ezrider
Member
“This generation†is a phrase used often in the scriptures, and is of significance in the gospels. But what generation was Jesus referring to when he made the statement that this generation shall not pass? Many people believe that “this generation†started when Israel became a nation. Many of our ancestors believed that their generation was “this generation†that would see all these things referenced in Matt 24 and Luke 21 come to pass. It is human nature to believe the references to “this generation†applies to themselves because they have a natural desire to see the return of the Lord, and because of their beliefs, for that that to happen all these other things must happen first.
Most of the time when I hear people speak of “this generation†in context with Matt 24 and Luke 21 it is with the implication that the generation spoken of is the last generation, or for better clarity, the final generation; but is that viewpoint really scriptural? I was doing a word search recently that caused me to stumble upon a passage that seems to give definition as to who “this generation†is.
Psalm 22:27-31
27 All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the Lord: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee. 28 For the kingdom is the Lord 's: and he is the governor among the nations. 29 All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul. 30 A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation. 31 They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.
Interestingly enough, the beginning of Psalm 22 are the passages Jesus quoted while hanging on the cross. What was the purpose of this generation? To declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born. So if this is the generation that Jesus was referring to in Matt 24 and Luke 21, then it can not possibly be referring to the final generation.
Luke 21:10-15
10 Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: 11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven. 12 But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake. 13 And it shall turn to you for a testimony. 14 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: 15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.
“This generation†a generation that would be delivered up to synagogues, cast into prison, sent before king and rulers for a testimony: to bear witness the he hath done this. I can think of no better examples for this than Stephen and Paul. Stephen was delivered up before the synagogues (reference Acts 7). Paul was delivered up before rulers in Judea as well as Rome itself. In all, they declared the righteousness of the Lord. “This generation,†a generation that served the Lord in his time to declare his righteousness to a people that shall be born, a generation that has been recorded in much of the new testament.
Psalm 102:12-21
12 But thou, O Lord, shalt endure for ever; and thy remembrance unto all generations. 13 Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come. 14 For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favour the dust thereof. 15 So the heathen shall fear the name of the Lord, and all the kings of the earth thy glory. 16 When the Lord shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory. 17 He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer. 18 This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the Lord. 19 For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the Lord behold the earth; 20 To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death; 21 To declare the name of the Lord in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem.
Most of the time when I hear people speak of “this generation†in context with Matt 24 and Luke 21 it is with the implication that the generation spoken of is the last generation, or for better clarity, the final generation; but is that viewpoint really scriptural? I was doing a word search recently that caused me to stumble upon a passage that seems to give definition as to who “this generation†is.
Psalm 22:27-31
27 All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the Lord: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee. 28 For the kingdom is the Lord 's: and he is the governor among the nations. 29 All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul. 30 A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation. 31 They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.
Interestingly enough, the beginning of Psalm 22 are the passages Jesus quoted while hanging on the cross. What was the purpose of this generation? To declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born. So if this is the generation that Jesus was referring to in Matt 24 and Luke 21, then it can not possibly be referring to the final generation.
Luke 21:10-15
10 Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: 11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven. 12 But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake. 13 And it shall turn to you for a testimony. 14 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: 15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.
“This generation†a generation that would be delivered up to synagogues, cast into prison, sent before king and rulers for a testimony: to bear witness the he hath done this. I can think of no better examples for this than Stephen and Paul. Stephen was delivered up before the synagogues (reference Acts 7). Paul was delivered up before rulers in Judea as well as Rome itself. In all, they declared the righteousness of the Lord. “This generation,†a generation that served the Lord in his time to declare his righteousness to a people that shall be born, a generation that has been recorded in much of the new testament.
Psalm 102:12-21
12 But thou, O Lord, shalt endure for ever; and thy remembrance unto all generations. 13 Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come. 14 For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favour the dust thereof. 15 So the heathen shall fear the name of the Lord, and all the kings of the earth thy glory. 16 When the Lord shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory. 17 He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer. 18 This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the Lord. 19 For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the Lord behold the earth; 20 To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death; 21 To declare the name of the Lord in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem.
