Real Life Radio

David J.: Today, on Real Life Radio.

Jack Hibbs: He's coming. He's coming. He's Christians are Oh, you Christians you talk about Jesus is coming. It's because he's landing. He's coming. The configuration are the events of the world. The Bible If you don't know your Bible, you don't know what I'm talking about. The Bible says this is how you're going to know. He's soon landing.

David J.: This is Real Life. Welcome to Real Life Radio with Pastor Jack Hibbs. I'm David J. Thanking you for joining us today as we listen, learn, and are challenged by God's word, the Bible. You ever felt like something's missing in your life? Maybe you've been searching for answers, for peace, or a sense of purpose. You know, the truth is those longings are there because you were created to know God. At jackhibbs.com there's a tab called know God. It's designed to help you discover what it truly means to have a relationship with God. This isn't about religion.

It's about understanding who God is and why he loves you and and how you can find hope and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. The page breaks it down in a simple, clear way, answering common questions and guiding you through the steps of faith. It's a great place to explore and reflect whether you're just curious or you're ready to make that next step. So, don't miss out on the most important relationship you'll ever have. Visit that tab called no God at jackhibbs.com and start your journey today. That's jackhibbs.com because knowing God changes everything in your life for the better.

Take that next step. Explore and reflect at the no God section at jackhibbs.com. On today's edition of Real Life Radio, Pastor Jack continues his series now called The Parables of Jesus and a message titled Parable of the Fig Tree, Part 2. A parable is a sort of picture story painted by Jesus that makes the truth absolutely crystal clear. And in this parable, we're taking a unique approach to its message by taking the time to lay its foundation. Now, as we learned in Part 1, this parable is a comparison of the natural sequence of a tree blooming in the summer to the surety of the prophetic event of Jesus when he returns.

So, today Pastor Jack teaches that just like summer is near when the fig tree is in bloom, there are indicators of the time that Jesus will return. It's why we've got to be ready for his arrival, not to simply watch, but by doing everything we can to share our faith with others. Now, with his message called Parable of the Fig Tree, Part 2, here's pastor and Bible teacher Jack Hibbs.

Jack Hibbs: Uh, my grandmother said Jesus was going to come back. Oh, yeah, that's nothing. Your grandmother's grandmother said Jesus was going to come back. That doesn't make Listen, just because a generation of grandmothers have told you that he's coming back doesn't mean that he's not coming back. Wake up, knucklehead. Knucklehead's a Hebrew word for get smart will you now. It means this. It means if your great great great great grandmother said Jesus was coming back, you, my dear friend, are closer than your great granny was ever to Jesus coming back. It doesn't mean he's not coming back.

It means just he's it's very near. And you need to be ready. But if listen, if you are not studying this stuff, if you're not looking at it, you are going to miss the joy of being ready, which by the way the Bible says God commands us to be ready and not to miss him. Very serious stuff. So, regarding the Parable of the Fig Tree, I had you turn last time to Matthew 23. You remember that? Matthew 23 at verse 37 we began reading and we went into chapter 24 and the plan was to get all the way down to verse uh, 34 and we made it really good.

We came to Matthew 24 32, which is of course the actual announcement of this parable. Jesus has now learned this parable. It's the only parable that Jesus says know this. I'm holding you people accountable to know this. And he doesn't say this about any other parable. This is mandatory. This is not an option to the Christian. Jesus says know it. What is it? Which one? The Parable of the Fig Tree. When its branch is already become tender and puts forth its leaves, remember we said that means it's springtime. You know that summer is near. It's coming.

This is very interesting. This is awesome. So, you also when you see all these things, know that it, circle the word it, is near even at the doors. And I want you to mark this down in your margins next to your Bible. Just write this down that this is a parable about timing. It's a parable parable about global events. It's a parable about the second coming of Christ and it's a parable about recognizing the signs of the last days. Jesus said 2,000 years ago that when you, whoever that generation is in the end, you'll be able to recognize the time by all these things coming to pass.

That means the disciples saw some things, but not all the things. That in the last 2,000 years people saw some things, but not all the things. And the generation that is yet ahead of us. Think of it. There's going to be a time. We know this. You know what? We know that it's safe to say it's more than 7 years away from now. They are going to see all these things come to pass and that includes the physical return of the second coming, not the rapture of Jesus Christ to Jerusalem. And don't you Isn't amazing that tonight Jerusalem is in the news again tonight about dividing it up.

