This generation
Futurists argue with preterists and tell us that Matthew 24:32 which says this generation shall not pass away until all these things be fulfilled means-
Genos (means race) which they say is a generation or
They claim that this is talking about either our generation or a future generation none of these make any sense and I will tell you why below. Now lets focus on the proper way to interpret bible prophecy.
First of all you never try and make scripture fit your eschatology. If it doesn't fit you need to reevaluate what you believe. Come to the understanding that no one is able to interpret all of bible prophecy and if they claim they can they are a liar. There is always going to be something were not sure about if we are honest. Last but not least the best way to interpret bible prophecy is to memorize the scripture first comes the natural then the spiritual. There will always be a natural, for example in Genesis 1 we have heaven and earth which is real physical and natural and you have times where scripture is talking about heaven and earth passing so lets have grace. This is obviously talking of a spiritual heaven and earth passing which represented law. In this article I will be writing about what a generation is. Lets look and see if God ever called a 40 year amount of time a generation. If so we know what a generation in Matthew 24:32 is talking about.
Forty Years wondering in the wilderness
was called a generation
Numbers 32:13 And the LORD'S anger was kindled against Israel , and he made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until all the generation, that had done evil in the sight of the LORD, was consumed
Hebrews 3:9-11 When your fathers tempted me, prove me, and saw my works40 years, where for I was grieved with that generationand said they do always err in their hearts; and they have not known my ways. So I swear in my wrath, they shall not enter into my rest.
Numbers 32:13 And the LORD'S
anger was kindled against Israel , and he made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until all the generation, that had done evil in the sight of the LORD, was consumed
And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end [shall be]: for they [are] a very froward generation, children in whom [is] no faith.
Deuteronomy 8
2 And you shall remember all the way which the LORD your God led you these forty yearsin the wilderness, to humble you, and to test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments, or not.
4Your clothing grew not old upon you, neither did your foot swell, these forty years
Exodus 16:35 (King James Version)
35And the children of Israel did eat mannaforty years, until they came to a land inhabited; they did eat manna, until they came unto the borders of the land of Canaan.
Deuteronomy 29:5 (King James Version)
5And I have led you forty yearsin the wilderness: your clothes are not waxen old upon you, and thy shoe is not waxen old upon thy foot.
For the sons of Israel walked forty yearsin the wilderness, until all the nation, that is,the men of war who came out of Egypt, perished because they did not listen to the voice of the L
ORD, to whom the LORDhad sworn that He would not let them see the land which the LORDhad sworn to their fathers to give us, a land flowing with milk and honey. 7Their children whom He raised up in their place, Joshua circumcised; for they were uncircumcised, because they had not circumcised them along the way.
And the space in which we came from Kadesh-barnea, until we were come over the brook Zered, was thirty and eight years; until all the generation of the men of war were wasted out from among the host, as Yahweh swore unto them.
(Deuteronomy 2:14)
You will notice above that not only did the children of Israel wander in the desert for 40 years before reaching the promise land, but it was called a generation. You might be thinking, so what? What does that prove? It proves that God had used a generation in the old testament and it was 40 years long. Then when you read the scripture first comes the natural and then the spiritual. It makes sense that Israel the natural made it to the natural promise land, but the spiritual Israel believing Jew and Gentile in one body made it to the spiritual promise land the new covenant age of grace.
In Matthew 24 God said that the last days were like Noah and the Ark . In the story of Noah the wicked were destroyed first then Gods people were in his ark of safety for 40 days. God then made an everlasting covenant with Noah that he would never destroy the world again. After 40 years from when Christ started his ministry that Gods everlasting covenant of grace was established. God could not have destroyed the literal earth because of his covenant with Noah. In the parable of the wheat and the tares God had the wheat (church) grow with the tares (wicked) until the end. Notice the wheat were not raptured first. Then the tares (wicked) were taken first and burnt in the fire like the wicked were in 70 A.D. And Gods wheat (church) was left in Gods barn on earth. Its also no coincidence that the parable of the vineyard it has a house holder who represents God rented it out to husband men. And when the time to get the fruit came he sent his servants (prophets) and they killed two and beat one, then he finally sent his son (Jesus) but they killed his also. He said what will the Lord of the vineyard do to the husband men? He says he will lead it out to other husband men. Given to a nation bringing forth fruits. This is referring to given the kingdom to the Gentiles. Then compare the story of the wedding feast- Where the wicked are destroyed and their city, which I will talk about in full detail later on. These all have one thing in common, the wicked are destroyed usually by fire and the righteous are left.
