An interpretation of "this generation shall not pass"

[George Antonios]

Believers and unbelievers alike have doubted this prophecy of Christ, and yet that very doubt is a testimony to Christ’s prophetic power for he assures the hearer, in very expectation of the doubt and scorn to come, that his words would indeed be fulfilled and in the time whereof he spake, by doubling down on it: Mat 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

Before declaring that This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled (Luk 21:32), the Lord first said: And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand (Lk.21:29-30). He did not say “your generation” but this generation. Which generation? The one that sees the fig tree, and all the trees shoot forth leaves as well as the beginning of sorrows (Mt.24:8) marking the first half of the tribulation; and the abomination of desolation (Mt.24:15) marking the second half of the tribulation; and the powers of the heavens …shaken (Mt.24:29) marking the end of the tribulation; yea, that generation that sees those things, whenever those things begin, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled (Mt.24:34). Christ again clearly placed the imminence after the commencement of the aforementioned events, when he said: when ye shall see all these things (Mt.24:33), then know that it is near, even at the doors (Mt.24:33). When he says this generation shall not pass in the next verse (Mt.24:34) he is qualifying how near, even at the doors (Mt.24:33), and how nigh at hand the kingdom of God will be (Lk.21:31), from the beginning point of seeing all these things (Mt.24:33). So if a disciple asks the Lord: “how long after the fig tree puts forth leaves (Mt.24:32) or how long after the beginning of sorrows (Mt.24:8), till all these things be fulfilled (Mt.24:34)?” The Lord replies: “This generation [that sees those things begin] shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled (Mt.24:34)”. This makes sense given that the tribulation period will be seven years long, therefore it stands to reason This generation [that sees those things begin] shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled (Mt.24:34) since a generation is certainly longer than seven years.

Does that interpretation make sense to you?

 

[37818]

That "This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled," in Matthew 24:34 is to be understood to be the signs prior and the coming of the Son of God referred to in Matthew 24:29. That is an understanding I came to from studying this over 30 years ago.

 

[George Antonios]

That "This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled," in Matthew 24:34 is to be understood to be the signs prior and the coming of the Son of God referred to in Matthew 24:29. That is an understanding I came to from studying this over 30 years ago.

Yes, of course, but which "this generation" is that (?) is the question.

 

[rsr]

The one that heard the prophecy of Jesus. That is the plain sense of the text. Why do people want to make it out to be something else?

 

[agedman]

Too often two English words have been used by folks to dismiss this wonderful passage.

“This generation”.

Now I give my opinion.

The generation living at the time saw the fulfillment of the prophecy, BUT they did not conclude the fulfillment.

Recall at the bringing the messiah to the temple Simeon saw and proclaimed. But was that proclamation, though fulfilled, completed?

No, it was not.

The passage of the OP is to be taken in that same light. The statements were fulfilled, but not completed. There is also that progression into the “last times” in which what was fulfilled by the Romans and continues to this day becomes so very overwhelming that the time is shortened (that is specifically numbered).

Now others may have their own opinions, however I am unanimous in this presentation.

 

[David Kent]

The fig tree cannot refer to Israel or even Judah as luke gives us the complete phrase, the fig tree "and all the trees".

So what was the fig tree and all the trees the sign of? The Roman armies surrounding Jerusalem
What would happen when they saw the sign? The temple would be destroyed. The city desolated.

Not some future temple, but the temple that Jesus had told the Pharisees would be left to them desolate, (Matt 23) which the disciples could not believe, showing Jesus the large stones. Jesus answered them that not one stone would be left upon another. THAT TEMPLE.

It happened within that generation. Matthew 23:36
The judgement was to come upon "YOU", those he was addressing. Matthew 23:35

 

[George Antonios]

The one that heard the prophecy of Jesus. That is the plain sense of the text. Why do people want to make it out to be something else?

Because these things were not fully fulfilled then.
That generation did not see all these things (Mt.24:33) like the sun becoming sackcloth, the moon turning to blood, and the Son of man coming like the lightning to rule physically and politically on planet earth.

 

[37818]

Yes, of course, but which "this generation" is that (?) is the question.

Those living who see the Sun darkened and the Moon turn blood red. That sixth seal, Revelation 6:12-17; Matthew 24:29. And there are nine more references to this one event.

 

[tyndale1946]

The one that heard the prophecy of Jesus. That is the plain sense of the text. Why do people want to make it out to be something else?

