Israel's rejection of God's Word, Jesus their promised Messiah, and torturing and killing their completely blameless Messiah cut Israel off from God completely.
Scripture foretold of this and demonstrates this in multiple places and in multiple ways but I'll just focus on one parable here.
The Parable of the Fig Tree (Luke 13:6-9)
Luke 13:6-9 "He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down."
In this parable, the fig tree symbolizes Israel. God, as the owner of the vineyard, has given Israel time and opportunities to bear fruit—representing repentance and faithfulness to His covenant. However, the tree (Israel) has failed to bear fruit. The intercession by the dresser (Christ) suggests that God was extending mercy and giving Israel more time to repent. If there is still no repentance, the tree would be cut down—symbolizing Israel's rejection and eventual judgment.
The Cursing of the Fig Tree (Matthew 21:18-19)
Matthew 21:18-19 "Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered. And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away."
Here, Jesus curses the fig tree, which again symbolizes Israel. The fig tree, bearing no fruit, represents Israel's outward religious appearance (the leaves) but lack of true righteousness and faith. The curse signifies God's judgment on Israel for failing to recognize Jesus as the Messiah.
How This Relates to Israel Being Cut Off and Gentiles Being God’s New People
- Israel's Rejection of God:
The fig tree is often interpreted as a symbol of Israel throughout Scripture. In the parables, its barrenness represents Israel's failure to live up to its covenant with God. Despite God’s patience, there comes a time when Israel's spiritual barrenness leads to judgment.
- The Gentiles Grafted In:
This theme of Israel’s failure and the inclusion of the Gentiles is more explicitly discussed in Romans 11:17-21:
“And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee... because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith.”
Paul teaches that Israel (the original branches) was cut off due to unbelief, and the Gentiles (wild olive branches) were grafted in. This symbolizes the inclusion of the Gentiles in God's covenant promises after Israel's rejection of the Messiah.
- The Extension of God’s Kingdom:
The parable and the cursing of the fig tree both point to a broader theme: Israel’s failure to bear fruit (faithfulness to God and recognition of Jesus) resulted in judgment, but through this, God’s salvation was extended to the Gentiles.
Matthew 21:43 reinforces this: "Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof." This directly indicates that the privileges of being God's people were taken from Israel and given to a "nation" (the church, composed of Jews and Gentiles) that would bear fruit.
Summary:
The Parable of the Fig Tree and the Cursing of the Fig Tree symbolize Israel's spiritual barrenness and impending judgment for rejecting the Messiah. The Gentiles, represented by wild olive branches in Romans, are then grafted into God’s covenant, becoming part of His people through faith in Christ. Israel's cutting off serves as a warning, while the inclusion of the Gentiles marks the expansion of God's kingdom to all nations.
After the foretold destruction of Jerusalem and the temple happened in 70 AD, right within the same generation that Jesus said it would, Israel has no further part in biblical prophecy and has no special significance. Zero.
It has become a den of vipers and a synagogue of Satan. Christians should view it the same as any other pagan nation.
In fact God explicitly states that he removed the hedge protection from Israel so your prayer for one goes against God's will and his prophecy through Isaiah.
Isaiah 5:5
"And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down."
In this verse, God speaks of removing His protective hedge from Israel (often symbolized as a vineyard) as a consequence of their disobedience, leading to judgment and destruction.
Israel's rejection of God's Word, Jesus their promised Messiah, and torturing and killing their completely blameless Messiah cut Israel off from God completely.
Scripture foretold of this and demonstrates this in multiple places and in multiple ways but I'll just focus on one parable here.
The Parable of the Fig Tree (Luke 13:6-9)
Luke 13:6-9 "He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down."
In this parable, the fig tree symbolizes Israel. God, as the owner of the vineyard, has given Israel time and opportunities to bear fruit—representing repentance and faithfulness to His covenant. However, the tree (Israel) has failed to bear fruit. The intercession by the dresser (Christ) suggests that God was extending mercy and giving Israel more time to repent. If there is still no repentance, the tree would be cut down—symbolizing Israel's rejection and eventual judgment.
The Cursing of the Fig Tree (Matthew 21:18-19)
Matthew 21:18-19 "Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered. And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away."
Here, Jesus curses the fig tree, which again symbolizes Israel. The fig tree, bearing no fruit, represents Israel's outward religious appearance (the leaves) but lack of true righteousness and faith. The curse signifies God's judgment on Israel for failing to recognize Jesus as the Messiah.
How This Relates to Israel Being Cut Off and Gentiles Being God’s New People
- Israel's Rejection of God:
The fig tree is often interpreted as a symbol of Israel throughout Scripture. In the parables, its barrenness represents Israel's failure to live up to its covenant with God. Despite God’s patience, there comes a time when Israel's spiritual barrenness leads to judgment.
- The Gentiles Grafted In:
This theme of Israel’s failure and the inclusion of the Gentiles is more explicitly discussed in Romans 11:17-21:
“And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee... because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith.”
Paul teaches that Israel (the original branches) was cut off due to unbelief, and the Gentiles (wild olive branches) were grafted in. This symbolizes the inclusion of the Gentiles in God's covenant promises after Israel's rejection of the Messiah.
- The Extension of God’s Kingdom:
The parable and the cursing of the fig tree both point to a broader theme: Israel’s failure to bear fruit (faithfulness to God and recognition of Jesus) resulted in judgment, but through this, God’s salvation was extended to the Gentiles.
Matthew 21:43 reinforces this: "Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof." This directly indicates that the privileges of being God's people were taken from Israel and given to a "nation" (the church, composed of Jews and Gentiles) that would bear fruit.
Summary:
The Parable of the Fig Tree and the Cursing of the Fig Tree symbolize Israel's spiritual barrenness and impending judgment for rejecting the Messiah. The Gentiles, represented by wild olive branches in Romans, are then grafted into God’s covenant, becoming part of His people through faith in Christ. Israel's cutting off serves as a warning, while the inclusion of the Gentiles marks the expansion of God's kingdom to all nations.
After the foretold destruction of Jerusalem and the temple happened in 70 AD, right within the same generation that Jesus said it would, Israel has no further part in biblical prophecy and has no special significance. Zero.
It has become a den of vipers and a synagogue of Satan. Christians should view it the same as any other pagan nation.