WHO IS THIS GENERATION?

[Doug]

[Mat 24:34 KJV] 34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.

Jesus was not speaking of the generation in existence when Jesus was speaking. He was saying that the generation that will see all the things described in Matthew 24 is the generation that would not pass till all was fulfilled. The future generation would be "this generation" that will see his return. Those present at the time Jesus was saying all this did not see all these things.

 

[Exegesis]

Jesus was not speaking of the generation in existence when Jesus was speaking. He was saying that the future generation would not pass till all was fulfilled. The future generation would be "this generation".

I disagree. You need to look at all of the context involved. What you will find is that the 'generation' being referred to is a catchall phrase for all who are not saved at any given point in time (e.g. 'generation of vipers').

In other words, he is referring to the tares as opposed to the wheat. Tares and wheat have different DNA, different genealogy, different 'generations'.

They will not 'pass' can mean either their final end and destruction on earth (as a whole) when Jesus comes again, or their final end and destruction in the Lake of Fire (Second Death).

By trying to limit the word 'generation' to a small window of time, you are losing sight of the bigger picture and meaning. Moreover, you will always struggle to make your theology work.

 

[Exegesis]

Don't forget you need to reconcile your conclusion with verses like this:

Matthew 12:41 - "The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here."

Now the phrase 'this generation' is associated with being condemned. According to your logic, that means *everyone* is going to Hell who lived either when Jesus lived, or at some point in the future. It obviously doesn't work. You are condemning Christians along with the unsaved.

 

[Davy]

[Mat 24:34 KJV] 34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.

Jesus was not speaking of the generation in existence when Jesus was speaking. He was saying that the future generation would not pass till all was fulfilled. The future generation would be "this generation".

NOPE! Jesus was speaking to the generation that would SEE ALL THOSE THINGS COME TO PASS. His disciples with Him upon the Mount of Olives DID NOT SEE ALL THOSE THINGS in their generation (i.e., SIGNS of the END He gave there).

By what you say, you have now taken a FALSE PRETERIST VIEW.

 

[Doug]

I disagree. You need to look at all of the context involved. What you will find is that the 'generation' being referred to is a catchall phrase for all who are not saved at any given point in time (e.g. 'generation of vipers').

In other words, he is referring to the tares as opposed to the wheat. Tares and wheat have different DNA, different genealogy, different 'generations'.

They will not 'pass' can mean either their final end and destruction on earth (as a whole) when Jesus comes again, or their final end and destruction in the Lake of Fire (Second Death).

By trying to limit the word 'generation' to a small window of time, you are losing sight of the bigger picture and meaning. Moreover, you will always struggle to make your theology work.

The context goes back to verse Matthew 24 verse 1
Jesus was describing all that will happen surrounding his return
look at these verses together.........................[Mat 24:33-34 KJV] 33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, [even] at the doors. 34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled..............................Did those at this time see all things? no they didnt so there remains a generation that will.

look at this verse................[Mat 24:31 KJV] 31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other......................The gathering of the elect (believing remnant of Israel) is in view not the tares

 

[Doug]

NOPE! Jesus was speaking to the generation that would SEE ALL THOSE THINGS COME TO PASS. His disciples with Him upon the Mount of Olives DID NOT SEE ALL THOSE THINGS in their generation (i.e., SIGNS of the END He gave there).

By what you say, you have now taken a FALSE PRETERIST VIEW.

Thats what I was saying

 

[IndianaRob]

[Mat 24:34 KJV] 34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.

Jesus was not speaking of the generation in existence when Jesus was speaking. He was saying that the future generation would not pass till all was fulfilled. The future generation would be "this generation".

Why do you think that? Do you think the generation in this verse is a future generation too?

Mat 17:17 Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.

 

[Doug]

Why do you think that? Do you think the generation in this verse is a future generation too?

Mat 17:17 Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.

No this was the present generation in Mat 17:17

 

[Doug]

Why do you think that?

The generation that existed when Jesus was speaking did not see all the things Jesus said the generation who would see his return would see. They did not see all Jesus said would be fulfilled in Matthew 24.

 

[IndianaRob]

The generation that existed when Jesus was speaking did not see all the things Jesus said the generation who would see his return would see. They did not see all Jesus said would be fulfilled in Matthew 24.

Or they did see all those things and people 2000 years later are not seeing it.

The one concrete word for the timing of those events is the word generation.

I don’t know of one thing in Matthew 24 where it could be said “this didn’t happen”.

 

[Doug]

Or they did see all those things and people 2000 years later are not seeing it.

The one concrete word for the timing of those events is the word generation.

I don’t know of one thing in Matthew 24 where it could be said “this didn’t happen”.

[Mat 24:29-30 KJV] 29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: 30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

This hasnt happened

 

[IndianaRob]

[Mat 24:29-30 KJV] 29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: 30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

This hasnt happened

Am I to assume you’ve never read Psalm 18?

 

[IndianaRob]

If you guys are thinking the events of Matthew 24 are only recorded in the New Testament then you’re missing about half the details of what really happened there.

 

[Doug]

Am I to assume you’ve never read Psalm 18?

what is significant to you

 

[Doug]

If you guys are thinking the events of Matthew 24 are only recorded in the New Testament then you’re missing about half the details of what really happened there.

care to show us what we are missing

 

[IndianaRob]

what is significant to you

Everything in it is significant. Everything that you say hasn’t happened yet is given there.

 

[IndianaRob]

care to show us what we are missing

Just read Psalm 18.