6 Nov 2023

Anti-Semitism and the Fig Tree

The chants ring ominously from college students on the East Coast: “There is no place to hide; Israel is committing genocide.”

College students on the West Coast shout in unison: “There is no place to hide; we want Jewish genocide.”

These and variations of anti-Semitic chanting, obviously orchestrated and coordinated, are increasing throughout colleges and universities across the United States. The attacks unleashed against Israel on October 7 have seemingly unleashed hatred reminiscent of 1939 Nazi Germany.

Students in the East Coast incident above were attacking a college library where Jewish students were hiding in fear, while violent banging on locked doors was accompanied by the above choruses and the further demand: “Let us in! Let us in!”

One young Jewish woman stated that she was told by those at her university—by a professor, I take it—that she should take off all of her jewelry with Jewish symbolism. Anything—like the Star of David—that would mark her as a Jew shouldn’t be worn so the pro-Palestinian protesters wouldn’t be triggered.

Another young woman said she was told by a college official that she should perhaps go into the attic while the pro-Palestinian mob was ranting, trying to get into the library. The girl asked why she, in the United States of America, should have to hide in an attic rather than be totally safe in a room with windows and the freedom to move about unafraid.

The library in question is now disdainfully being called the Anne Frank Library—referring, of course, to the young girl who hid from the Nazis during the persecution of the Jews in Germany during Hitler’s regime.

We who have studied Bible prophecy over many years have understood that Israel is destined to be at the center of the wrap-up of human history while Christ’s Second Advent approaches. As a matter of fact, a good number of us—despite the objections of many in seminaries who see no relationship of Israel to the fig tree parable—have concluded that Jesus’ Olivet Discourse prophecy concerning the fig tree is significant in framing the general time when we will recognize the nearness of His Second Coming.

“Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near; so, you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door. Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place” (Matthew 24:32-35).

The fig tree in Jesus’ parables is considered by many to represent the nation Israel. I believe this is especially true in the case of the Matthew 24 Olivet Discourse reference. And, like the Lord said, we should recognize how near He is to returning; He is right at the door when we see these things come to pass.

Jesus earlier said in that same discourse:

“When you see all these things begin to come to pass, then look up and lift up your head, for your redemption draws near” (Luke 21:28).

We’ve gone over time after time all the things Jesus was predicting for the very end of the Church Age. And here He talks about the chief sign of them all: the fig tree—the nation Israel—being front and center when all these things take place.

I previously posted an article titled “The Zechariah Effect.” The prophet said Israel would become “a cup of trembling and a burdensome stone” to all the nations of Earth. There is no doubt in the mind of anyone who hasn’t been deliberately hiding from today’s news that Israel and anti-Semitism are dominating all news media. The mainstream forums—i.e., The New York Times, Washington Post, CBS, NBC, ABC, etc.—are mostly calling for Israel to back off from punishing the Hamas in Gaza. They are most generally calling for a ceasefire of some sort. Absent from their reports is much about the bloody atrocities inflicted by Hamas upon innocent Israelis and even visitors from America and other countries.

The following puts into vivid perspective how quickly things are shaping up to produce that “Zechariah effect.”

Since Hamas initiated a brutal and barbaric terrorist attack against Israel and the Jewish people on October 7th, many Americans—Jewish and not—have mourned alongside the world’s only Jewish state and have understood the necessity of a swift and decisive military counterattack. But in the green quads and ivory towers of American academia, a very different reaction has been brewing. For the past two decades, the David Horowitz Freedom Center has shone a rare spotlight on the genocidal Jew-hatred emanating from our college campuses. Student organizations like the Hamas-funded and Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated Students for Justice in Palestine have infiltrated our universities and turned them into training grounds for the next generation of jihadists.

In the wake of Hamas’s barbarism, its slaughter and mutilation of innocent Jews, its campaign of rape and torture and beheading, we can now bear witness to the effects that two decades of Jew-hating pro-terror propaganda have wrought in our institutions of higher learning.

At Harvard, arguably America’s most prestigious university, over 30 student organizations signed onto a statement declaring that they “hold the Israeli regime entirely responsible for all unfolding violence.”

Not to be outdone by Harvard, the Students for Justice in Palestine chapter at Brown University released its own statement (co-signed by the Graduate Labor Organization and Teaching Assistant Labor Organization, as well as 25 additional organizations) stating that: “We, the undersigned, hold the Israeli regime and its allies unequivocally responsible for all suffering and loss of life, Palestinian or Israeli.”

At Cornell University, SJP held a rally to “Stop Israel’s Annihilation of Gaza.” History Professor Russell Rickford, who spoke at the rally, declared Hamas’s barbaric attack, which included the rape of women, the beheading of babies, and the deaths of entire families as “exhilarating.” (“Universities Celebrate the Mass Murder of Jews-American Academia Has Descended into Barbarism,” Sara Dogan, Frontpage, October 26, 2023)

My good friend, James Michael Hile, summed up exactly where all this is showing we stand on God’s prophetic timeline:

After observing the coming to life of “the fig tree and all the trees” after World War II and during the second half of the 20th century (1950-2000), we can be assured, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the events that take place just before Jesus’ return are nearing fulfillment. This means His coming is “near, right at the door.”

