Marc2x
Oct 12th 2008, 02:02 AM
Or at least live to be in the rapture or the tribulation?
Jesus said.
“This Generation
Will Not Pass”
Many are puzzled by Jesus Christ’s
words, “Assuredly, I say to you, this
generation will by no means pass away till all
these things take place” (Matthew 24:34).
Did He mean that generation of His disciples?
First, note the future context. Jesus
had just said, “So you also, when you see
all these things, know that it is near—at
the doors!” (verse 33).
Did His disciples “see all these things” in
their generation? Certainly not. They were
not in a generation that had the ability to
destroy all of mankind. Jesus said of the
final, end-time generation, “And unless
those days were shortened, no flesh would
be saved” (verse 22). Clearly the weapons
of that day were not sufficient to bring this
prophecy to pass.
Although Christ’s disciples did see wars,
famines, plagues and persecutions, and
some even lived to see the destruction of
Jerusalem several decades later, these
were not the total fulfillment of Jesus
Christ’s words. They were not the prophesied
global events that would directly lead
to Jesus Christ’s return.
So what did Jesus mean when He
referred to “this generation”? He could not
have meant that current generation of His
day. They died without seeing all the events
leading to His return. The obvious meaning,
then, is that He could only have meant the
generation of the last days.
Jesus knew that the course of end-time
events would not continue indefinitely.
Once they were set in motion, all would
occur within the lifetime of one generation.
Only one generation will witness all the
mounting global conditions described in
God’s Word. That generation will see the
arrival of the specific 31⁄2-year period that
will mark the end of “this present evil age”
and usher in the Kingdom of God.
These events will not pass from one
generation to another. Once the prophesied
conditions exist, all will be fulfilled—including
the return of Jesus Christ—within the
lifetime of one generation. Considering the
signs Jesus foretold that would mark that
time, it appears to be here.
Jesus said.
“This Generation
Will Not Pass”
Many are puzzled by Jesus Christ’s
words, “Assuredly, I say to you, this
generation will by no means pass away till all
these things take place” (Matthew 24:34).
Did He mean that generation of His disciples?
First, note the future context. Jesus
had just said, “So you also, when you see
all these things, know that it is near—at
the doors!” (verse 33).
Did His disciples “see all these things” in
their generation? Certainly not. They were
not in a generation that had the ability to
destroy all of mankind. Jesus said of the
final, end-time generation, “And unless
those days were shortened, no flesh would
be saved” (verse 22). Clearly the weapons
of that day were not sufficient to bring this
prophecy to pass.
Although Christ’s disciples did see wars,
famines, plagues and persecutions, and
some even lived to see the destruction of
Jerusalem several decades later, these
were not the total fulfillment of Jesus
Christ’s words. They were not the prophesied
global events that would directly lead
to Jesus Christ’s return.
So what did Jesus mean when He
referred to “this generation”? He could not
have meant that current generation of His
day. They died without seeing all the events
leading to His return. The obvious meaning,
then, is that He could only have meant the
generation of the last days.
Jesus knew that the course of end-time
events would not continue indefinitely.
Once they were set in motion, all would
occur within the lifetime of one generation.
Only one generation will witness all the
mounting global conditions described in
God’s Word. That generation will see the
arrival of the specific 31⁄2-year period that
will mark the end of “this present evil age”
and usher in the Kingdom of God.
These events will not pass from one
generation to another. Once the prophesied
conditions exist, all will be fulfilled—including
the return of Jesus Christ—within the
lifetime of one generation. Considering the
signs Jesus foretold that would mark that
time, it appears to be here.