What actually was Jesus saying?
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You will receive conflicting answers on this. There are at least two basic interpretations of "this generation":
- The generation alive when Jesus was speaking. This is consistent with every other use of "generation" in the gospels. It is also consistent with the destruction of the temple, of Jerusalem, and of Levitical Judaism in 70 AD at the hands of the Roman armies. Further, it is consistent with Jesus' statements of woe spoken over Jerusalem, and with His statement to the woman during His trek to the cross, when He said, "Weep not for me, but for yourself and your children", and with His statement to the disciples that "some of you will not taste death before you see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom".
- The generation that (eventually) sees the signs described. This is held primarily by people who believe that none (or few) of the signs Jesus described have already occurred, and that all (most) are yet to be fulfilled in the future. It is inconsistent with all the statements in Scripture that reference the time being "near", "soon", "quickly", etc.
I think you can tell which interpretation I find more consistent with Scripture.
- The generation alive when Jesus was speaking. This is consistent with every other use of "generation" in the gospels. It is also consistent with the destruction of the temple, of Jerusalem, and of Levitical Judaism in 70 AD at the hands of the Roman armies. Further, it is consistent with Jesus' statements of woe spoken over Jerusalem, and with His statement to the woman during His trek to the cross, when He said, "Weep not for me, but for yourself and your children", and with His statement to the disciples that "some of you will not taste death before you see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom".
- The generation that (eventually) sees the signs described. This is held primarily by people who believe that none (or few) of the signs Jesus described have already occurred, and that all (most) are yet to be fulfilled in the future. It is inconsistent with all the statements in Scripture that reference the time being "near", "soon", "quickly", etc.
I think you can tell which interpretation I find more consistent with Scripture.
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I have found that scripture is exact, if we think of it in terms of the Lord speaking. If it truly means the generation that Christ was living in, if scripture is exact, then the most earth changing happening happened in that generation, Christ died physically and lived spiritually. Christ was the first fruits. Before Christ, saints were preserved in sleep only. Christ was the first one who lived in eternity, paving the way for us.
There is no mention of heaven in the OT, it tells us that when they died physically, it was to sleep. In Matthews 27, when the curtain split at the crucifixion of Christ, it tells us the saints came alive and walked the streets of Jerusalem. Physical death is spoken of differently in the new testament than it was in the old. This happened in the generation Christ lived in.
There is no mention of heaven in the OT, it tells us that when they died physically, it was to sleep. In Matthews 27, when the curtain split at the crucifixion of Christ, it tells us the saints came alive and walked the streets of Jerusalem. Physical death is spoken of differently in the new testament than it was in the old. This happened in the generation Christ lived in.
The question is in Matthew 24:3 "Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?"
The discourse that follows is in response to that question. The signs of the beginning of birth pains, the signs of the great tribulation, and the second coming of Christ are explained.
Once all of the aforementioned signs are present then He is near, at the very gates. Afterwards, the generation passes away.
The "generation" is a reference to all of the people who live during the time period from the crucifixion of Jesus up until his second coming, concluding the "end of the age." The age we are living in between Christ's crucifixion and His second coming is called The Last Days (Acts 2:17).
Simply put, when Jesus returns He'll be here for war. It'll be the end of the world. There will be a new heaven and a new earth. 2 Peter 3:13, Revelation 21:1
6since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, 7and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels 8in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, 10when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.
2 Thessalonians 1:6-10
The discourse that follows is in response to that question. The signs of the beginning of birth pains, the signs of the great tribulation, and the second coming of Christ are explained.
Once all of the aforementioned signs are present then He is near, at the very gates. Afterwards, the generation passes away.
The "generation" is a reference to all of the people who live during the time period from the crucifixion of Jesus up until his second coming, concluding the "end of the age." The age we are living in between Christ's crucifixion and His second coming is called The Last Days (Acts 2:17).
Simply put, when Jesus returns He'll be here for war. It'll be the end of the world. There will be a new heaven and a new earth. 2 Peter 3:13, Revelation 21:1
6since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, 7and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels 8in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, 10when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.
2 Thessalonians 1:6-10
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The Bible uses the word "generation" in two ways.
