Jesus cursed the out of season fig tree

[marie glen]

I've always wondered why Jesus cursed the fig tree for having no figs/fruit, when it was not yet the season for figs!

Mark 11:13-14,20 (NKJV)

13 And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 14 In response Jesus said to it, "Let no one eat fruit from you ever again.. 20 Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots."

But today reading Luke 13:6-9 -

Parable of the Barren Fig Tree:
6 He also spoke this parable: "A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 7 Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, 'Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?' 8 But he answered and said to him, 'Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. 9 And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down.'"

And putting the two fig tree accounts together, made me think of a "stay of execution" for the fig tree..

..which applied (in my mind) to the non-elect (not chosen in this lifetime) as another chance to attain repentance.. which I believe will be during the long day of review and judgment which follows the 2nd resurrection [Rev 20:13]

Otherwise.. why a second resurrection??

"Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death, and anyone not found written in the Book of Life" (not believing! after experiencing being resurrected, etc) "was cast into the lake of fire." [Rev 20:14,15]

[saintwalee]

Hi MaryGlenn

What was the first death? Was it not that of the Spirit of God within Adam, and all of us.
Rom_14:9  For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.
Are we not the body of Christ and raised with him, for those who believe? This is the first resurrection, of which the second death has no power.
Rom_8:11  But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

What is the second resurrection. If the first resurrection is Christ, and the body of Christ, then the second resurrection would have to be those not of Christ's body, the dead in Christ.
1Th_4:16  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
This verse is tricky. But if you look a few verses ahead of that, you see that those who "sleep" in Christ return to meet those "alive and remaining". Th 4:16 is not the first resurrection, but actually the second!

I do agree that here is where the "dead in Christ" will confess, not by believing, but by seeing. They will confess at that time that Jesus is Lord and will be saved.

For the most part, I think that Israel stays in denial of Christ until the very last moment. But, as I think about that, it just may be saying that our flesh will fight to the end not to submit to the Lord!

Love talkin' about Jesus!

[marie glen]

Love talkin' about Jesus!

Me too!!  :smile:

I can see what you're saying and think it is very possible, but thus far, I believe the second resurrection is in Revelation 20, a thousand years after the first one at Jesus' return and the beginning of His long second advent, and these verses are why; but also, it's my belief the 2nd resurrection is what Jesus was referring to when He told the pharisees, "unless you repent you will die in your sins" implying, it seems to me, a rising still in their sins.. an inferior, for a time, resurrection.. This only for the benefit of the drama, God's truth proving drama which I believe is angel and human history.. the acting out and experiencing of imperfection which is the opposite of God/Life/Perfection..

Revelation 20 Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 And I saw a messenger coming down out of the heaven, having the key of the abyss, and a great chain over his hand,
2 and he laid hold on the dragon, the old serpent, who is Devil and Adversary, and did bind him a thousand years..

3 and he cast him to the abyss, and did shut him up, and put a seal upon him, that he may not lead astray the nations any more, till the thousand years may be finished; and after these it behoveth him to be loosed a little time.

6 Happy and holy [is] he who is having part in the first rising again; over these the second death hath not authority, but they shall be priests of God and of the Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
7 And when the thousand years may be finished, the Adversary shall be loosed out of his prison,

...13 and the sea did give up those dead in it, and the death and the hades did give up the dead in them, and they were judged, each one according to their works;

- during an extremely long day of the review and judgment of all things, and then -

14 the death and the hades were cast to the lake of the fire -- this [is] the second death;

...and and if any one was not found written in the scroll of the life" (any one found not believing) by then, after experiencing being resurrected, etc.. "he was cast to the lake of the fire."

It's my belief there is only one difference between the elect and the non-elect.. which is the when of their salvation/repentance. I do not believe any more stringent dealings are required for the non elect of this lifetime, to bring them to repentance, than is required to save the elect.. It is all God's choosing and election, and none of ours whether we 'attain' to repentance in this lifetime or during the long day of judgment/review.. And no one or nothing can thwart His will in any way.. for He is (surely!) Perfect and all Powerful..
       :smile: the Lord bless!

