When Jesus said he'd return within a generation...?

Question

or within the lifetimes of his contemporaries, what did he mean?

I've heard that "generation" may have really meant lineage. Is there evidence to support this?

I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. (Mark 13:30-31)

He also said to them, "Amen, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see that the kingdom of God has come in power." (Mark 9:1)

"Truly I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God." (Luke 9:27)

Answer 1

What he meant to say is this book is complete fiction.

Answer 2

Someone asked the same question last week. You can browse through their answers if you like.

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It depends on how you interpret end time prophecies. Different people have different theories as to what Jesus meant.

I am not an expert on this, as I am still learning, but if you are a Biblical dispensationalist, the term "this generation" does not refer to the people to whom he was literally speaking to; rather he was referring to the generation who first saw the SIGNS that he was referring to (implying that once it started, the end of the world would be over in less than a generation).

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"Jesus singled out this generation using the Greek word genea, which can refer both to those living at a given time as well as to race or lineage (therefore, he would be speaking of the Jewish race). That makes the third view above most likely. Jesus used "generation" here to mean that the events of 24:1-28 would occur initially within the lifetime of Jesus' contemporaries. Not that all the problems would stop at the end of their lifetimes, but that all these things would be under way, verifying what Jesus had said. Jesus explained that many of those alive at that time would witness the destruction of Jerusalem. In addition, the Jewish nation would be preserved and remain on earth, so Jews also would witness the end-time events (see also 16:28). "

—Life Application Bible Commenta

Answer 3

The reference is not to his final coming to judge the world, but to his spiritual coming to establish his kingdom. This was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost. Mark shows the meaning by substituting, Till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power (Mr 9:1). The coming of the Son of man in his kingdom means, therefore, the same as the kingdom of God come with power. Compare Ac 1:8 Lu 24:49. The kingdom came with power on the day of Pentecost (Ac 2:1).

Answer 4

ill tell you what every time there is a lie in the bible people start to say oh but it means something else, well this is nonsense if they cant explain something they try to say it has a different meaning, people do the same with Nostradamus(or however its spelt) they Say that its written in code, well i could write something in code and it could easily be deciphered to mean something that someone wants it to mean, but back to your question the simple fact is the book is lies and if there is a lie in it people try to explain it by saying that it has another meaning the simple fact is generation means all the people living at the same time or of approximately the same age full-stop there is no hidden meaning, so dont listen to these people and even dont listen to me but make up your own mind count the lies in it and the childish things it says they hypocritical sentences where in one book it says one thing the next another, everything for some strange reason is 40 days and forty nights and what d you know when people got a little smarter and realized that some of the things it says in the bible is nonsense they started coming off with this but it has a hidden meaning well i put to you people it doesnt have a hidden meaning that it means what it says funnily enough its a hard thing to imagine isnt it that something actually means what it said and that people werent as intelligent in those times so were alot more gullible. the world is 6000 years old it says, is that another hidden meaning? no it isnt its because they didnt have the technology back then to work out how old it is.

Answer 5

Jesus did not specify a specific time, he simply said he would return and reign for a thousand years before the end of the world. many people have assumed at the end of certain centuries and Milena that he would soon arrive but this is not true. many people confuse this because when Jesus arrived it was considered the end of time because humankind has reached salvation. However, it has been the 'end of time' for more than 2000 years, so who is to say how much longer?

He also said that no one knows the exact date of the end of the world, except the Father.

Answer 6

The first reference was in regards to the destruction of Jerusalem which happened in 70 AD.

The other two scriptures you quoted are probably in reference to the the Apostle John.....

John 21
20 Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?
21 Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?
22 Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.
23 Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?
24 This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true.

Answer 7

Talkin bout my Generation. Book of Who, chapter 4 verse 11

Answer 8

No it is a belief. Any time a christian reads something that contradicts their false beliefs they claim it is a metaphor or it means other than what it says. Jesus said to obey the laws of moses, they get around that by saying he only meant until he ascended to heaven. But that is not what he said. They twist and pervert Jesus words to fit with what they want, then claim they and only they have the truth.

Answer 9

he never said that. made up by people who can't read at a 2nd grade level of understanding. even poor ole joseph cambell and his "mythology" theories couldn't get it right.

here's what Yeshua said and in context "when shall the end of the age come?"

"you shall see signs of the end of the age, wars and rumors of wars, pestlience, famines, earthquakes in diverse places etc...BUT The END IS NOT YET, NOW LEARN(2nd graders follow along) A parable of the Fig Tree, when it puts forth leaves you KNOW That summer/harvest/end of the age is NIGH, THIS GENERATION SHALL NOT PASS TIL ALL IS FULFILLED.......Matthew 24, Mark 13. luke 26.

who or what is the fig tree? Israel is the Fig tree as documented in Jeremiah 24:2.

Israel/Fig Tree was planted in 1948. So the Generation that saw THE SIGN Of the End of the age would not pass til all is fulfilled. not in Jesus' Generation, not in a couple years, not his lineage. but for a distant Generation.

Israel wasn't in that land as a nation going back to the babylonian captivity.

An exact date of time or month? we cannot know. but of times and seasons we can and DO KNow. lest why did Jesus talk about the times and seasons?
BIble prophecy happens. tick tock says the prophecy clock.

Answer 10

Ok, this is asked a lot I know but if He actually meant the generation of his disciples, every single prophecy that the Bible foretold would've happened very, very rapidly and in that time zone.

Answer 11

This is never spoken of.

The verses that people speak of are actually speaking of the destruction of Jerusalem, which happened in 70 AD.