Hello MarcR,
Just as with everything, the meaning is dependent upon the context. That said, the mention of a fig tree is not always referring to Israel. Below is a scripture that is popularly believed to represent Israel becoming a nation in 1948:
"Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its branches become tender and sprout leaves, you know that summer is near."
Below is Luke's version of the same scripture:
"Then Jesus told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near."
If the fig tree sprouting new leaves represents Israel becoming a nation, then in keeping with the parable, the blossoming of "all the trees" would have to represent a literal event as well.
The fig tree blossoming and representing Israel as becoming a nation is simply applied because Israel was used symbolically elsewhere in scripture as the fig tree. It doesn't mean that every time the words "fig tree" is mentioned that it is referring to Israel. We could do the same thing with the event of when Jesus cursed the fig tree causing it to wither, but again it would just be a personal application based on the fact that the fig tree was used to represent Israel in another scripture.
In the case of the fig tree and all the trees blossoming, it is simply being used as a comparison:
Fig tree and all the trees blossoming = Summer is near
The signs that Jesus mentions = End of the age is near
Just as with everything, the meaning is dependent upon the context. That said, the mention of a fig tree is not always referring to Israel. Below is a scripture that is popularly believed to represent Israel becoming a nation in 1948:
"Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its branches become tender and sprout leaves, you know that summer is near."
Below is Luke's version of the same scripture:
"Then Jesus told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near."
If the fig tree sprouting new leaves represents Israel becoming a nation, then in keeping with the parable, the blossoming of "all the trees" would have to represent a literal event as well.
The fig tree blossoming and representing Israel as becoming a nation is simply applied because Israel was used symbolically elsewhere in scripture as the fig tree. It doesn't mean that every time the words "fig tree" is mentioned that it is referring to Israel. We could do the same thing with the event of when Jesus cursed the fig tree causing it to wither, but again it would just be a personal application based on the fact that the fig tree was used to represent Israel in another scripture.
In the case of the fig tree and all the trees blossoming, it is simply being used as a comparison:
Fig tree and all the trees blossoming = Summer is near
The signs that Jesus mentions = End of the age is near