Africa Training Bible School Bible Verse Hand Book Session 10 to be utilized with Mike Bickle Escatology signs of the times adapted for Pastors in Africa

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Session #10 - Learn the Parable of the Fig Tree - Bible Verse Hand Book

Session #10:Learn the Parable of the Fig Tree

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Session #10 Learn the Parable of the Fig Tree

I. INTRODUCTION

A. I urge you to be like the Bereans who searched the

10 As soon as it was night, the believers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. 11 Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. (Acts 17:10-11)

II. LEARN THE PARABLE OF THE FIG TREE: KNOW THE GENERATION OF HIS RETURN

A. The apostles asked what sign would indicate the time of His coming

Jesus gave three commands:
• He commanded us to learn the parable of the fig tree (Mt. 24:32)
• To know when His coming is near (Mt. 24:33)
• Therefore to watch (24:42)

3“…And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?...

32Learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. 33So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near--at the doors! 34Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. 35Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words [these prophecies, etc.] will by no means pass away. 36But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only…
42Watch…you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. (Mt. 24:3, 32-42)

1. Jesus gave 12 negative sign trends that will bring distress to the nations

Deception

4 Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. (Mt. 24: 4-5)

Apostasy

At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other,
(Mt. 24:10)

Violence - Ethnic conflict

Nation will rise against nation… (Mt. 24:7a)

Kingdom against kingdom

Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom…. (Mt. 24:7b)

Famines, Pestilence

There will be famines …... (Mt. 24:7c)

Earthquakes

… and earthquakes in various places. (Mt. 24:7d)

Hatred of believers

9 “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. (Mt. 24:9)

Relational breakdown in society

At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other,
(Mt. 24:10)

Lawlessness will abound

Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold (Mt. 24:12)

Fearful sights

… fearful events…. (Lk. 21:11c)

Disturbances in the sea

25 “the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. (Lk. 21: 25b)

Fearful sights great signs in the sky

11“There will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven…25in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; 26men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things…”
(Lk. 21:11, 25-26)

5. The signs of the times tell those who are under siege that Jesus will return to rescue His people.

30 “Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. (Mt. 24:30)

27 At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. (Lk. 21:27)

6. Jesus told the first-century believers to flee Jerusalem when the siege first started

20 “When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city. (Lk. 21:20-21).

D. Jesus commanded one generation of believers to know that His return was near.

33When you see all these things, know that it is near--at the doors! 3…This generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place…. (Mt. 24:33-34)

1. Believers are to recognize when these things begin in the generation Jesus returns

28When these things begin to happen…lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near…32this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place…34Take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down…that Day come on you unexpectedly.”
(Lk. 21:28-34)

1Concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you…4But you, brethren, are not in darkness [ignorance] so that this Day should overtake [come on you unexpectedly] you as a thief...6Therefore…let us watch. (1 Thes. 5:1-6)

8. What people believe will be an issue of life and death, not just theological debate.

6My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. (Hos. 4:6)

9. Israel’s unresponsiveness to Jesus was related to their not knowing the time of their visitation.

41 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it 42 and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. 43 The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. 44 They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.” (Lk. 19:41-44)

Other uses of the phrase “this generation” in Matthew

16 “To what can I compare this generation? (Mt. 11:16a)

41 The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now something greater than Jonah is here. 42 The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, and now something greater than Solomon is here.
45 Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation.” (Mt. 12:41, 42, 45)

36 Truly I tell you, all this will come on this generation. (Mt. 23:36)

4. Matthew 24 speaks of a divine rescue

15 “So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand— 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.

29 “Immediately after the distress of those days
“‘the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light;
the stars will fall from the sky,
and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’
30 “Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth[c] will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. 31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.
(Mt. 24:15, 29-31)

F. My words will not pass away

34 Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
(Mt. 24:34-35)

2. Paul taught that the form of this world is destined to pass away in the future

31For the form of this world is passing away. (1 Cor. 7:31)

III. LIKE THE DAYS OF NOAH: UNAWARE OF LIVING IN A PROPHETIC GENERATION

36But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. 37But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 38For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 40Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. 41Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. 42Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. (Mt. 24:36-42)

B. Jesus emphasized that His people would not know the day or hour of His return

39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.
42 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.
44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
50 The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. (Mt. 24:39, 42, 44, 50)

13 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour (Mt. 25:13)

B. Days of Noah:

5[God]…did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah…a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly… (2 Pet. 2:5)

E. Noah and his family prepared for many years without knowing the specific day or hour.

7By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household… (Heb. 11:7)