By Christine Darg,
Jerusalem Channel
“Who has ever heard of such things? Who has ever seen things like this? Can a country be born in a day or a nation be brought forth in a moment? Yet no sooner is Zion in labor than she gives birth to her children.” (Isaiah 66: 8)
Seventy years ago on the Hebrew Calendar, the nation of Israel was born not just in a day, as prophesied in Isaiah, but in a few minutes. David Ben-Gurion, Israel’s first Prime Minister, announced the birth of the state in a speech and ceremony in Tel Aviv that lasted only a few minutes because the sun was setting and the sabbath was beginning.
In the photo at left, I’m holding a copy of the Scroll of Independence in Independence Hall.
The Biblical-looking scroll was fashioned later.
At the time of the Declaration, Ben-Gurion only read from a plain paper version.
I wonder how much of the world understands what a prophetic milestone is happening with Israel’s passing into the age of maturity, turning 70 years old, and possibly fulfilling the End-Time generation that Jesus prophesied in Matthew 24: 32-34:
 
“Now learn this lesson from the fig tree [a symbol of the nation of Israel]: 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 ite is near, right at the door. Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 
How could this 70th celebration be more significant than past Independence Days?
Rabbinic scholars point out that the number 70 appears several times in the Torah: 70 elders of the Jewish nation, 70 languages and nations of the world, and 70 members of Jacob‘s family that came to Egypt. 
The number 70 also stands for the completion of a generation. And if we go to Matthew 24, in his briefing to his disciples on the Mt. of Olives, Jesus said that “the generation” that would witness various End-time signs along with the budding again of the fig tree (Israel) would also witness his Second Coming.
 
Furthermore, Jesus instructed his disciples to learn the parable of the fig tree. Church leaders who preach Replacement Theology and who rail against the state of Israel tragically have not learned the parable of the fig tree! Just as Jesus rebuked the religious leaders of his day, Matthew 16: 3 is a reproof of many current church leaders: “…but can ye not discern the signs of the times?”
As a divine judgment, under Jesus’s ministry a fig tree was dried up from its roots because it did not bear any visible fruit. The incident of the withering of the fig tree happened toward the end of the earthly ministry of Jesus– it was a parable to be observed and to be carefully watched.  The fig tree’s root was not killed or removed. A new tree would revive and spring from the root. Jesus prophesied that the nation of Israel would live again, and when it shall “put forth leaves,” then we shall have the “FIG-TREE SIGN” that the Lord’s return is near.
First  the “Fig tree” nation will bear leaves before it bears fruit. Israel will be be revived nationally before she is saved.
 
Therefore, the nation of Israel is surely a prophetic End-time sign.
The fig tree lives!  The fig tree once again has put forth its shoots.
An Israeli court ruled this week that it is permitted for visitors to the Temple Mount compound to call out, “Am Yisrael chai” (“The people of Israel live”), because it is a patriotic slogan rather than prayer.  Attorney activist Itamar Ben Gvir called his court victory “a gift to the Jewish people on the eve of Israel’s 70th Independence Day.”
 
When you see the fig tree blossom, Jesus said, “know that summer is near……Likewise, when you shall see ALL these things coming to pass [wars, earthquakes, tsumanis, pestilences, the rebirth of Israel, conflict over Jerusalem, etc.], know that the Lord’s return is near, even at the doors.”
Jesus added dramatically, “Truly I say unto you, this generation shall not pass away, until all these things be fulfilled.”
Clarence Larkin wrote about the three trees to which Israel is compared in Scripture, noting:
 
THE VINE is a symbol of Israel’s spiritual privileges.
 
THE FIG TREE is a symbol of Israel’s national privileges.
 
THE OLIVE TREE is a symbol of Israel’s religious privileges.
These three trees are particularly fit symbols of Israel throughout the Bible because the “Vine,” the “Fig tree,” and the “Olive” stand for the fruitfulness of the land.
We are not ignorant about the great prophetic events coming to pass in the Mideast. It is our privilege at The Jerusalem Channel and Exploits Ministry to help prepare the way of the Lord and to explain the times prophetically. Thank you for standing with our ministry in prayer!