[marie glen]

P.S. - theres verses in 1 corinthians 15...


20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.

23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.

24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.

[saintwalee]

Okay, I find this happening quite often. I profess something, and just after that I see a little more clearly. I really understand what Paul says about seeing through a glass darkly!

I just mentioned that the dead in Christ rising first is actually the second. But I believe the Spirit of Truth let me see a bit more here.

In taking a closer look at this: Rom_8:11  But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. it would seem that the first and second resurrection are related.

Rom_14:9  For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead (our flesh) and living (Christ in us).

Hmm, "Christ both died, and rose, and revived" That is not two things, but three! So what is being said here? Is it talking about two Christs? Could be. For that Christ which was of Jesus is the same Spirit of Christ who revives our spirit, our Christ. The first man is of the earth, of the flesh, the second man Adam is a life giving spirit! Man is being restored into his original creation, body, soul and spirit.

So, both our spirit and our flesh are resurrected, we are again a "living soul".

Taking another look at Thesselonians:
1Th 4:14  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
1Th 4:15  For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
1Th 4:16  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
1Th 4:17  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

This is starting to make more sense. When we are dead to Christ, he first revives our spirit, which in turn revives our mortal body. But until our mortal body hears the trump (Lazarus, Arise), it is asleep. When the flesh awakes, we join together with those who already have believed and have been resurrected, not resurrected as physically being raised from being dead, but rather being resurrected back to life, back into the presence of God (Jesus was standing right there when Lazarus arose).

We are caught up in the cloud together with them that have beforehand believed.
Heb 12:1  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

I see that there have been some posts while I was writing as well.

[Tony N]

I've always wondered why Jesus cursed the fig tree for having no figs/fruit, when it was not yet the season for figs!

Mark 11:13-14,20 (NKJV)

13 And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 14 In response Jesus said to it, "Let no one eat fruit from you ever again.. 20 Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots."

But today reading Luke 13:6-9 -

Parable of the Barren Fig Tree:
6 He also spoke this parable: "A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 7 Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, 'Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?' 8 But he answered and said to him, 'Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. 9 And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down.'"

And putting the two fig tree accounts together, made me think of a "stay of execution" for the fig tree..

..which applied (in my mind) to the non-elect (not chosen in this lifetime) as another chance to attain repentance.. which I believe will be during the long day of review and judgment which follows the 2nd resurrection [Rev 20:13]

Otherwise.. why a second resurrection??

"Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death, and anyone not found written in the Book of Life" (not believing! after experiencing being resurrected, etc) "was cast into the lake of fire." [Rev 20:14,15]

Hi Marie, there is a smaller fruit which comes on the Fig tree prior to the season for the tree to bear its regular fruit. I believe it is called "Panag." Jesus came to the tree expecting at the very least some panag fruit on the tree.

As to a resurrection from the lake of fire .. . the second death: In Revelation Christ is still reigning as are kings and sovereignties, authorities and power are stiill in operation as is death.
Paul saw way beyond Revelation for in 1 Corinthians 15:22-28 he saw Christ quit reigning, all sovereignty, authority and power done away and death abolished. The only death left is the second death. All those people will then be resurrected out of that death, be subjected to Christ and God All in all.

[Seth]

If Jesus destroys death, how is it that the second death still remains? That would mean that the last enemy to be destroyed hasn't been destroyed at all.

[gregoryfl]

If Jesus destroys death, how is it that the second death still remains? That would mean that the last enemy to be destroyed hasn't been destroyed at all.

The death Yeshua destroys is not the second death. And also, 'destroy' is not an accurate term to describe what happens to death. The second death is not an enemy, but is the means by which death and Sheol are done away with.

[Seth]

It must be a difference if interpretation, but to me, death is that which must be overcome and destroyed. I interpret the second death as sin and destruction. When Jesus destroys death, he overrules and obliterates it leaving only life.

When he destroys death, there's no more death.

[gregoryfl]

It is definitely a difference in interpretation, as far as what death is, what the second death is, and what it means to be destroyed.

