The Bible was written to a society that was primarily agrarian. Which is not surprising since agriculture was something that the bulk of mankind was involved in up until the last 50 years. And so it’s easy to see why the Bible often resorts to analogies that use farm implements and common crops to make its point clear.

On the other hand, considering how far America is removed from the land in our modern times – to the point where most people in high school today have never even SEEN a real cow – it isn’t too surprising that these analogies go right over our heads. Or at the very least, a good portion of their meaning escapes us. An excellent example of this is the fig tree.

Of the plants that are central in Biblical symbolism, the grape, the olive, and the fig seem to stand out. These three crops were the staple of Mediterranean civilization for most of the last 4000 years, and everybody knew all about them. And so they were handy when God needed a character for a parable or a prophecy. But they each have many unusual characteristics that escape most people. The olive tree can grow in very poor soil, and can live thousands of years, and the health benefits of its oil are only just recently being popularized. Grapes are a very powerfully cleansing food, and the sugar in grapes is almost identical to blood sugar. And the fig… well, the fig is the subject of this paper.

Figs are, as far as I know, the only crop in existence that puts out a fake crop before it’s real crop. Every year in the early spring the fig tree grows what’s known as “false figs.” They are real figs in every sense of the word, and if they grow to ripening they are the tastiest, plumpest, most delicious figs you’ve ever eaten. Which the Bible specifically says as well…

Jeremiah 24:2 One basket had very good figs, even like the figs that are first ripe: and the other basket had very naughty figs, which could not be eaten, they were so bad.

But as these figs grow, if the plant is not extremely healthy, or encounters the slightest difficulty or stress, they wither and fall off. At the slightest trouble, these figs disappear. Meanwhile, the fig has set on it’s true crop of hundreds or thousands of figs, which ripen later. The false figs are generally ripe sometime in April, while the true figs ripen in June. There is a lot of meaning there, but first we have to let the Bible explain what the fig means.

Hosea 9:10 I 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.

Here God says that Israel – specifically, the group that He led out of Egypt – were like the “firstripe” figs. Emphasizing the fruit from the fig’s FIRST time of production. So He is specifically singling out the “false figs” for this analogy. This is what I meant when I said that most of the meaning of these symbols goes over the heads of most people in our society, because very few people know that figs have two crops. Now to make our analogy clear, this is what God said of Israel, whom He called “false figs.”

Exodus 4:22 And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn:

The firstborn are very important in God’s plan. The firstborn of Israel were a type of the firstborn of the Earth – all those called and saved during this time, as I’ve explained in my other articles.

Hebrews 12:23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

Today’s true church is a church of the FIRSTBORN. Or, to put it differently, a church of the False Figs. But don’t let the name “false figs” throw you – until you’re lucky enough to eat one of the very few firstripe figs that make it to ripening on a healthy fig tree, you can’t appreciate just how huge and delicious they are. But they are very unstable, and hard to keep on the tree that long, as God says:

Nahum 3:12 All thy strong holds shall be like fig trees with the firstripe figs: if they be shaken, they shall even fall into the mouth of the eater.

The firstripe figs are easily shaken off because their growing conditions are harder. It’s really a bit too early for them to grow, the weather can still be chilly, the plant often isn’t fully leafed out yet, and many things can go wrong. So now it’s time to start explaining what all this means, in case you hadn’t guessed already. You, if you’re reading this, are a firstripe fig. Not a RIPE firstripe fig, but a firstripe fig nonetheless.

You have been called by God and offered a chance at being a part of the first resurrection – the resurrection of the firstborn. But it’s a hard way, where “many are called, few are chosen” – and fewer still remain faithful. So it’s relatively easy to shake you off the tree, so to speak. But if you can make it through, you’ll be one of the plumpest, best tasting “figs” God has ever eaten.

Mark 11:12-14 And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry: And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found NOTHING BUT LEAVES; for the time of figs was not yet. And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.

Did it ever occur to you to wonder why Jesus, upon seeing a fig tree that didn’t have any figs on it – because it wasn’t the time of year to bear figs – He up and cursed the tree for no real reason? I mean, talk about unreasonable! To expect to find figs on a tree at the wrong time of year and to curse it forever because of it!

But by the time my fig tree is fully leafed out, it also has false figs! And usually, they aren’t far from being ripe! So while the time of the TRUE figs was not yet, the time of the false figs must have already been there! This tree represents the church, as we see from context. Specifically, the old testament church that was represented by the Pharisees of the day. Because the next verses go on to say…

Verses 15-20 And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers… And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves… And when even was come, he went out of the city. And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.

So He walks into town, curses a fig tree on the way, then goes in, kicks the moneygrubbing vendors out of the temple, yells at them soundly, then on the way out we see the fig again. That cannot be a coincidence.

Verse 21 And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away.

The church was intended to produce firstripe figs – it was the church of the Firstborn, as I quoted above. But the Pharisees were not doing that – they were fruitless.

Matthew 23:13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.

And even though it wasn’t the time of the figs – that is, the time when ALL the figs are ripe, the second resurrection – Jesus was angry when, on coming to them, He found “only leaves.” He found lots of show and ceremony, but no actual FRUIT! And so in the symbol of the fig tree, He cursed the Pharisees and said that no fruit was to grow out of them any more for ever – and shortly after, at His death and resurrection, He replaced their priesthood with His own.

Revelation 6:13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.

Again, untimely figs are figs that are growing before the time of the main crop – the false figs. And these are very easily shaken off, and a great many of them fall, just as it is very easy for you to fall by the wayside and be consumed among thorns, thistles, eaten by crows or scorched upon rocks. And God will go out of His way to “shake your tree” just to see if you really do want to hang on or not.

Hebrews 12:26-27 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.

And now it’s time to put this in bigger perspective. If you’re familiar with the plan of the holy days, you’ll recall that the seven days of unleavened bread picture the firstfruits – the salvation of the first crop of mankind during this seven thousand year week. Us, should we remain faithful.

And the day of Pentecost, symbolically roughly 50,000 years in the future, pictures the completion of the salvation of all mankind, everyone else who has ever lived being given their shot at salvation. And then, after saving everyone who can be saved, Christ hands up the kingdom to His Father and says “it is done” (1 Corinthians 15:24-28).

And around the days of unleavened bread is when the false figs are usually ready. Which also pictures the firstfruits saved in this age. And believe it or not, Pentecost is coming up in two weeks as I write this, and my figs are just about ripe. So it seems that God designed the fig tree, as He designed the cycles of the moon and the orbit of the earth, to fit around His plan to save mankind. Because after all – all the stars, all the planets, and all the fig trees were put here for one purpose – to help build God’s family. And now you know the fig tree’s part in that plan.