| Highlights of Dawn | August 1958 |
All the Trees
“And He spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; when they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.” —Luke 21:29-31
IT HAS long been recognized by students of prophecy that the fig tree is used by Jesus as a symbol of the Jewish national polity. Shortly before the end of his ministry Jesus cursed a fig tree, indicating the calamity that was shortly to come upon Israel as a result of the nation’s rejection of him as the Messiah foretold by their prophets. And now the disciples; having learned that he was going away and that the messianic kingdom would not be established until he returned, asked him concerning the signs of his return and the establishment of the kingdom of promise.—Luke 19:41-44; 19:11,12; 21:7; Matt. 24:3
In reply to the disciples’ inquiry, Jesus gave a number of signs by which his people would be able to identify the time of his second presence and the imminent establishment of his kingdom. Just preceding the “sign” mentioned in our text he is quoted as saying, “There shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption [deliverance] draweth nigh.”—vss. 25-28
“There shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars.” Jesus explained what constitutes this sign, or “signs,” by the statement, “The powers of heaven shall be shaken.” This, of course, is figurative language, the “heaven,” made up of the “sun,” “moon,” and “stars” being symbolic of the powers of religious control over the peoples of earth.
Today the moral and ethical standards set forth by the various religious bodies of the world are exercising less and less control over the minds and activities of the people. The standards of righteousness long taken for granted as proper are now being called in question. Recently in a panel discussion on television in the British Isles, a clerical representative of the established church was called upon to state why he believed that the difference between right and wrong as taught by the church was indeed correct. It would be difficult to imagine a discussion of this sort taking place fifty years ago.
But this is merely a “straw in the wind” which indicates the breaking down of moral and ethical standards the world over. Basically, this has much to do with the fear that fills the hearts of the people today, particularly those who are earnestly endeavoring to maintain a semblance of peace among the nations.
Jesus also said that there would be “upon the earth distress of nations with perplexity.” He illustrated this “distress of nations” by likening it to the roaring of the “sea and the waves.” How vividly this portrays the present state of men and nations! The sea is continuously restless, and often agitated.
And there is also the ebb and flow of the tides. One may stand on the shore and watch the tide as it comes in, wave upon wave until finally one becomes larger than the rest and bursts forth with tremendous force and a resounding roar. So today, throughout the earth, while on the whole chaos and deterioration are everywhere apparent, and age-old standards are breaking down, occasionally and in certain areas there is an uprising characteristic of the roar of a gigantic wave, the hue and cry for liberty and equality on the part of the people making itself felt.
For years the forward looking nations of earth have been struggling to attain and maintain a semblance of democracy as a form of government. The dictatorship of communism and fascism have been fighting this effort. The recent development in France is like one of those large “waves” which makes it appear as though the “tide” of world political dictatorship is “corning in.” But this is not actually the case. Nor are we to suppose that representative government is to become triumphant and establish lasting peace on the earth. Such government is probably the best form that has been devised by man, but it comes far short of what the kingdom of Christ will be. However, the divinely directed increase of knowledge in this end of the age has awakened the people of all nations to desire and to strive for freedom from oppression, and for the right to enjoy their fair share of the earth’s bounties.
In Psalm 97:1-5 we read: “The Lord reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of the isles be glad thereof. Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne. A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about. His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled. The hills melted like wax at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of Lord of the whole earth.”
This prophecy is descriptive of trouble and distress in connection with the establishment of the Lord’s kingdom. “Clouds and darkness are round about him,” “a fire goeth before him,” and “the hills melted like wax at the presence of the Lord.” Associated with the destructive trouble described by these highly symbolic statements is the fulfillment of the other figurative expression, “His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled.”
The “lightnings” of the Lord bring enlightenment to the people, but the first effect of it is to cause the world to “tremble.” With the people becoming enlightened in this “time of the end” when knowledge is increased, all sorts of demands are being made by groups and by nations. The hitherto small, backward nations of earth are demanding their place in the sun. Nations hitherto ruled by colonial powers are demanding their independence, and in many instances have already attained at least. a measure of liberty to govern their own affairs. Indeed, in recent years a number of new and independent nations have come into existence as a result of the general world-wide clamor for liberty and self-determination.
Of the greatest interest, prophetically, is the new State of Israel. Strong national and economic influences have contributed to the rebirth of Israel, but above these have been the providences of the Lord in the outworking of his design for this ancient chosen people. Prophecies concerning them had to be fulfilled, one of which is contained in our text which speaks of the “fig tree” putting forth its leaves. This, Jesus said, would be a sign that the kingdom of God was nigh at hand—that kingdom which will bring the summer time of God’s favor. In this we rejoice.
