This Generation
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In the Olivet Prophecy Jesus told us that everything he told the Apostles would take place in a single generation (Matthew 24:34). Often when studying prophecy Christians assume many of the things the scriptures foretell are for our own day in the 21st century. Yet, most of the prophecies written in the New Testament, including the Olivet Prophecy are intended for that generation in the first century AD that rejected Jesus as the Messiah. The Olivet Prophecy has meaning for us today only in that context. Jesus spoke of an evil generation that would not die out, until all the things he predicted would come true. The problem is that folks today assume he meant the final generation of mankind, just before his return. This is simply not true, and I hope to show why this could not be true in this post.
The Greek word genea (G1074) is used 42 times in the New Testament and is translated: generation, nation, age or time in the KJV. The most common New Testament use of genea is in the phrase this generation. Jesus described his generation as: “adulterous, wicked, unbelieving, perverse, and sinful.” Paul spoke of his own life among a crooked and depraved generation (Philippians 2:15). This is clearly a metaphorical use intended to characterize and classify those who heard Jesus’ message and rejected him. This generation is that group of people whose hearts remained hardened toward God (Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, page 302). Below is a chart listing all the places in the New Testament where the words: this generation can be found. Consult the Scriptures and prove to yourself that Jesus was speaking of his own generation when he pronounced his judgment.
| Matthew 11:16-17 | Jesus likened his generation to children who thought they could compel their God to do as they wished. |
| Matthew 12:39 | An evil and adulterous generation seeks a sign. |
| Matthew 12:41 | The Ninevites will rise up in the judgment and condemn this generation, because they repented at the words of Jonah and Christ is greater than Jonah. |
| Matthew 12:42 | The Queen of Sheba will rise up with this generation and condemn it for she made a great journey to hear the words of Solomon and Christ is greater than he. |
| Matthew 12:45 | The last state of this wicked generation will be worse than its first state. |
| Matthew 16:4 | A wicked and adulterous generation seeks a sign. |
| Matthew 17:17 | Jesus refers to his generation as faithless and perverse. |
| Matthew 23:36 | The judgment for all the righteous blood in history will come on the heads of Christ’s own generation. |
| Matthew 24:34 | Christ’s generation will not die out until all that he said pertaining to Jerusalem and the Temple came true. |
| Mark 3:12 | Why does this generation seek a sign? |
| Mark 8:38 | When Christ comes in his glory he will be ashamed of all those who are ashamed of him in this adulterous and sinful generation. |
| Mark 9:19 | (same as Matthew 17:17 above) |
| Mark 13:30 | (same as Matthew 24:34 above) |
| Luke 7:31 | (same as Matthew 11:16-17 above) |
| Luke 9:41 | (same as Matthew 17:17 above) |
| Luke 11:29 | (same as Matthew 12:39 above) |
| Luke 11:30 | as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so Christ was a sign to this generation |
| Luke 11:31 | (same as Matthew 12:42 above) |
| Luke 11:32 | (same as Matthew 12:41 above) |
| Luke 11:50 | (same as Matthew 23:36 above) |
| Luke 11:51 | (same as Matthew 23:36 above) |
| Luke 17:25 | Christ will be known throughout the world, but first he must be rejected by this generation. |
| Luke 21:32 | (same as Matthew 24:34 above) |
| Acts 2:40 | Peter exhorted the crowds to receive Christ and save themselves thereby from the judgment coming upon this untoward generation. |
Can it be more clearly stated in scripture that the generation of which Jesus spoke in Matthew 23 and 24 was the generation in which he lived, preached, taught, and performed so many signs and wonders? Yet in all of this, this same generation rejected him and crucified him! Not only so, but would not repent though given an opportunity when the same preaching, teaching and healing was done through his apostles. They, too, were persecuted from city to city, hunted down like criminals and killed to silence the message that God loves us and sent his Son to save us from our sins. Any attempt to cause the words: this generation to mean our own in the 21st century or any other but the one in which Christ lived out the days of his flesh is not only pure conjecture but very misleading and not Biblically sound, and, to be quite frank, it is a lie!
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mrknowyourbible
August 20, 2011 at 15:34
Hi Ed,
Early in my Christian walk, Mat. 24 was always a chapter in the bible that baffle me (mildly putting it), because Christ when giving signs of his return said “This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled”. Well that confused me because IF he was referring to HIS generation why hasn’t the world ended yet because several generations have passed since then.