Because that's what sells their books... I had just come back from Vietnam and in 1970 out comes The Late, Great , Planet Earth by Hal Lindsey and people just ate it up... From then on it was game on!!!... A prophecy to happen to those Jesus was talking to, has turned in a Science Fiction Fantasy Action Movie and it seems each generation has a different interpretation of the players... Unfortunately their generation was 2,000 years ago... Now if Jesus would have said "THAT" generation, now that's a different story... Do any of you brethren even read ancient history?... Brother Glen

 

[Revmitchell]

Because that's what sells their books... I had just come back from Vietnam and in 1970 out comes The Late, Great , Planet Earth by Hal Lindsey and people just ate it up... From then on it was game on!!!... A prophecy to happen to those Jesus was talking to, has turned in a Science Fiction Fantasy Action Movie and it seems each generation has a different interpretation of the players... Unfortunately their generation was 2,000 years ago... Now if Jesus would have said "THAT" generation, now that's a different story... Do any of you brethren even read ancient history?... Brother Glen

What a piece of garbage post

 

[tyndale1946]

What a piece of garbage post

Typical Mitchell... That's what makes the BB exciting... Brother Glen

 

[rsr]

... I had just come back from Vietnam and in 1970 out comes The Late, Great , Planet Earth by Hal Lindsey and people just ate it up... From then on it was game on!!!

Yes, Glen, I went through the same thing in the 1970s and swallowed Lindsey and the Chick tracts and all manner of such nonsense — until I was reading one of Lindsey's books and realized he was ripping verses from context and piecing them together with news headlines and making a patchwork that conformed to what he wanted to present. Thankfully, I have been free of that delusional teaching for a long time now.

 

[George Antonios]

Those living who see the Sun darkened and the Moon turn blood red. That sixth seal, Revelation 6:12-17; Matthew 24:29. And there are nine more references to this one event.

That's the point I was making in the OP

 

[George Antonios]

Yes, Glen, I went through the same thing in the 1970s and swallowed Lindsey and the Chick tracts and all manner of such nonsense — until I was reading one of Lindsey's books and realized he was ripping verses from context and piecing them together with news headlines and making a patchwork that conformed to what he wanted to present. Thankfully, I have been free of that delusional teaching for a long time now.

That many prophecy boys are more interested in filthy lucre than truth is undoubtable.
That many prophecy boys tweek their writings to suit current headlines to connect with current audiences to connect with currency is undoubtable.
That the things spoken of by Christ in Matthew 24 did not happen 2,000 years ago is far more undoubtable.
So, back to the OP, please. Can more people address the points made in the OP? Thanks.

 

[George Antonios]

Now if Jesus would have said "THAT" generation, now that's a different story.

Did you read the OP? I don't mean the question in a reproachful way, just asking.

 

[37818]

Now if Jesus would have said "THAT" generation, . . .

That Greek word can be traslated as "that." Matthew 10:22, masculine. Matthew 24:34, feminine. Same word, same part of speech, only different context and gender.

 

[kyredneck]

The one that heard the prophecy of Jesus. That is the plain sense of the text. Why do people want to make it out to be something else?

Precisely. As in:

34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all these things be accomplished. Mt 24

As in:

34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all these things be accomplished. Mt 24

...synonymous with:

28 Verily I say unto you, there are some of them that stand here, who shall in no wise taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom. Mt 16

As in 'this generation':

40 When therefore the lord of the vineyard shall come, what will he do unto those husbandmen?
41 They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those miserable men, and will let out the vineyard unto other husbandmen, who shall render him the fruits in their seasons.
42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, The same was made the head of the corner; This was from the Lord, And it is marvelous in our eyes?
43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken away from you, and shall be given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.
44 And he that falleth on this stone shall be broken to pieces: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will scatter him as dust.
45 And when the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them. Mt 21

 

[37818]

28 Verily I say unto you, there are some of them that stand here, who shall in no wise taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom. Mt 16

Jesus was speaking of His transfiguration, Matthew 17. See also Mark 9:1-7; Luke 9:27-35.

 

[kyredneck]

Jesus was speaking of His transfiguration

"There are some of you standing here who will not die within the next 6 days"

Yea. Right.

 

[37818]

"There are some of you standing here who will not die within the next 6 days"

Yea. Right.

Yes. Luke speaks of 8 days, counting the day Jesus spoke of it and the day of the tranfiguration.