The Fig Tree

Jesus spoke in many parables before the masses using agrarian imagery and common motifs to illustrate profound truths. And these truths were only meant for those with eyes that would see and ears that could hear. In other words, Jesus spoke to all but intended for His followers to understand the hidden lessons behind the parable. Even then, He would need to expound upon them until the disciples understood their meaning.

Out of 39 parables that Jesus taught, two were of the fig tree. One of them contained the barren fig tree as described in Luke 13:6-9. The vineyard owner had a fig tree planted that bore no fruit for three years. The caretaker pleaded with the owner to allow Him to care for it better for one more year, and if it still did not yield figs, he would cut it down. I believe we see fulfillment of this parable when Jesus curses a fig tree that wasn’t bearing fruit, even though it had leaves on its branches. (See Mark 11:12-25.)

Not surprisingly, by the next morning, this tree had withered. Assuredly, the fig tree in the parable represented Israel. She was bearing no fruit even though her Messiah was in her presence, holding his hands out to her. Other references to the fig tree throughout the Bible have also represented Israel. (See Hosea 9:10 and Jeremiah 24: 1-10.) There is no controversy over the symbol of the fig tree in the Bible.

The second time the fig tree is used in a parable in the Bible, chaos ensues. I’m referring to Matthew 24: 32-35. “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”

And the tree is not even the source of controversy. I will explain. Mathew 24 is a significant chapter in the Bible that is crucial for understanding biblical prophecy and eschatology. It provokes discussion and varying interpretations among believers and scholars alike. But I’m only going to address that scary little fig tree and the parable’s interpretation. This may provoke you as well.

Finally realizing that Jesus is going to leave them and one day return, the disciples asked him two simple questions: “What will be the sign of your coming (back) at the end of the age, and when will these things be?” (See Mathew 24:3.)

Jesus illustrates several signs throughout the chapter concerning the signs of the end of time and his return. But then He answers ‘the when’ with a parable as provided in verses 32-35 above. I can almost hear a collective ‘ugh’ from the apostles – another parable! We were given a timeline as to Jesus’s 1st coming in Daniel Chapter 9. He was given the vision of 70 weeks. When interpreted, it provides the trigger start and prophetic events of 483 years (each year totaling 360 days) leading to the Messiah being “cut off” at the end of the 483rd year.

Most likely, the Jews would not have understood that their Messiah would come two times, with the 1st time ending in his crucifixion. But it was possible for one to pick up on the start of this timeline with the decree of King Artaxerxes to allow Nehemiah (Chapter 2) to return to Jerusalem to restore and rebuild. Perhaps the 3 wisemen understood this prophecy and its timing. But this article does not address that.

I want to focus on the fig tree parable, or the end of Daniel’s 70th week – Jesus’ 2nd coming. There is a gap – the age of grace, or church age – that we are currently holding in, and then the final seven years will come like a flood. But when?

Let’s learn our lesson from the fig tree, as described in Matthew 24. Jesus said, “As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door.”

I established that the fig tree symbolizes Israel in the Bible. So, we’re to understand that when we see Israel’s twigs get tender and leaves come out, we’re about at the time of Jesus’ return (right at the door). But when did Israel’s twigs get tender and leaves come out? Friends, this can only be when Israel once again became a nation on May 14, 1948. This day itself fulfilled prophecy:

“Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall a land be born in one day?” (Isa 66:8). The nation of Israel was born into war. Her immediate neighbors attacked her the very next day. Israel began with war and rumors of war. The sleeping twigs became tender, and the leaves began to grow. This is the plain sense interpretation of this part of the parable. But controversy lies in the word “generation.” Jesus said, “This generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.” What is this generation? There is much debate over this.