Well God has given me some understanding since then and I intend to share that with you and any reading this comment. First I would like to state that Mat. 24 should NEVER be read without reading Mat. 25, it is one sermon (don’t miss that). Answering the question asked by his disciples, “what shall be the sign of thy coming and of the end of the world?” Jesus spoke mainy about 3 things in His Olivet Sermon and they are all linked to each other:
• Sign of his coming and the end of the world
• Parable of the 10 virgins
• Parable of the sheep and the goats
If Jesus was really referring to HIS generation, then they were suppose to witness all the signs. I believe that SOME of those signs mentioned were witnessed by that generation (e.g destruction of Jerusalem 24:15-20) but certainly not all. Well I will proceed to examine some of those signs and will give comments accordingly:
1. Gospel of the kingdom preached to all the world Mat 24:14
Certainly that generation didn’t witness that, Christianity was in its infancy and though Paul had made great strides in spreading the gospel in Asia and other regions. Many areas in the Americas and Europe were still virgin territory.
2. False Christ and Apostles working miracles and great signs Mat 24:24
There were many philosophies coming into the church at Paul’s time and he wrote many letters to warn the church against this, those he called “false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ” also see 2nd Peter 2:1but I have not see record of those that worked “miracles and great signs”.
3. Sun darkened, moon not give her light, stars fall from heaven Mat 24:29
Everything so far spoken by Christ was to be taken literally concerning his coming and the end of the world. Wars, pestilences, famines, destruction of Jerusalem, false apostles, false Christs, these all are to mean exactly what the say and I would like to conclude that the signs of Mat 24:29 are to be taken literarily as well. To say that these have all of a sudden become symbolic is inconsistent with what was mentioned previously and also would be prophetic gymnastics!
Therefore there was a literally darkening of the sun to be witnessed like what occurred in May 19, 1780. Timothy Dwight says, “The 19th of May, 1780, was a remarkable dark day. Candles were lighted in many houses; the birds were silent and disappeared, and the fowls retired to roost. … A very general opinion prevailed, that the Day of Judgment was at hand.” Quoted in Connecticut Historical Collections, compiled by John Warner Barber (2nd ed.; New Haven: Durrie & Peck and J.W. Barber, 1836) p. 403.
The moon will not give her light will have to be witnessed. This occurred the same night the sun was darkened and appeared as blood. “The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come.” Joel 2:31.
Stars fall from heaven will have to be witnessed as well. “The great star shower took place on the night of November 13, 1833. It was so bright that a newspaper could be read on the street. One writer says, “For nearly four hours the sky was literally ablaze.”* Men thought the end of the world had come. Look into this. It is most fascinating, and a sign of Christ’s coming.*Peter A. Millman, “The Falling of the Stars,” The Telescope, 7 (May-June, 1940) 57.”
If these were not the fulfillment of those signs then I am certain that as least the 1st century Christian didn’t witness those signs.
Well what the Lord has revealed to me is that “this generation” i.e the generation that has witnessed all these signs will see the end of the World and the visible coming of the Lord. We certainly have seen most of the signs fulfilled, with the fall of communism Christianity is going in places it never went before and though the entire world will not accept the grace of our Lord, it will be preached as a witness. This means friends that the coming of Jesus Christ is eminent and we may as well witness it.
“Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer [is] nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, [even] at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.”
Ed Bromfield
August 21, 2011 at 07:02
Greetings Lennon and thank you for stopping by and leaving a few remarks. I always enjoy a good discussion. :-)
Early in my Christian walk, Mat. 24 was always a chapter in the bible that baffle me (mildly putting it), because Christ when giving signs of his return said “This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled”. Well that confused me because IF he was referring to HIS generation why hasn’t the world ended yet because several generations have passed since then.
Your error is in trusting your translator. The same Greek word translated “world” in Matthew 24 means “age” elsewhere. Hebrews 9:26 tells us of Christ appearing in the end of the “world” to put away sin through the sacrifice of himself. You seem to be reading something into the text that simply cannot be proved is there (see also 1Corinthians 10:11). If God’s word shows us that Jesus appeared “in the end of the world” should we be looking for it to occur in some other time?
Well God has given me some understanding since then and I intend to share that with you and any reading this comment. First I would like to state that Mat. 24 should NEVER be read without reading Mat. 25, it is one sermon (don’t miss that). Answering the question asked by his disciples, “what shall be the sign of thy coming and of the end of the world?” Jesus spoke mainy about 3 things in His Olivet Sermon and they are all linked to each other:
• Sign of his coming and the end of the world
• Parable of the 10 virgins
• Parable of the sheep and the goats
Fine, I am certainly not against reading the Bible in context.