(1) In a number of cases the Bible uses a "Generation" as a time that it takes for a man to be "generated" live and die. A prime example of this is that "FOUR Generations of Israel" would be attached to Egypt and this time was 400 years (Gen.15:13, 16). But as you can see here, and in the other cases like it, no one common time is set.
(2) Overwhelmingly, the Bible uses the word "generation" to indicate WHAT IS GENERATED. In Genesis 1:11-12 God sets forth an immutable Law - the law of seeds. Ayn thing that has its seed within itself will "generate" the same KIND. This law is first (and tragically) set forth in Genesis Chapter 5. It records the "generations of Adam", and a terrible truth is revealed. Adam was made in the image and likeness of God (Gen.1:26-28). He should have "generated a man in God's likeness and image". But what does scripture say of Adam's generation (what he generated). It says in Genesis 5:3;
"And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth."
Sin had come in and man was no longer "like God". He was "like Adam". And man's daily activities did not mirror God. They were the "image of Adam". Adam's seed had undergone a dreadful change. Romans 5:12 shows the effects. Every man - the generation of Adam - had to die, even a ten minute old baby who has done nothing wrong, can die. It is the "generation of Adam" (see also 1st Cor.15:22).
So, God looks upon men as what was their ORIGIN. by whom are they generated. And only one Man is found worthy. The Man Whose "generation" was NOT of Adam but of the Holy Spirit (Matt.1.18; Lk.1:35). The rest on men, even the best of men, and even those chosen by God - Israel, are the "generation of Vipers" (Matthew 3:7, 12:34, 23:33; Luke 3:7) . They were of the Serpentine Nature of Adam. And one can see how "generation" is counted in God's eyes. He makes a "generation" responsible for sins committed over thousands of years! Luke 11:51;
"From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation."
Were the Israelites of Jesus' day responsible for Cain's actions. NO - BUT THEIR GENERATION WAS!
So when Matthew 24:34 Mark 13:30 and Luke 21:32 say; "Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled", our Lord is not pointing to a special time, nor is He pointing at a specific group of men living then. He is pointing at the GENERATOR and what is GENERATED! What was that "generation"? The men of Cain! And when will they pass? IN DEATH and RESURRECTION!
That is why God banned Adam from the garden of Eden and the Tree of Life. If he ate from that Tree he would never die, and this terrible generation would perpetuate itself forever. God's ban on Adam was a blessing on all men. Paul calls this body, (i) a body of sin and death, (ii) a body that nothing good lives in, (iii) this "vile" body, and (iv) "corruption". Why? Because it was "generated" by a fallen Adam. All who come from the womb are generated by Adam. So 2nd Corintians 5:1-3 says that we are getting a NEW body - one that's ORIGIN is not in the womb and not inseminated by an Adamic man.
(1) In a number of cases the Bible uses a "Generation" as a time that it takes for a man to be "generated" live and die. A prime example of this is that "FOUR Generations of Israel" would be attached to Egypt and this time was 400 years (Gen.15:13, 16). But as you can see here, and in the other cases like it, no one common time is set.
(2) Overwhelmingly, the Bible uses the word "generation" to indicate WHAT IS GENERATED. In Genesis 1:11-12 God sets forth an immutable Law - the law of seeds. Ayn thing that has its seed within itself will "generate" the same KIND. This law is first (and tragically) set forth in Genesis Chapter 5. It records the "generations of Adam", and a terrible truth is revealed. Adam was made in the image and likeness of God (Gen.1:26-28). He should have "generated a man in God's likeness and image". But what does scripture say of Adam's generation (what he generated). It says in Genesis 5:3;
"And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth."
Sin had come in and man was no longer "like God". He was "like Adam". And man's daily activities did not mirror God. They were the "image of Adam". Adam's seed had undergone a dreadful change. Romans 5:12 shows the effects. Every man - the generation of Adam - had to die, even a ten minute old baby who has done nothing wrong, can die. It is the "generation of Adam" (see also 1st Cor.15:22).
So, God looks upon men as what was their ORIGIN. by whom are they generated. And only one Man is found worthy. The Man Whose "generation" was NOT of Adam but of the Holy Spirit (Matt.1.18; Lk.1:35). The rest on men, even the best of men, and even those chosen by God - Israel, are the "generation of Vipers" (Matthew 3:7, 12:34, 23:33; Luke 3:7) . They were of the Serpentine Nature of Adam. And one can see how "generation" is counted in God's eyes. He makes a "generation" responsible for sins committed over thousands of years! Luke 11:51;
"From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation."
