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The Fig Tree, a Symbol of Israel

Written by: Hubert Luns

Three trees are fit symbols of Israel, with an in-

terlinked symbolism. The vine is a symbol of Israels
spiritual blessings; the olive tree of its religious
blessings, and the fig tree of its national blessings.
This article concentrates on the meaning of the fig
tree.

Figs, the good ones and the bad, are identified with
the prosperity or misfortune of the people of Israel,
as exemplified by the prophet Jeremiah. He received
the vision of two baskets of figs: Like these good
figs, so will I acknowledge them that are carried
away captive of Judah. (Jer. 24:5) The fig tree also
prefigures the climax of prosperity, which is reached
in the Millennium Age. Conform Micah 4:3-4 every
man shall then sit under his own vine and fig tree. It
is because of its delicious, sweet fruit (Judg. 9:11)
that the fig tree is en image of prosperity and secu-
rity: and Judah and Israel dwelt safely, every
man under his vine and under his fig tree. (1 Kings
4:5) The Jewish sages identify honey in the passage of a land flowing with milk and
honey with the honey of figs. (Ket. 111b) The concensus of the classical rabbinic
literature is that the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was a fig tree. (Encycl. Jud. 2nd
ed.) And of course it was from its leaves that Adam and Eve covered their nakedness. The
fig tree is thus also a symbol of Paradise restored when its fruits, thn, may be eaten.

One of the Lords most intriguing miracles was the cursing of the fig tree. When the end of
our Lords mission was approaching He returned from Bethany. The master approached a
fig tree and looked for fruit in it. Having found none, He passed this sentence: Let no fruit
grow on thee henceforth for ever! (Mt. 21:19) The next day it had withered. This is
remarkable because of a note made by the author of the gospel of Mark that The time for
figs was not yet. (Mark 11:13) This is the only miracle in which Jesus used his power to
destroy, instead of to heal.

This miracle must be considered in the light of the parable of the barren fig tree:
A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit
thereon, and found none. Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard: Behold, these
three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why
cumbereth it the ground? And he answered: Let it alone this year also, till I shall
dig about it and dung it. And if it shall bear fruit, well and if not then after that thou
shalt cut it down. (Luke 13:6-9)
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The parable was preceded by: Except ye repent ye shall likewise perish. The parable is
quite obvious: The owner of the vineyard is the God of Israel and the vineyard is an image
of Isral. (Is. 5:7) The dresser is the Messiah, who, three years into his mission, would,
through digging and fertilizing, tried to make the nation bring fruit unto God in their
acknowledgement of Yeshua Messiah. At the time the fate of the nation was undecided.
The work was unfinished. There was still some time of dressing work left. It looks as if the
cursing was the finishing of the unfinished parable. It should be observed that this parable
was uttered the same days when the tree was cursed. Therefore, it would be difficult to
assume that when Christ insisted to watch for signs taking place on that kind of a tree, that
it was merely accidental. These two things constitute a whole.

The sack of Jerusalem, Roman soldiers taking the sacred articles from the Temple.
(on display on the inside wall of the Arch of Titus in Rome)

How soon was Christs prophecy to be fulfilled about the withering of the fig tree? At the
end of the Book of Acts, Pauls mission to the Jews and gentiles comes to an end, which is
commonly placed in the early sixties. Henceforth he will be the apostle to the gentiles only.
Then, in the year 70 AD the Temple is destroyed. No longer is there a place to offer
sacrifices. The Law in its original form could not be followed any more, becausse the only
place of sacrifice being allowed is Jerusalem. However, the constitutional position of the
Jewish people, after that war, remained essentially unchanged. This also was going to
change when at suppression of the Bar Kochba revolt, a generation later, the whole country
was depopulated.

Speaking about the time of his kingdom approaching, the kingdom of the thousand years
reign, Christ again turns his disciples attention to the fig tree: Now learn a parable of the
fig tree: When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth his 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
door. (Mt. 24:32-33)
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As a result of the rejection of the Messiah on the part of the Jews, at his first advent, Gods
favor turned away from them. Unfortunately, this also meant that the Millennium Reign
was postponed. The softening of the branches and the bringing forth of leaves represent the
return of Gods favor to this people, which two thousand years later has settled again on the
mountains of Israel. Who could have foreseen that it would take so long? This means that
the time of the establishment of Gods Kingdom on earth and Christs second coming are
near. Let us, then, carefully observe this symbolic fig tree!

[Published in Prophetisch Perspectief, Winter 2017 - No. 97]