“Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.” Matt. 24:34 (NIV)
Some skeptics state that Jesus is a false prophet since they suppose he predicted the end times incorrectly. The verse above is one of the more challenging verses in the New Testament to interpret properly. The older interpretations state that this “generation” was referring to “race” or specifically the Jewish race would not pass out of existence before the Second Coming. [Side note: it is highly unusual that the Jewish race still exists today considering all the times this nation of people have survived all of the dispersions and persecutions and attempted annihilation. Yet they live on this day and have reestablished their independence in the State of Israel (back after WWII ended).]
However, many modern scholars interpret Jesus’ words in Matthew 24:34 about “this generation” NOT to mean the end of the world within the lifetime of his contemporaries, but a more accurate understanding, supported by context and historical events, is that Jesus was referring to the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple in 70 AD. This event, which occurred within 40 years of Jesus’ statement, marked the end of the Old Covenant and its associated practices. What happened to the Jews back then was at a level similar to what Hitler attempted in WWII – many Jews were brutally murdered at the hands of the Romans prior to Jerusalem being leveled by war.
My Pastor Tom Flaherty at CIty Church just preached on the Book of Revelation, (scrub to about 58: minutes) and Pastor Tom mentions Mark 13:30. If you pay careful attention to the wording, Jesus didn’t say “he was coming;” he said his coming would be right at the door (v. 29) before that generation passed. God’s timing is not our timing. He is slow in coming because He saw YOU. He wants you to be with Him in heaven forever! What a lovely thought that is, yes?
When listening to skeptics or others online sources that do not give God the benefit of the doubt, be cautious. They assume malice on God’s part. God has NO evil in Him that He should lie (Heb. 6:18). God is good (watch this short video by Dr. William Lane Craig), and our theology should rest on that foundation. Let’s give God the benefit of our doubts when we see things in scripture that we may not understand or have the correct interpretation and dig a little deeper. Find out what God really means, knowing His is good and His love endures forever.
The LORD bless you, and keep you;
The LORD make His face shine on you,
And be gracious to you;
The LORD lift up His countenance on you,
And give you peace.’
— Numbers 6:24-26