Were the Israelites of Jesus' day responsible for Cain's actions. NO - BUT THEIR GENERATION WAS!
So when Matthew 24:34 Mark 13:30 and Luke 21:32 say; "Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled", our Lord is not pointing to a special time, nor is He pointing at a specific group of men living then. He is pointing at the GENERATOR and what is GENERATED! What was that "generation"? The men of Cain! And when will they pass? IN DEATH and RESURRECTION!
That is why God banned Adam from the garden of Eden and the Tree of Life. If he ate from that Tree he would never die, and this terrible generation would perpetuate itself forever. God's ban on Adam was a blessing on all men. Paul calls this body, (i) a body of sin and death, (ii) a body that nothing good lives in, (iii) this "vile" body, and (iv) "corruption". Why? Because it was "generated" by a fallen Adam. All who come from the womb are generated by Adam. So 2nd Corintians 5:1-3 says that we are getting a NEW body - one that's ORIGIN is not in the womb and not inseminated by an Adamic man.
Here's my two cents:
[quoting Wm Kelly on Luke 21:32's "this generation shall not pass away, TILL ALL be fulfilled" (helpful when considering Matt24:34's on same Subject) which verse's context [re Lk21] MUST NECESSARILY INCLUDE v.24's items, which had already just been mentioned (thus, INCLUDED in this "ALL" word), most of which are of lengthy duration (note v.24's "UNTIL" also!); note Wm Kelly's Commentary per BibleHub... quoting below]
"But, this is not the only point of interest in this appendix to the prophecy. For the Lord has given us the positive proof. by the way in which verse 32 stands here, that "this generation" cannot mean a mere chronological space of thirty or even one hundred years, for it is brought in after the running out of Gentile times and the coming of the Son of man with power and glory, events still unfulfilled. Its force is moral; not exactly the nation of Israel but that Christ-rejecting race which then refused their Messiah as they do still. This will go on till all these solemn threats of judgment are accomplished. It is profitable to remark that here, not in doctrine or in practice only, but in these unfoldings of the future, the Lord pledges the impossibility of failing in His words. The Lord does not say that this generation "shall not pass away till the temple is destroyed or the city taken, but till all be fulfilled. Now, He had introduced [in verse 24!] the subsequent treading down of Jerusalem to the end of Israel's trials at His appearing, and He declares that this generation shall not pass away till then; as indeed it is only then grace will form a new generation, the generation to come. The more we hold fast the continuity of the stream of the prophecy, as distinguished from the crisis in Matthew and Mark, the greater will be seen to be the importance of this remark."
[Then... quoting Wm Kelly on your Matt24:34, taken from BibleHub]
""When its branch has now become tender and the leaves are shooting, ye know that summer is nigh; so likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is nigh by the doors" (i.e., the end of this [/the] age, and the beginning of the next under Messiah and the new covenant). But solemnly the Saviour warns that "this generation," this Christ-rejecting race in Israel, shall not pass till all these things be fulfilled!
