Let’s read Matthew 24:32-33, “Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.” 

It is important to establish a timeline to let us know what period of time the Lord Jesus is speaking of in this portion.  We read in Matthew 24:3, “And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?”  The disciples were asking about future events and some signs that would indicate the Lord’s coming and the end of the world.  They are not, at this point, asking the Lord about the Rapture of the church when He will come to the air to take out all the redeemed ones from the earth. (Read 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:51-58).  At the time the disciples asked the Lord these questions, the Rapture had not yet been revealed to man.  The Apostle Paul would deliver these truths later to the Church.  The disciples are asking the Lord about when He would return to the earth to set up His kingdom on the earth.  This will happen at the end of the seven-year Tribulation period which begins after the Rapture of the church.

In verses 32-33, the Lord speaks of some of the signs of His coming to the earth.  In verses 4-31, the Lord tells of several occurrences that will happen during the Tribulation Period.  Time and space prevent me from going into this portion in detail, but I greatly encourage you to read that portion before you read the remainder of this answer. 

Let’s briefly consider verses 32-33, “Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.”  The Lord here uses the fig tree as an example of knowing when spring is coming.  In the same way, when the signs the Lord speaks of become evident, it shows that the Lord’s return to the earth to set up His kingdom is very imminent.  Luke 21:31 says it like this, “So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.”

Let’s move on and look at Matthew 24:34, “Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.”  This verse has been a difficulty with many. The word generation does not mean the people who were then living; it has the meaning of “this race.”  It is the same as we read in 1 Peter 2:9, “But ye are a CHOSEN GENERATION, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.”  (i.e., a class of people.) We see clearly in verse 34 that the Jewish race cannot pass away till these things be fulfilled…until the Lord establishes His 1,000-year reign on the earth. 

Another writer explains it like this: “The very generation that sees the beginning of these things will see the end.” 

Both of these are credible thoughts, and it makes it clear that the Lord Jesus could not be speaking of the people that were His audience at that time. 

The signs spoken of in Matthew 24:4-31 have not yet occurred, so we must see that the Lord was speaking of something yet future…but a day that is quickly approaching.  (CC)  (513.6)