[Seth]

According to Revelation, LIFE is found within New Jerusalem, the waters and the tree. Outside is the second death. The second death is not what destroys death. In order to find life, they must heed the words of the Bride and the Spirt. "Come and drink of the water of life freely." The water of life and the second death are two different things. We must pass FROM death TO life.

If the second death takes care of it, then the Spirit and the Bride should be saying: "Stay put. No need to drink the water. The second death will take care of everything for you."

[gregoryfl]

Thanks for sharing your understanding. I know it sounds cut and dry to you, but there are others like myself who happen to see it very differently, at least in how this all plays out. I do not know if you wish to understand where I am coming from, as I usually prefer waiting for someone to ask me, otherwise I assume they just want to share their understanding.

[Seth]

It didn't used to be cut and dry to me, because I didn't used to see it that way either. If it were cut and dry, I wouldn't have changed my opinion. I am always open to other's opinions, as in a forum I always assume that if someone wants to share, they'll do it. I've always approach forums that way. Anyhow, if you want to know why I changed my opinion about the LOF (second death), I wrote about it here: http://mercifultruth.com/links-savedbygrace2.html

[gregoryfl]

Thank you for sharing your link. I had read it before along with your other articles. It is true that in general, people will share when they want to. I just do not know you well enough to know if you only wish to share what you see, or if you are truly interested in understanding what others see. I say this because I know of others who have a pattern of constantly being in disagreement with others, only sharing what they see, and never asking anyone they disagree with any questions so as to try and understand their point of view. I do see you ask questions of others at times, but when I have not seen it done with me, I just figured you were not interested in what I have come to understand. These types of people that I am referring to (not saying you) usually end up either eventually leaving a message board, or causing others to leave because of them.

This is why I usually prefer seeing if someone is truly interested in something I share that they may disagree with, that they ask me further questions about it to try and understand. This way the arguing hopefully is kept to a minimum. I will go ahead and seek to understand what you are seeing concerning the lake of fire (the second death), as it is described in Revelation 20, by asking this:

In your article you shared with me, I do not see any reference to Daniel 7. Do you see any relationship between Daniel 7 and Revelation 20? I happen to see them as thematically connected, and together presenting a more complete picture of what is going on in those visions.

[Seth]

Yes, I actually do see a connection between them, in particular mention of fire, the image of fire. What I see in the Bible is that there are negative and positive meanings of images. God tells Jeremiah that "wickedness is like a fire." But we also know that "God is a consuming fire." Therefore, I am left to understand that not all fire speaks to the same thing. So, I am then left to wonder, of the two, which does the "second death" (the LOF) speak to. Is it "wickedness is like a fire" or is it "God is a consuming fire?"

I see in Daniel a fire in connection to the throne. But I distinguish that fire from that in Revelation described as "the second death." The fire which comes out of the throne, I see in connection to tongues of fire which settled upon the elect on Pentacost. I believe God always works through Christ, and Christ always through the elect, and unto the world. So there is a fire on Zion, inasmuch as there is one in the Valley below.

So, if I study Revelation, I find that LIFE has its home within New Jerusalem in the waters and the tree of life (symbols of Christ and the Spirit), and DEATH is outside. Nothing unclean may enter the City, and yet the Spirit and the Bride say "Come, drink the water of life freely." (that's the gospel. That is the fire which consumes, even as much as wickedness is a fire that consumes).

Jesus warned about a fire which is unquenchable, which reminds me of how God says that "they will devour eachother and not be satisfied" with respect to how "wickedness burns like a fire." That sounds unquenchable, so it seems to me that the way for anyone to recieve life is to, repent (for nothing unclean may enter the city), LEAVE the ways of death and enter life through the open gates and drink from the water of life within.

[gregoryfl]

Yes, I actually do see a connection between them, in particular mention of fire, the image of fire. What I see in the Bible is that there are negative and positive meanings of images.

I agree. There are even positive and negative connotations to the same image, depending on one's experience of it. The fire which did not harm the 3 Hebrews, nor have power over them, as they walked around in it, is quite a different experience from those who end up being thrown into it, where the second death does harm, and have power over, such ones...which happens to be another thematic connection.

