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This concept is usually drawn from Matthew 24:34, "I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened." The previous verses, Matthew 24:1-33, de...
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While the word "generation" can mean a great number of people living at the same time, it also means people of the same family, of the same father, i.e., Abraham, Isaac & Jacob (the Jewish people.) Since we have not seen "heaven & earth" pass away (Matt 24:35) then it can't be a "generation", that is, those living at the same time, that was referred to. Israel will never "pass away" for the Jewish people are the "chosen" of GOD (Deut 7:6 & 14:2; Josh 24:22 & 1 Kings 3:7-9) Israel & the Jewish people are the "apple of His eye" (the gate of His eye) Zech 2:7-8 tells us that "the LORD of hosts, that is the LORD GOD Jehovah will come & spoil those who have touched Zion (Israel & Jerusalem). Whoever has touched His chosen people have literally "poked Him in the eye" (MacArthur) I wouldn't mind watching from a far distance as GOD's wrath is poured out on those who have touched His chosen, poking Him in the eye, but I certainly do not want to be watching "close up & personal"! His promise to Israel is eternal. Whatever politicians & the media have to say is just empty rhetoric! Many have claimed to have "inside information" about His return, many still do. But the truth is, even those who have within them the Holy Spirit, those who are born again, as it says in 1 Cor 2:10-12, those who have received His Spirit know some of "the things of GOD" but not ALL things. There are some things that remain a mystery, the deep things of GOD. We can discuss & even debate what is meant by all of Matt 24, we can look at the history of Israel, we can discuss the wars, the rumors of wars, the famines, the pestilence, the earthquakes in various places & the technology that allows instant news feeds, even the present day politics, but the bottom line is what Jesus Himself said in Matt 24:36, "But of that day & hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only." Gosh, if the angels who are there in heaven, who are constantly in His presence, looking on Him & the Father, are not privileged to know, how on earth can any human think for one minute that they know? And if we can't know the day or the hour, how could we possibly know the year of the century? The one sure thing is what Jesus said in Matt 24:44, "Therefore, you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect." And the "Therefore" is there to make us look at Matt 24:37-43! As my daddy used to say, "don't get caught in your unawares!"
The word "generation" is also used in the Bible to mean: fathered, birth, nativity that which has been begotten, men of the same stock, a family the several ranks of natural descent, the successive members of a genealogy metaph. A group of men very like each other in endowments, pursuits, character esp. In a bad sense, a perverse nation the whole multitude of men living at the same time an age (i.e. the time ordinarily occupied be each successive generation), a space of 30 - 33 years In the context of Matthew 24, verse 3 states "the disciples came privately saying"(asking). I believe Christ was stating to the disciples (privately) that their progeny, the Jews, Israel would not pass away until all these things be fulfilled.
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