When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.
This saying belongs to the discourse on the destruction of Jerusalem and the coming of Christ, in which the two events are joined together, and its prophetic words reach beyond the fall of Jerusalem to the final judgment and were given for those living in earth's last scenes. The illustration is taken from the familiar, plain sight of the fig tree and all the trees shooting forth, budding and putting out new leaves in spring, which people see and know of themselves to mean that summer is now nigh at hand. As the budding trees tell of summer's nearness, so when the signs described come to pass, those who watch what comes to pass can know that God's kingdom is near, that redemption draweth nigh, and that the time of the second appearing and the day of God and day of the Lord is near at hand.
Wars and rumors of wars, famines, pestilences, earthquakes in divers places, wickedness, and turmoil and disturbances on every side are to be regarded as such signs of the second appearing. Signs in the sun and moon and stars, distress of nations with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring, men's hearts failing them for fear in looking after coming things, the shaking of the powers of heaven, and the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory tell that redemption and the kingdom of God are nigh at hand. The chapter to which the saying belongs shows what to expect as the end approaches, and common events are to be observed as signs of the times and used to draw spiritual instruction, giving evidence that the day of the Lord is near.
The nearness of the kingdom is to be known by watching, and when these signs appear there is to be watching, lifting up of the head, and rejoicing at the approach of the coming King. The signs are a reason to awaken and to work at once with no time to lose, instead of saying in the heart that the Lord delayeth His coming.
This saying belongs to the discourse on the destruction of Jerusalem and the coming of Christ, in which the two events are joined together, and its prophetic words reach beyond the fall of Jerusalem to the final judgment and were given for those living in earth's last scenes. The illustration is taken from the familiar, plain sight of the fig tree and all the trees shooting forth, budding and putting out new leaves in spring, which people see and know of themselves to mean that summer is now nigh at hand. As the budding trees tell of summer's nearness, so when the signs described come to pass, those who watch what comes to pass can know that God's kingdom is near, that redemption draweth nigh, and that the time of the second appearing and the day of God and day of the Lord is near at hand.
Wars and rumors of wars, famines, pestilences, earthquakes in divers places, wickedness, and turmoil and disturbances on every side are to be regarded as such signs of the second appearing. Signs in the sun and moon and stars, distress of nations with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring, men's hearts failing them for fear in looking after coming things, the shaking of the powers of heaven, and the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory tell that redemption and the kingdom of God are nigh at hand. The chapter to which the saying belongs shows what to expect as the end approaches, and common events are to be observed as signs of the times and used to draw spiritual instruction, giving evidence that the day of the Lord is near.
The nearness of the kingdom is to be known by watching, and when these signs appear there is to be watching, lifting up of the head, and rejoicing at the approach of the coming King. The signs are a reason to awaken and to work at once with no time to lose, instead of saying in the heart that the Lord delayeth His coming.