p. 14 | Ye Know | AdventAI

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Nov 22, 1910

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 37, No. 46.

"Ye Know"

IN His discourse concerning His second advent our Lord gave this parable:

"Now learn a parable of the fig-tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: so likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors." Matt. 24:32, 33.

Upon this George M. Mackie, M.A., D.D., of Beyrout, Syria, writes in the Sunday School Times:

"The latter or spring rains cease about the end of April or the beginning of May. Before that time, in March or even in February, the almond and apricot trees put forth their blossoms, and these sometimes suffer from cold winds and thunder showers. The fig-tree comes on rather later in April, when the showers are about over and the power of the sun is increasing toward summer heat. The stem of the tree whitens to silver and lilac, and the leaflets and young figs appear simultaneously. Some of the latter have a freakish way of rushing ahead of the former, and form the early figs about which much has been written. In the Song of Solomon the budding fig-tree is grouped with other signs that tell that the winter rains are over for three months, and that the summer of changeless blue sky has returned for good. There is no precariousness about the Syrian summer, and it is this value of certainty

and sameness that here qualifies it for parable use. When the summer thus announced by the fig-tree has come, it has come, and nothing can stop or alter it. Even so would come to pass the things of which Christ spoke."

Prof. James Stalker, D.D., says in the same issue:

"The second advent is sure to come, but none can tell when it will come; hence the necessity for unwearying vigilance on the part of all who hope to see it with joy and not grief."

But of what use the parable if we may not know, when we see certain signs, that Christ's coming is near, "even at the doors"? Why should we be uncertain when our Lord's instruction is certain?