And our text says that what would be true of the “fig tree” would be true also of “all the trees.” Is it not the fulfillment of this prophecy which we see in the establishment of various small and independent nations in different parts of the earth? True, their motives are not the same as those of Israel, but the shooting forth of their leaves of nationalism is similar. God’s providences are not over them in the same solicitous sense as they are over Israel, but they have been stirred up to demand their independence by the flashings of Jehovah’s “lightnings,” and therefore what we see taking place in this connection is very definitely in fulfillment of prophecy and an evidence that the kingdom of Christ is at the door.
Jesus said that when his people could see these things beginning to come to pass, they should “look up, and lift up their heads,” knowing that their deliverance would be drawing near. This does not mean that they would be delivered by any form of earthly government of imperfect men, or by any of the other proposed and attempted improvements in the forms of government devised by man. Rather, it means that the time would be at hand for the divine world government under Christ to come into power as the supreme rulership over the human race. This long promised kingdom of Christ will bring deliverance to the people of all nations, not only from economic insecurity, but also from the thralldom of sin and death.
First, however, there will come the deliverance of the remaining members of the mystical body of Christ, the footstep followers of Jesus, those who are suffering and dying with him in order that they might live and reign with him. This is to take place in what is described in Revelation 20:6 as the “first resurrection.” Verse 4 declares that those who participate in this resurrection will “live and reign with Christ a thousand years.”
Every true follower of the Master looks forward to the realization of this glorious hope. That is why they “look up” and “lift up” their heads with confidence and rejoicing when they see the events taking place in the world which Jesus foretold would mark the time of his second presence and the near establishment of his kingdom. We do not rejoice in the world’s troubles, but it is a joy to know that soon the kingdom of Christ will make an end to all trouble; for the Scriptures assure us that he must reign until all enemies are put under his feet, and that the last enemy to be destroyed will be Death.—I Cor.15:25,26
Following the resurrection of those who live and reign with Christ, the ancient prophets and other loyal ones who served God prior to the first advent of Jesus will be raised from the dead as perfect humans to serve as representatives of the spiritual and invisible Christ. In Hebrews 11:35,39,40 we are informed that they hoped for a “better resurrection,” a resurrection that would be to perfection. We quote: “And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.”
The “better thing for us,” the “balled, and chosen, and faithful” of this age, is “glory and honor and immortality,” as well as joint-heirship with Jesus in the spiritual phase of the messianic kingdom. (Rev. 17:14; Rom. 2:7; 8:17) The worthies of the ancient past will not receive this “prize.” but will be raised to human perfection, not to be “kings and priests,” but to be made “princes in all the earth.”—Ps. 45:16
Jesus said to “them that followed” and to the Gentile centurion who sought his help, that in the kingdom the people would come from the east, west, north, and south, and would sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets. (Matt. 8:10-13) This means that these princes will then be raised from the dead. A similar assurance is given us in Luke 13:28,29
Thus the kingdom of Christ will begin to function, and all the manifold blessings of peace, health, and life which the Lord has promised to give the people through the administration of this kingdom will start flowing out to them. The first to receive these blessings will be the living generation of natural Israelites residing in the land which God promised to Abraham. But the blessings will not be limited to them, for the kingdom will extend its influence and control over every part of the earth. Isaiah wrote, “Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end.”—Isa. 9:6,7
As the Israelites in Palestine, their eyes of understanding being opened, accept Christ as their Redeemer and Savior, and come into harmony with the laws of the kingdom, they will have the great privilege of co-operating in extending its blessings to others. In Revelation 22:17 we read, “The Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come.”
Christ and his church, the “bride,” will be the fountain of the life-giving blessings then to reach mankind. The “pure river of water of life” will flow from the “throne of God and of the Lamb.” (Rev. 22:1) The initial invitation to partake of these blessings will go out from the spiritual phase of the kingdom, communicated to the people through the ancient worthies.
The first to hear the message and to accept will also be the first to join in the proclamation, “Come. And … take the water of life freely.” And the invitation will be to “whosoever will,” until eventually Christ’s rulership of righteousness, with its blessings of peace and life, will be from “sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.”—Ps. 72:8
If we think of “all the trees” referred to in our text as representing various nationalities of earth, we can rejoice in the assurance that their legitimate desires will be realized. Nationalism will then lose its importance in the eyes of the hitherto exploited and downtrodden people of earth. All will eventually be merged into one people, who, through faith and obedience, will become the earthly seed, or family, of Abraham.
Besides, they will be the Lord’s people. In Revelation 21:1-5 we are given a beautiful symbolic picture of the kingdom of Christ. First, it is represented as “a new heaven and a new earth,” and then as the “holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven.” To this graphic description of the kingdom John adds, “And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself will be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.”