I will just look at its plain sense meaning as given by Jesus. Looking at the Greek word “genea” simply means – age, generation, nation, time. It is not a stretch to understand Jesus’ meaning that the people at that time of the rebirth of Israel (May 1948) will be the ones who “will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.” All these things – meaning the signs of Jesus’ return and His actual return as he characterizes in Mathew 24! I wish Jesus provided the meaning of this parable, but He did not, and we must try to understand it by thinking over it, for the Lord will give us understanding in everything (2 Tim 2:7).

To be sure, we are seeing a convergence of the signs, from wars and rumors of wars, the proliferation of evil and violence, exponential technological advances, and geopolitical alignment, to name a few. And the trigger for the last seven years leading up to the 2nd coming is that covenant mentioned in Daniel 9:27. We’re not told what kind of covenant that Israel signs, but we can be sure it will involve the 3rd temple.

We are seeing all types of political posturing around Israel in the last year alone. One day soon, “the covenant” will be signed. The one who is coming in his own name (John 5:43) is waiting somewhere in the world and will step forward to strengthen this covenant. Praise God, Christians will not be here to watch it, as our calling will precede this very soon.

What does this mean for today? Who is this fig tree generation? I propose a scenario.

This is how we understand our generations. They typically last about 20 years. Here are some examples from recent generations:

Now apply this generation to today and on. It’s currently 2026. And understanding the tribulation – Daniel’s 70th week – adds seven years to complete the timing for the fig tree generation.

These are examples of the year for the signing of the covenant and the age range of the generation.

For this scenario, the front end of the fig tree generation is beginning to redline! The current combined age life expectancy for males and females in Israel is 83.8 years. Many at the front end of this generation will pass away before all these things happen, but not those in the middle and back end. However, only those whom Jesus elects will survive to see His 2nd coming. He said this time will be worse than any other time from the beginning of the world until then, and will never again be that bad.

But we know which generation is the fig tree! All the signs surrounding us today are just confirmation. We are not looking for another 50 or 30 years for the Lord to return. He could have come back any time since May 1948. But He hasn’t. He lets the tree blossom, photosynthesize, and produce fruit until it’s fully grown. More importantly, He’s allowed more time for others to come into His Kingdom.

Throughout the Bible, we see God come through and rescue His people at the last possible moment. Why should our generation be different? It appears that God is holding back economic disaster, world/civil wars, Islamic takeover, etc., until the last vestige of hope remains. It will be the rapture that will be the last pin that will cause the whole world to fall into chaos. But we must continue to plan as though Jesus will not come back in our lifetime because we do not know the day or the hour of His return (Matthew 24:36).

As Christians, we are living dual lives: one as if Jesus is not coming back in our lifetime, and one as if He is. But we can lift up our heads as we see these things happen, and understand that our redemption draws near (Luke 21:28). And there are no signs for the rapture. This can happen at any moment. Make sure you are Rapture Ready!

This article was prepared before the launch of Operation Epic Fury and Roaring Lion. We are to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. I would ask that we pray for the protection of both the U.S. and Israeli militaries, as well as innocent civilians. And pray for salvation in the Middle East! We know from scripture that Iran will maintain a formidable military to join Russian, Turkish, and other outlying Islamic forces that will come against a defenseless Israel. At the same time, the United States is either unable or unwilling to come to Israel’s aid. May it be the rapture that causes these conditions for Ezekiel 38 and 39 to take place. May these current events hasten the return of the Lord for His church. May both of our nations remain strong until that day.

boatbums "Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”

Jesus didn't say things would be "largely fulfilled/incompletely fulfilled", He said ALL. There are many things yet to happen which is why the preterist cop-out of the 70 A.D. temple destruction being IT fails. Even a cursory read of Jeremiah 31 more than proves God is not done with Israel and there are signs happening right now that indicate Christ's return may be imminent.

In the Gospels, "this generation" (hē genea hautē) refers consistently to Jesus' contemporaries (those who rejected Him). To suggest it refers to a group living 2,000 years later (the "Fig Tree" starting in 1948) is a modern invention.

