Israel Becomes a Nation Again
The British Mandate for Palestine, as ratified by the League of Nations in 1922, gave Britain rule over the Palestinian territory and established it to be a national home for the Jewish people. However after World War II, the United Nations decided to end British rule effective midnight May 14 1948, and to transition power to the newly re-established nation of Israel, who themselves declared Independence on May 14 1948. Technically, however, according to the United Nations resolution, Jewish self rule didn't begin until 00:00 hour on May 15 1948, the time when the British Mandate expired.
Fulfillment of Prophecy?
Almost immediately there was speculation among Christian groups as to whether this event might be a fulfillment of Biblical prophecy. While there are several divergent views that have sprung up in the aftermath of the establishment of the state of Israel, one common feature of each is the belief that this event marked the start of the end time or latter days clock, and that the advent of Christ would soon follow. For his part, Harold Camping also shared in this view, considering the nationalization of Israel to be a fulfillment of Matthew 24:32-33,
Mat 24:32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer [is] nigh:
Mat 24:33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, [even] at the doors.
Mr Camping's assertion in regard to the above verses is that the fig tree represents the nation of Israel, and that the putting forth of leaves is indicative of Israel becoming a "viable nation among the nations of the world again", but because no fruit is mentioned he concludes they will not convert to Christ. However the key point is his view is that Israel becoming a nation again signals that "summer is nigh", which in turn signals that the return of Christ is also near, even at the doors.
Mr Camping's End Time Chronology
In his chronology leading up to his May 21 2011 prediction for Christ's return, Mr Camping concluded that there would be 40 years between Israel's nationalization and the start of the great tribulation (i.e., 1948 to 1988), where those 40 years would be years of testing for both Israel and the world, to see whether they would turn to Christ and follow Him. Then, after these 40 years would follow 23 years of great tribulation per Matthew 24:21 (i.e., 1988 to 2011), which in turn would culminate with the return of Christ on May 21 2011 and start judgment day. Thus, in Mr Camping's view, the rebirth of Israel as a nation in 1948 was a cornerstone event marking his end time calendar.
Sign of the Fig Tree
At this juncture, given the failure of the May 21 2011 prediction, it is incumbent upon us to ask whether Mr Camping's view of Israel's nationalization was actually a fulfillment of Matthew 24:32-33, or whether he might have misunderstood these verses. Looking at the verses again,
Mat 24:32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer [is] nigh:
Mat 24:33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, [even] at the doors.
Probably the single most important point to understand in these two verses is that they are likening two different things. We know this because verse 33 begins with "so likewise ye", which is basically saying we can know when the event of verse 33 is near in the same way we can know when the event of verse 32 is near. Now with this basic understanding in mind all that remains is to understand what event verse 32 refers to, and what event verse 33 points to.
Matthew 24:32 - The First Event
In order to understand what event Matthew 24:32 refers to, we need to look at the parallel account in Luke 21,
Luk 21:29 And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees;
Luk 21:30 When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.
Luk 21:31 So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.
Notice here that we have very much the same parable as Matthew 24:32-33, however upon closer inspection we find one very substantial difference in the first event when the two accounts are compared,
Mat 24:32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer [is] nigh:
Luk 21:29 And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees;
Luk 21:30 When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.
In Matthew's account the parable concerns the fig tree, but in Luke's account it mentions the fig tree and all the trees. We know both accounts speak of the same thing because the event to be known by each is that summer is nigh.
Now recall Mr Camping's conclusion about the fig tree, that he said it referred to the nation of Israel, and that the putting forth of leaves meant becoming a nation again. Now if Mr Camping is correct, then by Luke's more detailed account we learn that not only would Israel (the fig tree) become a nation again, but the Gentiles (all the trees) would also become nations again. But this is a big problem for Mr Camping's concept because this didn't happen in 1948, that is, all the nations of the world didn't declare their independence in 1948 like Israel did. So what we find is when we consider Luke's parallel account, we find that Mr Camping's conclusion doesn't harmonize with everything in the Bible, so something else must be in view.
When Did All the Nations, Jews and Gentiles, Shoot Forth?
The answer to this seems quite simple, at the first Pentecost following Christ's resurrection, when the Holy Spirit was poured out and people "out of every nation under heaven" heard "the wonderful works of God",
Act 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
Act 2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
Act 2:3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
Act 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Act 2:5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
Act 2:6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
Act 2:7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?
Act 2:8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?
Act 2:9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,
Act 2:10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,
Act 2:11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.
Later in Acts 2 we are told that about 3000 souls gladly received Peter's message that day and were baptized.
Act 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added [unto them] about three thousand souls.
Now recall in Matthew 24:32 and Luke 21:30 that when the fig tree and all the trees shoot forth, we then know "summer" is near. The Greek word translated summer is theros (G2330), and is a word that means "heat" (the English word "thermos" is derived from the root of this Greek word). The word theros (G2330) is closely related to another Greek word therido (G2325), a word that means to reap or harvest. One can see the relation, the reaping of the harvest would be a work that is done in the "heat" or "summer". This is exactly what began to occur on the first Pentecost in AD 33, not only was the word of God "sown" (preached), but a harvest of 3000 souls also occurred. We see this figurative use of sowing and reaping (or harvest) in relation to preaching and salvation in John 4,
Joh 4:35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and [then] cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
Joh 4:36 And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.
Joh 4:37 And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth.
Joh 4:38 I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.
So what we find with Matthew 24:32 and Luke 21:29-30 is that the shooting forth of the fig tree and all the trees was figurative of Pentecost, and that when Pentecost finally came, everyone should have been able to see and know that summer, the time to begin reaping the harvest, was near at hand.
Matthew 24:33 - The Second Event
The second part of these verses from Matthew and Luke are,
Mat 24:33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, [even] at the doors.
Luk 21:31 So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.
Again, both verses begin saying "so likewise ye", that is, in the same manner that you could see and know that Pentecost and the time to start harvesting had come, so too can you see and know when the kingdom of God is near, even at the doors. The phrase "the kingdom of God" in this case refers to the time when the master of the house has risen up and shut the door,
Luk 13:25 When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:
Luk 13:26 Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.
Luk 13:27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all [ye] workers of iniquity.
Luk 13:28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you [yourselves] thrust out.
Luk 13:29 And they shall come from the east, and [from] the west, and from the north, and [from] the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.
This is also spoken of in 1 Corinthians 15:50 as the time of the rapture when Christ returns to bring His people into the kingdom of God,
1Co 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
So Matthew 24:33 and Luke 21:31 are saying we can know when the kingdom of God, and specifically Christ's return and the rapture, are near, even at the doors. Both verses say we can know this when we see "these things come to pass", but what do "these things" refer to? The answer is all the things Jesus just talked about in Matthew 24, but in particular the great tribulation which itself is indicated by the abomination of desolation being seen in the holy place. This is a time when God brings his salvation plan to a close just before the end of the world.
Summary
The parable of the fig tree, and all the trees, is given to teach how one might recognize the start and end of God's New Testament salvation plan. Specifically, the shooting forth of the fig tree and all the trees points to the great event of Pentecost, when summer began and God started harvesting souls in the New Testament era. In like manner, God's people will be able to recognize and know when the kingdom of God, including the rapture and return of Christ, are near by seeing the signs pointing to the presence of the great tribulation. These events, Pentecost and the great tribulation, are essentially bookends bracketing the New Testament era and God's salvation program. In fact, we have every reason to believe that just as God enabled first century believers to recognize Pentecost and the start of His program to evangelize the world, that He will similarly enable end time believers to recognize the great tribulation and the end of His program to evangelize the world.