God tells Jeremiah that "wickedness is like a fire." But we also know that "God is a consuming fire." Therefore, I am left to understand that not all fire speaks to the same thing. So, I am then left to wonder, of the two, which does the "second death" (the LOF) speak to. Is it "wickedness is like a fire" or is it "God is a consuming fire?"

This is why I asked for a consideration of the vision in Daniel 7 and Revelation 20, where we see various connections, not just a throne and fire.

The fire which comes out of the throne, I see in connection to tongues of fire which settled upon the elect on Pentacost.

I believe this as well.

[Seth]

What's also noteworthy to me is 2 Peter 2 and it's connection to Romans 1. Peter makes a correlation between the fire of Sodom and Gomorrah, from Heaven, and how that the backsliders will perish in their own corruption. Paul mentions the wrath from heaven in connection to God turning over people to their own desires.

So this is a fire from heaven, a fire from God, which brings recompense for sin, but they receive it in themselves. They were perished in fire from God, in their own corruption.

So concerning the 3 Hebrews, I don't believe they were caught up in THAT fire from heaven, which I see as death, the second death, just as I don't believe that the members of New Jerusalem are in that fire Johns vision either. The citizens of New Jerusalem are separated from that kind of fire from God, and are reserved for a different kind if fire, which is the word of God that they preach.

[Seth]

Do you see any connection between Revelation 14, 21 and Isaiah 9?

[gregoryfl]

So concerning the 3 Hebrews, I don't believe they were caught up in THAT fire from heaven

I do not as well. I believe it was a literal fire, although used by God to teach by thematic connection what the second death is.

I don't believe that the members of New Jerusalem are in that fire Johns vision either. The citizens of New Jerusalem are separated from that kind of fire from God, and are reserved for a different kind if fire, which is the word of God that they preach.

Although we see things differently (my understanding would be very close to the church of the East, similar to the Eastern orthodox, although I do not belong to either), I can picture why you would not see the lake of fire as the same as the water of life. It all depends on other passages we look at and how we connect them.

[Seth]

So concerning the 3 Hebrews, I don't believe they were caught up in THAT fire from heaven

I do not as well. I believe it was a literal fire, although used by God to teach by thematic connection what the second death is.

Maybe not. Maybe the thematic connection Is God is a consuming fire, rather than wickedness being like fire, and that the Lake of Fire is connected to the fire of Isaiah 9

Although we see things differently (my understanding would be very close to the church of the East, similar to the Eastern orthodox, although I do not belong to either), I can picture why you would not see the lake of fire as the same as the water of life. It all depends on other passages we look at and how we connect them.

I agree. It depends along on the connections we see.

[gregoryfl]

Do you see any connection between Revelation 14, 21 and Isaiah 9?

There are some connections I can see, yes.

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. Those who lived in the land of the shadow of death, on them the light has shined.
(Isa 9:2)
The nations will walk in its light. The kings of the earth bring the glory and honor of the nations into it.
(Rev 21:24)

he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is prepared unmixed in the cup of his anger. He will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb. The smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever. They have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.
(Rev 14:10, 11)
For wickedness burns like a fire. It devours the briers and thorns; yes, it kindles in the thickets of the forest, and they roll upward in a column of smoke.  Through the wrath of Yahweh of Armies, the land is burnt up; and the people are the fuel for the fire. No one spares his brother.
(Isa 9:18, 19)

I also see Isaiah 5 connecting to this, along the lines you are sharing:

Therefore as the tongue of fire devours the stubble, and as the dry grass sinks down in the flame, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust; because they have rejected the law of Yahweh of Armies, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel. Therefore Yahweh's anger burns against his people, and he has stretched out his hand against them, and has struck them. The mountains tremble, and their dead bodies are as refuse in the midst of the streets. For all this, his anger is not turned away, but his hand is still stretched out.
(Isa 5:24-25)

[gregoryfl]

And when I speak of connections, I am specifically speaking of words specific to a certain set of passages, not found anywhere else, usually 2 or more things. This, the sages teach, is God's way of getting us to see a part in one passage, and another part in another passage, and together, a greater picture that anyone not interested in searching out would never see.

