"This Generation"?

Question

Seventeen times the Synoptic authors reference "this generation" (Greek: "hey genea") to address people of their day (Matt.11.16; 12.41; 23.36; 24.34; Mark.8.12; 13.30; Luke.7.31; 11.29-32, 50; 17.25; 21.32). All of these "this generation" references are plainly addressed towards people of the first century.
Why do some Christians persist in using the apocalyptic passages of Mark 13, Matthew 24, and Luke 21 as if they applied to a future past that of the first century? Why are modern believers using Mark 13, Matthew 24, and Luke 21 for an end-times theology when those passages contextually only addressed the generation of the first century?

Answer 1

You are correct. They have been taught such nonsense. This is referring to that generation. The tribulation mentioned refers to that generation. It happened in AD70.

Answer 2

It was not all fulfilled with the destruction of Jerusalem 70 c.e., so it was a two fold prophecy. A couple examples:

Matt 24: 14 says "...good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness and then the end would come." We know this was not fulfilled by 70 c.e..

Matt 24: 21 & 22 says "for then there will be great tribulation such as has not occurred since the world's beginning until now, no, nor will occur again. In fact, unless, those days were not cut short, no flesh would be saved..." This was not fulfilled by 70 c.e.. The World Wars alone were worse than the destruction of Jerusalem. "Those days were not cut short, no flesh would be saved" , that has not been fulfilled.

Answer 3

Ok, well, you're obviously a preterist. Let me ask you this: was the gospel preached to ALL the nations of the world by the end of the first century?

Obviously not. So the preterist understanding of these passages is incorrect. There are many other things that didn't take place, but I think I've made my point.

Jesus plainly stated at Matthew 24:34b that "this generation will by no means pass away till ALL these things take place." Since "all these things" haven't taken place yet, He was obviously pointing toward a FUTURE generation.

Answer 4

Three questions were asked.

Mat 24:3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

When will you come back?
What shall be the sign of thy coming?
When is the end of the World?

You "see" Matt 24. Mark 13 and Luke 21 are the seals "in order. " The very same ones in Rev. But in Rev. they are not in order.

Mat 24:32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer [is] nigh:

Whats summer? Harvest time.

Mat 24:33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.

What is at the doors? End of this age/world.

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

This 'generation shall not pass. This has not happened yet and is for the generation of the Fig Tree/ Jer 24 which started in 1948.

Mat 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

Answer 5

I recommend that you get at least one Chrisitan written commentary so that things like this dont delay in your understanding.

As others have noted, there are verses where Jesus is clearly not talking about the first century generation.

Try to remember, if you are reading the Bible in English, you are reading an ancient text, written by people who lived in ancient times, who had an ancient culture, in a foriegn language, which was translated into a more modern language.

If it is important for you to discover what it says in the Bible, a commentary would benefit your study.

Answer 6

This generation will be no means pass away till all these things take place: What generation does Jesus refer to? It cannot be the generation of the disciples, because they did not see the triumphant return of Jesus. It is undoubtedly the generation that sees these signs - especially the abomination of desolation. These events and Jesus’ return won’t be on some 1,000-year timetable, but will happen in succession.

i. It is also possible that the word generation can be understood as a race or people. This may be a promise that the Jewish race will not perish before history comes to a conclusion.

Answer 7

Many Christians see those passages not as a word given to the people of that time but instead as a word given to people of "THE GENERATION" when Christ will return. When Christ described his second coming in Matthew for example, he told of what would occur at that time..(signs of the end times) and that "surely this generation will not pass" etc. In otherwords, when the prophecy regarding events is realized...that will be "the generation".

Answer 8

He wasn't talking of a life time. He may have been talking of Astrological ages. We are in Pisces (the fish)and going into Aquarius. They are about 2100 years or so.
A fish is surrounded by spirit and made of spirit. In him we live and move and have our being. Aquarius, well, we have sprit at our disposal to give others a drink of cold water. These and greater things shall you do.

Answer 9

Yesterday

Answer 10

Because Jesus never came back and rather than accept that the prophecies were fictional they prefer to overlook the obvious discrepencies in order to hold onto their belief.