THIS generation shall not pass

I believe there are TWO applications of this text if interpreted by the immediate context.

I believe "this generation" refers to that generation that "sees all these things come to pass" which indicate the end of the age has come.

It has an immediate but secondary application in the present generation seeing the A.D. 70 destruction. It has a future and fulfilled application to the end of this present age.

Those things listed in Matthew 24:5-14 do not indicate the end has come (vv. 6, 8). The end comes when those things listed between Matthew 24:15 and verse 29 occur. The generation that sees those things is the generation Jesus is referring to.

So I believe there is a DOUBLE application.

 

Yes future from the time of His speaking. The Lord had been asked two questions by His disciples. They wanted an exact time and the sighn of His coming. Instead of an exact time He gives them signs and tells them no one can know the time.
In the signs that He gives He is not saying that one generation will see one sign and another generation another sign and so on and when they are all fulfill He will return. He is saying that in the generation that the signs start they will all be fulfilled in that generation before that generation passes away.
The debate for many is how long is a generation. For some they feel it 40 years and others a little more or a little less. I do not put a particular number of years on it. I think it is not a set amount of years. I believe that the generation that He is speaking starts with the first sign and those who are alive at that time starting with the babies. From that time on the rest of the signs will take place and there will be at least one person still alive from that generation when they started until the last sign takes place. Most likely more then just one from the beginning but at least one person still alive.

 

If I may be so bold. If that is what Hank teaches I am not suggesting that Hank is wrong. I am telling you that Hank is absolutely wrong on this issue! :smilewinkgrin:

 

I believe that "this generation" is the generation living at the time of the events prophesied in Matthew 24.

 

Why do you believe that?

 

The fundemental problem here is failure to see that most of the Old Testament prophecies had an immediate PARTIAL application but a future COMPLETE fulfillment. Think of the prophecies of the fall of Ninevah and of Babylon.

Luke 21 demonstrates that there is an immediate application to "this generation" that sees the destruction of the temple in A.D. 70. However, it is only a Partial fulfilment as the ultimate fulfillment is at the end of this just before Christ returns.

This is precisely why we have some argue it has been fulfilled while others argue it is yet future - it is both. "This generation" refers to the generation that sees the PARTIAL as well as the generation that see the FINAL.

 

I can see how dual application has some validity.

 

I always find it interesting that so many people will state that Jesus really didn't mean "this generation" as we know it. Instead, He is using the term in a much broader sense -- really talking about the future.

Here are two other veres from Matthew that strongly indicate that He really is speaking to His contemporaries.
Matt. 10:23 - "Truly I say to you, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel until the Son of Man comes."
Matt. 16:28 - "Truly I say to you, there are some who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom."

From my understanding, Jesus' use of this term - "this generation" - throughout the gospels refers to his contemporaries: see Matthew 26:36, 11:16, 12:39, 41, 42, 45; Luke 11:50-51, 17:25; and Mark 8:38.

I can understand those that hold to a dual application. However, I just don't see how one can say that He really didn't mean what He said.

 

Obviously you choose to ignore Peter's interpetation of this in 2 Peter 1:15-18. They saw on the mount of Transfiguration exactly what he promised in these two texts.

Second, the word "immediately after" in Matthe 24:29 defies any PRESENT TENSE complete fulfillment as Christ did not come as described in Matthew 24:29-31.

I don't deny a PARTIAL direct application to the present generation but I do deny a COMPLETE direct application to the present generation. The truth is that this is addressed to the generation viewing it when it happens.

Good! There is hope.

 

Just the first two verses are covered under the 70A.D. distruction. The rest is future.