Oh man, listen. Are you a skeptic in the house? This is not in my notes. I'm sorry, but listen, you got to hear me. Are you not a believer? Can I just Can I just kind of introduce you into something right now? Jerusalem's in the news tonight. For that matter, this is hard for an American to swallow. But what city is in the news more than any other city around the world at other in in other national publications? What what city appears more in news broadcast and printed news than any other city in all of the globe?

Let me Let me give you a clue. It doesn't have any oil. It doesn't have an airport. It doesn't have a river. It doesn't have gold. Uh, it doesn't have uh, freeway. It doesn't have It doesn't have a capital building. It doesn't have the Washington Monument. It's Jerusalem. You think that's a coincidence? It's a coincidence. Okay, how about this? That tonight is uh, hm May 14th. To Tonight is Israel's birthday. So what? You said so what? Well. What is it? 60 How many years? 66 66 years old today, Israel? Isn't funny? You said Jack, it's only 66 years old.

Seems like it's been around a lot longer than that. Yeah, uh, like thousands of years. But it's having its second birthday run. Why? Because no other nation in the history of the world according to the Bible and world history was a nation. And then God said if you turn your back on me, I'm not going to I'm going to stop blessing you. And when I stop blessing you, you're going to be driven out to all the nations at the end to the ends of the earth and I won't talk to you until the end days come.

And when that time comes, you'll know that I'm setting up the last days because I will call you from all corners of the globe back into your own land and I will cause Israel to become a nation again in one day. I'm talking from the book of Isaiah and listen, no nation has ever had that happen in the history of mankind, but one Here's the fun part, but one and it's the nation Israel. And here's the cool thing. God wrote it down before it ever happened. That is science, my friend. That's pure absolute science. You cannot refute it.

You can You can You can run out of the building tonight with your hair on fire. You can be grinding your teeth. You can be furious. Listen, listen. It's one word proves the existence of God. One word, Israel. Good night and God bless you. Think of it. Absolutely awesome. So, this parable comes about as the disciples asked Jesus regarding the destruction of the temple. Matthew chapter 24 verses 1 and 2 when Jesus went out and departed from the temple, his disciples came to him to show him the buildings of the temple and Jesus said to them do you not see all these things?

Assuredly I say to you, not one stone shall be left upon another that shall not be thrown down. And now as he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately and they must have been freaking out saying tell us. First question, when will these things be? Second question, what will be the sign of your coming? That's a pretty insightful question. And third, and of the end of the age. And Jesus answered and said to them take heed that no one deceives you. What a funny answer. When Jesus is all this going to happen?

His answer is watch out that you don't get deceived. Did you guys all hear that? Does this This This should cause you to sit up and take notice. This This causes me to ask the question regarding last days things and end time things and parable of the fig tree thing. Am I being deceived? Are you being deceived? Who tells you what? It better be the Bible instructing you. Because listen, that's the only way that we're going to be able to discern the days. Matthew Excuse me, Luke chapter 21. Jesus put it this way. Luke recorded it this way.

Luke 21 29 says then he spoke to them a parable and he says look at the fig tree and all the trees. In other words, seasons, springtime when they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is near. So, you also when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near. And that word near is an awesome word. Watch everybody because um, look, I need you to look at me. See this? See my hands? Every day we're moving closer to what God calls the end. The cool thing is the end for the for the believer is just the beginning.

That's cool. Events will happen on a greater scale increasing. It's listed in scripture. And as this snowball rolls, Jesus says there's going to come a time when as you discern these things, these indicators like a like like a a checkup, there's indicators. Your tongue Stick out your tongue. The doctor takes your temperature. He takes that little rubber mallet and wacks your knee with it. He's taking signs to see how you're operating. There are signs that are going to be telling us now it's getting closer and closer and closer still. Are you with me everybody? This is very very fundamentally basic.

And Jesus says when all these things are are happening, the kingdom is near. And this is amazing. Listen to what the word near means right here in Luke 21 31. The word near here means to make near upon, at or to approach or to be approaching the the the kingdom is near approaching. It is coming. Listen, it's coming and the word implies this. This is amazing. It's coming in a fashion that can be seen. Now listen, Jesus earlier 2,000 years ago told the disciples, remember, the kingdom of God is not seen like this. It's not like this.

It starts within. Remember that? And that is 100% true. But then there's the fulfillment of the kingdom when it physically comes. Did you know that? You ever think about that? The manifestation of manifestation of the physical kingdom is when Christ returns. The second coming Jesus brings or ushers in his millennial, it's called, kingdom. The Bible says that Jesus will have to rule in reign from Jerusalem for one millennia, that's 1,000 years. Listen, upon the throne of his father David, the the bloodline, the bloodline through Mary. Isn't that interesting? Jesus tonight is seated upon the throne, but not David's throne.