[Seth]

Also:

Hosea 7:1-7
Their (Israel's) sins engulf them; they are always before me. "They delight the king with their wickedness, the princes with their lies. They are all adulterers, burning like an oven whose fire the baker need not stir from the kneading of the dough till it rises. On the day of the festival of our king, the princes become inflamed with wine, and he joins hands with the mockers.

Their hearts are like an oven; they approach him with intrigue. Their passion smolders all night; in the morning it blazes like a flaming fire.

All of them are hot as an oven; they devour their rulers. All their kings fall, and none of them calls on me.


And...

Lamentations 1:13-15
"From on high, he (God) sent FIRE, sent it down into my bones. He spread a net for my feet and turned me back. He made me desolate, faint all the day long.

"MY SINS have been bound into a yoke; by his hands they were woven together. They (the sins) have been hung on my neck, and the Lord has sapped my strength.

He has given me into the hands of those I cannot withstand.

"The Lord has rejected all the warriors in my midst; he has summoned an army against me to crush my young men. In his winepress the Lord has trampled Virgin Daughter Judah.


Interesting, the image of a wine press, in that last one similar to Revelation 14

[rosered]

Hi all , I have always thought of Israel as the fig tree   each man shall eat under his own fig tree .... 

That is the reason   the Lord Jesus said He  found no guile in Nathanael  an isralite ...   also why the gentiles   would enter the kingdom before the  scribes Pharrisses and hypocrits ...

John  1 46Nathanael said to him, "Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." 47Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!" 48Nathanael said to Him, "How do You know me?" Jesus answered and said to him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you."

  Jer 24 ..The Good and Bad Figs
...7'I will give them a heart to know Me, for I am the LORD; and they will be My people, and I will be their God, for they will return to Me with their whole heart. 8'But like the bad figs which cannot be eaten due to rottenness-- indeed, thus says the LORD-- so I will abandon Zedekiah king of Judah and his officials, and the remnant of Jerusalem who remain in this land and the ones who dwell in the land of Egypt. 9I will make them a terror and an evil for all the kingdoms of the earth, as a reproach and a proverb, a taunt and a curse in all places where I will scatter them.



Hos 9:10   I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers as the first ripe in the fig tree at her first time: but they went to Baalpeor, and separated themselves unto that shame; and their abominations were according as they loved.

[gregoryfl]

Hi all , I have always thought of Israel as the fig tree   each man shall eat under his own fig tree .... 

That is the reason   the Lord Jesus said He  found no guile in Nathanael  an isralite ...   also why the gentiles   would enter the kingdom before the  scribes Pharrisses and hypocrits ...

John  1 46Nathanael said to him, "Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." 47Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!" 48Nathanael said to Him, "How do You know me?" Jesus answered and said to him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you."

  Jer 24 ..The Good and Bad Figs
...7'I will give them a heart to know Me, for I am the LORD; and they will be My people, and I will be their God, for they will return to Me with their whole heart. 8'But like the bad figs which cannot be eaten due to rottenness-- indeed, thus says the LORD-- so I will abandon Zedekiah king of Judah and his officials, and the remnant of Jerusalem who remain in this land and the ones who dwell in the land of Egypt. 9I will make them a terror and an evil for all the kingdoms of the earth, as a reproach and a proverb, a taunt and a curse in all places where I will scatter them.



Hos 9:10   I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers as the first ripe in the fig tree at her first time: but they went to Baalpeor, and separated themselves unto that shame; and their abominations were according as they loved.

:thumbsup:

It is similar to what Yeshua said, in quoting from the prophet:
'These people draw near to me with their mouth, and honor me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
(Mat 15:8)

That fig tree should not have put out leaves yet, since the fig fruit comes first, then the leaves afterward to protect it. So this tree was picturing hypocrisy. The leaves were there, (they draw near to me with their mouth), but the fruit wasn't (their heart is far from me).