i just woke up...it's 3:30 am and i'mm full of things to say but i don't know where they are coming from..i guess God...this is the sentence that woke me up...

"TO THE FUTURE GENERATIONS WILL COME

DECADENCE AND DISPAIRE"

at first i thought TRIBULATION...the saved will know gods decadence and the unsave will find dispaire...but then it hit me...WAS THE BIBLE MEANT TO BE SO LITERALLY TRANSLATED OR WAS IT MEANT TO BE MORE OF A METAPHORE?....

maybe we are in the end times...but maybe thats just another way to say NEW BEGINING....a chance to correct our thinking before we find ouselves living in dispaire...

our nation is searching for hope, love, peace, satisfaction...and they are searching for it outside of themselves...today we have more material things and more access to them than ever before..BUT ARE WE SATISFIED???? or are we empty and full of dispaire and trying to fill ourselves with the decadences of this world?

DRUGS...RANDOM SEX...FRIVOLOUS PLASTIC SURGERY...we are a nation seeking perfection outside ourselves...we seek more and more and more always comes ...yet still we are empty...

WHY???? i don't think i can answer this question in a few sentences...but i do believe that perfection is a state of mind...perfection is LOVE...what we all truly crave...from love comes hope, joy, peace, we become givers ready to recieve when we LOVE...

such a simple word...LOVE...but today does anyone know the meaning? when God said "love one another" we should have listened...when he said "...and the greatest of these is love"...He was right...when we give love we get love and we become full,,,love erases dispaire and replaces it with the decadences of hope, joy, fullfillment...and so much more

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APRIL 25 2008 1:18 PM

One of the great mysteries concerning bible prophecy and the end times is the national identity of the Antichrist. This is an important topic because it will eventually aid the last days generation of Christians in the correct identification of the Antichrist. Fortunately, the Bible provides us with several details regarding the nationalistic origins of this sinister personality.

His Roman Nationality

Although much debate surrounds his national identity, the Book of Daniel clearly states that the Antichrist will come from among the people whose armies destroy the Temple.

“A ruler will arise whose armies will destroy the city and the Temple.” Daniel 9:26 (NLT)

The City and the Temple referenced in this passage were destroyed in A.D. 70 by Titus and the Roman legions, but Titus was not the ruler referenced in this verse. Daniel 9:27 describes the ruler as one who will make a seven-year treaty with Israel, put an end to the sacrifices and offerings, and set up a sacrilegious object that causes desecration. These are events that will be fulfilled in the life of the Antichrist. According to Daniel, the Antichrist will come from among the people who destroyed the Temple. Therefore, we can be certain that the Antichrist will come from among the Roman people.

omans 16:25. Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which was kept secret since the world began 26. but now has been made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures has been made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith 27. to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.



The New American Standard says it like this. 26. but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith;



The Simple English says... 26. This secret has now been made clear through the prophetic writings. The eternal God ordered this, so that when it becomes known, all nations will believe it and obey.



God has given us what He calls the revelation of the mystery which was kept secret since the world began. It must be of great importance if God had to keep it secret, but now it has been revealed. It has been revealed for a purpose and that purpose is so that we might receive the revelation of this mystery, and in receiving believe. But thats not all that He wants. He wants us to act upon what we have believed. He wants us to obey. I would like to ask a question. What good is faith if not acted upon?

Psalm 23 Verse 0ne

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

Personal! Personal! Personal! That’s what Christianity is.

John 10:4

When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.

God wants you close enough to guide you. God wants every part of your life wrapped up in His love.

Some of the terrain God takes us through is rough, but the end result, if we allow Him to guide us, teach us and shepherd us, is completeness.

Colossians 2:10

And you are complete in Him, who is the Head of all principality and power

I shall not want:

If we learn to hunger and thirst after Christ we won’t need to hunger and thirst after other things.

Matthew 5:6

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

Philippians 4:19

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.


Psalm 23 verse two

He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.

Green Pastures:

God knows the places and purposes that are just right for you; places and purposes that will bring fulfillment and joy. Christ Jesus, your shepherd, knows how to get you there. Develop an ear to hear and courage to follow, step by step, so you can enjoy the green pastures He has prepared for you.

Isaiah 50:4-5

The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary. Morning by morning he awakens; he awakens my ear to hear as those who are taught.

The Lord GOD has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious; I turned not backward.

1 Corinthians 2:9-10

But, as it is written, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him"

these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.

Still Waters:

Peace is a very valuable commodity. God can give it.

Philippians 4:6-7

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Colossians 3:15

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.

Isaiah 26:3

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

Isaiah 55:12

For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.


Psalm 23 verse three

He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

The shades of meaning in the word restore are:

Return to the way it should be

Refresh

Relieve

Fix

Pull in again

To give back something lost to the owner

To put back in place i.e.: a king to his position of authority

Thank God He has everything we need to restore us, refresh us and to pull us into the way of righteousness; the path of living right before God by grace.

We can be restored to our place of authority in Christ over all the schemes of the devil to perturb, perplex and destroy our walk with and position in Christ.

Psalm 51:12

Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.

Isaiah 57:18

I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will lead him and restore comfort to him and his mourners

Isaiah 38:16-20

O Lord, by these things men live, and in all these is the life of my spirit. Oh restore me to health and make me live!

