The Olivet Discourse - Matt. 24:32-36

Commentary on Matt. 24
Verses 32-36

Matt 24:32-36
32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:
33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
(KJV)

Verse 32 is often misunderstood. Many say that Israel is the "fig tree." And, that, when we see Israel "bud" Jesus' coming is near. They claim that the generation that sees Israel being reborn will be the generation that sees the second coming of Jesus. Well, Israel was "reborn" in 1948. Jack Van Impe believed that a "generation" was 40 years. So, he calculated that 40 years from 1948 meant that the second coming of Jesus would be in 1988. He then subtracted 7 years for the tribulation, and predicted that a pre-trib rapture would occur in 1981. Well, as you might have guessed, he was flat wrong. Subsequently, he decided that maybe the starting point should be 1967, when Israel recaptured all of Jerusalem during the six day war. So, even after being burned once, he set the date again. This time, calculating 40 years from 1967, placing the second coming in 2007. Then subtracting 7 years for the tribulation, he now thinks the rapture will be in 2000. Well, wrong again, Jack!

First of all, the ones who "see the fig tree putting forth leaves" are the same ones who will "see the abomination of desolation." In other words, we will see the tribulation. There is no pre-trib rapture, Jack.

Matt 24:15
15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
(KJV)

Matt 24:32-33
32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:
33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
(KJV)

Secondly, the "fig tree" is not Israel. The "fig tree" is just a fig tree. Jesus was not giving them some kind of riddle here. He was explaining HOW we should watch for His coming, and He used the "fig tree" as an example. Notice the parallel passage in Mark and Luke.

Mark 13:28-29
28 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near:
29 So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors.
(KJV)

Luke 21:29-31
29 And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees;
30 When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.
31 So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.
(KJV)

In Mark, it is clear that Jesus meant that the "fig tree" was just an example. In the same way we know when summer is approaching, by looking for the signs [the sprouting of the fig trees], IN THE SAME MANNER we will know when Jesus' coming is near, by watching for the signs He gave in this discourse.

In Luke, which records the Temple Discourse, Jesus included "all the trees" in His example. So, He was not using the "fig tree" as a symbol of Israel, or else what are all the other trees that also will sprout leaves?

The "fig tree" is a parable. It illustrates HOW we should be watching for the signs. Let's look at these verses again.

When we see "all these things" we will know that Jesus' coming is "at the doors." This phrase means "imminent." Yes, the second coming will be "imminent." But, it is NOT imminent now. It will only be imminent AFTER we see "all these things." What things? Obviously, all of the signs that Jesus gave the disciples in this discourse. After all, the whole purpose of this discourse was to answer the disciples' question; "what shall be the sign of thy coming, and the end of the age?" This series of signs culminate in the final sign, the darkening of the sun and moon, in verse 29. Only after we have seen "all these things" will Jesus' coming for us be "at the doors" [or imminent]. So, don't be fooled by all the alleged "signs" that people throw around that are supposed to point to an imminent rapture. Jesus told us plainly that His coming for us will only occur AFTER all of these things have come to pass.

In verse 34, Jesus said "this generation" would not expire until Jesus returns. What generation was He speaking of? Many people think Jesus was saying that He would definitely return in the generation in which He lived. But, in the context of this chapter, that is clearly not the case. Remember, Jesus gave a series of events that must first come, but He said "the end is not yet." In other words, these thinks must come, but they are not the signs of His coming. There is no guarantee that the generations that see earthquakes, wars, famines, and pestilences, would also see the second coming. These things have gradually been increasing over a long period of time. But, the ones who see the definite signs, like the "abomination of desolation," and all the signs that follow, will definitely see the second coming of Jesus Christ. It is this generation that Jesus spoke of.

Matt. 24:36
36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
(KJV)

Isn't it funny that pre-tribbers frequently use this verse to show that the rapture could be "at any moment," yet the context clearly shows that Jesus was speaking of His coming "immediately after the tribulation?" When you see this verse in light of what Jesus had just said in verse 33, that only AFTER we see all the signs come to pass could we know His coming was imminent, this verse makes perfect sense. The reason no one knows the day or hour, is because the signs have not yet all been fulfilled. It is that simple. Once we see the first definite sign fulfilled, we can and will know that His coming is 3 1/2 years away. Once we see the final sign, we will know it is "at the doors." The words "no man knoweth" is present tense. It does NOT forbid people knowing once the abomination takes place. That is the whole point of Jesus' words. Until the "abomination" occurs, no one knows, or can know, the day or hour.

Go to: Matt. 24:37-41
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