Who Is the Fig Tree?

In the parable of the fig tree, Jesus is telling us what to watch for, in eschatological terms (Remember, they were asking about the timing of His coming). Pictures, in the scripture, have deep significance. So, in His discourse, He mentions not only a fig tree, but ALL THE OTHER TREES. (Matt 24:32, Mark 13:28, and Luke 21:29). In reference to trees, plural, He associates seasons, specifically mentioning summer, and likening it to the birth pangs, or to the progressive judgements coming. The inference is unavoidable. He is not speaking of a political entity, Israel, but specific TIMES of year. So He says, “ When you see these things begin to happen, know that it is near, even at the doors.”

These seasons, and their markers of time, as set out in Genesis 1:14, are the physical representations of the moedim, the meaning of which is “divine appointments “. Seasons and times are the festivals, or feasts of Israel, which represent the times of His appearing, of His visitations, as it is pointed out in Hosea 6:3. The harvest times are pictures of HIS harvest of souls, of HIS eschatological timing of the end days, for HE is the only One who saves. ALL of creation is a witness of HIM. He comes to us “in the fullness of time,” as marked for us in creation ahead of His appearing. The trees are not a WHO, but a WHEN. He has already set the times of our meetings with Him.