If Jesus was really referring to HIS generation, then they were suppose to witness all the signs. I believe that SOME of those signs mentioned were witnessed by that generation (e.g destruction of Jerusalem 24:15-20) but certainly not all. Well I will proceed to examine some of those signs and will give comments accordingly:
1. Gospel of the kingdom preached to all the world Mat 24:14
Certainly that generation didn’t witness that, Christianity was in its infancy and though Paul had made great strides in spreading the gospel in Asia and other regions. Many areas in the Americas and Europe were still virgin territory.
It is my understanding that **all** the signs Jesus foretold would occur, did occur in the 1st century CE, but I’ll consider what you have to say throughout your commentary.
Again, according to the New Testament the Gospel was, indeed, preached throughout the world as defined by the Scriptures. Paul claimed that the Gospel was preached throughout the world (Romans 10:18; Colossians 1:6, 23); the faith of the Roman Christians was known and talked about throughout the world (Romans 1:8). We must not read into Jesus’ words something that he did not mean, because the end result would not be the Gospel. The Scriptures tell us that the Gospel was preached throughout the world, and this is understood to mean the civilized world or the Roman Empire (cp. Luke 2:1; certainly Caesar wasn’t interested in taking a roll of the Americas or even the Persians).
2. False Christ and Apostles working miracles and great signs Mat 24:24
There were many philosophies coming into the church at Paul’s time and he wrote many letters to warn the church against this, those he called “false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ” also see 2nd Peter 2:1but I have not see record of those that worked “miracles and great signs”.
Your argument is from silence. Certainly every detail was not recorded, and even things of importance may not have come down to us, simply because throughout the times of persecution, some of the first things destroyed were the written Scriptures and records. You admit that false Christ did appear in the first century and wonders is a subjective matter. For example, I viewed your You Tube’s “Toys of the Antichrist.” It was very interesting, but the conclusion I draw is that you view our modern technology to be the “wonders” that fulfill the Scriptures. If modern technology is astonishing to you today, what would the 1st century CE world view as astonishing? If a “wonder” doesn’t have to be a real miracle, then the door is open to simply conclude that “great works” would fulfill the Scriptures, and I believe this would be a correct interpretation.
3. Sun darkened, moon not give her light, stars fall from heaven Mat 24:29
Everything so far spoken by Christ was to be taken literally concerning his coming and the end of the world. Wars, pestilences, famines, destruction of Jerusalem, false apostles, false Christs, these all are to mean exactly what the say and I would like to conclude that the signs of Mat 24:29 are to be taken literarily as well. To say that these have all of a sudden become symbolic is inconsistent with what was mentioned previously and also would be prophetic gymnastics!
Therefore there was a literally darkening of the sun to be witnessed like what occurred in May 19, 1780. Timothy Dwight says, “The 19th of May, 1780, was a remarkable dark day. Candles were lighted in many houses; the birds were silent and disappeared, and the fowls retired to roost. … A very general opinion prevailed, that the Day of Judgment was at hand.” Quoted in Connecticut Historical Collections, compiled by John Warner Barber (2nd ed.; New Haven: Durrie & Peck and J.W. Barber, 1836) p. 403.
The moon will not give her light will have to be witnessed. This occurred the same night the sun was darkened and appeared as blood. “The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come.” Joel 2:31.
Stars fall from heaven will have to be witnessed as well. “The great star shower took place on the night of November 13, 1833. It was so bright that a newspaper could be read on the street. One writer says, “For nearly four hours the sky was literally ablaze.”* Men thought the end of the world had come. Look into this. It is most fascinating, and a sign of Christ’s coming.*Peter A. Millman, “The Falling of the Stars,” The Telescope, 7 (May-June, 1940) 57.”
If these were not the fulfillment of those signs then I am certain that as least the 1st century Christian didn’t witness those signs.
Well what the Lord has revealed to me is that “this generation” i.e the generation that has witnessed all these signs will see the end of the World and the visible coming of the Lord. We certainly have seen most of the signs fulfilled, with the fall of communism Christianity is going in places it never went before and though the entire world will not accept the grace of our Lord, it will be preached as a witness. This means friends that the coming of Jesus Christ is eminent and we may as well witness it.