When Jesus says "all these things" will happen to "this generation," He is specifically answering the disciples' first question in Matthew 24:3: "When will these things [the destruction of the Temple] be?" The "all" was indeed fulfilled in AD 70: the Temple was leveled, the animal sacrifices ceased forever, and the Old Covenant world passed away.

The Book of Revelation and the Olivet Discourse are not just about the end of the world, but the end of the Old Covenant

AD 70 was a "Final Judgment" in miniature. It was a real, complete fulfillment of the judgment on Jerusalem.
Because God is consistent, that historical event serves as a Type for the final, global Judgment at the end of time.

Jesus didn't offer a "partial" fulfillment; He offered a local fulfillment that prefigures the universal one.

The Dispensational View is contrary to the Bible -- the dispensationalist view is that God has a separate, earthly plan for national Israel involving a rebuilt stone temple and animal sacrifices.

In contrast, the Bible says that the "New Covenant" promised in Jeremiah 31 was instituted at the Last Supper. The Church is the "Israel of God" (Galatians 6:16), where Jew and Gentile are united in one Body. To return to animal sacrifices in a third temple would be to return to "shadows" after the Substance (Christ) has arrived (Hebrews 10).

The "signs happening right now" that dispensationalists point to have been "happening right now" for 200 years of failed Rapture predictions.

The Catholic perspective is that we are already in the End Times. The "Last Days" began at Pentecost. We don't look for political signs in the Middle East to tell us Christ is near; we find Him truly present now in the Eucharist.

Your "Preterist cop-out" charge fails to realize that the destruction of the Temple wasn't just a building falling down; it was the definitive sign that Jesus is the High Priest of a New Covenant that will never pass away. We aren't waiting for a "Rapture" to take us away from the world; we are waiting for the Resurrection to transform it.

and, boatbums, to answer your There are many things yet to happen which is why the preterist cop-out of the 70 A.D. temple destruction being IT fails. SPOECIFICALLY

Look at Luke 21, where Jesus clearly distinguishes between the destruction of the Temple (which happened to "this generation") and His final return (which remains in the future). However, the events leading up to AD 70 fulfill His words with chilling accuracy.

Jesus’ Prophecy (Luke 21) Historical Fulfillment (AD 64–70) Historical Proof
v. 8: False Messiahs ("The time is at hand!") 8 He answered, “See that you not be deceived, for many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and ‘The time has come.’[c] Do not follow them! Numerous rebel leaders claimed divine or messianic status during the Jewish Revolt. Josephus (Jewish War) records figures like Theudas and "The Egyptian" who led thousands to slaughter.
v. 9-10: Wars and Insurrections ("Nation will rise against nation") 9 When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for such things must happen first, but it will not immediately be the end.” 10 Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. The Roman Empire faced the "Year of the Four Emperors" (69 AD); civil wars erupted in Judea and Rome. Tacitus and Suetonius record the massive internal Roman instability and the bloody Jewish-Roman War.
v. 11: Great Earthquakes & Famines 11 There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues from place to place; and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky. Severe famines and seismic activity occurred across the Mediterranean. Agabus predicted a great famine (Acts 11:28); Tacitus and Pompeii's destruction (63 AD) confirm seismic activity.
v. 12: Persecution ("Before all this, they will lay hands on you") 12 “Before all this happens,[d] however, they will seize and persecute you, they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons, and they will have you led before kings and governors because of my name. The Great Persecution under Nero began in 64 AD after the Fire of Rome. Peter and Paul were martyred in Rome; the Book of Acts records the Sanhedrin’s trials of the Apostles.
v. 20: Jerusalem Surrounded ("When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies...") 20 “When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, know that its desolation is at hand. The Roman Legions under Cestius Gallus (66 AD) and then Titus (70 AD) besieged the city. This is the literal "Abomination of Desolation" in Luke's Gospel—pagan armies in the Holy Land.
v. 21: Flight to the Mountains 21 Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains. Let those within the city escape from it, and let those in the countryside not enter the city, 22 for these days are the time of punishment when all the scriptures are fulfilled. Christian history records that the faithful fled Jerusalem before the final siege. Eusebius (Church History) notes that Christians fled to Pella because they remembered Jesus' warning.
v. 24: Led Captive / Trampled 24 They will fall by the edge of the sword and be taken as captives to all the Gentiles; and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles[g] are fulfilled. 97,000 Jews were taken captive; 1.1 million perished. The Temple was leveled. Josephus records that the Romans literally plowed the Temple site, and the "times of the Gentiles" over Jerusalem began.