Behold, it was for my welfare that I had great bitterness; but in love you have delivered my life from the pit of destruction, for you have cast all my sins behind your back.

For Sheol does not thank you; death does not praise you; those who go down to the pit do not hope for your faithfulness.

The living, the living, he thanks you, as I do this day; the father makes known to the children your faithfulness.

The LORD will save me, and we will play my music on stringed instruments all the days of our lives, at the house of the LORD.

The width and depth of our restoration is in direct proportion to our hunger for the righteousness of God and our crying out to Him. The word “cry” in the bible contains the following in its meaning.

To call out deeply and sometimes loudly

To earnestly pray, desiring and needing an answer

Matthew 5:6

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

Psalm 34:17

When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.

Psalm 56:9

Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call. This I know, that God is for me.

Psalm 119:169

Let my cry come before you, O LORD; give me understanding according to your word!

Once we have seen the restoring work of God’s righteousness in our own lives we can be used as an instrument of righteousness for His names sake to bring restoration to others.

Romans 6:13

Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.

Galatians 6:1

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.


Psalm 23 verse four

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

This whole world is under the shadow of death. Our sins and the devils influence have cast a shadow of spiritual death and darkness over everything; that’s why we need a savior. That’s why Christ is called the light of the world.

Ephesians 2:1-2

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins

in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience

John 8:12

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

John 12:46

I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.

I have light to see, strength to endure and a life giving faith filled hope in God so no matter the valley, no matter the pull of temptation, no matter the war in my soul and no matter the snare, I don’t need to be stuck but rather I walk through. My sojourn through this world, although there are valleys (some longer than others), can be victorious.

1 Peter 2:11

Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.

1 Peter 5:10

And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

Fear no evil, He is with you:

I’ve heard it said “oh that’s not real it’s just an imagined fear”. Well there’s no such thing as an imagined fear. The root of the fear may be based in shadows not reality, but the fear it produces is real. Cry out to God and allow Him to bring the light of life to those roots of fear in you. Keep cutting those roots with the word of God called the sword of the Spirit in Ephesians 6:17.

Psalm 27:1

The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Isaiah 35:4

Say to those who have an anxious heart, "Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you."

2 Timothy 1:7

for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

1 John 4:18

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

Your Rod, Your Staff, Your Comfort:

The shepherd’s rod is used to guide the flock by easy nudges or if needed for real stubborn sheep to actually take the legs out from under them in order to teach it not to wander into danger. The rod is also used to pull a sheep out from thicket or up out of pits. Another use of the shepherd’s rod is to ward off enemies of the sheep. If we allow our shepherd Jesus to use His rod, which are His word and the Holy Spirit, in our lives then it will bring us to a place of comfort.

The shepherd’s staff is like a walking stick. It’s used to balance and steady the step on rough terrain, up hills and down hills. The staff can be leaned on for stability. The staff is a picture of Jesus bringing balance, steadiness, stability and comfort in our walk with Him.


Psalm 23 Verse Five

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

As we walk this Christian walk we do have enemies trying to thwart, derail and confuse us. The devil has many ways to accomplish this, some are as follows:

Deception – Revelation 12:9

Robs – John 10:10

Hinders – 1 Thessalonians 2:18

Accuses – Revelation 12:10

Ensnares – 2 Timothy 2:26

Lies – John 8:44

Temps – Matthew 4:3

Plus we have other people’s and our own sinful nature to contend with.

But thank God we have a table. At this table is a generous feast of all God has prepared for us; life giving, freedom producing never ending truths. Free will always gives us a choice of what we will partake of, life and blessings or death and curses.

Deuteronomy 30:19

I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live

2 Peter 1:3-4

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,

by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

Yes God does want to shepherd you to a place of closeness with Him; a place of blessings.

Anointing a head with oil in those days was a sign of honor and favor. It was something done for a very distinguished guest. [Judges 9:9, Psalm 92:10, Luke 7:38, 46] It was done at festive occasions as an indication of prosperity and rejoicing. Here in verse 5 of Psalm 23 it states God anoints our heads with oil. It shows us what He thinks of us.

Yes God does want our cups (all of who we are) to run over, overflow and abound with this new life we now can enjoy with Jesus.

John 7:37-38

On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.

Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'"

John 10:7-11

So Jesus again said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.

All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.

I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.


Psalm 23 Verse Six

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

The mercy of God keeps the door open for the goodness of God in our lives.

The word mercy is very similar to the word grace. It means God’s compassion to us even when we deserve punishment. Mercy and grace gives us free access to the unfailing steadfast love of God to us. We can never do enough to earn it, it’s a free gift, we can only be smart enough to receive it.

Mercy, grace and goodness are things God is rich in and He is always ready to share with us in order to keep our walk with Him abounding in spiritual blessings.

Ephesians 2:4

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us

Ephesians 1:7

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace

Romans 2:4 (English standard version)

Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?

Romans 2:4 (contemporary English version)

You surely don't think much of God's wonderful goodness or of his patience and willingness to put up with you. Don't you know that the reason God is good to you is because he wants you to turn to him?

God’s goodness to our souls can be experienced in valleys, mountaintops, ups and downs; anywhere, all the time; this we can be certain of without doubt.

Psalm 27:13

I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living!

Psalm 31:19

Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you, in the sight of the children of mankind!

2 Corinthians 1:3 says:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort

Our heavenly Father knows we need mercy everyday because it’s His mercy that enables us to draw close and stay close to Him.

