Title: A Thread in the Seamless Garment: Figs throughout Scripture

Topic: Word

Summary: A look at the imagery of figs and how it relates to our spiritual and moral actions. An examination of bibical literalism and scholarly deconstruction, finding both wanting.

Use the reference links below to follow along in the Bible as you watch.

References:
John 19:23-24
Psalms 22:18
Matthew 24:32
Isaiah 34
Revelation 6:12-13
Matthew 7:15; 12:33
Numbers 20:5
Deuteronomy 8
Judges 9:10
Song of Solomon 2:11-13
Jeremiah 8:13-22; 24:1; 29:17
Hosea 2:12; 9:7-end
Joel 1:7
James 3
Matthew 24:31

12. The Lord Came into the World to Conquer the Hells and Glorify His Humanity; and the Suffering of the Cross Was the Final Battle by Which He Fully Overcame the Hells and Fully Glorified His Humanity

People in the church know that the Lord conquered death, which means hell, and that He afterward ascended with glory into heaven. But they still do not know that the Lord overcame death or hell by means of battles, which are temptations or trials; that by these means He at the same time glorified His humanity; and that the suffering of the cross was the final battle or trial by which He overcame hell or death and glorified His humanity.

Much is said about these trials in the Prophets and Psalms, but not so much in the Gospels. In the latter, the temptations or trials He endured in childhood are summarized and described by His trials in the wilderness and subsequent temptations by the devil, and the last ones by those He suffered in Gethsemane and on the cross.

[2] Regarding His trials in the wilderness and subsequent temptations by the devil, see Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13, and Luke 4:1-13. However, all His temptations and trials are meant by these, even to the last of them. He revealed no more to His disciples concerning them, for we are told in Isaiah:

He was oppressed..., yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, He also opened not His mouth. (Isaiah 53:7)

Regarding His temptations or trials in Gethsemane, see Matthew 26:36-46, Mark 14:32-42, and Luke 22:39-46. And regarding His temptations or trials on the cross, see Matthew 27:33-56, Mark 15:22-38, Luke 23:33-49, and John 19:17-37.

Temptations or trials are nothing else than battles against the hells. Regarding the Lord’s temptations or battles, see the book The New Jerusalem and Its Heavenly Doctrine, published in London, nos. 201 and 302. And regarding temptations in general, see nos. 187-200 there.