三十二节开头的“但是”一辞，指明从三十二节至二十五章三十节是另一段，指明主在祂的豫言里，从犹太人转到信徒。
在三十二节里，无花果树象征以色列国，在二十一章十九节被咒诅。这树经过漫长的冬天，从第一世纪直到主后一九四八年，以色列国得着复国，那就是这树的枝子发嫩长叶了。这无花果树是这世代终结的兆头，也是给信徒的兆头。发嫩表征生命的复苏，长叶表征复兴的时代。冬天表征枯干的时期，灾难的期间（太二四7-21）；夏天表征国度复兴的时代（路二一30-31），这时代要开始于主的再来。
三十三节说，“照样，你们几时看见这一切的事，也该知道那夏天近了，正在门口了。”这一切的事，指七至三十二节所豫言的事。那夏天，指三十二节的夏天所表征以色列国的复兴。
无花果树象征以色列国。以色列是给我们的兆头，正如国度福音的传扬是给犹太人的兆头。犹太人看见国度福音的传扬，就该领悟那是要来灾难的兆头。同样的，以色列这无花果树，对我们是关于主来临的兆头。门徒问主关于祂来临的兆头，和这世代终结的兆头。在前一段主说到这世代终结的兆头。这兆头就是国度福音的传扬。现在主说到另一个兆头，祂来临的兆头。这兆头就是无花果树。当树枝发嫩长叶的时候，我们就知道夏天－弥赛亚国完全的复兴－近了。
今天就人口和地理而言，以色列还没有完全复兴。以色列人和阿拉伯人在争约但河西之地和戈兰高地。照着圣经，靠近黑门山的戈兰高地，和约但河西之地属于美地，并且将属于以色列。主是主宰一切的，祂知道以色列人与阿拉伯人之间的局势。祂晓得以色列国的复兴尚未完全。以色列国的复兴越来越完全。在千年国时，要达到完全。
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The Sign of the Fig Tree – Matt. 24:32-33
The word “but” in the beginning of Matthew 24: 32 indicates that from verse 32 through 25:30 is another section, where the Lord turns from the Jews to the believers in his prophecy.
The fig tree in verse 32, signifying the nation of Israel, was cursed in Matthew 21:19. It passed through a long winter, from the first century to A.D. 1948, when the nation of Israel was restored. That was its branch becoming tender and putting forth its leaves. This fig tree is a sign of the end of this age and a sign to the believers. To become tender signifies that life has come back, and to put forth leaves signifies outward activity. Winter signifies the time of being dried up, the time of tribulation (Matt. 24:7-21). Summer signifies the age of the restored kingdom (Luke 21:30-31), which will begin at the Lord’s second coming.
Verse 33 says, “So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near, at the doors.” All these things refer to the things predicted in verses 7 through 32. “It” refers to the restored kingdom of Israel, signified by the summer in verse 32.
We have pointed out that the fig tree symbolizes the nation of Israel. Israel is a sign to us, just as the preaching of the gospel of the kingdom is a sign to the Jews. When the Jews see the preaching of the gospel of the kingdom, they should realize that it is a sign of the coming tribulation. Likewise, Israel as a fig tree is a sign to us concerning the Lord’s coming. The disciples had asked the Lord concerning the sign of his coming and the sign of the consummation of the age. In the foregoing section the Lord gave the sign of the consummation of the age. This sign is the preaching of the gospel of the kingdom. Now the Lord gave another sign, the sign of his coming, which is the fig tree. When its branches become tender and it puts forth its leaves, we know that summer, the full restoration of the Messianic kingdom, is near.
As far as both population and geography are concerned, there has not been a full restoration of Israel. The Israelis and the Arabs are quarreling about the land west of the Jordan and about the Golan Heights. According to the Bible, the Golan Heights, close to Mount Hermon, and the land west of the Jordan belong to the good land and should belong to Israel. The Lord is sovereign and he knows the situation between Israel and the Arabs. He realizes that the restoration of the nation of Israel is not yet in full. In fact, the restoration of the nation of Israel is becoming more and more full. At the time of the millennium, it will reach its fullness.