Lamentations 3:22-25

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end;

they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

"The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him."

The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.

In accepting Christ as our Lord and Savior we have been placed into an eternal position with Christ. We have been placed into the kingdom of God, a kingdom that will never go away, never be overthrown and never diminish; it lasts forever! Forever and ever! Eternal! These are mind boggling concepts, but it’s really real. God is real! Heaven is real! You living forever in heaven is real! This all made possible for us by the mercy, grace and goodness of God to us.

Hebrews 12:28

Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe

Throughout the centuries, people have longed to know which generation will witness the return of Jesus Christ. Interestingly, the answer to that question appeared in the form of a fig tree more than 2,000 years ago.

Jesus Curses the Fig Tree

Both the Gospels of Matthew and Mark tell the following story of Jesus and His encounter with that fig tree:

“In the morning, as Jesus was returning to Jerusalem, he was hungry, and he noticed a fig tree beside the road. He went over to see if there were any figs on it, but there were only leaves. Then he said to it, ‘May you never bear fruit again!’ And immediately the fig tree withered up. The disciples were amazed when they saw this and asked, ‘How did the fig tree wither so quickly?’ Then Jesus told them, ‘I assure you, if you have faith and don’t doubt, you can do things like this and much more. You can even say to this mountain, ‘May God lift you up and throw you into the sea,’ and it will happen. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” Matthew 21:18-22 (NLT)

Although not spoken to His disciples in the form of a parable, this story about the fig tree and its lack of fruit strikes at the heart of the Gospel message.

The Meaning of the Curse

The disappointment of Jesus with the fig tree is an extremely significant event. At first glance, one might think Jesus is merely upset with an actual tree that failed to feed Him when He was hungry. But the fig tree and its fruit play a much larger role. They are symbols of the nation of Israel and its faith.

In Jeremiah 24, the people of Israel are compared to figs, both good and rotten. When Jesus cursed the fig tree, He symbolically placed a curse on Israel. The reason for the curse is straightforward. The fig tree (Israel) failed to bear fruit (faith) even though its leaves indicate it was in season (the appointed time for the coming of the Messiah). Due to its lack of fruit, the fig tree withered. Likewise, Israel’s lack of faith when presented with her Messiah led to her eventual destruction at the hands of the Romans in A.D. 70.

What is Good Fruit?

Jesus cursed the fig tree because of its refusal to bear fruit, and in so doing, He makes it clear that He expects His followers to bear fruit as well. And not just any kind of fruit, but specifically good fruit.

If Jesus expects us to bear good fruit, it’s essential to know what constitutes good fruit in the first place. What is good fruit? And how do we bear it? Paul defines “good fruit” in his letters to the Galatians and the Philippians:

“But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT)

This is the fruit we should produce: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Why? Because ultimately, the good fruit we bear comes from faith in Jesus Christ:

“May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation – those good things that are produced in your life by Jesus Christ – for this will bring much glory and praise to God.” Philippians 1:11 (NLT)

Good fruit should never be confused with the world’s definition of good works. Good fruit is born in the heart and blossoms outward into the world. Its only motive is Jesus Christ. But good works as defined by the world can have many motives, sometimes even evil motives. Yet, no matter how justified we feel in our own eyes, God will always measure our inner motives, never our outward deeds. Placing our trust and faith in Jesus Christ will inevitably produce the good fruits Paul mentioned in his letter to the Galatians. And when we exhibit these good fruits, the world will witness through our lives the glory that is Jesus Christ.

Good Fruit vs. Bad Fruit

To make sure we’re producing good fruit and not bad fruit, we need to know how to tell the difference. Before He placed the curse on the fig tree, Jesus warned His disciples to beware of false prophets and teachers. In fact, He used fruit as a metaphor for identifying the righteous from the evil, explaining that if a tree doesn’t bear fruit, it will be chopped down and thrown into the fire:

“Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep, but are really wolves that will tear you apart. You can detect them by the way they act, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit. You don’t pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles. A healthy tree produces good fruit, and an unhealthy tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. Yes, the way to identify a tree or a person is by the kind of fruit that is produced.” Matthew 7:15-20 (NLT)

A good tree will bear good fruit, and a bad tree will produce rotten fruit. Therefore, you can always identify the righteous and the evil based on what they produce.

God’s great commandment is to believe in the one He has sent. Those who do will bear good fruit as a natural result. This is because Jesus is the branch on which all good fruit grows, and His righteous branch can’t help but bear good fruit. Long ago, the prophet Isaiah identified the Messiah as the branch of Jesse:

“Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot – yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root.” Isaiah 11:1 (NLT)

If the generation that rejected Jesus had instead made Him the basis of their faith, the very root of their spiritual sustenance, then they would have born good fruit that is pleasing to the Lord.

So what do good fruit, bad fruit, and a barren fig tree have to do with the timing of the Second Coming of Christ? To find out, we must first understand why the fig tree had to wither.

The Withered Fig Tree

Why did the fig tree have to wither in the first place? Why did the generation which witnessed the birth of Christ lack faith in God’s promise of the coming Messiah? They committed to memory the Messianic prophecies of the Old Testament, and they knew the exact year in which the Messiah would appear in Jerusalem. Yet, because they lacked faith, they failed to recognize the time of His Coming. As a result, an entire generation failed to produce fruit for the Messiah. But why?