Josephus records many heavenly signs that appeared over Jerusalem during the siege. It is also recorded in the Gospels that the Sun was darkened at noon while Jesus hung on the cross. The bottom line is that Peter—Jesus’ chosen Apostle—believed the signs of Joel the prophet were being fulfilled on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2). None of what you mention above has any merit as it pertains to revealing what God says in Scripture. What, if anything, occurred during those times when heavenly signs were seen that actually pointed to God or to the Gospel? By your own admission, **everything** must be fulfilled in a single generation. In other words, a new Temple at Jerusalem must be built and again destroyed before Jesus could return. I’m sorry, my friend, but I went through all this when I was a young man. I was, as you seem to be today, impressed with our technology and tried to read **it** into the Scriptures. I was wrong then, and you are wrong today. Nevertheless, I wish you well, and may the Lord richly bless your own understanding of the Scriptures.
Eddie
mrknowyourbible
August 22, 2011 at 12:09
Good day Ed,
I read your comments with interest; you sure have some potent counter arguments. However I would like you to consider some other perspectives.
“””The Scriptures tell us that the Gospel was preached throughout the world, and this is understood to mean the civilized world or the Roman Empire”””
Paul’s “ends of the world” might not necessarily mean the “all the world” that Jesus commissioned the gospel to be preached. Jesus further qualified it by saying “as a witness unto ALL nations” which would constitute every nation, civilized or uncivilized. Also note the context of “ends of the world” in Romans 10:18, Paul is actually referencing Psalms 19 which talks about nature’s voice going to the end of the world, so the gospel was preached in that sense. Read also Rev: 14:6, Christ made it unquestionably clear that the Gospel must be preached to “them that dwell on the earth and to EVERY NATION, and KINDRED, and TONGUE, and PEOPLE”. 1st Century Christians hardly saw a fulfillment of this command, but it is certainly nearing its fulfillment now.
“””Your argument is from silence. Certainly every detail was not recorded,”””
All pertinent information especially as it relates to prophecy is either preserved in the historical accounts of the scripture or otherwise for all to see. God would not put some of the signs in the bible as fulfilled and others in historical writings and then the others “silent” and left to subjective opinion; that makes no sense. I’m saying if it was not there it is because it is not there. On the other hand how many false messiahs are in the world today and are actually doing miracles? Just a few months ago Sai Baba, an Indian guru, died, many revered him as a god and he did miracles. This is just one of the hundreds in the world today.
“””Josephus records many heavenly signs that appeared over Jerusalem during the siege”””
Well I’m glad that someone did record the event. Even if you want to say that the sun darkening was a fulfillment of one of the signs there are still 2 more to account for; the moon and the stars. You can read Josephus’ record for the fulfillment, rather don’t because you will search in vain.
The events that I mentioned you asked “if that pointed to the gospels”? Well it did in a very profound way; the information I’m not sure you will be able to bare them now. But an interesting research you can do is the history of the Protestantism and I recommend a book name the Great Controversy which gives great insights.
Any way God bless, I see some other interesting topics in your blog I would like to comment on.
Ed Bromfield
August 22, 2011 at 18:56
Greetings Lennon,
I’m glad to see you are back. So often people get offended, if I don’t agree with their point of view. I’m glad this is not the case with you. :-)
Paul’s “ends of the world” might not necessarily mean the “all the world” that Jesus commissioned the gospel to be preached. Jesus further qualified it by saying “as a witness unto ALL nations” which would constitute every nation, civilized or uncivilized.
“…might not necessarily mean…” constitutes an opinion. As long as you recognize that and qualify your remarks as such, I see nothing wrong with believing Jesus’ ultimate intention is to cover the globe. However, his commission was to the Apostles and then to Paul. They had a job to do and the New Testament claims they did it. Your use of the word **all** does not fit the context of Scripture. The Gospel writers claim **all** Judea came out to John’s Baptism, but that simply wasn’t true. It is a Hebraism, like when we used to tell mom and dad: “Everyone is going to be there—I have to go!” One simply cannot categorically take everything literally—otherwise we would be looking for an animal instead of Jesus when John said: “Behold the Lamb of God!”
Also note the context of “ends of the world” in Romans 10:18, Paul is actually referencing Psalms 19 which talks about nature’s voice going to the end of the world, so the gospel was preached in that sense. Read also Rev: 14:6, Christ made it unquestionably clear that the Gospel must be preached to “them that dwell on the earth and to EVERY NATION, and KINDRED, and TONGUE, and PEOPLE”. 1st Century Christians hardly saw a fulfillment of this command, but it is certainly nearing its fulfillment now.