The dispensationalist argument fails to see that Jesus was a true Prophet. If He said "this generation" (those standing there) would see "all these things," and those things didn't happen, He would be a false prophet.

The Error of Dispensationalism: It tries to force the 21st century into a 1st-century warning.

The Error of Extreme Preterism: It claims verse 27 (the Son of Man coming in a cloud) was only the fall of Jerusalem.

The Catholic/Apostolic View: The fall of Jerusalem was a visible, historical judgment that serves as a permanent "sacrament" or sign of what the Final Judgment will look like. Jesus uses the language of "clouds" and "stars falling" (apocalyptic imagery from the Old Testament) to describe the fall of a government or nation

In Matthew 24, Jesus provides even more specific "liturgical" and covenantal language than Luke.

Jesus’ Prophecy (Matthew 24), Historical Fulfillment, Historical/Scriptural Evidence
v. 5-7: Wars & Rumors of Wars, "The ""Pax Romana"" collapsed into civil war and the Jewish Revolt.", Josephus records that the Galilee and Judea were ""flowing with blood"" from 66 AD onwards.
v. 14: Gospel Preached to the Whole World, "The ""Oikoumene"" (the Roman world) heard the Gospel before AD 70.", "St. Paul explicitly states in Colossians 1:23 that the Gospel had been preached ""to every creature under heaven."""
v. 15: The Abomination of Desolation ,"Pagan Roman armies (the ""abomination"") entered the Temple ""holy place.""", "In 70 AD, Titus’s soldiers brought their pagan standards into the Temple and offered sacrifices to them."
v. 21: Great Tribulation, The siege of Jerusalem was one of the most horrific events in ancient history., Josephus describes mothers eating their children due to famine and the deaths of 1.1 million people.
v. 24: False Prophets & Signs ,"Deceivers led the starving Jews to stay in the city, promising divine rescue.", "Historians record ""prophets"" who told the Jews to stay in the Temple even as it burned, leading to a massacre."
v. 29: Sun Darkened / Stars Falling, "Apocalyptic ""de-creation"" language for the fall of a political/religious power.","In the OT (Isaiah 13:10), this language is used to describe the fall of Babylon. Here, it describes the fall of the Jewish State."
v. 30: Sign of the Son of Man, Jesus is vindicated as King because His prophecy against the Temple came true., "The destruction of the Temple was the ""sign"" that Jesus was now reigning in the true heavenly Temple."

Your, boatbums, objection—that "it couldn't be AD 70 because the world didn't end"—misses the Covenantal Context.

The "End of the World" vs. "End of the Age": In Matthew 24:3, the disciples ask about the synteleias tou aiōnos (the end of the age). For a first-century Jew, the destruction of the Temple was the end of the world as they knew it. The Old Covenant age ended so the New Covenant age could be fully established.
The Great Divorce: Matthew 24 describes a "divorce" between God and the unfaithful earthly Jerusalem. When Jesus says "all these things," He is referring to the specific judgments on the Temple and the city.
The Shift in Verse 36: There is a major shift in Matthew’s narrative.
- Verses 4–34: Focus on "these things" (the Temple's fall) which have signs (famines, wars).
- Verse 36 onward: Focuses on "that day" (the Final Judgment) which has no signs and comes "like a thief."