The Jesus Christ of the Bible has to sit upon the throne of David. Where's the throne of David? In the city, the most hotly contended city on the planet on planet earth. Why do you think that's the case? Why do you Why do you think nations Whatever decisions they make, they have to take into consideration how is this going to affect relationships with the Middle East? You want to start a riot riot? Start talking about uh, Israel's right to the land and the Palestinian effort. Want to start a riot? That will start a riot. And And listen, you research those things by the way.

You want You really want to start a riot? Tell the truth about it. That will start a fight. Go Go Do you want to create a riot? Go to the United Nations and say I've been doing some research. And there's always been in Israel. But for the life of me, for the last 5,000 years of human history, I can't find one Palestinian piece of pottery, one Palestinian flag, one Palestinian king, one Palestinian uh, border, one Do you hear what I'm saying? Go figure that one out. You said what what did you just say? Go search and see.

Are you being deceived? Because that's a hot topic item, isn't it?

David J.: You're listening to Real Life with Pastor Jack Hibbs. You know, to hear more episodes and maybe catch up in the series, just go to jackhibbs.com. That's jackhibbs.com. And for now, let's get back to our teaching. Once again, here's Pastor Jack.

Jack Hibbs: Jesus Christ has to return not to Capitalina. You see, that's what Hadrian in 135 Emperor Hadrian, Roman Empire in 135, he hated the Jews so much. He said that's it. That's it. I've had it with these people. We are going to wipe them off the face of the earth. They drive me nuts and we're going to stop all acknowledgments of them. Where do I begin? I know. We're going to call Jerusalem Capitalina and we're going to call Israel. I 'm talking 135 AD AD. We're going to call Israel after its ancient most wicked enemy, Philistines.

Who said this? An Italian in Rome by the name of Hadrian. I 've been to his house. Seriously. It's totally there still. And he said that's it. No more Israel. We're going to call it Palestine after the ancient enemies of Israel. That it really freaked them out when I rename it Palestine because they know that it's a derivative from Philistia, the Philistines. That will freak them out. And we'll just cleanse the word Jerusalem and put the word Capitalina in there. Did you know that? Why? Why? Because Satan hates Israel. Why? Because he hates Jerusalem. Why?

Because he hates the Temple Mount. Why? Because Jesus is going to return there someday. And Satan knows the Bible. And Satan's committed to destroying that city and that nation. That's why in the book of Joel and the book of Amos, God says get out of my way. I'm going to enter into the I'm going to enter into judgment with the nations of the world and I'm going to destroy them. Why? Because they have taken my city and my land and they've divided it. And for that he God says that's it. Listen, this is what John Kerry is pushing.

He's been pushing it. But then so did Hillary Clinton. So did Henry Kissinger. So did Bush. So did Bush. So the only guy that didn't was Reagan. He knew his Bible. Nixon didn't neither. He knew his Bible. Truman would have flipped because he knew his Bible. Think of it. I'm not sure if Kennedy even got involved in it. Clinton, some of the most famous pictures in the world is Clinton standing with the also Arafat and I think Shimon Peres at the time. I forget who it was or the other guy. Doesn't matter. But they're standing on the White House lawn talking about dividing up the land.

And there's the president of the United States. Look at me. I'm throwing my country under the bus. We're going to divide Jerusalem. Ladies and gentlemen, Bible prophecy, serious stuff. And I need to stick to my notes. Um, listen to this. I mentioned to you that the word near is coming as it's a scene coming. You can see it coming. It escalates. And it's like a plane. This is kind of fun for those of you who I just It just dawns on me no one's going to care about this. This is analogy that I made up and no one's going to care maybe.

I like it, so I'm going to give it anyway. When a plane when it's approaching, listen, it's in a landing configuration. You know this if you've ever flown an airplane, the plane starts to get ready to land long before you touch the ground. You seen those You hear those funny noises in the plane? And it starts to act a little funny and the wings turn into something else. You ever seen what those wings do when you get ready to land? The leading edge goes out, the trailing edge goes out, the whole wing changes. What's going on?

It's getting into its landing configuration. Listen, as it's on final approach, it's in its landing configuration. When it's touching down, it's in its landing configuration. When it does its roll out to the end of the runway, it's in its landing configuration. Listen, it's in it's in its landing configuration and the Bible tells us that when Jesus Christ listen, he's coming, the kingdom coming, there is a configuration. The plane gets into a shape, into a condition, and sets a speed and it comes in until the tires meet the earth. And if you're standing there right now, you can say oh look look, there there's an Airbus 380.

