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the tree, and dunging it, is frequently mentioned in Rabbinic writings, and by the
same designations. Curiously, Maimonides mentions THREE YEARS AS THE
UTMOST LIMIT which a tree should bear fruit in the land of Israel. Lastly, as
trees were regarded as by their roots undermining and deteriorating the land, a
BARREN TREE would be of THREEFOLD DISADVANTAGE: it would yield
no fruit; it would fill VALUABLE SPACE, which a fruit-bearer might occupy;
and it would needlessly DETERIORATE THE LAND. Accordingly, while it was
forbidden to destroy FRUIT-BEARING trees, it would, on the grounds above
stated, be DUTY to cut down a 'barren' or 'empty' tree (Ilan seraq). -- The Life
and Times of Jesus the Messiah. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., Grand
Rapids, MI. 1990. Pp. 246-247 (B.II).

These informative particulars will help us to more FULLY understand the details
of the Parable of the Barren Fig Tree. Allegorically speaking, the FIG TREE served as an
emblem of YEHOVAH GOD'S CHURCH -- of the leaders and the church in general.
The VINEYARD is, in the New Testament, the symbol of the Kingdom of God; and we
thus see that YEHOVAH God called His church as a nation-- a SPECIAL PEOPLE --
and planted it in the most FAVORED spot: as a fig tree in the vineyard of His own
Kingdom. And He "[came] seeking fruit," as He had every right to do, "and [found]
none." It was the third year that He had VAINLY looked for fruit, when He turned to the
keeper of the vineyard -- the Messiah, to whom the vineyard [Kingdom of God] is
committed as its king -- with this direction: "Cut it down; why does it use up the
ground?" Not only does this barren tree [Church of God] occupy the best location, it also
uses up [deteriorates] the ground -- when it should be bearing the BEST of fruit. Its
THREE YEARS of barrenness has established its UTTERLY HOPELESS
CHARACTER. Then we see the keeper of the vineyard [Yeshua], in His infinite
compassion, plead for the fig tree [Church of God] which He Himself had planted and
tended, that it should be spared "this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it."

This is parallel to Yeshua knocking on the door of the Laodicean Church with the
hope that someone would open the door and let Him in. "And if it bears fruit, well. But if
not, AFTER THAT [at the return of Yeshua] you can cut it down." In the words of an
author of the last century: "Between the tree and the axe nothing intervenes but the
INTERCESSION of the Gardener [Yeshua], Who would make A LAST EFFORT, and
even His petition applies only to a SHORT AND DEFINITE PERIOD, and, in case it
pass WITHOUT RESULT [no fruit of the spirit of God], this petition itself merges in the
proposal, "But if not, then CUT IT DOWN."'

This warning should have us shaking in our very boots! YEHOVAH's people
must bear fruit and, if not, the future is a grim prospect indeed. It's time the
LAODICEAN CHURCH woke up to their spiritual decadence and lethargy; its time the
Worldwide Church of God, Church of God International, the so-called "Philadelphia"
Church of God and all the little splinter groups came to their senses and HEEDED the
warnings from YEHOVAH God! Yeshua is knocking on the door-- WAKE UP AND
LET HIM IN, for your very existence is at stake!