RE: "This generation."
Couple of problems with this: your view has to change the connotation of the word "generation" to avoid having these things happen in the past.
In other words, you're using your conclusion to interpret the word rather than using the word to draw a sound conclusion.
Bad exegesis.
Second, Christ was explicit in what He meant, not only using the words "this generation" in speaking of the people to whom He was sent, but to His disciples:
{27} "For
the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and WILL THEN REPAY EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS.
{28} "Truly I say to you,
there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom."
Matthew 16:27-28 (NASB)
JESUS BEFORE CAIAPHAS
{64} Jesus *said to him, "You have said it
yourself; nevertheless
I tell you, hereafter
you will see THE SON OF MAN SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF POWER, and COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN."
Matthew 26:64 (NASB)
{22} And He said to the disciples, "The days will come when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it.
{23} "They will say to you, 'Look there! Look here!' Do not go away, and do not run after
them. {24} "For just like the lightning, when it flashes out of one part of the sky, shines to the other part of the sky,
so will the Son of Man be in His day.
{25} "
But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.
Luke 17:22-25 (NASB)
(Luke 17:25 EXPLICITLY states whom Christ meant by "this generation!" The generation that rejected and crucified Him!)
The first few verses establish His promise to return.
Now, here is the important connection people need to make:
{30} "
It will be just the same on the day that the Son of Man is revealed.
{31} "On that day, the one who is on the housetop and whose goods are in the house must not go down to take them out; and likewise the one who is in the field must not turn back.
Luke 17:30-31 (NASB)
See verse 31? It looks exactly like verses 17 and 18 from Matthew 24:
{15} "Therefore when you see the
ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand),
{16} then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains.
{17} "
Whoever is on the housetop must not go down to get the things out that are in his house. {18} "Whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his cloak. Matthew 24:15-18 (NASB)
And what is the "ABOMINATON OF DESOLATION?"
{20} "But when you see
Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that
her desolation is near.
Luke 21:20 (NASB)
His return was not meant for us living in 21st century America. Everything He said about His return points to one time and one place for one purpose:
To avenge the covenant (Leviticus 26) upon first century Jerusalem, thus fulfilling the "smallest letter and stroke" of the Law.
Finally, all of the NT writers who wrote on this subject believed in His return within their lifetime!
{18} Children,
it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that
it is the last hour.
1 John 2:18 (NASB)
{15} "For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is
only the third hour of the day;
{16} but this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel: {17} 'AND IT SHALL BE IN THE LAST DAYS,' God says, 'THAT I WILL POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT ON ALL MANKIND; AND YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY, AND YOUR YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE VISIONS, AND YOUR OLD MEN SHALL DREAM DREAMS;
Acts 2:15-17 (NASB)
Clearly, Peter preached that they were living in "the last days!"
{12} The night is almost gone, and
the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.
Romans 13:12 (NASB)
{12} Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,
{13} each man's work will become evident;
for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work.
1 Corinthians 3:12-13 (NASB)
{25} not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging
one another; and all the more as you see
the day drawing near.
Hebrews 10:25 (NASB)
{5} Let your gentle
spirit be known to all men.
The Lord is near.
Philippians 4:5 (NASB)
{7} Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains.
{8} You too be patient; strengthen your hearts,
for the coming of the Lord is near.
James 5:7-8 (NASB)
(WHY WOULD JAMES TELL THEM TO BE PATIENT IF HE DIDN'T EXPECT THE LORD TO RETURN SOON???)
{7} The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober
spirit for the purpose of prayer.
1 Peter 4:7 (NASB)
{1} The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants,
the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated
it by His angel to His bond-servant John,
Revelation 1:1 (NASB)
{3} Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it;
for the time is near.
Revelation 1:3 (NASB)
{6} And he said to me, "These words are faithful and true"; and the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent His angel to show to His bond-servants
the things which must soon take place. Revelation 22:6 (NASB)
{7} "And behold,
I am coming quickly. Blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book."
Revelation 22:7 (NASB)
{10} And he *said to me,
"Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. Revelation 22:10 (NASB)
(WHY WOULD THE RISEN AND ASCENDED LORD TELL JOHN TO KEEP THE WORDS OF THE PROPHECY OPEN IF HIS RETURN WEREN'T IMMINENT???)
{12} "Behold,
I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done.
Revelation 22:12 (NASB)
(Reads a lot like Matthew 16:27, huh???)
{20} He who testifies to these things says,
"Yes, I am coming quickly." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
Revelation 22:20 (NASB)
Now why in the world would Christ say - and the apostles write - all these things if they weren't looking forward to His return during THEIR generation???
You can believe anything you want, but you shouldn't delude yourself into thinking it's Biblically sound.