The fig tree was NOT 1948 - that was a symbol Jesus used for the 70 ad judgement - if the leaves appear, summer is near. To a 1st century Jesus follower, the Roman armies were the 'leaves" showing that the judgement Jesus promised was only months away

By pushing this to 1948, dispensationalists make Jesus’ promise to his disciples ("you will see...") a confusing deception. Catholic doctrine holds that Jesus was perfectly accurate: He warned the 1st-century Church to flee, and because they listened, they survived the "Great Tribulation" of AD 70 while those who ignored Him perished.

Then, In Matthew 24:30, Jesus says: "Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory."

This is Vindication language rooted int he Old Testament - Jesus is quoting Daniel 7:13. In Daniel’s vision, the Son of Man is not coming down to earth to stay; He is coming up to the "Ancient of Days" (God the Father) to receive His kingdom.

The coming - refers to Jesus’ Ascension and His subsequent enthronement in heaven.

The "sign" that the Son of Man is in heaven reigning was the destruction of the Temple. As long as the Old Temple stood, it appeared the Old Covenant was still in force. Its fall proved that Jesus was the true High Priest and King.

In the Old Testament, "cloud-coming" is a common metaphor for God’s judgment on a specific nation. It does not mean God physically sat on a literal cloud like in Isaiah 19:1: "See, the Lord is riding on a swift cloud and comes to Egypt; the idols of Egypt tremble before him." (God didn't literally ride a cloud; He used the Assyrians to judge Egypt).

In AD 70 Jesus "came on the clouds" by using the Roman armies to execute his judgment on the city that rejected Him.

Jesus told his disciples they would see it. To say "all" didn't happen in that generation is to miss the moment Jesus was vindicated as the new and eternal Temple.

Where in the whole of the WORD is the word FIG first used? Why right there where the Adam and Eve partied with the devil... AND The Adam and ‘that woman’ sewed FIG leaves together to cover their privates ... NOTHING to do with the planted deception of an apple orchard.

Genesis 3:7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.

9 And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?
10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.
11 And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?
12 And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.

AND what is the first prophecy in the whole of the WORD?

14 And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:

15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

16 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.

Talk about things that cause/create generations... Now the snake bruised the Saviours heel, but the snake has yet to lose his head...

NOW a bit more about the FIG —tree ..

The LORD shewed me, and, behold, two baskets of figs were set before the temple of the LORD, after that Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon had carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, and the princes of Judah, with the carpenters and smiths, from Jerusalem, and had brought them to Babylon.
2 One basket had very good figs, even like the figs that are first ripe: and the other basket had very naughty figs, which could not be eaten, they were so bad.
3 Then said the LORD unto me, What seest thou, Jeremiah? And I said, Figs; the good figs, very good; and the evil, very evil, that cannot be eaten, they are so evil.
4 Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
5 Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel; Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge them that are carried away captive of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans for their good.
6 For I will set mine eyes upon them for good, and I will bring them again to this land: and I will build them, and not pull them down; and I will plant them, and not pluck them up.
7 And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the LORD: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.
8 And as the evil figs, which cannot be eaten, they are so evil; surely thus saith the LORD, So will I give Zedekiah the king of Judah, and his princes, and the residue of Jerusalem, that remain in this land, and them that dwell in the land of Egypt:
9 And I will deliver them to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth for their hurt, to be a reproach and a proverb, a taunt and a curse, in all places whither I shall drive them.
10 And I will send the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, among them, till they be consumed from off the land that I gave unto them and to their fathers.

These WORDS came from the Heavenly Father .. not a bunch of deceptive pretenders who are clueless about Christ declared that NOT one stone would stand atop another at His return ..

A good study in the horticulture of the FIG is very much required ... WASP and all.

