Our Lord's Great Prophecy, Part 67

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Matthew Chapter 24

Verse 34 continued “Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.”

In order to rightly understand who or what generation is being referred to here, several questions need to be addressed.

1) In Verse 33 it sayswhen you see all these things”, who is thisyouhere being spoken of, the same mentioned in Verse 34?

2) What are theall these thingshere mentioned? Do they relate merely to the fig tree putting forth leaves or do they include the signs which took place immediately after the tribulation of those days” (Verse 29)? Or do they refer to ALL the various events mentioned in our Lord’s prophecy?

3) Are they all to have taken place (been fulfilled)?

In our previous post we mentioned the first three below, however there are several other ways in which this can be interpreted.

1) It represents the generation who sees the fig tree putting forth its leaves. 1878-1978 [100 yrs.] or 120 yrs. to 1998

2) It represents the generation who witnesses the signs mentioned in Verse 29 to have taken place immediately after the tribulation of those days, dating from the first sign, “the darkening of the sun and the moon”, 1780-1880 [100 yrs.] or 120 yrs. to 1900.

3) Or possibly dating from the fulfillment of both signs mentioned, viz.the stars falling from heaven1833-1933 [100 yrs.] or 120 yrs. to 1953

4) Another possibility is that the generation dates from the point wherethe sign of the Son of Man appears in heaven” (Verse 30 and 31).

Note: it is believed that Verse 30 refers to the period of time from 1799-1874, when many like Miller recognized from the signs and things happening, that the Lord was soon to come. The actual arrival or Parousia of our Lord (in 1874) is alluded to in the next verse, Verse 31. 1874-1974 [100 yrs.] or 120 yrs. to 1994 this covers not only to the fig tree putting forth its leaves, the Zionist movement (1878) but likewise the restoration of the nation of Israel (in 1948), and to Jerusalem being restored (in 1967).

5) Another thought is that the generation pertains to the nation of Israel and only to those things mentioned in the prophecy due to be inflicted upon that rebellious nation, beginning with the present generation living then and continuing on until they as a nation should repent and be prepared to say "Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord".

Thus in answer to question number 1 above as to whom is being referred to in Verses 33 and 34 we would say the nation of Israel, that generation. This also answers question number 2 as to “when you see all these things”, all these things being in reference to those things which befall Israel.

6) And last but not least is the suggestion that it dates from the very beginning of the Gospel age and includes all the various signs enumerated in the Lord’s prophecy, “this generation” being in reference to the GOSPEL generation as distinct from the previous generation, the JEWISH generation and from the age of RE-generation or restoration to come during the millennial age. (See Matt 19:28)

Here too questions numbers 1 and 2 are answered. The only difference being is that the “you” now refers to all the followers of Christ, both Jew and Gentile alike, viz.

Assuredly, I say to you Christians, you who reside during the GOSPEL generation, when you “see all these things”, all the various events and signs mentioned in my prophecy, know that the Kingdom of God is near—at the doors!’.

Now someone may ask:

We here at the end of this generation may be able to see all these things, but in what way could it be said that those at the beginning of this generation see all these things?

If we attempt to apply this separately to all the various generations throughout this age it won’t work, but if we apply it to the whole Gospel generation it works, viz.

Assuredly, I say to you [my disciples, Christians], this GOSPEL generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.”

Yes, but Verse 33 says, “When you SEE all these things”,

How did those at the beginning of the age see all these things?

The same question might be asked in regards to number 5 should we apply the “generation” spoken of as to the JEWISH generation then living, how could they see all those things pertaining to that nation take place?

This brings to mind question number 3 above concerning all these things, Are they all to have taken place (been completed, fulfilled) or are they merely to have begun?

We will take a closer look at Verses 33 and Verse 34 once again in our next post and note some discrepancies in the interpretation.

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