"The fig tree puts forth her green figs, And the vines with the tender grapes Give a good smell. Rise up, my love, my fair one, And come away!" Song of Solomon 2:13

Among all fruit-bearing trees, the fig tree is uniquely prophetic--because it is one of the few that produces two harvests in a single growing season. First comes the early crop in spring, known in Scripture as the "first ripe fig" (Isaiah 28:4), and then a second, more abundant harvest in late summer or early fall. This uncommon pattern is a living picture of prophecy woven into the fabric of creation. Of all the trees in creation, only a few bear fruit twice in a single year--and God chose one of them, the fig tree, to reflect the prophetic rhythm of redemption. Through it, He reveals a double harvest: first in Messiah's coming for the remnant of Israel, and again in the final ingathering when "all Israel will be saved." The fig tree--deeply tied to the Jewish people--stands as a living sign of both restoration and the coming harvest of the world. This twofold harvest speaks deeply to the first and soon to be second coming of the Messiah. The early crop points to Jesus's first coming: His death and resurrection, the firstfruits of salvation (1 Corinthians 15:20). The later harvest mirrors His return in glory — to judge the nations, restore Israel, and bring in the final ingathering. But neither harvest happens in isolation. For the fig tree to produce both crops, multiple environmental factors must converge--sunlight, temperature, soil, and timing must align. Just as the fig tree responds to a perfect set of conditions, the signs of our day are falling into place with striking unity. Israel has returned to her land. The gospel is reaching the nations. Lawlessness is increasing. The Church is being purified. Apostasy abounds. These aren't random events — they are a prophetic convergence, signaling that the appointed time is drawing near. Just as the fig tree sends out all its leaves together in one season, the simultaneous unfolding of these signs declares with certainty: the season is now. Yeshua said, "When you see all these things"--every branch budding at once--"know that it is near, even at the doors" (Matthew 24:33). Even the Biblical calendar echoes this divine rhythm. The early harvest aligns with the Lord’s feasts (moedim) of Passover and Firstfruits, fulfilled in Messiah’s first coming through His death and resurrection. The later harvest corresponds to Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles--also called the Feast of Ingathering--a prophetic picture of God dwelling with His people and gathering the nations at the end of the age. The word moedim—translated as “feasts”—literally means appointed times, signaling that what we are witnessing is not random or seasonal, but divinely timed. The prophetic calendar is not winding down—it is ripening toward its final fulfillment. This is not just the close of an age--it is the unfolding of a final and glorious harvest. Scripture reveals the Son of Man with a sickle in His hand, reaping the earth at the appointed time (Revelation 14:14-20). Soon, as promised, "all Israel will be saved" (Romans 11:26). Brothers & Sisters, as the signs converge, rise with purpose. Stay fixed on your assignment: step into the harvest, proclaim the gospel, awaken the sleeping, and keep your heart burning with joyful expectation. The fig tree is not just a warning—it’s a summons from heaven. It declares with urgency and certainty: the harvest is ripe, and the King is on His way. So go—gather, labor, watch, and rejoice. For soon, the Lord of the harvest will appear, and He will gather His own. TWO COMINGS, ONE TREE: THE MYSTERY OF THE DOUBLE HARVEST!

"Now learn the parable of the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors." Matthew 24:32-33