Although the Jews didn’t plan to reject the Messiah, God did have a plan. His plan was to spread the salvation of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth. Israel’s lack of faith was integral to this process, providing the catalyst for God to offer this salvation to the Gentiles as well. As a result, the salvation God had previously reserved for the Jews alone was offered to the entire world:

“For since the Jews’ rejection meant that God offered salvation to the rest of the world, how much more wonderful their acceptance will be. It will be life for those who were dead! And since Abraham and the other patriarchs were holy, their children will also be holy. For if the roots of the tree are holy, the branches will be, too. But some of these branches from Abraham’s tree, some of the Jews, have been broken off. And you Gentiles, who were branches from a wild olive tree, were grafted in. So now you also receive the blessing God has promised Abraham and his children, sharing in God’s rich nourishment of his special olive tree. But you must be careful not to brag about being grafted in to replace the branches that were broken off. Remember, you are just a branch, not the root. ‘Well,’ you may say, ‘those branches were broken off to make room for me.’ Yes, but remember – those branches, the Jews, were broken off because they didn’t believe God, and you are there because you do believe. Don’t think highly of yourself, but fear what could happen. For if God did not spare the branches he put there in the first place, he won’t spare you either. Notice how God is both kind and severe. He is severe to those who disobeyed, but kind to you as you continue to trust in his kindness. But if you stop trusting, you also will be cut off. And if the Jews turn from their unbelief, God will graft them back into the tree again. He has the power to do it. For if God was willing to take you who were, by nature, branches from a wild olive tree and graft you into his own good tree – a very unusual thing to do – he will be far more eager to graft the Jews back into the tree where they belong.” Romans 11:15-24 (NLT)

When Israel rejected Jesus Christ, she opened the door to salvation for the Gentiles. But God never forgot His promise to Israel, and He promises the day will come when Israel will fully embrace the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

A Second Chance for Israel

Just as Paul stated in his letter to the Romans, the Lord hasn’t forgotten Israel. She will have one more chance to bear fruit for her Messiah, and this opportunity is the key to understanding the hour of Christ’s return. Jesus illustrates this when He tells a parable about a planted fig tree:

“Then Jesus used this illustration: ‘A man planted a fig tree in his garden and came again and again to see if there was any fruit on it, but he was always disappointed. Finally, he said to his gardener, ‘I’ve waited three years, and there hasn’t been a single fig! Cut it down. It’s taking up space we can use for something else.’ The gardener answered, ‘Give it one more chance. Leave it another year, and I’ll give it special attention and plenty of fertilizer. If we get figs next year, fine. If not, you can cut it down.’” Luke 13:6-9 (NLT)

For three years, Jesus spread His message throughout Israel, performing miracles, exhibiting unprecedented knowledge of the Scriptures, and offering ample evidence of His claim to be the long awaited Messiah. Yet despite three years of testimony, Israel refused to believe in the one who was sent.

According to this parable, Israel will get one more year with “special attention and plenty of fertilizer.” If she still fails to bear fruit, she will be cut down (destroyed).

As Jesus reveals, Israel will be given a final chance to exhibit faith in Him in the last days, just prior to His Glorious Appearing. To do so, Israel must first become a nation once again, a miraculous feat which took place in May 1948. The reestablishment of Israel as a nation is the foremost sign to our generation that Christ’s return is imminent. And that’s why the fig tree is the key to understanding which generation will witness the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Through the nation of Israel, God has given the world a sign that is impossible to ignore. Nevertheless, most of the world has chosen to ignore it.

The Sign of Our Generation

In the Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24), Jesus revealed to His disciples that the primary sign of the end of the age and His soon return would be the restoration of Israel as a nation. However, He didn’t plainly say so. Instead, He once again used the fig tree as a metaphor for the nation of Israel:

“Now learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its buds become tender and its leaves begin to sprout, you know without being told that summer is near. Just so, when you see the events I’ve described beginning to happen, you can know his return is very near, right at the door. I assure you, this generation will not pass from the scene before all these things take place. Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will remain forever.” Matthew 24:32-35 (NLT)

The fig tree is Israel. It’s been six decades since Israel was once again declared a nation against all worldly odds. In Matthew 24, Jesus promises that the generation which witnesses the reestablishment of Israel will not die off until the end of the age comes to pass. Given the Bible’s impeccable track record, we have every reason to expect His imminent return. Jesus will return soon, within our generation, and a wise person will prepare accordingly.

Just as the time of His first coming was clearly revealed to the previous generation, the season of His Return has been clearly revealed to ours. The previous generation was unprepared for His arrival. Ours should be watching with a patient and enduring faith, fully confident in the glory we are about to witness. Christ is coming. The fig tree is in bloom, and ours is the generation.

Ianoint has officially launched, after 2 years of planning, countless hours of infrastructure, late nights with the IT staff, and so many many many prayers. Ianoint is here. A Christian Based Community geared to bring us together, learn from each other, and make us stronger.



Launch date

Sunday April 13th, 2008, is now in the History Books, God BLESS!!!!!

Ianoint was started on the pretense of a safe haven for Christians, as we seek to purify ourselves against the very diluted and often purposeless media that has saturated the Internet. Ianoint is different, as we seek to provide a solution, seek to be the center of everything meaningful to us as Christians and ultimately to God.

