Are we in the End Times? The Parable of the Fig Tree in Luke 21:29-33 serves as a warning and guide for recognizing the signs of Christ’s Second Coming. Jesus rebuked people in His day for failing to discern His First Coming, and He expects our generation to recognize the signs leading to His return. In this message, Pastor Scott LaPierre explains how this parable is misinterpreted, what generation Jesus referred to, and why His words are more certain than creation itself.

https://youtu.be/AjvvztD2qNM

Table of contentsJesus Expected the People in His Day to Recognize His First ComingJesus Expects Us to Recognize His Second ComingIs the Parable of the Fig Tree About the Generation that Sees Israel Become a Nation in 1948?Is the Parable of the Fig Tree Promoting Full Preterism?Which Generation Did Jesus Refer to in the Parable of the Fig Tree?The Parable of the Fig Tree Might Refer to the Race of the JewsThe Parable of the Fig Tree Likely Refers to the Generation that Sees the Signs OccurJesus Spiritually Established the Kingdom at His First ComingJesus Will Physically Establish the Kingdom at His Second ComingJesus’s Words Are More Certain than Creation ItselfJesus’s Return Completes Our Redemption

Edgar C. Whisenant was a NASA engineer and Bible scholar who predicted that the rapture would occur between September 11 and 13, 1988, during the Feast of Trumpets, also known as Rosh Hashanah. He authored the book 88 Reasons Why the Rapture Will Be in 1988. Three hundred thousand copies were distributed to pastors nationwide, and 4.5 million copies were sold in bookstores and other outlets. The book climbed to number two on the Christian Bookseller Association's list. Whisenant said, “Only if the Bible is in error am I wrong; and I say that to every preacher in town…[I]f there were a king in this country and I could gamble with my life, I would stake my life on Rosh Hashana 88.”

When September 13 came and went, Whisenant claimed that the event would still occur, revising his prediction to October 3. After October 3 passed, he stated his calculations were off by one year because he hadn’t accounted for the absence of a year zero. Following this, he published The Final Shout on September 1, 1989.

Whisenant’s conclusion was primarily drawn from the parable of the fig tree. Before we jump into the parable, let's consider some related verses Jesus preached earlier.

Jesus Expected the People in His Day to Recognize His First Coming

Luke 12:54 He also said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, ‘A shower is coming.’ And so it happens. 55 And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat,’ and it happens. 56 You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?

In the first century, there was no Weather Channel. Predictions were based on the appearance of clouds and winds. Jesus’ listeners understood. Rain would come if a cloud formed in the west over the Mediterranean Sea. A heat wave was approaching if a warm wind blew south from the Arabian desert.

Jesus applauded their ability to discern the weather but rebuked them for being unable to discern the present time. Notice that it says present time—singular. The NKJV says, “This time.” The NIV, Amplified, and NASB say, “This present time.” Jesus isn’t discussing discerning various times or seasons. He’s referring to His day and those who failed to recognize His First Coming.

The irony is they could tell whether it would be hot outside, recognize when the weather would change, predict a storm, and identify good days for planting and harvesting, but they couldn’t tell when the Messiah had come.

When our kids can’t do something, we don’t typically criticize them. Instead, we teach them how to do it. For example, if our kids don’t know how to run the lawnmower, we don’t criticize them when the lawn isn’t mowed.