Deuteronomy 25:1
"The following is Mr. Ainsworth’s note on this verse: "This number forty the Scripture uses sundry times in cases of humiliation, affliction, and punishment. As Moses twice humbled himself in fasting and prayer forty days and forty nights, Deuteronomy 9:9, 18. Elijah fasted forty days, 1 Kings 19:8; and our Savior, Matthew 4:2. Forty years Israel was afflicted in the wilderness for their sins, Numbers 14:33, 34. And forty years Egypt was desolate for treacherous dealing with Israel, Ezekiel 29:11-13. Forty days every woman was in purification for her uncleanness for a man-child that she bare, and twice forty days for a woman-child, Leviticus 12:4, 5. Forty days and forty nights it rained at Noah’s flood, Genesis 7: 12. Forty days did Ezekiel bear the iniquity of the house of Judah, Ezekiel 4:6. Jonah preached, Yet forty days and Nineveh shall be overthrown, John 3:4. Forty years’ space the Canaanites had to repent after Israel came out of Egypt, and wandered so many years in the wilderness, Numbers 14:33. And thrice forty years the old world had Noah preaching unto them repentance, Genesis 6:3. It was forty days ere Christ ascended into heaven after his resurrection, Acts 1:3, 9. And forty years’ space he gave unto the Jews, from the time that they killed him, before he destroyed their city and temple by the Romans." (in loc. pp. 1474,5)
Deuteronomy/Revelation parallels (by Virgil Vaduva)
New TESTAMENT
What does generation mean in the old Testament-
1)
period, generation, habitation, dwelling
a)
period, age, generation (period of time)
b)
generation (those living during a period)
c)
generation (characterized by quality, condition, class of men)
d)
dwelling-place, habitation
It is commonly declared that the word "generation,"in Matthew 24:34, means to imply that the "race"of the Jews would not pass, till all the mentioned events came to pass. There is no justification for such a position. C.I. Scofield, in his Bible's reference to this verse, recognized this, and actually SWITCHED the definition of the word from that of geneato to that of genos,which is an entirely different word! The following will show that there is a great distinction between the two, and that Matthew 24:34means the age of people then living, and not the entire Jewish "race."The following quote by Chilton defines the sphere of this debate:
"Some have sought to get around the force of this text by saying that the word generationhere really means race, and that Jesus was simply saying that the Jewish race would not die out until all these things took place. Is that true? I challenge you: Get out your concordance and look up every New Testament occurrence of the word generation(in Greek, genea) and see if it evermeans 'race'in any other context. Here are all the references for the Gospels:
God calls 40 years a generation in Numbers 32:13 and in Hebrews 3:8-10. In the genealogical table of Matthew 1:17, we have data to estimate the length of a generation. It tells us that from the captivity in Babylon until Christ are fourteen generations. Now the date of the captivity, in the reign of Zedekiah, is said to be 586 BC. From 586 BC until the birth of Christ would be about 586 years which, divided by fourteen, makes the average length of a generation about 41 years.
Forty years is a significant number in the Bible, the children of Israel wondered in the wilderness for forty years before entering the promise land (Numbers 32:13). The New Testament saints also were in a transition period for forty years before entering the New Jerusalem, which is above. David reigned for forty years. I believe that Christ's reign from Pentecost to the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70, was also a forty year reign which Revelation 20 refers to as the millennial reign of Christ.
1074.
geneaghen-eh-ah'from (a presumed derivative of) 1085; a generation; by implication, an age (the period or the persons):--age, generation, nation, time.
Futurists (dispensationalists) teach that every scripture in the NT means generation except Matthew 24:32 where they say all of a sudden thatthis scripture means future age. Even though it's the same word.
Generation in the NT
1 The book of the GENERATIONof Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O GENERATIONof vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
16 But where unto shall I liken this GENERATION? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows,
34 O GENERATIONof vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous GENERATIONseeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:
41 The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this GENERATION, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.
42 The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this GENERATION, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.
45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked GENERATION.
4 A wicked and adulterous GENERATIONseeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.
17 Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse GENERATION, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.
33 Ye serpents, ye GENERATIONof vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
36 Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this GENERATION.
34 Verily I say unto you, This GENERATIONshall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
12 And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this GENERATIONseek after a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this GENERATION.
38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful GENERATION; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
19 He answereth him, and saith, O faithless GENERATION, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me.
30 Verily I say unto you, that this GENERATIONshall not pass, till all these things be done.
50 And his mercy is on them that fear him from GENERATIONto GENERATION.
7 Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O GENERATIONof vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
31 And the Lord said, Where unto then shall I liken the men of this GENERATION? and to what are they like?
41 And Jesus answering said, O faithless and perverse GENERATION, how long shall I be with you, and suffer you? Bring thy son hither.
29 And when the people were gathered thick together, he began to say, This is an evil GENERATION: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet.
30 For as Jonas was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this GENERATION.
31 The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this GENERATION, and condemn them: for she came from the utmost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.
32 The men of Nineve shall rise up in the judgment with this GENERATION, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.
50 That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this GENERATION;
51 From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this GENERATION.
8 And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their GENERATIONwiser than the children of light.
25 But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this GENERATION.
32 Verily I say unto you, This GENERATIONshall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.
40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward GENERATION.
33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his GENERATION? for his life is taken from the earth.
