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Jesus said to us. . .
Learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branches bud and its leaves begin to sprout, you know that summer is near. In the same way, when you see all these things, you can know his [Jesus] return is very near, right at the door (Matthew 24:32-33, NLT).
There are many signs about the end times in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. In Matthew 24 alone, there are seven major signs of the end times.
It’s impossible to list all the signs of Jesus’s return in the 500 words of this Interruption, but I’ll list five signs that are increasing with intensity and frequency. Jesus encourages us to “learn lessons from the fig tree” by becoming aware of the indicators of His return.
Let’s consider five lessons from the fig tree for 2025, and let’s be prepared.
Fig One: Fear
In a study released last October, researchers reported that Americans are more afraid than at any time in recent history. We shouldn’t be surprised as Jesus said. . .
People will be terrified at what they see coming upon the earth, for the powers in the heavens will be shaken (Luke 21:26).
As believers, our priority should be to find, guard, and maintain the peace found in our Savior.
Fig Two: Israel/Russia
The nations of Israel (Ezekiel 37) and Russia (Ezekiel 38 and 39) figure prominently in Biblical end times prophecy. Unfortunately, it’s hard to find a Biblical passage that mentions the United States (hopefully because many of us will be raptured).
While Russia has been a country for 1,600 years, modern Israel was established on May 14, 1948. The Bible teaches that God will call Jews back to Israel from the north (Jeremiah 16:15), and interestingly, since the collapse of communism in 1991, about 1.5 million Russian Jews have returned to Israel.
Russian-speaking Israelis are the largest minority in Israel. Russia/Israel, both in prophecies by Ezekiel 2600 years ago that are being fulfilled right now.
Fig Three: Weirdness in the Sky
Let’s let Jesus teach us about this. . .
There will be strange signs in the sun, moon, and stars. And here on earth the nations will be in turmoil … people will be terrified at what they see coming upon the earth, for the powers in the heavens will be shaken … when all these things begin to happen, stand and look up, for your salvation is near! (Luke 21:25-28)
Fig Four: Disciplemaking
Jesus commanded us to go and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19). He also said that the Good News of the Kingdom will be preached to the entire world, and then the end will come (Matthew 24:14), and finally, that workers are needed for the harvest (Matthew 9:37-38).
Churches today lose 80 percent of those professing Jesus soon after conversion.
The solution is one-to-one disciplemaking. When I first became a believer in 1972, there were few books on disciplemaking. Now, www.discipleship.org puts out a list of the top ten books published on discipling each year.
Fig Five: Economic Distress
Money policy at the Fed, cryptocurrency, inflation, national debt, strength or weakness of the dollar, first world/third world discrepancies — all culminate in our current economic system failing, which will then allow the Anti-Christ’s one world “666” economy (Revelation 13).
Our hope can only be found in Jesus.
That’s it, my five “fig tree lessons” for 2025. Let’s keep watch, pray, and share the good news about our Lord.