INTRODUCTION

The people in Jesus’ day, particularly the Pharisees, were always seeking after a sign from Jesus. Adding to their frustration with him, was that he did not give them any signs. Rather, he rebuked them. They could look at the skies and predict the weather; but they were missing the signs of their times! They were good weather men but they were missing the first appearance of Jesus! I will leave the weather forecasts to others. With Jesus’ help I do not want to miss any of the signs in our times.

“And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. He answered them, “When it is evening, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.' And in the morning, 'It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.' You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.” [Matthew 16:1-3 ESV]

He also said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, 'A shower is coming.' And so it happens. And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, 'There will be scorching heat,' and it happens. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?” [Luke 12:54-56 ESV]

The preceding scriptures helped me to want to focus on the signs of the times; but in my studies of end time events nothing ignited a burning desire inside of me like Matthew chapter twenty-four and that portion commonly know as the “Olivet Discourse.” I want to have some understanding of the end-times!

“Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. But he answered them, "You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down."  As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”  [Matthew 24:1-3 ESV]

After the preceding verses, Jesus began his “Olivet Discourse.” His prophecies of the end-times parallels many of those related to us by John in Revelation. Near the end of his discourse Jesus gives us the lesson of the fig tree. That scripture is the inspiration for the name of this website. “Read the Fig Leaves!”

“From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates.”  [Matthew 24:32-33 ESV]    

A close reading of the above passage allows us to know that “he is near” when the things that he foretold in this chapter happens. I believe that “he is near”  is referring to Jesus’ appearing with the clouds and with his heavenly host and those that had died while in-Christ to catch away his Church—This is often referred to as the Rapture. If we apply the same principle that we use to determine when summer is near, then we can know when his appearing is near; but Jesus follows up a few verses later with a verse that makes it clear that we cannot know the day of his appearing!

“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark.”  [Matthew 24:36-38 ESV]

I believe that things will progressively get worse as the time of his appearing nears; for he will be using his judgments of “sword, famine, and pestilence” in the end time before his appearing. Even with all the troubles that man will be enduring, it will still be as it was in the days of Noah. Man will still be living his life of “eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage.” After his appearance with the clouds, then his wrath will be poured out on all mankind! The lives of all mankind will then drastically change!

Near the end of his discourse, he gives those that are “eagerly awaiting his return” an admonition to “stay awake” and to “be ready!”

“Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”  [Matthew 24:42-44 ESV]

It is my hope that this website will be of benefit to many as I share what I believe to be the “signs of the times” and what they mean. Over the next few months I will share my writings about some of the prophecies of Daniel and those writings of John in Revelation. I hope that you will go on this journey with me and that you find it helpful.

All scripture used in this website is from the ESV version unless specifically noted!