the symbol for Israel? Why not the grape vine? It was at least listed first! Teachers must be careful when they attribute something to the Bible, because many will accept what they say without question. All things considered, the fig tree does not appear to represent Israel, nor should it be thought of as a Biblical sign.
A friend called the understanding which has been developed in this chapter a wake-up call. If it is correct, it means we've had our sign. Few recognized it, but it occurred just the same. As labor pains mark the beginning of the birth process, so World War I marked the final generation of this age. Based on the life expectancies of those who were living during WWI, the final End Time events must be drawing near. If we choose to ignore Messiah's "beginning sign" and wait for another (be it the United States of Europe or Bush's New World Order), we do so at our own peril.
But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near. (Luke 21:28)
Notes on Chapter 9