We began this study asking the
question of whether Matthew 24
could be divided?
We will end by asking the question
concerning Matthew 24:34 – which
generation?
So much error is taught on Bible
prophecy from Matthew 24.
It suffers from exegetical abuse
on all sides of the prophetic
spectrum.
In words that one would have to
struggle to make more clear,
Christ predicted his return.
“Assuredly, I say to you, this
generation will by no means pass
away will all these things take
place.” (Matthew 24:34)
What Does This Generation Mean?
Does it mean this 21st century
generation?
Or did it mean that 1st century
generation?
Matthew 24:34 – This Generation
Generation is defined as a
contemporary group of people
all living at or about the same
time.
It is the succession of individuals
in a birth line.
This is how the term is used in
Matthew 1:1–17, to speak of
the “generation” of Jesus Christ.
Matthew gives 3 lists,
segmenting the generations
which led to Christ’s birth,
beginning with Abraham.
When you read that chapter
you notice that each birth in
the line of descendants marks
a new generation.
When Matthew completes the
count, he segments them into
three groups.
- 14 generations from Abraham to
David. - 14 generations from David until
the Babylonian captivity - 14 generations from the captivity
to Christ.
That’s 42 generations.
Some claim the word genea, from
which we generation is translated
means race.
Could you imagine 42 races of
people in one family of Abraham?
Wouldn’t that make for quite a
family reunion?
It’s a dodge, a grasping at
theological straws.
Genea Versus Genos
Secondly, 1 Peter 2:9, translates
race, not from genea, but from
genos. But you are a chosen
“generation.”
That term means family, kindred
or lineage and can mean race,
nation or people.
However, one must be careful
here because of the context.
Peter, writes to those who had
been “born” again, not of the
flesh but of water and of the
Spirit.
This means they were baptized
and received the Holy Spirit.
(1 Peter 1:22; 1 Cor. 12:13;
Acts 19:1-6).
Paul said of those who were
baptized were neither Jew nor
Greek. (Galatians 3:26-28) but
were sons of God by faith in Christ.
Thus, the “chosen race” is not
an ethnic group based on their
DNA.
Rather, they belong to a group
of people who have been saved
out of a world of unbelievers.
This group to whom Peter calls
the “chosen” race, was comprised
saints from all nations, tribes peoples,
and tongues.
The were Jews and Gentiles from
all over the known world at that
time, (Revelation 7:9)
Jews and Gentiles in the one
body of Christ, are exclusively
“firstfruits” saints (See James 1:18)
Hence, they cannot belong to any
other generation other than the
first century.
So, the point about “race” even from
genos as used in this text is a moot
issue.
Firstfruits saints or Christians are
exclusively, the first Christians of
the first century.
No other generation of Christians
can be styled firstfruits as no other
person can be the first of firstfruits
(Christ).
Therefore, exegetically, genea of
Matthew 24 means a contemporary
group of people all living at the same
time.
In addition, “genos” in 1 Peter 2:9,
means the “race” or generation of
firstfruits Christians living in the
first century.
Finally, when the Lord spoke of
the destruction of Jerusalem in
Matthew 23:36, he used this
generation.
There is unanimous agreement
that this generation in Matthew
24:36, refers to the first century
generation.
These were Jews contemporary
with Christ.
A few words later, Christ spoke
use “this generation” again when
speaking of the overthrown of
the temple and the Jewish state.
How could he possibly have meant
any other than his very own
contemporaries who put him
to death?
They were the very ones who
crucified him and of whom he
promised would see the wrath
of God.
Therefore, as we’ve shown
in every example, the evidence “
is conclusive that Matthew 24
cannot be divided.
All events too place in that
first century generation.
Christ has come, all things
fulfilled in Bible prophecy.
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in the first century judgment upon
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Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
William,
I understand and agree with Matt. 24, but just wondering about what thoughts or materials you have to understand the “death” of Adam, and resurrection life of today. My wife still believes that physical “bodily” resurrection must be futuristic in some way and therefore even though she is beginning to understand that Christ came in 70 AD, there must be more to come within her understanding of the Two-Adam framework. Thanks for whatever thoughts and concepts you can share to better understand this physical/spiritual death and resurrection idea from covenant eschatological perspective. Looking forward to reading your ‘Rexamined’ book! Fred
Fred thanks for your comments. Fulfilled eschatology
can be quite a paradigm shift requiring time to adjust
after so many years of traditional mis-teaching.
Just think about what a task Christ and the apostles
had with the Jews of their day in getting them to
understand the spiritual nature of their own prophecies.
They erred on the new temple, Mk. 14:58, the new
birth (John 3:4, never seeing death, John 8:51, 52,
and the nature of the kingdom, Lk. 17:20; all of
which was spiritual.
A good starting point on understanding the resurrection
is understanding the “death” Adam died, the day he ate.
God said, “in the day you eat, ‘dying, you shall die.’
Gen. 2:16).
Adam died that day as God as a result of his sin.
That is “sin-death.” Obviously, Adam was yet physically
alive.
To raise him from that death, required Christ’s atoning
sacrifice for sin, hence Christ gave his life, that he might
shed his blood for the remission of sins, i.e. for “life from
“sin-death.”
That resurrection began in baptism with believers being
united with Christ, but would be consummated in the
future at Christ’s parousia, at the end of the age.
Romans 6:4-6, says “we shall be in the likeness
of his resurrection, and we shall “walk in the newness
of life.”
The process of resurrection/redemption had begun,
but was not yet consummated. See Phil. 1:6, 3:11,12,
Eph. 1:7, 13, 14, 4:30; Lk. 21:28, 32.
The deliverance of the church from the bondage of sin,
is the anti-type of the deliverance of Israel from the
bondage of Egypt.
It took 40 years to complete the journey from Egypt
(Israel’s old house of bondage) to their freedom in
Canaan, i.e. Israel’s “newness of life.
The same was true of the anti-type, which is very
clearly discussed in Hebrews chapters 3 – 4, where
N.T. believers journey from the house of Moses (bondage
of sin) to the house of Christ.
Remember, the statement, “whose house are we if we
hold fast the “beginning of our confidence until the
end, (Heb. 3:6). [70 AD].
The time was short. They could see the day approaching,
(Heb. 10:25) and Christ would return in a very little
while, (Heb. 10:37).
At that time, the resurrection (Heb. 11:39, 40), and entrance
into the kingdom/heavenly Jerusalem would be complete,
(Heb. 12:18-29).
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