Jesus used the fig tree—a familiar symbol in Israel’s botanical and prophetic world—as a teaching tool to awaken spiritual discernment. The fig tree, known for losing all its leaves in winter and budding again in spring, became a natural signpost to mark the changing seasons. In the same way, Jesus gave His disciples prophetic markers to discern a coming shift: wars, famines, false messiahs, persecution, lawlessness, and the global preaching of the gospel (Matthew 24:4–14). But notice Jesus's exact words: “When you see all these things, know that it is near.” The fig tree doesn’t represent just one sign—it represents the convergence. It is not a single event that signals the nearness of His coming, but the culmination of many signs happening together, like leaves sprouting in unison on the same tree. In Hebraic thought, when multiple prophetic signs align, it indicates that the “appointed time” (moed, מוֹעֵד) is drawing near. The fig tree here becomes a picture of prophetic convergence—when multiple branches of God’s plan begin to bud at once. Just as spring doesn’t arrive with only one leaf, so the end of the age doesn’t come with only one sign; it is the collection of “all these things” that confirms the season. Botanically, fig trees must respond to environmental conditions in unison—temperature, light, and soil moisture trigger a synchronized leafing and fruiting. Likewise, global events—geopolitical tension, moral collapse, spiritual deception, and the restoration of Israel—are spiritual signals to the Church. When we see these things together, Jesus says, “Know that it is near.” So the fig tree is more than a metaphor—it’s a prophetic mirror. When its branches are tender and the signs are many, summer is at hand. Lift your eyes. Don’t dismiss the convergence of signs as coincidence—Jesus said when you see all these things, the door of redemption is about to open. Brothers & Sisters, so rise up—shake off distraction and complacency. The fig tree is speaking, and the signs are converging with precision. This is your hour to watch, to warn, and to walk in holiness. Refuse to be dull in a prophetic moment. Let faith replace fear, clarity replace confusion, and urgency replace apathy -- for you were born for such a time as this. DISCERN THE SEASON!

"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." Matthew 24:32

Jesus didn't merely offer a suggestion--He issued a command: "Learn the parable." In Greek, the word manthano implies disciplined learning, not casual observation. In Hebraic thought, to "learn" a parable means to press into its hidden meaning until it transforms how you live. The fig tree is not just a poetic image--it's a prophetic mandate. And Jesus expected His disciples, including us, to understand it deeply. The fig tree often symbolizes Israel throughout Scripture (Hosea 9:10; Jeremiah 24; Joel 1:7). When Jesus told this parable just days before His crucifixion, He had already cursed a fig tree that bore no fruit (Matthew 21:19), symbolizing Israel's spiritual barrenness at the time. But in this parable, the fig tree is coming back to life. Its tender branches and new leaves are signs of renewal and return. What is the most visible sign that this fig tree is budding? The miraculous rebirth of the nation of Israel in 1948, after nearly 2,000 years of dispersion. This event marked the start of a prophetic countdown--Israel is now the major signpost in the convergence of end-time events. Just as a budding fig tree tells you summer is near, the rebirth of Israel tells you the end-time season has begun. Jesus said, "When you see all these things"--not just Israel's rebirth, but deception, wars, lawlessness, global shaking, and the gospel going to all nations--"know that it is near, at the doors" (Matthew 24:33). Like a fig tree responding to the sun, soil, and rain all at once, the prophetic signs are responding to a divine convergence. Israel is the centerpiece, but not the only branch. So Jesus's call to "learn the parable" is not just about agriculture--it's about prophetic awakening. To learn is to perceive the time, understand the signs, and prepare our hearts for the return of the King. Israel's restoration is not a coincidence — it's a trumpet blast to the nations (Isaiah 11:11-12). The fig tree has budded. Now we must ask: are we watching, learning, and responding as we were commanded to? Brothers & Sisters, the ancient promises are sprouting before your eyes. The Lord of the harvest calls you--not to slumber, but to learn the parable, discern the season, and awaken the sleeping. This is no time for apathy. It is the hour of prophetic clarity. You are commissioned to perceive the signs, hear the sound of convergence, and prepare the way of the Lord with boldness and truth. For the One who spoke of the fig tree is near--even at the door. "Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning... for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect." (Luke 12:35-40) Blessed is that servant whom the Master finds watching when He comes. Amen. So be it. Sound the trumpet. A PROPHETIC MANDATE: LEARN THE PARABLE!