You seem to be trying to put Jesus’ first century commands into a 21st century context. While it is true that Romans 10:18 is a quotation of Psalm 19 which speaks of nature, it is put into the context of the Jews rejecting God, but those who didn’t seek him found him. While the source indeed points to “nature” Paul seems to put those words in the context of the Jews refusing the Gospel, but the Gentiles, who were not seeking him, found him in Jesus. If I’m wrong—I’m wrong, but it seems to me that Paul is speaking not of people finding God through nature, but through the Gospel. This aside, you have not commented on the fact that Romans 1:8 shows the faith of the Christian community in Rome was spoken of throughout the world, or that Colossians 1:6, 23 speaks of the Gospel in all the world “which was preached to every creature which is under heaven.” Paul taught that in 1Corinthians 10:11 “the ends of the world are come” upon them. That is: the end of an age. We—you and I—are living in a new age, in the Day of the Lord. It began as the old age was ending. This is what the Apostles preached.
All I’m doing here is comparing spiritual things with spiritual and letting the text speak for itself. The term “world” in the 1st century context meant **all** the nations within the Roman Empire. There is ample proof within the New Testament to show this is true. Of course there is a context of all generations throughout the world—past and future, which includes all the sons of Adam, but that is not what Jesus commissioned the Apostles to reach. He sent them to the world they knew. Once it was preached there, it would retain the foothold and would continue throughout all generations; but when he connected his coming with “that generation” he was speaking of the 1st century world.
Concerning Revelation 14:6, what do you want this to mean? Revelation 14:1 has Jesus already standing on Mt. Zion with the “144000” If we are talking **literal** here, then Christ has already returned to the earth. Secondly, who is preaching the “everlasting Gospel to hem that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people”? It looks to me like an angle who is flying in the midst of heaven is doing it in some fashion, but should we be taking these things literally? Revelation is a very symbolic book. One would be hard pressed to take everything it says literally.
All pertinent information especially as it relates to prophecy is either preserved in the historical accounts of the scripture or otherwise for all to see. God would not put some of the signs in the bible as fulfilled and others in historical writings and then the others “silent” and left to subjective opinion; that makes no sense. I’m saying if it was not there it is because it is not there. On the other hand how many false messiahs are in the world today and are actually doing miracles? Just a few months ago Sai Baba, an Indian guru, died, many revered him as a god and he did miracles. This is just one of the hundreds in the world today.
The New Testament calls them “lying wonders”! In other words, they aren’t miracles at all. No one can raise the dead or heal etc. unless he is gifted of God. The book of Acts speaks of one Simon a sorcerer who misled the Samaritans with magic. They actually thought he was the power of God, and these were people who worshiped the God of Abraham. Jesus, himself, preached to them from time to time. What do we actually know about this Simon? Why would you believe that history **must** record the works of false messiahs? I’m not looking for God to dot every “i” and cross every “t”. I simply believe his word. The New Testament simply states that Jesus came in “the end of the world”, and the Apostles taught that “the ends of the world” were come upon that generation. I believe what I read. I don’t’ try to complicate God’s word with a lot of “what ifs” or questions. I simply take it as face value, believing that it will define itself for me—all I have to do is look. :-)
Well I’m glad that someone did record the event. Even if you want to say that the sun darkening was a fulfillment of one of the signs there are still 2 more to account for; the moon and the stars. You can read Josephus’ record for the fulfillment, rather don’t because you will search in vain.
I am merely aware that Josephus wrote about heavenly signs, describing some of them, before the fall of Jerusalem. Even if they did not occur as he claimed, I don’t need his testimony concerning what signs occurred. The prophecy used apocalyptic language, just as many of the Old Testament prophets used—God coming in the clouds, the sun, moon and stars not giving light etc., because these things are defined in the New Testament as people—leaders (e.g. Revelation 12 with the sun moon and stars cp. Joseph’s prophecy in Genesis 37:9 which Jacob interpreted in verse 10. Once Jerusalem and the Temple were destroyed, the Jewish nation in the Gentile world ceased to exist. The people survived to today, but the government was non-existent. The leaders—sun, moon and stars—couldn’t offer their light, because they were no more. Looked at another way, the literal sun, moon and stars ceased to shine on the Jewish nation, because the nation itself no longer existed.
