Copper, Jesus told his illustration in the Northern hemisphere spring of 33 CE. Fig trees were near to sprouting. Peter,Andrew ,James and John were the only ones present.He was not giving them a botany lesson. Over the following decades his words were reported by disciples that were not present but recognized the point of his illustration. Those that would see the things happening at an unspecified future time should easily recognize ''he is near at the doors''.
(Matthew 24:32, 33) “Now learn this illustration from the fig tree: Just as soon as its young branch grows tender and sprouts its leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 Likewise also you, when you see all these things, know that he is near at the doors.
(Mark 13:28, 29) “Now learn this illustration from the fig tree: Just as soon as its young branch grows tender and sprouts its leaves, you know that summer is near. 29 Likewise also you, when you see these things happening, know that he is near at the doors.
(Luke 21:29, 30) With that he told them an illustration: “Notice the fig tree and all the other trees. 30 When they are budding, you see it for yourselves and know that now the summer is near.
People are perceptive ... but for many only if it suits them.
(Matthew 16:1-4) Here the Pharisees and Sadducees approached him, and to test him, they asked him to display to them a sign from heaven. 2 In reply he said to them: “When evening falls, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is fire-red,’ 3 and in the morning, ‘It will be wintry, rainy weather today, for the sky is fire-red but gloomy.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but the signs of the times you cannot interpret. 4 A wicked and adulterous generation keeps seeking a sign, but no sign will be given it except the sign of Joʹnah.” With that he went away, leaving them behind.
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