The American Wisdom Series

Presents
Pamphlet 1767 Figtree kc 6-2

Let us now go to the New Testament a learn from the Teacher of teachers.

We pick it up in Mark chapter 11 where Jesus is with the 12 disciples and is now going to teach them (and us) concerning the Fig Tree:

Mark 11:11
And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and when He had looked round aboutupon all things, and now theeventide was come, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve.
Christ entered into the temple and took a good look "round about" at what was happening (i.e. upon all things) and THEN went out and took the disciples to Bethany to teach them! Notice that it was eventide, meaning the hour was already "late in the day", when Christ went out unto the Bethany* with the twelve!

* Bethany [house of the afflicted one; in Talmud, house of non-maturing dates]. (see "Davis Bible Dictionary", Baker, pg. 87.)

[12] And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, He was hungry:
What to eat! What to eat!
[13] And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, He came, if haply He might find any thing thereon: and when He came to it, He found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet.
As Dr. Bullinger notes in the Companion Bible, summer was not "near" at that time and Christ knew it. You see, the harvest time for figs is reserved for our day. Therefore, this teaching is for us!
[14] And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.
No matter how hungry you get, never eat the fruit from the bad fig tree, which is none other than that tree of the knowledge of good and evil! Why not? You know why! You shall surely DIE (eternal death), pal! Surely you know there is a time coming when that tree shall be withered away and eventually bound and cast into the lake of fire. That is the fate that awaits all "unfruitful trees": Matthew 3:10 "And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire."

Well, are you sure we are talking about the bad figs here? Absolutely! Check out what Jesus did next:

Mark 11:15
And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves;
Jesus cleansed the temple and "cast out them" and got rid of the corruption and filth that had entered in.
[16] And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple.
Christ would not permit that which is not sacred, like a basket of bad figs, to be brought in and carried throughout "the temple". Remember, He is teaching His disciples here! The question is, "What kind of vessels do you permit to come into your church and be carried about?" In another account Christ instructed His disciples to beware of the "leaven" of the scribes and Pharisees, their bad "bread"! Of course He was speaking a parable, or symbolically, about their doctrine! Matthew 16:11-12 "How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees? [12] Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees."

Jeremiah, the servant of God whose name means "whom Yahveh launches (sends) forth", could tell the difference between good figs and bad figs and knew what could be eaten and what could not be eaten! The question is, "Will your Father send you forth in these last days to give witness?" I don't know the answer to that question but I would make sure I knew who the good and the bad figs were. So pay close attention here because Christ told us to learn the parable of the fig tree and here He is teaching us about it! He now gives witness unto those He cast out:

[17] And He taught, saying unto them,Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.
Christ gave "witness" unto those money grabbing "religious thieves" and told them that their mite-infested doves were not an acceptable sacrifice (anymore that was the sacrifice of their father Cain acceptable). Like father, like sons! You see, our Father desires "love" from His children (Hos. 6:6) and not their sacrifices and burnt offerings (and doves they pick up on the way into the temple). Common sense alone should prompt one to ask "What good is an offering to the LORD if he or she who presents the offering does not love Him?" Here is where it is written concerning the "house of prayer"!
Isaiah 56:7
Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.
So let us see how the bad figs respond to Christ's cleansing of the temple:
Mark 11:18
And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine.
Imagine that! The "religious leaders" are plotting to "destroy", as in murder, Jesus Christ the Messiah!

What do we learn from this? Well, we learn that we are dealing "the murderers", those "tares" who are the offspring (bad seed) of their father who was the first murderer! In other words, they are kenites, bad figs, who have mixed in and claim to be of Judah (Rev. 2:9 & 3:9). We also learn that if you teach who these bad figs are and you teach against their leaven (doctrine), then you can expect persecution. You see, it is written that there shall be some of you who shall be cast into prison for Christ's name sake:

Luke 21:12
But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake.

[13] And it shall turn to you for a testimony.

You shall give testimony speaking the Words of Jesus Christ which He shall give you at that time:
[14] Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:

[15] For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.

If your church does not teach who those liars really are who claim to be of Judah, then your church has big problems because your lady is not a discerner of trees nor does she know how to tell good figs from bad ones. That means by default she must be eating from the bad fig tree in the midst of the garden! Worse yet, the church (the woman) is giving the bad "fruit" unto Adam's children to eat also! Well, there is nothing new under the sun and allowing "vessels" of traditions and lies to be carried though the church is not good my friend, not good at all! Woe! (It is absolutely amazing to hear a Christian minister or preacher say that the Israelis are "God's chosen people"!)

To study the Bible is the noblest of all pursuits; to understand it, the highest of all goals.
We pray that with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, you accomplish both.



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