It's coming in. It's landing. Look, it's still at 3,000 ft and you're saying it's landing. Do you hear what I'm saying? It's landing and now it's at 1,500 ft. It's landing. And then it's right over the numbers. It's landing, you say. And then it touches down you go it's landing. It 's landing. There it is. You said one thing and a and a events unfolded. The same is true. Awesome. Jesus said I'm going to come back like lightning that flashes out of the east unto the west, so shall my coming be. He is landing. He's coming.

He's coming. He's Christians Oh, you Christians you talk about Jesus is coming. It's because he is landing. He is coming. The configuration are the events of the world. The Bible If you don't know your Bible, you don't know what I'm talking about. The Bible says this is how you're going to know. He's soon landing. You will watch for this. You will watch for that. And oh oh, by the way, Jerusalem, Israel is going to be a big deal. So, here we are tonight on Israel's birthday, May 14th, 1948. Israel was born as a nation in one day just as God said would happen.

And it's pure Bible prophecy. You're living in an amazing time zone right now. And it's just going to get even better prophetically. This parable is important because I want to give you six things why it's important. Because listen, it's an issue regarding preparedness. The parable is so unique and Jesus says you better know it because why? This parable challenges you and I as a Christian. It tells us we must be prepared. There's no excuse for not being prepared. Do you have a earthquake secure water heater at home? Do you? If you don't, why not? Have you not been prepared enough?

Think about it, right? Now I need to go home and see if I do. I don't remember if I do. But have we not been warned? If you choose not to do anything about it, it's your choice. You can't blame anybody. You can't go slap your neighbor and say why didn't Why didn't you secure my water heater? It wasn't his water heater. Is your heart secured? Secondly, it's an issue of vigilance. You don't hear that word anymore, huh? Vigilance? When's the last time you heard that word? Vigilance? It's a big word, serious word. Vigilance. Being in a state of watchfulness.

The It's an issue of doctrine, Bible doctrine. I challenge you from this moment forward, my dear friends, no matter uh, you know what you're reading uh, in your Bible, start looking for the word doctrine. You ought to circle it every time you see it. You're going to find out that this word doctrine, which is the word of God, the teachings of the Bible, the Bible says regarding doctrine that it's prominent above everything. Did you know listen, did you know that doctrine is prominent above things like unity? Don't you think unity is an important thing? It's It's second at best to doctrine.

Isn't that interesting? Besides, what are you going to be unified on if you don't have doctrine? Let's unite. Okay. What are we uniting for? I don't know. What do you want to unite for? Are you with me? You have to be united for a cause. And the Bible says you are only to be united when your doctrine is in agreement with the word of God doctrine. That always gets people going too. I can't believe you said that. Well, I didn't make that up. I'd love to take credit for it, but the Bible announces that. It's an issue of deception.

We're living in a time of deception. And we're being warned every day, I believe. It's an issue of biblical authority. Does the Bible mean what it says says what it means? It's an issue of biblical authority. I I say biblical authority because we're living at a time right now regarding deception that biblical authority is second in a lot of people's minds to my human feelings. Biblical authority versus human feelings, emotions.

David J.: Pastor and Bible teacher Jack Hibbs here on Real Life Radio with his message called Parable of the Fig Tree, Part 2. We're so glad you took the time to be with us today. You know, this message is part of Pastor Jack's series called The Parables of Jesus. It's a series that highlights the teachings of Jesus while he was ministering right here on this earth and will continue on the next edition of Real Life Radio. What do you say when a friend says their marriage might end? Or how do you help a coworker dealing with depression?

Do you have the right words when your child opens up about school stress or family issues or something else? The Biblical Counseling Reference Guide by June Hunt is your go-to resource when real life problems demand some real answers. Now, it's an easy to read book and it's simple to find answers that are from the Bible for every situation. With more than 580 topics and over 11,000 scripture references, you'll find what God's word says about pretty much anything from anxiety and anger to loneliness, death, and a whole lot more. Now, this isn't a book that you're going to pick up and read cover to cover, but it is one that you'll reach for in a moment of need.

And it's our thank you gift for your donation of any size to Real Life this month. And if you'd like to order your copy, and we hope you will, just visit jackhibbs.com/realradio. That's jackhibbs.com/realradio. Order your copy right away. This program is made possible by the generous contributions of you our listeners. Visit us at jackhibbs.com. That's jackhibbs.com. Until next time, Pastor Jack Hibbs and all of us here at Real Life Radio wish for you solid and steady growth in Christ and in his word. We'll see you next time here on Real Life Radio.