This Generation Will Not Pass Away, Until
When Jesus finished telling His followers about the things that would occur before His return, He gave them an indication of how long it would be from the beginning of these things until the Kingdom of God came on earth. Since the Kingdom of God has not yet come on earth, it's clear that Christ was providing this information for His followers at a future time. Because, the followers he was speaking to at that moment, did not see all these things happening. This is what He said,
"Look at the fig tree and all the trees. When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near. I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened” (Luke 21:29-32).
Christ wanted his future followers to understand what He was talking about. When He referred to "this generation," He was referring to His future followers who would see the birth pains and His coming Kingdom.
- The beginning of birth pains - Matt. 24:7
a) Ethnic fighting
b) Kingdom fighting
c) Earthquakes
d) Famines
- The “abomination that causes desolation” – Matt 24:15
- Great Tribulation - death for the elect – Matt. 24:21
- False Christs and False Prophets will appear -Matt. 24:24
- Great Signs and Miracles to deceive – Matt. 24:24
- Many will turn away from the faith – Matt. 24:10
- The sign in the sun, moon and stars – Matt. 24:29
a) The sun will be darkened.
b) The moon will not give its light.
c) The stars will fall from the sky.
d) The heavenly bodies will be shaken.
- The birth of the Kingdom of God
Assuming that the beginning of birth pains have already begun, we should know, how long a biblical generation is.
In Matthew, we are told.
Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Christ (Matthew 1:17).
14 generations from Abraham to David.
+ 14 generations from David to the exile.
+ 14 generations from the exile to the Christ.
= 42 generations from Abraham to Christ
From Abraham to Christ was approximately 2,000 years.
Consequently, a biblical generation is about 47 years.
Therefore, Jesus is indicating that from the beginning of birth pains, the world will have less than 47 years until the Kingdom of God comes.
Once again, some have said that we cannot know when the Kingdom will come. But, Christ only said, "no one knows about that day or hour."
A pregnant woman cannot know the day or hour of her child's birth in advance. Neither can the Church know the day or hour of the Kingdom's birth in advance. However, like the pregnant woman the Church will know that she is in labor and about how long the pregnancy will last.
If the birth pains began in 2000, for example, then Christ is indicating that the Kingdom will come sometime before 2047.
2000 beginning of birth pains (example).
+ 47 a biblical generation.
2047 - 2007 = 40 more years max.
Richard H Perry