Ianoint has Launched

i just woke up...it's 3:30 am and i'mm full of things to say but i don't know where they are coming from..i guess God...this is the sentence that woke me up...

"TO THE FUTURE GENERATIONS WILL COME

DECADENCE AND DISPAIRE"

at first i thought TRIBULATION...the saved will know gods decadence and the unsave will find dispaire...but then it hit me...WAS THE BIBLE MEANT TO BE SO LITERALLY TRANSLATED OR WAS IT MEANT TO BE MORE OF A METAPHORE?....

maybe we are in the end times...but maybe thats just another way to say NEW BEGINING....a chance to correct our thinking before we find ouselves living in dispaire...

our nation is searching for hope, love, peace, satisfaction...and they are searching for it outside of themselves...today we have more material things and more access to them than ever before..BUT ARE WE SATISFIED???? or are we empty and full of dispaire and trying to fill ourselves with the decadences of this world?

DRUGS...RANDOM SEX...FRIVOLOUS PLASTIC SURGERY...we are a nation seeking perfection outside ourselves...we seek more and more and more always comes ...yet still we are empty...

WHY???? i don't think i can answer this question in a few sentences...but i do believe that perfection is a state of mind...perfection is LOVE...what we all truly crave...from love comes hope, joy, peace, we become givers ready to recieve when we LOVE...

such a simple word...LOVE...but today does anyone know the meaning? when God said "love one another" we should have listened...when he said "...and the greatest of these is love"...He was right...when we give love we get love and we become full,,,love erases dispaire and replaces it with the decadences of hope, joy, fullfillment...and so much more

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APRIL 25 2008 1:18 PM

One of the great mysteries concerning bible prophecy and the end times is the national identity of the Antichrist. This is an important topic because it will eventually aid the last days generation of Christians in the correct identification of the Antichrist. Fortunately, the Bible provides us with several details regarding the nationalistic origins of this sinister personality.

His Roman Nationality

Although much debate surrounds his national identity, the Book of Daniel clearly states that the Antichrist will come from among the people whose armies destroy the Temple.

“A ruler will arise whose armies will destroy the city and the Temple.” Daniel 9:26 (NLT)

The City and the Temple referenced in this passage were destroyed in A.D. 70 by Titus and the Roman legions, but Titus was not the ruler referenced in this verse. Daniel 9:27 describes the ruler as one who will make a seven-year treaty with Israel, put an end to the sacrifices and offerings, and set up a sacrilegious object that causes desecration. These are events that will be fulfilled in the life of the Antichrist. According to Daniel, the Antichrist will come from among the people who destroyed the Temple. Therefore, we can be certain that the Antichrist will come from among the Roman people.

omans 16:25. Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which was kept secret since the world began 26. but now has been made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures has been made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith 27. to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.



The New American Standard says it like this. 26. but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith;



The Simple English says... 26. This secret has now been made clear through the prophetic writings. The eternal God ordered this, so that when it becomes known, all nations will believe it and obey.



God has given us what He calls the revelation of the mystery which was kept secret since the world began. It must be of great importance if God had to keep it secret, but now it has been revealed. It has been revealed for a purpose and that purpose is so that we might receive the revelation of this mystery, and in receiving believe. But thats not all that He wants. He wants us to act upon what we have believed. He wants us to obey. I would like to ask a question. What good is faith if not acted upon?

Psalm 23 Verse 0ne

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

Personal! Personal! Personal! That’s what Christianity is.

John 10:4

When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.

God wants you close enough to guide you. God wants every part of your life wrapped up in His love.

Some of the terrain God takes us through is rough, but the end result, if we allow Him to guide us, teach us and shepherd us, is completeness.

Colossians 2:10

And you are complete in Him, who is the Head of all principality and power

I shall not want:

If we learn to hunger and thirst after Christ we won’t need to hunger and thirst after other things.

Matthew 5:6

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

Philippians 4:19

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.


Psalm 23 verse two

He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.

Green Pastures:

God knows the places and purposes that are just right for you; places and purposes that will bring fulfillment and joy. Christ Jesus, your shepherd, knows how to get you there. Develop an ear to hear and courage to follow, step by step, so you can enjoy the green pastures He has prepared for you.

Isaiah 50:4-5

The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary. Morning by morning he awakens; he awakens my ear to hear as those who are taught.

The Lord GOD has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious; I turned not backward.

1 Corinthians 2:9-10

But, as it is written, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him"

these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.

Still Waters:

Peace is a very valuable commodity. God can give it.

Philippians 4:6-7

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Colossians 3:15

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.

Isaiah 26:3

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

Isaiah 55:12

For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.


Psalm 23 verse three

He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

The shades of meaning in the word restore are:

Return to the way it should be

Refresh

Relieve

Fix

Pull in again

To give back something lost to the owner

To put back in place i.e.: a king to his position of authority

Thank God He has everything we need to restore us, refresh us and to pull us into the way of righteousness; the path of living right before God by grace.

We can be restored to our place of authority in Christ over all the schemes of the devil to perturb, perplex and destroy our walk with and position in Christ.

Psalm 51:12

Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.

Isaiah 57:18

I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will lead him and restore comfort to him and his mourners

Isaiah 38:16-20

O Lord, by these things men live, and in all these is the life of my spirit. Oh restore me to health and make me live!