According to Jesus’ words, when “the fig tree and all the trees” put forth leaves (come alive), we are to absolutely and confidently “know” the Kingdom of God is near, and the generation that is living at that time “will not pass away until all is fulfilled.” The preponderance of scriptural and global evidence is overwhelming that we are the generation Jesus was talking about. (“The Mysterious Prophecy of the Trees,” Michael Hile, https://www.raptureready.com/2023/07/12/the-mysterious-prophecy-of-the-trees-by-michael-hile/ )

—Terry

“I Never Thought Heaven Could Be So Beautiful” 

I heard the question, but I didn’t hear anything after it, as an answer quickly formed in my mind and drew my attention away from the inquiry, “What do you think the state of our country [the U.S.] will be in five years?”

The response that immediately popped into my mind was: “I don’t think it will exist.”

Please know that I’m not a prophet, nor am I making a prediction. However, many factors lead me to believe that America may no longer exist, at least not in its current form at the end of 2028.

First and foremost, the extreme wickedness, lawlessness, and deception that grows worse by the day convinces me that the Lord will soon severely judge the U.S. He is exceedingly patient, but eventually, His justice will prevail.

Secondary considerations behind my gloomy forecast include America’s massive debt, the printing of so much money during the past decade, the lack of leadership in our government, and the nearness of a catastrophic war that could easily bring destruction and death to our shores.

(I have just one more piece of bad news until I get to the over-the-top good news, so be patient.)

On October 31, 2023, FBI director Christopher Wray testified before Congress, stating that Hamas could inspire attacks in the U.S. He said there are multiple ongoing investigations, and in written testimony, Wray stated, “We have no information to indicate that Hamas has the intent or capability to conduct operations inside the US, though we cannot, and do not, discount that possibility.”

Given the massive flow of illegal immigration into the U.S. in recent years, I agree with other analysts who believe both Hamas and Hezbollah already possess both the resources and capability of launching terrorist attacks on our soil and will do so in the future.

On the other hand, it’s my firm conviction that the Rapture will happen before the Lord pours out His wrath on the entire world. Judgment is surely coming to the nation I love, but I believe we will meet Jesus in the air before God devastates the U.S. We have already seen horrible things, and we may still be here for future times of despair, but Jesus is coming soon to take us all away from this wicked world.

I base such confidence on the words of 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10:

“For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him.”

The wrath to which these verses speak is that of God’s judgment on humanity during the Day of the Lord (see 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3). This destruction will strike the earth suddenly at a time when people are saying “peace and security.” The Day of the Lord begins with the Rapture and includes the seven-year Tribulation as well as Jesus’ Second Coming and rule over the nations.

The world is already far down the path that is surely leading to the horrific conditions of Revelation 6:1-8. After that, things will get even worse. Our close proximity to the Tribulation tells me that Jesus is coming soon to take us to glory (Colossians 3:4); we will already be in Heaven with Jesus when He opens the seals John wrote about in Revelation 6.

It’s easy to toss around the word “glory” without contemplating the wonders that await us in Heaven. For me, something I read on Facebook renewed my perception of the paradise that awaits us.

On a recent John Ankerberg show, they reported the last words of Dr. Ed Hindson, who had been a frequent guest on the show. As death approached, the family of this Bible scholar, beloved teacher of prophecy, and author gathered around his bedside. It was then they heard him exclaim, “I never thought Heaven could be so beautiful.” With those words still ringing in the ears of his loved ones, Dr. Hindson went home to be with His Savior.

With this story still piercing my heart, I read a similar narrative.

David Jeremiah, in his November 1 entry for his book Morning and Evening Devotions, recounted the narrative of a little girl who had been blind since birth. Because of the development of a surgical procedure for her condition, she regained her sight. After the doctor removed the bandages, she ran to where she could see the outdoors for the first time and exclaimed, “Mama, why didn’t you tell me it was so beautiful?”

David Jeremiah closed this entry, titled Beautiful Heaven, with these words:

“And I think someday when we get to heaven, we are going to have the same reaction that little girl did — “John, why didn’t you tell us it was going to be so beautiful.” I do not know that anyone, in the limited space in which the apostle wrote, could have described heaven any better. But one glimpse of heaven will outstrip all of his words.”

Our world is fraught with much danger. The war in the Middle East could easily spread violence and destruction to many other nations, including America. The erosion of freedoms in many nations, which started during COVID, continues unabated as globalists advance their agenda to enslave people in a one-world government.

However, there’s something about Hindson’s last words and David Jeremiah’s story that brings a smile to my face and relieves any apprehension that starts to arise within me regarding the future. I don’t know what lies ahead for me between now and the Rapture, but I trust the One who walks beside me, and I know that He’s coming soon to take all of us to glory.

When we finally see paradise along with the place that Jesus is preparing for us, it’s likely the last words of Ed Hindson will also be on our lips, “I never thought Heaven could be so beautiful.”

-Jonathan

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