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One of the most misused and misunderstood statements of Jesus in the New Testament Jesus’ words from the Olivet Discourse, found in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21. We will specifically, focus on Matthew 24:34. Did Jesus claim that all things he mentioned would occur in (THEIR) “this generation”. Absolutely not! The term Gr.γενεά (genea), it is not used consistently in the New Testament pointing to the people living at that time ONLY, (as some that apply,Mt.11:16;12:39,41,45, 17:17 Let us begin a short biblical study on what was and what was not said. Prophecy IS to make sense, not to become more mysterious. Matt 26:29 Jesus promised he would one day have communion with them, “ with you in My Father's kingdom.” John 18:36 If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, but now My kingdom is not from here." If his kingdom is here as some claim THEN THEY ARE JUSTIFIED to FIGHT about anything that is contrary. Matt 24:6-7 “ the end is not yet”. He then explains ALL the obvious events that MUST take place first. So 70 AD is not the fulfilment Scripture speaks of for these main reasons and many more. He included for this time period Matt 24:5-6 “False christs and false prophets will deceive many. v6 “And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars.”V.7“For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. (the kingdom of darkness against the kingdom of light, against the church that is faithful to his teachings. All of these did not increase when he was among the people nor shortly after he ascended. V.7 “famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.” These three have been INCREASING, famines, pestilences, and earthquakes, are more of a modern day occurrence, it did not take place like he described when he said this. He, Jesus was speaking of a generation that is not yet alive, those who live in there time of the end, of the latter days. “ this is an evil generation . It seeks a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah the prophet.” This is certainly was spoken to those who were present when he was alive, for it focuses on the resurrection. Luke 11:29-30. This is exhibited with Philip meeting the eunuch in Acts 8:33. In His humiliation His justice was taken away, And who will declare His generation For His life is taken from the earth." New Testament statements on the generation that applied in the past… Heb. 3:10-11 “Therefore I was angry with that generation , And said, 'They always go astray in their heart, And they have not known My ways.' So I swore in My wrath,' They shall not enter My rest.' " The near future is spoken in 1 Peter 2:9-10 speaking to the saved Gentiles with the Jewish believers of the first century. “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.” Matt 24:9-25:” Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another.” There have always been betrayals in religion (from Cain and Abel),We are watching betrayals everywhere in our day. This is speaking of what is common place in the tribulation(SEE Rev.7) V.11: ”Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. What began to take place in the first century and has not become completed. It has increased. Lawlessness has increased especially with nations that made laws to punish those who do evil.. Love for fellow man has decreased because the Christian message is no longer dominant in the culture, even in the Church. 2 Tim 3:1 in the last days perilous times will come: all the activities are listed. He also tells of a crucial event for this LAST GENERATION that will change everything, especially for those in Israel where the religious home of the antichrist will be.V.15-16 "Therefore when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.” This is absolutely key, as it is situated in the middle of his prophetic warning. This is when those in Israel flee the land to the place God has prepared for them in the wilderness, so that the remnant are saved at the time of Armageddon (as Zech. 12:10 describes; Acts 2). Which means they had to have their LAND, and they have to have a third temple for this to occur in.V.17“Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house.V.18-22 “And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. He warns to not to hesitate, to get out immediately and hope it’s not on the sabbath when there will be restrictions to movement in the land, or being pregnant which will make it even more difficult. This next verse did NOT take PLACE and IS STILL YET FUTURE.V.21“For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.” And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened. Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'There!' do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand.”(Matt 24:21-23) He then mentions the Great tribulationwhich is continuance on the topic.Is a short time or no flesh would survive the slaughter. If anyone is saying Christ returned, these words of Jesus apply to them. This is directly addressing the counterfeit who goes into the temple that causes the ABOMINTION OF DESOLATION. And yet we have many saying he already did come in 70 AD. (False prophets).When the many scriptures tell us that He comes to rescue Israel on his return not punish Israel by SCATTERING THEM. Matt 24:27-28 Describes his return which will be unmistakeable to all living “ For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.” “He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels." Mark 8:38 which coincide with, Rev 19:14 the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses.” Then it describes what is spoken in the Old Testament V.28“For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together.”This describes the birds of the air feeding on the dead bodies, those slain from the armies at Armageddon spread all over the middleEast. All of this is explained in detail the Old Testament. Matt. 24:29 refers to Rev.6 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. He then speaks of the fig tree… Matt 24:34-44 “ Assuredly, I say to you, this generationwill by no means pass away till all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.” “all these things will come upon this generation.” What things? What he spoke of. What Generation? Those who see all the things he spoke of, including the abomination which must have the third temple, that has yet to be built. V.36 "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not know” If he came already then we do know when he came! Jesus specifically mentions the thief who breaks in and the flood which is related to the Tribulation time. V.38-39‘Your house is left to you desolate; for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!' " Meaning they will have no homeland, Jesus is referring to the time of RESTORATION; that ENDS the Tribulation. About Jesus returning to save Israel from the armies of the antichrist, known as Armageddon. (As Peter 2 pt.2 mentions this not destroy them and scatter them like what happened in 70 AD. (their house being made desolate). Do we see him on earth today? No, because HE DID NOT RETURN as the Scripture describes. One must adjust their view to the Scripture not adjust the Scripture to their view. At a time when were watching many of these events being setup to unfold, by accepting he ALREADY came, one denies the Word and these CURRENT EVENTS. So if ANYONE TELLS YOU these prophecies are fulfilled, they are speaking as a False prophet that Jesus warned us of. |
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