Behold, it was for my welfare that I had great bitterness; but in love you have delivered my life from the pit of destruction, for you have cast all my sins behind your back.

For Sheol does not thank you; death does not praise you; those who go down to the pit do not hope for your faithfulness.

The living, the living, he thanks you, as I do this day; the father makes known to the children your faithfulness.

The LORD will save me, and we will play my music on stringed instruments all the days of our lives, at the house of the LORD.

The width and depth of our restoration is in direct proportion to our hunger for the righteousness of God and our crying out to Him. The word “cry” in the bible contains the following in its meaning.

To call out deeply and sometimes loudly

To earnestly pray, desiring and needing an answer

Matthew 5:6

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

Psalm 34:17

When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.

Psalm 56:9

Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call. This I know, that God is for me.

Psalm 119:169

Let my cry come before you, O LORD; give me understanding according to your word!

Once we have seen the restoring work of God’s righteousness in our own lives we can be used as an instrument of righteousness for His names sake to bring restoration to others.

Romans 6:13

Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.

Galatians 6:1

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.


Psalm 23 verse four

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

This whole world is under the shadow of death. Our sins and the devils influence have cast a shadow of spiritual death and darkness over everything; that’s why we need a savior. That’s why Christ is called the light of the world.

Ephesians 2:1-2

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins

in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience

John 8:12

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

John 12:46

I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.

I have light to see, strength to endure and a life giving faith filled hope in God so no matter the valley, no matter the pull of temptation, no matter the war in my soul and no matter the snare, I don’t need to be stuck but rather I walk through. My sojourn through this world, although there are valleys (some longer than others), can be victorious.

1 Peter 2:11

Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.

1 Peter 5:10

And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

Fear no evil, He is with you:

I’ve heard it said “oh that’s not real it’s just an imagined fear”. Well there’s no such thing as an imagined fear. The root of the fear may be based in shadows not reality, but the fear it produces is real. Cry out to God and allow Him to bring the light of life to those roots of fear in you. Keep cutting those roots with the word of God called the sword of the Spirit in Ephesians 6:17.

Psalm 27:1

The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Isaiah 35:4

Say to those who have an anxious heart, "Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you."

2 Timothy 1:7

for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

1 John 4:18

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

Your Rod, Your Staff, Your Comfort:

The shepherd’s rod is used to guide the flock by easy nudges or if needed for real stubborn sheep to actually take the legs out from under them in order to teach it not to wander into danger. The rod is also used to pull a sheep out from thicket or up out of pits. Another use of the shepherd’s rod is to ward off enemies of the sheep. If we allow our shepherd Jesus to use His rod, which are His word and the Holy Spirit, in our lives then it will bring us to a place of comfort.

The shepherd’s staff is like a walking stick. It’s used to balance and steady the step on rough terrain, up hills and down hills. The staff can be leaned on for stability. The staff is a picture of Jesus bringing balance, steadiness, stability and comfort in our walk with Him.


Psalm 23 Verse Five

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

As we walk this Christian walk we do have enemies trying to thwart, derail and confuse us. The devil has many ways to accomplish this, some are as follows:

Deception – Revelation 12:9

Robs – John 10:10

Hinders – 1 Thessalonians 2:18

Accuses – Revelation 12:10

Ensnares – 2 Timothy 2:26

Lies – John 8:44

Temps – Matthew 4:3

Plus we have other people’s and our own sinful nature to contend with.

But thank God we have a table. At this table is a generous feast of all God has prepared for us; life giving, freedom producing never ending truths. Free will always gives us a choice of what we will partake of, life and blessings or death and curses.

Deuteronomy 30:19

I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live

2 Peter 1:3-4

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,

by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

Yes God does want to shepherd you to a place of closeness with Him; a place of blessings.

Anointing a head with oil in those days was a sign of honor and favor. It was something done for a very distinguished guest. [Judges 9:9, Psalm 92:10, Luke 7:38, 46] It was done at festive occasions as an indication of prosperity and rejoicing. Here in verse 5 of Psalm 23 it states God anoints our heads with oil. It shows us what He thinks of us.

Yes God does want our cups (all of who we are) to run over, overflow and abound with this new life we now can enjoy with Jesus.

John 7:37-38

On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.

Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'"

John 10:7-11

So Jesus again said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.

All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.

I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.


Psalm 23 Verse Six

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

The mercy of God keeps the door open for the goodness of God in our lives.

The word mercy is very similar to the word grace. It means God’s compassion to us even when we deserve punishment. Mercy and grace gives us free access to the unfailing steadfast love of God to us. We can never do enough to earn it, it’s a free gift, we can only be smart enough to receive it.

Mercy, grace and goodness are things God is rich in and He is always ready to share with us in order to keep our walk with Him abounding in spiritual blessings.

Ephesians 2:4

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us

Ephesians 1:7

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace

Romans 2:4 (English standard version)

Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?

Romans 2:4 (contemporary English version)

You surely don't think much of God's wonderful goodness or of his patience and willingness to put up with you. Don't you know that the reason God is good to you is because he wants you to turn to him?

God’s goodness to our souls can be experienced in valleys, mountaintops, ups and downs; anywhere, all the time; this we can be certain of without doubt.

Psalm 27:13

I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living!

Psalm 31:19

Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you, in the sight of the children of mankind!

2 Corinthians 1:3 says:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort

Our heavenly Father knows we need mercy everyday because it’s His mercy that enables us to draw close and stay close to Him.

