Signs of the Times, Book 1 - Ellen G. White

themselves in his presence and obeyed his commands. Yet the people of his
choice rejected him and his mighty miracles with scorn. The majesty of
Heaven came unto his own, and his own received him not.
The judgment pronounced upon the barren fig tree not only symbolizes
the sentence passed upon the Jews, but is also applicable to the professed
Christians of our time, who have become formal, selfish, boasting and
hypocritical.
The irrevocable sentence passed upon the Jewish nation, and its
consequent downfall and ruin was symbolized by the doom of the barren fig
tree. It is not always easy to detect the sincere, genuine Christian from the
counterfeit. But when brought to the test like the barren fig tree they are
found diverse in character although the external appearance may deceive the
eye. False and true devotion bear so close a resemblance to each other that it
may be difficult for human wisdom to distinguish the difference between
them. But the eye of the Infinite looks beneath the external and discerns the
pretenders from the real, unmasks the hypocrite and discovers the difference
between the cumberers of the ground and the fruit bearers. Fruit bearing
Christians who are making the most of their God-given opportunities and
privileges, will imitate the example of Christ in good works and unselfish
deeds.
The mass of professors are symbolized by the apparently flourishing fig
tree making pretensions to godliness but blessing no one by their precious
fruits. The pen of inspiration pictures before us this class. "This know also,
that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of
their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to
parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false
accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady,
highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of
godliness, but denying the power thereof; from such turn away."
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