This generation shall not pass until

[Checkpoint]

This issue has been discussed over the centuries, and resulted in no agreed answer. Instead at least four possibilities have been proposed. These are:

#1. The generation alive at the time He spoke.
#2. The generation living when He returns.
#3. The nation of Israel, or the Jews as a race.
#4. A particular kind of people.

What is your view on this, and why do you hold it?

[OnceConvinced]

#1. The generation alive at the time He spoke.

Clearly it must be. He was addressing the crowds there at the time, which is why he said "This" generation. If he was talking about any other generation he would have said "That generation". If "this" is really referring to "that" then God's word contains bad grammar. I doubt God would use bad grammar.

#2. The generation living when He returns.

Nope, because then the scripture would say

"Truly I tell you, THAT generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened."

Let's trust that the son of God is using good not bad grammar.

#3. The nation of Israel, or the Jews as a race.

No because then the scripture would have to say:

"Truly I tell you, this NATION will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened."

You would have to completely change the meanings of words in the scripture for this to be the case. However all the standard translations talk about a generation not a nation. Why would these professionals have it wrong, while those amateurs who wish to use the meaning "nation" have it right?

#4. A particular kind of people.

Once again we have have to take a good look at the scripture and read what it actually says, not try to put our own spin on it and change meanings of words. It says "THIS generation". Anyone standing there would be presuming they are talking about THEM not some future generation.

Also let's not forget there is another scripture:

Matt 16:28:
"Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."

Once again he's aiming his talk at a bunch of people standing in front of him. It really is quite clear if taken at face value, which we should be able to do.

Even Paul himself was absolutely convinced Christ was returning within this time frame... not at some time 2000 years or more into the future. Paul's writings were full of urgency as he believed all the signs were there. He believed wholeheartedly that Jesus's return was eminent.

So either Jesus DID return back then... or it's all a fantasy.

[Divine Insight]

Also let's not forget there is another scripture:

Matt 16:28:
"Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."

So either Jesus DID return back then... or it's all a fantasy.

Exactly. He also instructed his disciples not to bother going into the cities of the gentiles because they would not even have enough time to go to every city in the house of Israel.

This does NOT fit in with evangelists preaching to the whole world thousands of years later.

Clearly if there is any truth to these stories then Jesus already came back and took the "few" people he was interested in and all we are today are the decedents of the rejects.

The idea that Jesus is coming back today is simply not compatible with these ancient fables.

[postroad]

I wonder how long the apologists can stretch a generation before abandoning the concept that the 1948 creation of the state of Israel was the final countdown to the second coming?

I wonder how they will spin it when they just have to let go of that concept.

[Yahu]

This issue has been discussed over the centuries, and resulted in no agreed answer. Instead at least four possibilities have been proposed. These are:

#1. The generation alive at the time He spoke.
#2. The generation living when He returns.
#3. The nation of Israel, or the Jews as a race.
#4. A particular kind of people.

What is your view on this, and why do you hold it?

You have to look earlier in the speech.

15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)

That is the generation that will see the events.

[onewithhim]

This issue has been discussed over the centuries, and resulted in no agreed answer. Instead at least four possibilities have been proposed. These are:

#1. The generation alive at the time He spoke.
#2. The generation living when He returns.
#3. The nation of Israel, or the Jews as a race.
#4. A particular kind of people.

What is your view on this, and why do you hold it?

It refers to the generation still alive when he returns. For an apt presentation of what it means, research on www.jw.org

[onewithhim]

#1. The generation alive at the time He spoke.

Clearly it must be. He was addressing the crowds there at the time, which is why he said "This" generation. If he was talking about any other generation he would have said "That generation". If "this" is really referring to "that" then God's word contains bad grammar. I doubt God would use bad grammar.

#2. The generation living when He returns.

Nope, because then the scripture would say

"Truly I tell you, THAT generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened."

Let's trust that the son of God is using good not bad grammar.

#3. The nation of Israel, or the Jews as a race.

No because then the scripture would have to say:

"Truly I tell you, this NATION will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened."

You would have to completely change the meanings of words in the scripture for this to be the case. However all the standard translations talk about a generation not a nation. Why would these professionals have it wrong, while those amateurs who wish to use the meaning "nation" have it right?

#4. A particular kind of people.