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope." Romans 15:13

In a world full of uncertainty, this verse from Romans stands like a lighthouse in the storm: "The God of hope..." Not just the God who gives hope, but the very source of it. When everything around us seems shaken -- economies falter, nations rage, relationships strain -- it is the God of hope who remains unshaken and unchanging. The apostle Paul is writing this as both a blessing and a prayer. His desire is that believers wouldn't just scrape by emotionally, but be filled -- overflowing with joy and peace. But there's a condition: "in believing." Joy and peace are not produced by circumstances going right, but by faith -- by believing that God is good, God is near, and God is working all things together for good. And here's the beautiful secret: it's not up to us to manufacture this hope. Paul says it is "by the power of the Holy Spirit" that we abound in hope. That means when you feel empty, weak, or discouraged, you can cry out to the Spirit of God, and He will fill you. This is not wishful thinking; this is supernatural empowerment. But it doesn't end with you. The hope God gives is not meant to be bottled up. If you're not centered in His hope, you'll have nothing of substance to give to a hopeless world. But when you are filled -- when your life is anchored in His peace and joy through faith -- you become a vessel that overflows. You begin to spread abounding hope to those around you: in your family, in your workplace, in your community, and even across nations. Hope becomes contagious. And in these last days, a hope-filled believer becomes a blazing signpost pointing to a living Savior. So rise up, child of God. The world is drowning in fear, division, and despair—but you carry the answer. Let the God of hope fill you so completely that hopelessness has no room to linger. Let joy silence anxiety. Let peace disarm chaos. And let the blazing hope of the Holy Spirit within you pierce the darkness like a sword of light. This is your calling -- not just to survive in these days, but to abound. To be a walking embassy of heaven’s hope. To lift the weary. To speak life into the broken. To shine with a supernatural confidence that the world cannot explain -- because your hope isn’t rooted in headlines, but in the unshakable promises of God. Brothers & Sisters, you were not meant to carry a dim candle. You were meant to burn bright with holy fire. So stay centered in His hope—and then go and spread it with boldness, until the whole world knows: there is a God of hope, and His name is Jesus. ABOUNDING IN HOPE!

"And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore, pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. 3 Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves." Luke 10:2-3

When Jesus spoke these words not only to the seventy He sent ahead of Him, but to every disciple who follows Him into the world, it’s a striking picture: fields overflowing with a harvest, ready to be gathered. The problem isn’t the readiness of the harvest -- it's the shortage of workers willing to go. “The harvest is plentiful…” These words should ignite faith within us. They remind us that Abba has already been at work—preparing hearts, breaking up the hard ground, and causing seeds of truth to grow. Our role is not to make the harvest happen but to join Him in reaping what He has already made ready. But Jesus doesn't stop there. He says, "Pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest…" The first step is not action—it is intercession. Before we go, we must seek His face. When we pray for laborers, something happens in us: our hearts align with His, and we often become part of the answer to our own prayer. Then comes the sobering truth: "Go your way… I am sending you out as lambs among wolves." This mission will not be without cost. The world may oppose the message of the Kingdom. But our confidence doesn’t rest in our strength -- it rests in the Shepherd who laid down His life for the sheep. We go not in fear, but in faith. Not with force, but with love. Not as predators, but as peacemakers—carrying the message of redemption and the power of the Holy Spirit. The time is now. The fields are not just ready -- they are bursting with opportunity. Jesus did not speak these words to inspire passivity, but to ignite purpose. You were not saved to sit -- you were saved to be sent. The same Spirit that empowered the early disciples burns within you. The same voice that called them still calls today: "Go." Yes, the wolves are real. The resistance is real. But so is the power, the protection, and the presence of Jesus, who walks with you. You are not going alone -- you are being sent by the King of Kings, commissioned by the Lord of the Harvest, and carried by the strength of the Holy Spirit. Brothers & Sisters, so rise up, laborer. Shake off fear. Step into the harvest fields with boldness and compassion. Speak truth. Show mercy. Proclaim the Kingdom. You were made for this moment. Now go—and reap. THE HARVEST IS PAINFUL!

"if the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” 4 The LORD is in his holy temple; the LORD's throne is in heaven; his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man. 5 The LORD tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence [Hamas]. 6 Let him rain coals on the wicked; fire and sulfur and a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup. 7 For the LORD is righteous; he loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold his face." Psalms 11:3-7

