Israel’s Sixtieth Anniversary

“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. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.” Matthew 24:32-24

            When the restoration of Israel into its homeland took place I was but a baby, born less than two years prior. At that tender age I was little equipped or prepared to note the event that would be a central part of my life, one the entire world would concern itself with more and more for all my days.

            Many who comment on Bible prophecy have noted the fig tree is an organic symbol of Israel. So, when the Lord was speaking in parables He was using one thing to describe another. Only those who had wisdom and understanding would know what He was talking about. Those heavy hearted or unbelieving would reject His words or assign to them the wrong meaning. They were spoken to give comfort and instruction to His followers.

            We live in a generation that has seen the signs of the end of the age spoken of by our Lord in Matthew 24 being fulfilled. The greatest of those signs has been the blossoming of the Nation of Israel. Many have concerned themselves with what constitutes the actual point from which we should observe Israel as a tender branch and then how long a biblical generation should be understood to be? People have been setting dates from the time of the first World Zionist Conference in the 19^th century forward based on when the blossoming of Israel should be seen to begin and how long a generation is. So far a great many people have been embarrassed including myself when we spoke our speculations too loudly.

            One thing I believe is that I am living in the last generation before the conclusion of this age and the return of the Lord. Whether I am part of that generation which will not have yet passed I do not know. At times I have doubted making it this far, but the issue is not about a single person but a generation that sees the things our Lord spoke of come to pass. May the 14^th 1948 saw the Nation of Israel come into existence. And now is a salvation nearer than when we first believed!