Jesus talked about the end of all things in Mathew 24 and 25 then He said to His disciples, “Now learn a lesson from the fig tree. When ITS BRANCHES BUD and its leaves begin to sprout, you know that summer is near. In the same way, when you see all these things, you can know his return is very near, right at the door. I tell you the truth, THIS GENERATION WILL NOT PASS from the scene until ALL THESE THINGS take place.” (Matt. 24:32-34) How do we know He was talking about Israel? “The LORD says, “O Israel, when I first found you, it was like seeing THE FIRST RIPE FIGS of the season…” (Hosea 9:10)
On May 14th 1948 Israel became a nation after begin scattered all over the world for over 2000 years, you see in 70 AD the Roman General Titus killed many Jews, completely tore down the beautiful Temple and sent the remaining Jews away from Jerusalem. Harry S. Truman was president and he was outspoken about NOT ALLOWING ISRAEL TO BECOME A NATION AGAIN. He died on December 26, 1947, then in one of the greatest election UPSETS IN AMERICAN HISTORY, incumbent President Harry S. Truman, who was FOR ISRAEL BECOMING A NATION, defeated Governor Thomas E. Dewey. “The LORD gave and the LORD has TAKEN AWAY. Blessed be the name of the LORD.” (Job 1:21) The Lord sees that the proper person is in place so His plan may be carried out.
That was 74 years ago, Jesus said “this generation will not pass from the scene until ALL THESE THINGS take place” In His teaching here He said, “So when YOU SEE standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel…” (Matt. 24:15) Jesus is teaching this to the Jews, who will go through the tribulation, because they rejected Christ. We who are saved will be raptured and spend the 7 years during the tribulation, at the marriage supper of the Lamb, “Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and HIS WIFE (that’s us who are born again) HAS MADE HERSELF READY.” And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.” (Rev. 19:7-8)
In the meantime Jesus tells us, “Let not your heart BE TROUBLED!” (John 14:1) You might say, “didn’t I just see this?” “Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear? And do you not remember?”(Mark 8:18)
-Bill Stockham