AN EXPOSITION OF THE TWO WITNESSES – PART 7
October 26, 2009
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It has been established in Parts 1 through 6 that John came and preached in the spirit of Elijah, and was the Elijah for any who believed his message. It was proven that John was the messenger sent to announce the Seed who was the messenger of the covenant, Jesus Christ. It was shown that John and Jesus both preached for Israel to repent, because the kingdom was at hand. But Israel as a nation rejected the message of John and of Jesus. It was clearly stated that if they did not heed their message, the land of Israel would be smitten by a curse. They did not heed it, and the Lord smote the land with a curse. It was a warning that Jesus taught in a parable picturing Israel as a fig tree.
Malachi 4:5,6 – Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: [6] And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a CURSE.
The word used for “earth” is “erets,” which in most cases is translated as “land.” Israel would not repent and turn to the Messiah, so the l
and was cursed and they were plucked up out of it.
Luke 13:5-9 – I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. [6] He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. [7] Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground
? [8] And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: [9] And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.
The certain man is the Father, the vineyard
is the world into which Israel was supposed to spread the promise of a Messianic Seed through Abraham, the fig tree is Israel, and the dresser of the vineyard is the Messiah.
Jesus was “journeying toward Jerusalem” at the time he gave this parable of
the fig tree. He had labored for three years to see fruit produced by the fig tree in repentance and the receiving him as the Messiah, but had found none. He was soon to be cut off in the extra year, the fourth year, he had requested. And because of the rejection the fig tree Israel dried up under a curse, and was cut off from the land.
Mark 11:12-14 – And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry: [13] And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet.
[14] And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever.
And his disciples heard it.
Mark 11:19-21 – And when even was come, he went out of the city. [20] And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. [21] And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou CURSEDST is withered away.
As the Son of God, he knew there would be no figs on the tree. He used it for an example of what was going to be done to Israel because of their rejection of his message. A day passed between the time the fig tree was cursed, and the time it withered away.
It was some 40 years from the time of his rejection until Israel withered away, and was carried from the l
and. Their temple became spiritually desolate when they rejected him, and physically desolate when Titus destroyed it and carried Israel into captivity.
Matthew 23:37-39 – O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
[38] Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. [39] For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
Luke 21:24 – And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
The leaves of Israel were still green when they crucified him, but as he spoke to the women of Jerusalem, who were weeping as they followed him to cross, he warned them that the day was coming for their children when Israel would dry up, and be carried away.
Luke 23:28-31 – But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children. [29] For, behold, the days are coming, in
the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck. [30] Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us.
[31] For if they do these th ings
in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry
?
Israel is showing leaves again, but still has no fruit.