Lamentations 3:22-25

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end;

they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

"The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him."

The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.

In accepting Christ as our Lord and Savior we have been placed into an eternal position with Christ. We have been placed into the kingdom of God, a kingdom that will never go away, never be overthrown and never diminish; it lasts forever! Forever and ever! Eternal! These are mind boggling concepts, but it’s really real. God is real! Heaven is real! You living forever in heaven is real! This all made possible for us by the mercy, grace and goodness of God to us.

Hebrews 12:28

Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe

Throughout the centuries, people have longed to know which generation will witness the return of Jesus Christ. Interestingly, the answer to that question appeared in the form of a fig tree more than 2,000 years ago.

Jesus Curses the Fig Tree

Both the Gospels of Matthew and Mark tell the following story of Jesus and His encounter with that fig tree:

“In the morning, as Jesus was returning to Jerusalem, he was hungry, and he noticed a fig tree beside the road. He went over to see if there were any figs on it, but there were only leaves. Then he said to it, ‘May you never bear fruit again!’ And immediately the fig tree withered up. The disciples were amazed when they saw this and asked, ‘How did the fig tree wither so quickly?’ Then Jesus told them, ‘I assure you, if you have faith and don’t doubt, you can do things like this and much more. You can even say to this mountain, ‘May God lift you up and throw you into the sea,’ and it will happen. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” Matthew 21:18-22 (NLT)

Although not spoken to His disciples in the form of a parable, this story about the fig tree and its lack of fruit strikes at the heart of the Gospel message.

The Meaning of the Curse

The disappointment of Jesus with the fig tree is an extremely significant event. At first glance, one might think Jesus is merely upset with an actual tree that failed to feed Him when He was hungry. But the fig tree and its fruit play a much larger role. They are symbols of the nation of Israel and its faith.

In Jeremiah 24, the people of Israel are compared to figs, both good and rotten. When Jesus cursed the fig tree, He symbolically placed a curse on Israel. The reason for the curse is straightforward. The fig tree (Israel) failed to bear fruit (faith) even though its leaves indicate it was in season (the appointed time for the coming of the Messiah). Due to its lack of fruit, the fig tree withered. Likewise, Israel’s lack of faith when presented with her Messiah led to her eventual destruction at the hands of the Romans in A.D. 70.

What is Good Fruit?

Jesus cursed the fig tree because of its refusal to bear fruit, and in so doing, He makes it clear that He expects His followers to bear fruit as well. And not just any kind of fruit, but specifically good fruit.

If Jesus expects us to bear good fruit, it’s essential to know what constitutes good fruit in the first place. What is good fruit? And how do we bear it? Paul defines “good fruit” in his letters to the Galatians and the Philippians:

“But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT)

This is the fruit we should produce: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Why? Because ultimately, the good fruit we bear comes from faith in Jesus Christ:

“May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation – those good things that are produced in your life by Jesus Christ – for this will bring much glory and praise to God.” Philippians 1:11 (NLT)

Good fruit should never be confused with the world’s definition of good works. Good fruit is born in the heart and blossoms outward into the world. Its only motive is Jesus Christ. But good works as defined by the world can have many motives, sometimes even evil motives. Yet, no matter how justified we feel in our own eyes, God will always measure our inner motives, never our outward deeds. Placing our trust and faith in Jesus Christ will inevitably produce the good fruits Paul mentioned in his letter to the Galatians. And when we exhibit these good fruits, the world will witness through our lives the glory that is Jesus Christ.

Good Fruit vs. Bad Fruit

To make sure we’re producing good fruit and not bad fruit, we need to know how to tell the difference. Before He placed the curse on the fig tree, Jesus warned His disciples to beware of false prophets and teachers. In fact, He used fruit as a metaphor for identifying the righteous from the evil, explaining that if a tree doesn’t bear fruit, it will be chopped down and thrown into the fire:

“Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep, but are really wolves that will tear you apart. You can detect them by the way they act, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit. You don’t pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles. A healthy tree produces good fruit, and an unhealthy tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. Yes, the way to identify a tree or a person is by the kind of fruit that is produced.” Matthew 7:15-20 (NLT)

A good tree will bear good fruit, and a bad tree will produce rotten fruit. Therefore, you can always identify the righteous and the evil based on what they produce.

God’s great commandment is to believe in the one He has sent. Those who do will bear good fruit as a natural result. This is because Jesus is the branch on which all good fruit grows, and His righteous branch can’t help but bear good fruit. Long ago, the prophet Isaiah identified the Messiah as the branch of Jesse:

“Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot – yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root.” Isaiah 11:1 (NLT)

If the generation that rejected Jesus had instead made Him the basis of their faith, the very root of their spiritual sustenance, then they would have born good fruit that is pleasing to the Lord.

So what do good fruit, bad fruit, and a barren fig tree have to do with the timing of the Second Coming of Christ? To find out, we must first understand why the fig tree had to wither.

The Withered Fig Tree

Why did the fig tree have to wither in the first place? Why did the generation which witnessed the birth of Christ lack faith in God’s promise of the coming Messiah? They committed to memory the Messianic prophecies of the Old Testament, and they knew the exact year in which the Messiah would appear in Jerusalem. Yet, because they lacked faith, they failed to recognize the time of His Coming. As a result, an entire generation failed to produce fruit for the Messiah. But why?

