The dove returning with an olive leaf was the visible sign that the floodwaters had receded enough for plant life to reappear on the earth.
Genesis 8:11 says Noah knew the waters had abated when the dove came back in the evening with a plucked olive leaf. Les's teaching ties this to the biblical pattern of 'new beginnings' — he notes that the eight people on the ark point to the new creation that was about to emerge.
Genesis 8:11 — This is the verse where the dove returns with the olive leaf and Noah knows the waters have abated.
After 150 days the waters began to abate, and the ark rested on the mountains of Ararat. Noah opened the ark's window and sent out a raven, which went to and fro until the waters dried up. He then sent a dove, but the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot and returned to the ark. After another seven days, Noah sent the dove again. This time the dove came in to him in the evening with an olive leaf 'pluckt off' in her mouth, and Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth. The text presents the olive leaf as the tangible sign by which Noah knew the ground was reappearing.
Les's teaching on the flood emphasizes that after the judgment of the flood, God was restarting the earth. He notes that the ark rested in the mountains of Ararat as the waters decreased, and that God was getting the surface ready for re-habitation. He also draws attention to the fact that eight people were on the ark, because the number eight in Scripture always speaks of new beginnings. That is the framework in which the dove's olive leaf belongs: it was the first outward evidence that the new creation was emerging from the floodwaters. Les similarly uses new leaves on the fig tree as a sign that God's purposes are near, comparing them to the end-times events unfolding in the Middle East.
The olive leaf was a plucked olive leaf, meaning it had come from a tree that was already growing again. Genesis 8:11 explains that this is how Noah knew the waters were abated. It was the first physical evidence that the earth was drying and that plant life had returned.
Les teaches that the number eight in Scripture always denotes new beginnings. He points out that eight people were on the ark, depicting the new beginning that followed the flood. The olive leaf belongs to that same new-beginning theme: it is the sign that the old world of judgment is over and the new creation is starting.
Jesus said, 'Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh.' Les applies this to the nearness of Christ's return — when Israel and the world events show these signs, God's summer is near. In the same way, the olive leaf was a sign that the season of judgment was ending and the season of new life had begun.
The ark rested in the seventh month upon Ararat, and the waters decreased continually until the tenth month. The dove's return with the olive leaf happened during this period of decreasing waters, confirming that the ground was becoming dry. Les notes that God was getting the surface ready for re-habitation.
Noah's Flood and Receding Waters
Les describes how the waters abated after 150 days, the ark rested on Ararat, and God was getting the earth ready for re-habitation.
The Rapture vs. The Second Coming — What's the Difference?
I think that�s in reference to battles that He fought for Israel back in their history. And then verse 4, "...and his feet shall stand in that day upon the Mount of Olives." And where is the Mount of Olives? Jerusalem. He�s coming back to Jerusalem, not to New York or Chicago.
The Number 8 and New Beginnings
Les says the number eight in Scripture always denotes new beginnings and that the eight people on Noah's ark depicted exactly that new beginning.
What Does Revelation 22 Really Mean? Eternity Explained
Whether it's a 30 day month or what I don't know, but it's going to be a time factor in which this Tree of Life is going to bring forth a different fruit. It's all going to be for the same purpose, but it's evidently going to be a different fruit than the one the month before.
Jacob's Trouble: Why the Tribulation is for Israel, Not the Church
Verse 14, in the same chapter, "...and to the woman," that is this fleeing remnant, "...were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place where she is nourished." God takes care of her for a time, one year, times, plural, for two, for a total of three, and half a time, three and a half, "...from the face of the serpent.
Fig Tree Leaves as a Sign
Les explains Jesus' fig-tree lesson: leaves on a fig tree signal summer is near, and just so the events in the Middle East signal God's return is near.
Why Is Nebuchadnezzar's Dream Still Relevant Today? Daniel 2
"...and it shall be in that day," that is accompanying the return of Christ to the Mount of Olives, to the land of Israel, to the city of Jerusalem, "...it shall be in that day that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem, half of them to the former sea," the Mediterranean, "...and half of them toward the hinder sea," or the Dead Sea, "...in summer and in winter shall it be.
Daniel 2 Explained: The Stone Kingdom That Fills the Earth
"...and it shall be in that day," that is accompanying the return of Christ to the Mount of Olives, to the land of Israel, to the city of Jerusalem, "...it shall be in that day that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem, half of them to the former sea," the Mediterranean, "...and half of them toward the hinder sea," or the Dead Sea, "...in summer and in winter shall it be.
Genesis 8:11: And the dove came in to him in the evening; and, lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf pluckt off: so Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth.
This is the direct account of the dove returning with the olive leaf and its meaning.
Genesis 8:9: But the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot, and she returned unto him into the ark, for the waters were on the face of the whole earth: then he put forth his hand, and took her, and pulled her in unto him into the ark.
Why the dove returned the first time; it could not rest until new land appeared.
Genesis 8:10: And he stayed yet other seven days; and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark;
Shows the seven-day pattern before the dove was sent again with the olive leaf.
Genesis 8:7: And he sent forth a raven, which went forth to and fro, until the waters were dried up from off the earth.
The raven's behavior contrasts with the dove's.
It proved the waters had receded enough for vegetation to grow again. Genesis 8:11 says the leaf was in the dove's mouth, and Noah knew the waters were abated from off the earth.
Les teaches that eight in Scripture always means new beginnings, and the eight people on the ark point to the new creation. The olive leaf is the first sign of that new creation appearing.
The first time, the dove found no rest and returned to the ark. The second time, it came back with the olive leaf, showing that the earth was ready to support life again.
The fact that it was pluckt off indicates a living olive tree existed on the newly exposed ground, giving Noah physical proof that plant life was returning.
Watch the Teaching: Noah’s Flood & The Middle East Oil Prophecy | Genesis Bible Study