This piercing question opens Psalm 11 like a cry from the heart in troubled times. It’s a question we ask when law and order collapse, when truth is ridiculed, and when those who do evil seem to triumph. The foundations -- the principles of righteousness, justice, and truth that uphold society -- are under siege. And it begs the question: What can God's people do when everything righteous seems to be crumbling? The answer comes immediately: "The LORD is in His holy temple; the LORD’s throne is in heaven." God has not abdicated His throne. He is not shaken by the shaking of this world. While evil rises and darkness spreads, God remains sovereign, seated above it all. He sees. He knows. "His eyes behold, His eyelids test the children of man." He is not blind to what is happening. He is testing the hearts of all people -- especially the righteous. The Hebrew word for violence in Psalm 11:5 is hamas -- the very same word that names the modern terrorist organization Hamas. This is no linguistic coincidence. In Scripture, hamas describes more than just aggression; it embodies a spirit of brutal injustice, lawlessness, oppression, and bloodshed. It’s the same violent corruption that filled the earth in the days of Noah (Genesis 6:11), provoking God to cleanse the world with judgment. The spirit of hamas is ancient, and it remains active in our day -- cloaked in modern ideology but rooted in the same rebellion against God's order. God is not passive toward such evil -- He hates hamas. Whether it manifests as personal cruelty or coordinated terror, He detests those who love violence. Psalm 11:6 makes the verdict clear: "Let Him rain coals on the wicked; fire and sulfur and a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup." This isn't poetic metaphor -- it's prophetic reality. The rise of hamas may be celebrated in the streets of men, but it stands condemned by the throne of heaven. God’s justice is sure. Evil may have its moment, but it will not have the final word. But even as judgment falls, a promise shines for the faithful: "The LORD is righteous… the upright shall behold His face." God delights in righteousness. He takes pleasure in those who remain upright, even when the world collapses around them. For those who endure, the reward is more than rescue -- it’s relationship. They will see His face. Take heart, righteous one. Though the foundations shake, hamas—violence and lawlessness—floods the earth, and the wicked rise with boldness, do not be moved. God is still on His throne. He sees, He tests, He judges—and He remembers the faithful. Brothers & Sisters, embrace the testing. It’s not to break you, but to prepare you. Each trial draws you closer, deepens your dependence, and refines your walk. And in the end, the promise remains: the upright will behold His face. THE UPRIGHT SHALL SEE HIS FACE!

"Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, "So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow." 3 Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. 4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, "It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers." 5 And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, "Arise and eat." 1 Kings 19:1-5

After one of the greatest spiritual victories in all of Scripture--calling down fire from heaven on Mount Carmel and turning the hearts of Israel back to God--Elijah finds himself blindsided by fear. Jezebel's threat, a single message promising his death within twenty-four hours, sends him running for his life. The same man who boldly faced hundreds of false prophets now flees into the wilderness, collapsing under a broom tree, physically exhausted and emotionally shattered. In that lonely place, Elijah utters one of the most raw and human prayers recorded in Scripture: "It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life." How does a prophet fall so far, so fast? Because even the strongest among us are not immune to burnout, to despair, or the crushing weight of unmet expectations. Elijah had hoped that revival would take root, that Jezebel's reign of terror would come to an end. But evil still held the throne, and Elijah felt utterly alone. His cry wasn't rebellion--it was fatigue, disappointment, and the pain of believing he had failed. We've all had broom tree moments--times when we've poured ourselves out in obedience, only to be met with resistance or silence. We've felt the sting of rejection, the fear that nothing we've done has mattered, and the quiet whisper of defeat. And yet, the beauty of Elijah's story is not only in his honesty but in God's response. The Lord doesn't scold Elijah for running. He doesn't reject his weakness. Instead, He sends an angel with food, gives him rest, and later speaks in a gentle whisper--not a rebuke, but a reassurance. Brothers & Sisters, God's heart toward the weary is full of compassion. He knows the limits of our humanity and meets us right in the middle of our brokenness. If you find yourself under your own broom tree today--overwhelmed, tired, or afraid--know this: God sees you. He's not finished with you. The wilderness is not your final destination. It's often the place where God begins to write the next chapter of your story, with fresh strength and renewed purpose. Let Him meet you there. MEET GOD UNDER BROOM TREE!

