Greetings everyone,

Let's have a look at some examples of polyvalent symbolism, in order to see
how carefully we must be in reading the text.


THE FIG TREE


Frequently we refer to the fig tree as a symbol of Israel. Frequently,
however, it is not.
Let's have a look at the use of the fig tree as a symbol in Scripture:

Judges 9:
8The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said
unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us.
9But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by
me they honour God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?
10And the trees said to *the fig tree*, Come thou, and reign over us.
11But *the fig tree* said unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my
good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees?
12Then said the trees unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over us.

This is the parable of Jotham, the son of Gideon. Obviously the trees here
are used to represent people, and certain trees are mentioned specifically
as being suitable for leadership due to some quality which they have.

It is clear, however, that the fig tree is not being used to represent
Israel. We can also see that the principal characteristic of the fig tree is
its rich sweet fruit (as we saw in the last post).

1 Kings 4:
25And Judah and Israel dwelt safely, every man under his vine and under *his
fig tree*, from Dan even to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon.

This is speaking of the peacful reign of Solomon. Here the fig tree is
associated with peace, just as it is often associated with prosperity.
Certainly it is the nation of Israel which is experiencing the peace of
Solomon's reign in this passage, but just as certainly the fig tree is not
being used to *represent* Israel - it is being used in conjunction with the
vine as an extended metaphor for peace and prosperity.

Here are some other passages which incorporate the fig tree in their
symbolism:

Isaiah 36:
16Hearken not to Hezekiah: for thus saith the king of Assyria, Make an
agreement with me by a present, and come out to me: and eat ye every one of
his vine, and *very one of his fig tree* and drink ye every one the waters
of his own cistern;

Jeremiah 5:
17And they shall eat up thine harvest, and thy bread, which thy sons and thy
daughters should eat: they shall eat up thy flocks and thine herds: they
shall eat up thy vines *and thy fig trees* they shall impoverish thy fenced
cities, wherein thou trustedst, with the sword.

Jeremiah 8:
13I will surely consume them, saith the LORD: there shall be no grapes on
the vine, *nor figs on the fig tree*, and the leaf shall fade; and the
things that I have given them shall pass away from them.

Hosea 2:
12And I will destroy her vines *and her fig trees*, whereof she hath said,
These are my rewards that my lovers have given me: and I will make them a
forest, and the beasts of the field shall eat them.

Hosea 9:
10I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers as the
firstripe in the fig tree at her first time: but they went to Baalpeor, and
separated themselves unto that shame; and their abominations were according
as they loved.

Joel 1:
6For a nation is come up upon my land, strong, and without number, whose
teeth are the teeth of a lion, and he hath the cheek teeth of a great lion.
7He hath laid my vine waste, *and barked my fig tree*: he hath made it clean
bare, and cast it away; the branches thereof are made white.

12The vine is dried up, *and the fig tree languisheth*; the pomegranate
tree, the palm tree also, and the apple tree, even all the trees of the
field, are withered: because joy is withered away from the sons of men.

Joel 2:
22Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness
do spring, for the tree beareth her fruit, *the fig tree* and the vine do
yield their strength.

Why is the fig tree being used in them? What is its function in the text in
these passages? The symbolism in each one is the same - but are they all
speaking of the same event?


THE STARS FALLING, THE HEAVENS PASSING AWAY


References to the stars falling and the heavens passing away are frequent in
Scripture - notably in Revelation. The metaphor is striking, and always
associated with monumental upheaval.
But is the metaphor always used to represent the same event?

Isaiah 13:
9Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger,
to lay the land desolate: and He shall destroy the sinners thereof out of
it.
10For *the stars of heaven* and the constellations thereof shall not give
their light: *the sun* shall be darkened in his going forth, and *the moon*
shall not cause her light to shine.

The darkening of the sun, moon and stars - what do they represent? What is
this event?

Here is another passage which uses exactly the same imagery:

Ezekiel 31:
7And when I shall put thee out, *I will cover the heaven*, and make the
*stars thereof dark*; I will cover *the sun with a cloud*, and *the moon
shall not give her light*.

The darkening of the sun, moon and stars - what do they represent? Is this
the same event as described in Isaiah 13?
If not, why do we find the same symbolism used?

Here is another passage which uses the imagery of the sun, moon, and stars:

Isaiah 34:
4And all *the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be
rolled together as a scroll*: and all their host shall fall down, as the
leaf falleth off from the vine, and *as a falling fig from the fig tree*.

Why are the sun, moon, and stars used here? What is their function? Note the
reference to the fig tree - but is this the fig tree being used to represent
Israel here?

An understanding of how symbolism is used in Scripture is the key to
understanding the metaphors contained in these prophecies.

Be strong and of a good courage.
Jonathan.