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NASB | Matthew 24:34 "Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Matthew 24:34 "I assure you and most solemnly say to you, this generation [the people living when these signs and events begin] will not pass away until all these things take place. |
Bible Question: God keeps leading me to this verse in different locations in the Bible... I've always struggled with the meaning of this verse and now I especially feel that God is leading me in some way with this verse. Please help me as the Spirit leads.... Thank you! |
Bible Answer: Lets look at the context.On one occasion when on the Mount of Olives, he apostles asked: "When will these things be,and what will be the sign of your presence and of the conclusion of the system of things?" Matthew 24:3. Jesus foretold that there would be wars,famines,pestilences,etc.Then the end was to come. Matthew 24:4 to 14; Mark 13:5 to 13; Luke 21:8 to 19 During the following decades,his disciples recognized that the foretold things were in fact occurring in a significant way.History proves that the sign had a fulfillment at that time, eading to a conclusion of the Jewish system of things at the hands of the Romans in 66 to 70C.E. During the hot Judean summer of 66C.E.,Jewish Zealots led an assault on Roman guards in a fort near the temple in Jerusalem, sparking violence elsewhere in the land. In History of the Jews, Professor Heinrich Graetz relates:"Cestius Gallus, whose duty it was as Governor of Syria to uphold the honor of Roman arms...could no longer witness the rebellion spreading around him without an effort to stem its progress.He called his legions together, and the neighboring princes voluntarily sent their troops."This army of 30,000 surrounded Jerusalem. After some fighting, the Jews withdrew behind walls near the temple."During five successive days the Romans stormed the walls, but were always obliged to fall back before the missiles of the Jews. t was only on the sixth day that they succeeded in undermining a part of the northern wall in front of the Temple." Jesus also predicted: "Those days will be days of a tribulation such as has not occurred from the beginning of the creation which God created until that time, and will not occur again.In fact, unless Jehovah had cut short the days,no flesh would be saved.But on account of the chosen ones whom he has chosen he has cut short the days."Mark 13:19,20;Matthew 24:21,22.So who were the "chosen ones"?Certainly not rebellious Jews who claimed to worship God but who had rejected Jesus. John 19:1 to 7;Acts 2:22,23,36.The true chosen ones back then were those Jews and non Jews who exercised faith in Jesus as Savior.God had chosen such ones,and on Pentecost 33C.E.,he had formed them into a new spiritual nation, "the Israel of God."Galatians 6:16;Luke 18:7;Acts 10:34 to 45;1 Peter 2:9. Were the days "cut short"?Professor Graetz says:"Cestius Gallus did not deem it advisable to continue the combat against heroic enthusiasts and embark on a lengthy campaign at that season, when the autumn rains would soon commence...and might prevent the army from receiving provisions.On that account probably he thought it more prudent to retrace his steps." That Roman retreat allowed "flesh",the disciples of Jesus who were at risk inside Jerusalem,to be saved.History records that when this window of opportunity opened,Christians fled the region but may Jews remained. Jesus had often called the contemporaneous mass of opposing Jews "a wicked,adulterous generation."Matthew 11:16;12:39, 5;16:4;17:17; 23:36. So when he again spoke of "this generation,"he evidently had in mind the opposing Jews back then. Regarding the reference to "this generation" at Luke 21:32,Professor Joel B.Green notes:"In the Third Gospel, "this generation",and related phrases, has regularly signified a category of people who are resistant to the purpose of God...It refers to people who stubbornly turn their backs on the divine purpose." The wicked generation of Jewish opposers who could observe the sign being fulfilled would also experience the end.Matthew 24:6,13,14.In 70C.E.,the Roman army returned,led by Titus, son of Emperor Vespasian.Eyewitness Flavius Josephus reports that by the time the Romans demolished the city, about 1,100,000 Jews had died and some 100,000 were taken captive,most of those soon to perish horribly from starvation or in Roman theaters.This was the greatest that Jerusalem and the Jewish system had ever experienced or would ever experience.The anointed Christian "chosen ones" were "saved,"or kept safe,in 70C.E. since they heeded the prophetic warning.Matthew 24:16,22. Could it be that another,greater,fulfillment was to come?The facts answer yes.When we compare Revelation 6:2 to 8, written after the tribulation on Jerusalem in 70C.E.,with Matthew 24:6 to 8 and Luke 21:10,11,we see that warfare,food shortages,and plague on a greater scale lay ahead.This greater fulfillment of the words of Jesus has been occurring since World War I erupted in 1914.A "great tribulation" is yet to come.The present wicked "generation" will see that tribulation. It seems that there will again be an opening phase, just as the attack of Cestus Gallus in 66 C.E.opened the tribulation on Jerusalem.Then, after an interval of unspecified length, the end will come: destruction on a worldwide scale, paralleling that in 70C.E. You can contact me on findjoynow@yahoo.com for further details. |