Matthew 24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
2007-01-12 13:19:39 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Context! Read the beginning of the chapter He is obviously speaking about the destruction of the temple as He prophesied in verses 1 and 2
2007-01-12 13:26:13 · answer #1 · answered by HAND 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most everybody gets this one wrong, because they don't realize Jesus was talking about both the end of Jerusalem and the end of the world, and that they are two separate events, widely separated in time.
Jesus gave the Jews 40 years to accept Christianity. When they didn't, he allowed the Romans to burn the whole place down, in the fall of the year 70 AD.
That was the definitive end of the Jewish Temple Worship System, which was the very center of the Jewish world.
The destruction of Jerusalem did indeed happen within the space of one biblical generation (40 years). It was accompanied by great tribulation, signs, and wonders (see the works of the historian Josephus) and a number of the apostles who heard Jesus say this, were still alive at the time.
2007-01-13 03:15:22 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
When Jesus ascended according to the New Testament, he had not yet fulfilled ALL of the messianic prophecies. Supposedly, he would have to come yet again (his third time... once before his death, once between resurrection and ascention, and his 'return in glory' would be a THIRD coming), to fulfill those final prophecies [even though the resurrection flies in the face of the messianic prophecy to begin with...]
So if Jesus promised 'all these things be fulfilled' for that generation, some of them must be still alive.
Where are they, Christians?
And no, he was not talking about this current generation. Any more than he was talking about the last generation (who thought he was talking about them) or the generation before that (ditto) or the generation before (ditto) or the (ditto) or (ditto) (ditto ditto ditto). He was looking at the apostles and told them, "THIS generation will not pass until it's all accomplished."
So much for literal interpretation of the bible...
2007-01-12 21:25:09 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Holly, Holly, you have to take 33 and 34 together. He says, "when you see these signs coming to pass, you can know that He is near, even at the very door." At this point, He says once these signs have started they will reach their culmination within THAT generation to come. You must pay attention to context if you really want to understand scripture. If you only want to find problems with it, that's all you will find.
2007-01-12 21:31:21 · answer #4 · answered by Captain America 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
His prophecy reaches to the day of final judgment; therefore he here, ver. 34, foretells that Judah shall never cease to exist as a distinct people, so long as this world shall endure.
2007-01-12 21:32:50 · answer #5 · answered by soap box 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Woops looks like old Mat made a mistake Holly
2007-01-12 21:24:34 · answer #6 · answered by Simon says 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I've heard it said that in the original language this word means race. Like the human race.
2007-01-12 21:27:50 · answer #7 · answered by BaseballGrrl 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe he was talking about the generation to come.
2007-01-12 21:23:04 · answer #8 · answered by B"Quotes 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are not for real are you?
This verse is speaking of the generation that you are living in.><>
2007-01-12 21:24:52 · answer #9 · answered by CEM 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Umm... where are the 2000+ year old people actually mentioned?
2007-01-12 21:22:58 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