"And Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink, for there is a sound of the rushing of rain.” 42 So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Mount Carmel. And he bowed himself down on the earth and put his face between his knees. 43 And he said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.” And he went up and looked and said, “There is nothing.” And he said, “Go again,” seven times. 44 And at the seventh time he said, “Behold, a little cloud like a man's hand is rising from the sea.” And he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot and go down, lest the rain stop you.’” 45 And in a little while the heavens grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain." 1 Kings 18:41-45

Elijah heard what no one else did -- a storm was coming. Though the sky was still blue and the ground still cracked from years of drought, Elijah discerned the sound of abundance. It was a prophetic knowing, a spiritual sensitivity that saw past what was visible into what God was about to do. But Elijah didn’t just declare it -- he prayed it through. He climbed Mount Carmel and bowed low, face between his knees, entering into deep intercession. This was the posture of travail. He sent his servant to look toward the sea seven times. Even when the report was "nothing," he persisted -- because faith doesn’t quit when the sky is clear. Faith presses in until the cloud appears. We are in a similar moment now. God is preparing to pour out His Spirit again, in power and glory, in ways we have yet to see. There is a latter rain coming -- an outpouring for the final harvest. But like Elijah, we must learn to see it before we see it, to pray into the promise, and to position ourselves for it. Elijah tells Ahab to eat and drink -- to rest in what’s coming. This is the spirit of Shabbat -- a holy invitation to cease striving and trust that God is moving. In our own lives, we are called not just to work for revival but to rest in the God who brings it. Shabbat is not spiritual passivity; it’s confidence in God’s timing. And here’s a crucial reminder: Some people get so focused on the tares that they miss the wheat. Yes, Scripture tells us a great apostasy is coming -- but it also speaks of a great harvest. These two realities are not in conflict. The wheat grows right in the midst of the weeds (Matthew 13:30). The presence of darkness does not cancel the promise of light. In fact, the harvest at the end of the age comes while the weeds are still present. The farmer does not panic -- he waits patiently for the latter rain to ripen the crop (James 5:7). With prophetic vision, we can see that God is preparing to do something new—a fresh move, a divine shaking, a call to gather the harvest while it is still day. The clouds are forming. The rain is near. Brothers & Sisters, can we slow down -- truly rest—and allow the Spirit to revitalize us for the mission we’re called to? Can we lay aside distraction and despair long enough to see the wheat, to hear the whisper of rain, and to recapture a vision of God’s plan for our lives? Let this be a time of sacred rest and prophetic realignment. You were made for this moment -- for His harvest! THE CLOUDS ARE FORMING!

"So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen in front of him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and cast his cloak upon him. 20 And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, “Let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.” And he said to him, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?” 21 And he returned from following him and took the yoke of oxen and sacrificed them and boiled their flesh with the yokes of the oxen and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and went after Elijah and assisted him." 1 Kings 19:19-21 ; "Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62

When Elijah cast his cloak over Elisha in the field, it wasn’t just a symbolic act -- it was a divine call. Elisha understood this and responded not with delay or excuse, but with decisive action. After asking to say goodbye to his parents, he returned, slaughtered his oxen, and used the wooden yokes as fuel for the sacrifice. Then he gave the meal to the people and walked away from everything familiar to follow the prophet Elijah. Elisha didn’t just leave his past -- he burned it. The plow, the oxen, the life he once knew -- all of it became a sacrifice. He didn't just say yes to God's call; he made sure there was nothing to go back to. Now consider the words of Jesus in Luke 9:62: "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God." Jesus wasn’t speaking to farmers. He was speaking to His followers. To those who say "yes" but keep glancing in the rearview mirror. Elisha didn’t just put his hand to the plow -- he let it go entirely. Jesus warns that any heart still attached to the old life, any disciple still wondering "what if," is not truly fit for the work of the Kingdom. There’s a high cost to discipleship. It requires a clean break from the past and full focus on the future God is calling us into. Looking back implies regret, reservation, or second thoughts. But the Kingdom of God advances through those who have burned their plows and never looked back. Brothers & Sisters, the call to follow the Lord isn’t partial—it demands everything. It’s not just about saying "yes" with our lips, but showing it with our lives -- cutting ties with comfort, releasing control, and refusing to look over our shoulder. If there’s still a plow in your grip, it’s time to let go. Burn it. Walk away fully. Fix your eyes on the One who calls, and follow Him without regret, without delay, and without looking back -- for only then will we be truly fit for the Kingdom. For the Bridegroom is calling to His bride: Get ready -- I'm coming soon! BURN THE PLOW AND DON'T LOOK BACK!