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Jesus’ Prophecy (Luke 21)	Historical Fulfillment (AD 64–70)	Historical Proof
v. 8: False Messiahs ("The time is at hand!") 8 He answered, “See that you not be deceived, for many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and ‘The time has come.’[c] Do not follow them!	Numerous rebel leaders claimed divine or messianic status during the Jewish Revolt.	Josephus (Jewish War) records figures like Theudas and "The Egyptian" who led thousands to slaughter.
v. 9-10: Wars and Insurrections ("Nation will rise against nation") 9 When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for such things must happen first, but it will not immediately be the end.” 10 Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.	The Roman Empire faced the "Year of the Four Emperors" (69 AD); civil wars erupted in Judea and Rome.	Tacitus and Suetonius record the massive internal Roman instability and the bloody Jewish-Roman War.
v. 11: Great Earthquakes & Famines 11 There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues from place to place; and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky.	Severe famines and seismic activity occurred across the Mediterranean.	Agabus predicted a great famine (Acts 11:28); Tacitus and Pompeii's destruction (63 AD) confirm seismic activity.
v. 12: Persecution ("Before all this, they will lay hands on you") 12 “Before all this happens,[d] however, they will seize and persecute you, they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons, and they will have you led before kings and governors because of my name.	The Great Persecution under Nero began in 64 AD after the Fire of Rome.	Peter and Paul were martyred in Rome; the Book of Acts records the Sanhedrin’s trials of the Apostles.
v. 20: Jerusalem Surrounded ("When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies...") 20 “When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, know that its desolation is at hand.	The Roman Legions under Cestius Gallus (66 AD) and then Titus (70 AD) besieged the city.	This is the literal "Abomination of Desolation" in Luke's Gospel—pagan armies in the Holy Land.
v. 21: Flight to the Mountains 21 Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains. Let those within the city escape from it, and let those in the countryside not enter the city, 22 for these days are the time of punishment when all the scriptures are fulfilled.	Christian history records that the faithful fled Jerusalem before the final siege.	Eusebius (Church History) notes that Christians fled to Pella because they remembered Jesus' warning.
v. 24: Led Captive / Trampled 24 They will fall by the edge of the sword and be taken as captives to all the Gentiles; and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles[g] are fulfilled.	97,000 Jews were taken captive; 1.1 million perished. The Temple was leveled.	Josephus records that the Romans literally plowed the Temple site, and the "times of the Gentiles" over Jerusalem began.

Jesus’ Prophecy (Matthew 24),	Historical Fulfillment,	Historical/Scriptural Evidence
v. 5-7: Wars & Rumors of Wars,	"The ""Pax Romana"" collapsed into civil war and the Jewish Revolt.",	Josephus records that the Galilee and Judea were ""flowing with blood"" from 66 AD onwards.
v. 14: Gospel Preached to the Whole World,	"The ""Oikoumene"" (the Roman world) heard the Gospel before AD 70.",	"St. Paul explicitly states in Colossians 1:23 that the Gospel had been preached ""to every creature under heaven."""
v. 15: The Abomination of Desolation	,"Pagan Roman armies (the ""abomination"") entered the Temple ""holy place.""",	"In 70 AD, Titus’s soldiers brought their pagan standards into the Temple and offered sacrifices to them."
v. 21: Great Tribulation,	The siege of Jerusalem was one of the most horrific events in ancient history.,	Josephus describes mothers eating their children due to famine and the deaths of 1.1 million people.
v. 24: False Prophets & Signs	,"Deceivers led the starving Jews to stay in the city, promising divine rescue.",	"Historians record ""prophets"" who told the Jews to stay in the Temple even as it burned, leading to a massacre."
v. 29: Sun Darkened / Stars Falling,	"Apocalyptic ""de-creation"" language for the fall of a political/religious power.","In the OT (Isaiah 13:10), this language is used to describe the fall of Babylon.	Here, it describes the fall of the Jewish State."
v. 30: Sign of the Son of Man,	Jesus is vindicated as King because His prophecy against the Temple came true.,	"The destruction of the Temple was the ""sign"" that Jesus was now reigning in the true heavenly Temple."