The events that I mentioned you asked “if that pointed to the gospels”? Well it did in a very profound way; the information I’m not sure you will be able to bare them now. But an interesting research you can do is the history of the Protestantism and I recommend a book name the Great Controversy which gives great insights.
Well, we both have our opinions. Perhaps you are correct in that I cannot bear the real truth of it all, but I’ve considered all this long ago and continue to consider the opinions of those such as yourself, to see if anyone is able to support the argument that these prophecies are for our day. All I want to do is believe the truth. I really don’t care if I have to change my opinion—the fact is, on a number of occasions I had to correct or eliminate things in my blog, because someone had a good argument that demanded me to change or eliminate them if I loved the truth. Nevertheless, I see nothing compelling in your argument to change my opinion about what I see in the word of God. But I do thank you for your willingness to correct me (standing on the belief that you are correct).
Any way God bless, I see some other interesting topics in your blog I would like to comment on.
Great! I love comments. They keep me honest.
Lord bless,
Eddie
mrknowyourbible
August 23, 2011 at 10:55
“””The prophecy used apocalyptic language, just as many of the Old Testament prophets used”””
Apocalyptic Language?
I thought we had agreed that the signs of the sun, moon and stars must be literal since all the other previous signs were to be taken as literal. But the problem here is that history does not support the fulfillment of these particular signs in the 1st century so you concoct an argument that is not consistent with other parts previously mentioned. Prophetic gymnastics!
Another scripture makes this point clear ” Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the UTTERMOST PART OF THE EARTH.” The ever widening circle. This was not achieved in that generation.
But maybe we need to agree to disagree, because it seems we both have our opinions and are unable to convince each other.
God bless.
Ed Bromfield
August 23, 2011 at 13:39
Lennon, greetings once more. :-)
Apocalyptic Language?
I thought we had agreed that the signs of the sun, moon and stars must be literal since all the other previous signs were to be taken as literal. But the problem here is that history does not support the fulfillment of these particular signs in the 1st century so you concoct an argument that is not consistent with other parts previously mentioned. Prophetic gymnastics!
No, we had no agreement on whether or not the language of the Olivet Prophecy was literal. You stated you case and, evidently, assumed I agreed. If a single, literal star would literally fall to the earth, the earth would be destroyed immediately. There would be nothing left. Even someone taking a literal perspective must agree that that would be true.
Both in my blog-posts and in my comments I have understood God’s word to be taken for the first century. There is absolutely no reason for anyone to believe it was not. The Apostles believed the end would come in their generation, and I am not about to claim they were wrong. Jesus commissioned **them** not you or me for the task of reaching the world. We have our own work to do in our generation to reach those around us, but the Great Commission was theirs and they did what they were told to do (Mark 16:20). I am simple enough to believe what is clearly written. I try my best not to assume anything about the Scriptures that they don’t clearly say, so I don’t think Jesus spoke of 21st century “toys” of the so-called antichrist.
Another scripture makes this point clear ” Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the UTTERMOST PART OF THE EARTH.” The ever widening circle. This was not achieved in that generation.
As I have said, I try not to assume 21st century language when reading the Scriptures. I try my best to put myself into the 1st century CE in order to understand what Jesus is saying. For them the “uttermost part of the earth” could have been one of two things. 1) the earth/land simply meant the borders of Israel—the original borders defined under the rule of David and Solomon. The saying can be understood in this way simply because Jesus told the disciples that they would not have gone through all the cities of Israel until the end would come [Matthew 10:23]. 2) the “uttermost part of the earth” can also mean the world that they knew—the Roman Empire.
I don’t mean to imply that we don’t have our responsibilities in our own generation, but as it pertains to “the end of the world” etc., that had to do with the Apostolic commission. They did what they were told to do, and the end came. They looked for the end to come in their generation and they were not wrong. I believe it would be very wrong of anyone to claim he is correct while the Apostles are wrong. I don’t know why any believer would ever conclude that.
But maybe we need to agree to disagree, because it seems we both have our opinions and are unable to convince each other.
This is fine too. I would not like to be thought of as a person who tries to twist someone’s arm in order to come to an agreement. We must obey the Holy Spirit as we believe he speaks to us. I am comfortable leaving error to the Holy Spirit for proper correction in the proper time, whether that error is in you or in me.
Lord bless you as well,
Eddie