Is there a scripture stating, “You can't tell winter from summer except by the budding of the trees”?

While there is no such verse in the Bible, the concept may be a result of a misunderstanding of Christ’s words in Matthew 24:32. There He stated, “Now learn a parable of the fig tree; when his branch is yet tender, and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near.”

This verse does not mean that there will come a time when we will not be able to discern one season from another. Christ was merely making a point concerning the time of His Return.

In the same way that trees putting forth new leaves (budding of a fig tree, for instance) is a rite of passage from spring to summer, we will know that Christ’s Return to this earth is imminent when we see prophetic end-time events unfolding: “So likewise you, when you see all these [events and conditions described in Mt 24:4-29], know that [Christ’s Return] is near, even at the doors” (Mt 24:3).

To learn more about world conditions preceding Christ’s Return, read our booklet Are These the Last Days?