End times

[Mark Cecil]

According to Matthew 24 verses 30-34 Jesus believed he would return before his generation would pass away. Yet it is almost two thousand years since his prediction and we are still waiting on him. How can this be?

[Deeogee]

[Replying to Mark Cecil in post #7]

(Mt 24) is divided into two parts. (two questions are asked in vs 3)

Vs 1-34 is referring to the destruction of Jerusalem. (figurative language).

Vs 36 - end of chapter is speaking of the end of time. (coming of Christ)

[Ozzy_O]

I just wonder how a preterist would interpret matt 24v30 as it says the people's of the earth will 'see' the son of Man coming on the clouds but there wasn't a visible seeing of the son of Man at the destruction of the Jewish temple. Plus the verse also says all the people of the earth will mourn, this was not observed either when the temple was destroyed.

That one always tripped me up...

This is a great article. I'm slowly becoming a partial preterist.....

https://www.bereanbiblechurch.org/trans ... return.htm

[wannabe]

According to Matthew 24 verses 30-34 Jesus believed he would return before his generation would pass away. Yet it is almost two thousand years since his prediction and we are still waiting on him. How can this be?

The generation spoken of in the opening passage refers to the church of Christ.
Re read the passage bearing in mind his immediate audience and, that the generation he speaks of relates to the christian church.
Makes more sense.

[Miles]

According to Matthew 24 verses 30-34 Jesus believed he would return before his generation would pass away. Yet it is almost two thousand years since his prediction and we are still waiting on him. How can this be?

The generation spoken of in the opening passage refers to the church of Christ.
Re read the passage bearing in mind his immediate audience and, that the generation he speaks of relates to the christian church.
Makes more sense.

But there wasn't any Christian church or church of Christ while Jesus was alive. Jesus was a Jew born of Jews and spoke to Jews as Jews.
And that the use of "generation," as it's sometimes used in Matthew 24:34, referred to Jesus's immediate audience and not some other concocted entity is demonstrated by the fact that other Bibles recognize the reference to the immediate audience and describe it as such.

Matthew 24:30-34
30 “Then there will be something in the sky that shows the Son of Man is coming. All the people of the world will cry. Everyone will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds in the sky. He will come with power and great glory. 31 He will use a loud trumpet to send his angels all around the earth. They will gather his chosen people from every part of the earth.

32 “The fig tree teaches us a lesson: When its branches become green and soft, and new leaves begin to grow, then you know that summer is very near. 33 In the same way, when you see all these things happening, you will know that the time[a] is very near, already present. 34 I assure you that all these things will happen while some of the people of this time are still living.

along with the description given in other Bibles, including, but not limited to:

Matthew 24:34

GNT
34 Remember that all these things will happen before the people now living have all died.

CJB
34 Yes! I tell you that this people will certainly not pass away before all these things happen.

NCV
34 I tell you the truth, all these things will happen while the people of this time are still living.

NIRV
34 What I’m about to tell you is true. The people living now will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.

NLV
34 For sure, I tell you, the people of this day will not pass away before all these things have happened.

ICB
34 I tell you the truth. All these things will happen while the people of this time are still living!

.

[AdHoc]

[Replying to Mark Cecil in post #1]

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

To say when Jesus said "this generation" He meant "His generation" is a reasonable interpretation.

To me the key to understanding what "This generation" means is to look at what He meant by "these things"?

Jesus was giving an answer to two questions:
1) When will the destruction of the temple happen? and
2) What will be the sign of His coming and the end of the age?

His answer:

• Don't be deceived many will come in my name claiming to be the Messiah

• There will be wars and rumours of wars

• Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom

• famines and earthquakes in various places

These are the beginning of birth pangs

• Christ's followers will be persecuted and put to death and hated by all nations because of Jesus

• Many will turn away from the faith and betray and hate each other

• Many false prophets will arise and deceive many people

• Wickedness will increase and cause most people's love to grow cold

• The gospel will be preached in the whole world

and then the end will come

He goes on to say:

• When you see the abomination that causes desolation standing in the holy place

• If you're in Judea flee to the mountains, don't stop for anything

• Then there will be great distress worse than any other time in history

• Don't believe anyone that says the Messiah is here or there

• False messiahs and false prophets will perform great signs and wonders and deceive many people

• Christ's return will be like lightning visible from the east and west, like vultures gathering on a body

Immediately after this:

• The sun and moon will be darkened

• Stars will fall from the sky

• Heavenly bodies will be shaken

• The sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky

• and all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see Him coming

• His angels will gather His elect

Then He gives the lesson of the fig tree:
As soon as the twigs get tender and the leaves come out you know summer is near right at the door. Truly I tell you this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.

This is my opinion and it could definitely be wrong (just like the opinion that this generation refers to His generation) but it seems clear to me that Jesus is saying when you see the signs of the end like a fig tree budding then you know the end is near and the generation that sees those signs will not pass away until all those things happen.