Why don't we as Catholics discuss prophecy ?

[trdchubi]

I always agree on what Jesus said about his second coming:

• “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (Matthew 24:36).
• “You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him” (Matthew 24:44).

But prior to these verses, Jesus said clearly :

• “Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near;so, you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near,right at the door. (Matthew 24:32-33).

The fig tree and grape vines were always used as symbols of Israel. The Prophet Hosea wrote:

• ‘I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness, I saw your fathers as the first ripe in the fig tree in her first time" (Hosea 9:10).

Jeremiah received the vision of two baskets of figs, which represented Israel:

• "Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge them that are carried away captive of Judah" (Jer. 24:5).

When Jesus cursed a fig tree when he founded no fruit on it, it was the only miracle, from the numerous wonderful deeds he did, that has acquired a negative result. Jesus did this symbolically, in light with the parable which he narrated to his disciples precisely the same day he cursed that fig tree:

• “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil? ’Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down." (Luke 13:6-9).

Obviously, God is the Landlord and Jesus is the vine dresser who work for three years and Israel is the barren fig tree on the parable. It is evident that God has turned his favor away from the Jews and gave it to the Gentiles. But the "softening of the branches and the bringing forth of leaves" represents the return of favor to this nation during the time of the establishment of the Kingdom in Christ’s second advent.

As Beehumble puts it:

Ezekiel prophesies the flesh of Israel will be restored, and then the spirit, so the spirit is to come ("conversion of the Jews"), but the 'flesh' has to exist first, and so it does - the flesh, the nation, now exists.

We were told to be ready. Now more than ever is the best time to oil those lamps of ours and shine our lights for Christ. After all, the Jews according to Jesus will be the ones who will recieved him on his second coming and proclaim "Barukh haba b'Shem Adonai". "Blessed is he who comes in the Name of the Lord".

[GaryTaylor]

Originally Posted by cajunhillbilly

I really love Scott Hahn's book on the Eucharist and the Book of Revelation. Great book

Amen, pretty interesting fellow.