Once again we have have to take a good look at the scripture and read what it actually says, not try to put our own spin on it and change meanings of words. It says "THIS generation". Anyone standing there would be presuming they are talking about THEM not some future generation.

Also let's not forget there is another scripture:

Matt 16:28:
"Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."

Once again he's aiming his talk at a bunch of people standing in front of him. It really is quite clear if taken at face value, which we should be able to do.

Even Paul himself was absolutely convinced Christ was returning within this time frame... not at some time 2000 years or more into the future. Paul's writings were full of urgency as he believed all the signs were there. He believed wholeheartedly that Jesus's return was eminent.

So either Jesus DID return back then... or it's all a fantasy.

No, Jesus may have said "this" generation, but he was speaking about the generation alive when he comes again. How could it possibly be those people that were standing in front of him? No. The fulfillment of his prophesies would take place much much later. He foretold a great tribulation the likes of which the world would never see again. That hasn't happened yet. (Matt.24:21) So neither has the prophecy of the generation been fulfilled.

[onewithhim]

Also let's not forget there is another scripture:

Matt 16:28:
"Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."

So either Jesus DID return back then... or it's all a fantasy.

Exactly. He also instructed his disciples not to bother going into the cities of the gentiles because they would not even have enough time to go to every city in the house of Israel.

This does NOT fit in with evangelists preaching to the whole world thousands of years later.

Clearly if there is any truth to these stories then Jesus already came back and took the "few" people he was interested in and all we are today are the decedents of the rejects.

The idea that Jesus is coming back today is simply not compatible with these ancient fables.

You guys are straining out gnats and swallowing camels. Befuddled. When Jesus said that "some here will not taste death until you see me in my glory," he almost immediately took Peter, James and John to the mountain where they saw the Transfiguration. That showed Jesus as he would be "coming in glory." So that was fulfilled right then.

You want to reject the whole prophecy of the Last Days, which Jesus spoke to his disciples in Matthew ch.24. You are free to do that. But it's too bad you dismiss it all as "fables" and "fantasy." The Great Tribulation that Jesus foretold will hit with suddenness, and many people will be caught off-guard, and won't know what's going on, because they weren't interested to find out what Jesus was talking about.

[JehovahsWitness]

QUESTION What generation was Jesus refering to when he said "this genration will not pass away"?

The full quote reads from Matthew 24:34 reads as follows "I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass from the scene until all these things take place." - NLT

Jesus was therefore refering to the generation that witnesses "the things" he (Jesus) had been talking about previous to this statement. Some of these things were wars, famines, disease as well as a worldwide preaching work. Many of these "things" happened in the first century with the destrution of the Temple of Jerusalem in 70CE and the end of the Jewish religious system of things in God's eyes. But other features indicate the prophecy covered a second future fulfillment that would culminate in the end of the entire world system.

CONCLUSION: Jesus reference to "this generation" had a two-fold fulfillment

#1 The Generation that would be alive in 70CE
#2 The Generation that would be alive at the end of the world system (21st Century: specifically 1914)

Further reading
https://www.jw.org/en/publications/book ... last-days/

To learn more please go to other posts related to...

THE GENTILE TIMES , THE GENERATION and ...THE SECOND COMING *

*The Return of Christ

[Divine Insight]

You want to reject the whole prophecy of the Last Days, which Jesus spoke to his disciples in Matthew ch.24. You are free to do that. But it's too bad you dismiss it all as "fables" and "fantasy." The Great Tribulation that Jesus foretold will hit with suddenness, and many people will be caught off-guard, and won't know what's going on, because they weren't interested to find out what Jesus was talking about.

If what you say here is true then Jesus is an absolute jerk.

The whole idea that people will be caught off-guard and have no idea what's going on makes no sense in this religion.

The problem with this religion is that it accuses everyone of rejecting God and willfully choosing evil over good. But the claim that people will be caught off-guard and have no clue what is going on isn't compatible with the charge that they have knowingly chosen to reject God via their own free-will choice. You can't have people being cast into hell screaming out, "What's happening? We don't understand!". That's incompatible with the charge that this was their free will choice.

In fact, the story of the Canaanites has already proven the fallacy of this religion way back in the old testament.

Study the story of the Canaanites and you'll see why this religion can't be true.