Although the Jews didn’t plan to reject the Messiah, God did have a plan. His plan was to spread the salvation of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth. Israel’s lack of faith was integral to this process, providing the catalyst for God to offer this salvation to the Gentiles as well. As a result, the salvation God had previously reserved for the Jews alone was offered to the entire world:

“For since the Jews’ rejection meant that God offered salvation to the rest of the world, how much more wonderful their acceptance will be. It will be life for those who were dead! And since Abraham and the other patriarchs were holy, their children will also be holy. For if the roots of the tree are holy, the branches will be, too. But some of these branches from Abraham’s tree, some of the Jews, have been broken off. And you Gentiles, who were branches from a wild olive tree, were grafted in. So now you also receive the blessing God has promised Abraham and his children, sharing in God’s rich nourishment of his special olive tree. But you must be careful not to brag about being grafted in to replace the branches that were broken off. Remember, you are just a branch, not the root. ‘Well,’ you may say, ‘those branches were broken off to make room for me.’ Yes, but remember – those branches, the Jews, were broken off because they didn’t believe God, and you are there because you do believe. Don’t think highly of yourself, but fear what could happen. For if God did not spare the branches he put there in the first place, he won’t spare you either. Notice how God is both kind and severe. He is severe to those who disobeyed, but kind to you as you continue to trust in his kindness. But if you stop trusting, you also will be cut off. And if the Jews turn from their unbelief, God will graft them back into the tree again. He has the power to do it. For if God was willing to take you who were, by nature, branches from a wild olive tree and graft you into his own good tree – a very unusual thing to do – he will be far more eager to graft the Jews back into the tree where they belong.” Romans 11:15-24 (NLT)

When Israel rejected Jesus Christ, she opened the door to salvation for the Gentiles. But God never forgot His promise to Israel, and He promises the day will come when Israel will fully embrace the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

A Second Chance for Israel

Just as Paul stated in his letter to the Romans, the Lord hasn’t forgotten Israel. She will have one more chance to bear fruit for her Messiah, and this opportunity is the key to understanding the hour of Christ’s return. Jesus illustrates this when He tells a parable about a planted fig tree:

“Then Jesus used this illustration: ‘A man planted a fig tree in his garden and came again and again to see if there was any fruit on it, but he was always disappointed. Finally, he said to his gardener, ‘I’ve waited three years, and there hasn’t been a single fig! Cut it down. It’s taking up space we can use for something else.’ The gardener answered, ‘Give it one more chance. Leave it another year, and I’ll give it special attention and plenty of fertilizer. If we get figs next year, fine. If not, you can cut it down.’” Luke 13:6-9 (NLT)

For three years, Jesus spread His message throughout Israel, performing miracles, exhibiting unprecedented knowledge of the Scriptures, and offering ample evidence of His claim to be the long awaited Messiah. Yet despite three years of testimony, Israel refused to believe in the one who was sent.

According to this parable, Israel will get one more year with “special attention and plenty of fertilizer.” If she still fails to bear fruit, she will be cut down (destroyed).

As Jesus reveals, Israel will be given a final chance to exhibit faith in Him in the last days, just prior to His Glorious Appearing. To do so, Israel must first become a nation once again, a miraculous feat which took place in May 1948. The reestablishment of Israel as a nation is the foremost sign to our generation that Christ’s return is imminent. And that’s why the fig tree is the key to understanding which generation will witness the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Through the nation of Israel, God has given the world a sign that is impossible to ignore. Nevertheless, most of the world has chosen to ignore it.

The Sign of Our Generation

In the Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24), Jesus revealed to His disciples that the primary sign of the end of the age and His soon return would be the restoration of Israel as a nation. However, He didn’t plainly say so. Instead, He once again used the fig tree as a metaphor for the nation of Israel:

“Now learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its buds become tender and its leaves begin to sprout, you know without being told that summer is near. Just so, when you see the events I’ve described beginning to happen, you can know his return is very near, right at the door. I assure you, this generation will not pass from the scene before all these things take place. Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will remain forever.” Matthew 24:32-35 (NLT)

The fig tree is Israel. It’s been six decades since Israel was once again declared a nation against all worldly odds. In Matthew 24, Jesus promises that the generation which witnesses the reestablishment of Israel will not die off until the end of the age comes to pass. Given the Bible’s impeccable track record, we have every reason to expect His imminent return. Jesus will return soon, within our generation, and a wise person will prepare accordingly.

Just as the time of His first coming was clearly revealed to the previous generation, the season of His Return has been clearly revealed to ours. The previous generation was unprepared for His arrival. Ours should be watching with a patient and enduring faith, fully confident in the glory we are about to witness. Christ is coming. The fig tree is in bloom, and ours is the generation.

Ianoint has officially launched, after 2 years of planning, countless hours of infrastructure, late nights with the IT staff, and so many many many prayers. Ianoint is here. A Christian Based Community geared to bring us together, learn from each other, and make us stronger.



Launch date

Sunday April 13th, 2008, is now in the History Books, God BLESS!!!!!

Ianoint was started on the pretense of a safe haven for Christians, as we seek to purify ourselves against the very diluted and often purposeless media that has saturated the Internet. Ianoint is different, as we seek to provide a solution, seek to be the center of everything meaningful to us as Christians and ultimately to God.

Ianoint has Launched