Caught away/Fig Tree

[Matt. 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:
[Parable of the fig tree – the end of the Jewish order as they knew it. The Jewish terms end of summer and at the door points back to the text in Amos 8:1. Both Josephus and the Roman historian Tacitus mention several supernatural occurrences that appear to be signs just prior to the destruction of the Temple and Jerusalem. Josephus records: “Before the siege, portents had appeared; foretelling the impending devastation, but the Jews disregarded these warnings of G-d. A star resembling a sword hung over the city, and also a comet that lasted an entire year. And just before the revolt, when the people were coming together for the Feast of Unleavened Bread, a bright light shone around the altar during the night and brightened the sanctuary for half and hour. The people thought is was a good omen, but the sacred scribes told them the contrary. A cow gave birth to a lamb in the Temple Court, and the Eastern Gate of the inner court, which was fastened with iron bars and so heavy that it took 20 men to move it, flew open on its own during the night. At the Feast of Pentecost, when the priests enter the inner court of the Temple, they heard a great noise, and after that the voices of a multitude, saying, “We are leaving this place! We are leaving this place!” As a result of these and other signs as well as the warning of Y’Shua, a multitude of believers did leave Jerusalem at that time and flee to the mountain area of Petra.]
[33] So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
[With the many supernatural signs being witnessed by these first century Jews, it was obvious that the time was approaching in which the believing community should seek refuge elsewhere other than Jerusalem.]
[34] Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
[Josephus tells us that after the rebels fled and the Sanctuary itself and all around it were in flames, the Romans carried their standards into the Temple court, and setting them up opposite the eastern gate, there sacrificed to them, acclaiming Titus as imperator.” The prophecies of the Dead Sea Scrolls, (Habakkuk Com.), could not have been more accurate as they foretold: “They sacrifice to their standards and worship their weapons of war.”
This generation - the ones He was speaking to, at that time. The 40-year generation lasted exactly as He predicted from 30 A.D. to 70 A.D. the exact year in which the Romans destroyed the Temple.]
[35] Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
[36] But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
[37] But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
[Noe is the Greek writing for Noah.]
[38] For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
[Giving in marriage represents the idea that women were permitted to marry. The terms giants is used 19 times in the Hebrew Scriptures and often means men with a giant reputation. The major sin, which appears to have polluted the human race in Noah’s day, was the godly line of Seth marring with the ungodly line of Cain.]
[39] And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
[The verses are warning believers not about the rapture (which was not taught in 1800 years) but of the coming of the L-rd.]
[40] Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
[The idea of two being in the field with one being taken and the other left illustrates the 50% of those killed during the first century tribulation. What about the Dead Sa sect of the Essenes? Why did they choose to stay and fight rather than escape to safety? This has to do with a major difference in the theology of the Essenes at Qumran. They believe that fleeing was tantamount to treason and that they were to stay and do battle with the hated Romans, known to them as the Kittim. The War Scroll declares: “Among the poor in spirit there is power…and by the perfect of way all nations of wickedness will come to an end; not one of their mighty men stands..we are the remnant of Thy people.” Notice the language of the Essenes is quite similar to that of the disciples of Y’Shua and the New Testament in that they refer to themselves as the poor in spirit and have power from G-d. There were many other similarities including the fact that they considered themselves to heirs of the Covenant of grace and the New Covenant spoken of by Jeremiah 31:30-31. In the final analysis, the Dead Sea sect decided to remain in the Land of Israel and fight, which let to their extinction.]
[41] Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
[Even this prophecy, which is almost always understood as a rapture text, had immediate first century application. Remember, the present day ideas being taught concerning the rapture were not a part of first century theology. Actually, we are not saying they will not occur as they are taught, but we are just reporting that historically these ideas were first taught by John Darby in 1830 A.D. as a reference to this several major works can be checked including “Things to Come, p. 165, by Dwight Pentecost, the popular professor of New Testament Literature and Exegesis at Dallas Theological Seminary, and “The Approaching Advent of Christ, p. 18,” by Alexander Reese, as well as Robert Cameron in his work “Scriptural Truth About the Lord’s Return, pp. 72,73.” The historical argument is difficult to overlook since the way the pre-tribulation rapture ideas are presented by modern preachers are new concepts that have evolved in the last 166 years and are not apostolic. Reese records: “About 1830…a new school arose within the fold of pre-millennialism that sought to overthrow what, since the Apostolic Age, have been considered by all pre-millennialism as established results, and to institute in their place a series of doctrines that had never been heard of before. The school I refer to is that of the Brethren or Plymouth Brethren founded by J.N. Darby.” Cameron says along the same line: “Now, be it remembered, that prior to that date, no hint of any approach to such belief can be found in any Believers literature from Polycarp, 120 A.D., down.” This is a doctrine that for 1800 hundred years after the founding of the Church - a doctrine that was never taught a Father or Doctor of the Church in the past - that has no standard commentator or professor of the Greek language in any Theological school until the middle of the Nineteenth century.” One taken and one left - out of the inhabitants of the Land of Israel during this revolt against the Romans roughly one out of every two were cut down by the advancing legions. As they saw it the wicked were the ones off - who are taken. The righteous, representing those Believers who remained in the Land was to be preserved through the darkest days of tribulation. Some scholars believe the precise wording of this prophecy of Y’Shua goes back to Ps. 37:9: “For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the L-rd will inherit the land.” This same idea is conveyed in the book of Revelation 7:3-4, with the concept of the sealed 144,000.]
[42] Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
[The ancient Jews divided the night into 3 watches, but by the time of Y’Shua, the Romans had divided the night into 4 watches to relive their solders.]
Fig tree - Israel, as the visible witness of G-d in the world, but generally all within the pale of the visible Believers of G-d; a familiar figure (compare Isaiah 5:1-7'John 15:1-8').
Vineyard - a spot selected for its fertility, separated from the surrounding fields, and cultivated with special care, with a view solely to fruit.
Came and sought fruit - a heart turned to G-d; the fruits of righteousness; compare Matthew 21:33, 34, and Isaiah 5:2, "He looked that it should bring forth fruit"; He has a right to it, and will require it.