36 For David, after he had served his own GENERATIONby the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption:
10 Wherefore I was grieved with that GENERATION, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.
9 But ye are a chosen GENERATION, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light;
After reading all of these scriptures it is clear that a generation in the new testament always referred to the people living during that time. We also can see that it was obvious that impending judgment was about ready to come to that generation. From here I want to go to the book of Leviticus
where Moses tells them what will befall them in the last days and when you compare all the generation scriptures to Leviticus you will see that god's coming was a coming presense to judge the wicked and restore his people back to the way it was before the fall of Adam and to complete and marry his new covenant people under grace.
REVELATION AND EZEKIEL COMPARED
Revelation &Leviticus
The language of the book of Revelation is biblical imageryand its message is referring to the fulfillment of the Old Testament Scriptures from which its language originates, especially the four sevenfold judgments previously mentioned in Leviticus 26. Keep in mind that the amount of each judgment is recorded in the corresponding scriptures of Revelation. The following chart compares Revelation with Leviticus 26:
7 SealsA One-Quarter Judgment
...if they don't repent, God will send 7 stronger judgments.
Revelation 5 &6Leviticus 26:18
7 TrumpetsA One-Third Judgment
...if they don't repent, God will send 7 stronger judgments.
Revelation 8 &9Leviticus 26:21
7 ThundersNot Revealed (possibly a one-half judgment)
...if they don't repent, God will totally destroy them.
Revelation 10Leviticus 26:24
7 VialsThe Final Judgment
...the total destruction of Jerusalem—Babylon is fallen.
Revelation 16Leviticus 26:28
Note that the seventh occurrence of each of these judgments in the book of Revelation uses approximately the same language: Voices, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake. Moses experienced similar occurrences on Mount Sinai when he received the Law from God. In both instances God was showing how He would use the Law to judge those who refused His grace.
Revelation &Ezekiel
The books of Revelation and Ezekiel are basically the same books written with the same biblical imagery. In most cases they prophesy about the same time period, and they deal with the same events. This comparison is easy to prove by simply reading the book of Revelation along side the book of Ezekiel. This comparison quickly reveals that both these books deal with the same destruction of Jerusalem, and they both end with the same symbolic picture of the establishment of God's New Jerusalem (Church Kingdom) in the earth. We can see from these comparisons that most of the book Ezekiel dealt with events relevant to John's day; however, it does contain some prophecies that were relevant to Ezekiel's day. The following chart compares Revelation with Ezekiel:
The Throne-VisionRevelation4Ezekiel 1
The BookRevelation5Ezekiel 2-3
The Four PlaguesRevelation6:1-8Ezekiel 5
The Slain Under the AltarRevelation 6:9-11Ezekiel 6
The Wrath of GodRevelation6:12-17Ezekiel 7
The Seal on the Saint's ForeheadsRevelation7Ezekiel 9
The Coals from the AltarRevelation8Ezekiel 10
No More DelayRevelation10:1-7Ezekiel 12
The Eating of theBookRevelation10:8-11Ezekiel 2
The Measuring of the TempleRevelation 11:1-2Ezekiel 40-43
Jerusalem and SodomRevelation11:8Ezekiel 16
The Cup of WrathRevelation14Ezekiel 23
The Vine of the LandRevelation 14:18-20Ezekiel 15
The Great HarlotRevelation 17-18Ezekiel 16, 23
The Lament Over the CityRevelation 18Ezekiel 27
The Scavengers'FeastRevelation 19Ezekiel 38
The First ResurrectionRevelation 20:4-6Ezekiel 37
The Battle with Gog and MagogRevelation 20:7-9Ezekiel 38-39
The New JerusalemRevelation 21Ezekiel 40-48
The River of LifeRevelation 22Ezekiel 47
One one
Matthew 22:1-3 And Jesus answered and spoke unto them again by parables, and said,
2The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, (God) which made a marriage for his son(Jesus), 3And sent forth his servants (apostles) to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. Matthew 22:4-10 Again, he sent fourth other servants (apostles), saying, tell them which are bidden, behold, I have prepared my dinner: Oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all the things are ready: Come unto the marriage. But they made light of it, and went there ways, one to his farm another to his merchandise and the remnant took his servants (apostles), and in treated them spitefully, and slew them, but when the king (God) heard there off, He was wroth: and he sent fourth his armies (Roman armies 70 A.D) and destroyed those murderers, and burned up there city (70 A.D destruction of Jerusalem and the temple. Which there was no need for because no longer do we need the blood of bulls and goats but we have Jesus blood to wash away our sins). Then saith he to his servants (apostles) the wedding is ready, they (Jewish people who rejected Christ) which were bidden were not worthy go ye therefore unto the highways, and as many as ye shall find bid to the marriage. (Anyone who would accept Christ and repent be baptized and filled with the holy ghost could enter into a marriage relationship with Christ and be saved)
Luke 12:36-38
36 like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. 37 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. 38 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak. 39 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into.
Revelation 19:17-18 -
HYPERLINK "http://bible.cc/revelation/19-17.htm"17nd I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; 18That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. third, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves.
Rowan