"The notion that all was fulfilled in the past siege of Jerusalem, founded on a narrow and unscriptural sense of this passage, is from not hearing what the Lord says to the disciples. By the term "generation" in a genealogy (as Matt. 1), or where the context requires it (as Luke 1:50), a life-time no doubt is meant: but where is it so used in the prophetic Scriptures - the Psalms, etc.? The meaning herein is moral rather than chronological; as, for instance, in Psalm 12:7, "Thou shalt keep them, O Lord; Thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever." The words "for ever" prove a prolonged force; and accordingly the passage intimates that Jehovah shall preserve the godly from their lawless oppressors, "from this generation for ever." It is a distinct and conclusive refutation of those who would limit the phrase to the short epoch of a man's lifetime. So, in Deuteronomy 32:5; Deu 32:20, we find generation similarly used, not to convey a period, but to express the moral characteristics of Israel. Again, in the Psalms we have "the generation to come," which is not confined to a mere term of thirty or a hundred years. So also in Proverbs 30:11-14: "There is a generation that curseth their father. . . There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes," etc., where the character of certain classes is considered; even plainer, if possible, is the usage in the synoptic Gospels. Thus, in Matthew 11:16, "Whereunto shall I liken this generation?" means such as then lived, characterized by the moral capriciousness which set them in opposition to God's testimony, whatever it might be, in righteousness or in grace. But evidently, though people then alive are primarily in view, the moral identity of the same features might extend indefinitely, and so from age to age it would still be "this generation." Compare Matthew 12:39; Mat 12:41-42; Mat 12:45, which last verse shows the unity of the "generation" in its final judgment (not yet exhausted) with that which emerged from the Babylonish captivity. Again, note chapter 23: 36, "Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation" - a generation which would continue till all the predictions of judgment that Christ uttered shall be fulfilled (chap. 24: 34). As it is plain from what has been already shown, that much remains to be accomplished, "this generation" still subsists, and will, till all is over. And how true it is! Here are the Jews - the wonder of every thoughtful mind - not merely a broken, scattered, and withal perpetuated race; not only distinct, spite of mighty effort from without to blot them out, and from within to amalgamate with others, but with the same unbelief, rejection and scorn of Jesus their Messiah as on the day He pronounced their sentence. All these things - speaking of their earlier and their latest sorrows - should come to pass before that wicked generation shall disappear. "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away." That which incredulity counts most stable, the scene of its idolatry or )f its self-exaltation, shall vanish; but the words of Christ, let them be about Israel or others, shall abide for ever."
[end quoting Wm Kelly; bold, underline and bracketed inserts mine; parentheses original]
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[note: the Olivet Discourse is covering the Subject of the future tribulation period FOLLOWING "our Rapture," except for about 12 or so verses in Luke 21:12-24 which cover the 70ad events, now past-history from our perspective... this means that there are TWO DISTINCT "SEE-then-FLEE" incidents being spoken of, one in the 70ad events, the other far-future (from when written/spoken) which is also "future" to "our Rapture" event, with that (their [*future*] "SEE-then-FLEE") occurring at mid-trib, when 1260 days will be remaining until His Second Coming to the earth--many will come to faith IN/WITHIN/DURING those 7 trib years (FOLLOWING "our Rapture"), so this passage is not saying many of Israel won't be coming to faith throughout the trib yrs... many indeed WILL BE (just to be clear).]
[quoting Wm Kelly on Luke 21:32's "this generation shall not pass away, TILL ALL be fulfilled" (helpful when considering Matt24:34's on same Subject) which verse's context [re Lk21] MUST NECESSARILY INCLUDE v.24's items, which had already just been mentioned (thus, INCLUDED in this "ALL" word), most of which are of lengthy duration (note v.24's "UNTIL" also!); note Wm Kelly's Commentary per BibleHub... quoting below]
"But, this is not the only point of interest in this appendix to the prophecy. For the Lord has given us the positive proof. by the way in which verse 32 stands here, that "this generation" cannot mean a mere chronological space of thirty or even one hundred years, for it is brought in after the running out of Gentile times and the coming of the Son of man with power and glory, events still unfulfilled. Its force is moral; not exactly the nation of Israel but that Christ-rejecting race which then refused their Messiah as they do still. This will go on till all these solemn threats of judgment are accomplished. It is profitable to remark that here, not in doctrine or in practice only, but in these unfoldings of the future, the Lord pledges the impossibility of failing in His words. The Lord does not say that this generation "shall not pass away till the temple is destroyed or the city taken, but till all be fulfilled. Now, He had introduced [in verse 24!] the subsequent treading down of Jerusalem to the end of Israel's trials at His appearing, and He declares that this generation shall not pass away till then; as indeed it is only then grace will form a new generation, the generation to come. The more we hold fast the continuity of the stream of the prophecy, as distinguished from the crisis in Matthew and Mark, the greater will be seen to be the importance of this remark."
[Then... quoting Wm Kelly on your Matt24:34, taken from BibleHub]
""When its branch has now become tender and the leaves are shooting, ye know that summer is nigh; so likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is nigh by the doors" (i.e., the end of this [/the] age, and the beginning of the next under Messiah and the new covenant). But solemnly the Saviour warns that "this generation," this Christ-rejecting race in Israel, shall not pass till all these things be fulfilled!
"The notion that all was fulfilled in the past siege of Jerusalem, founded on a narrow and unscriptural sense of this passage, is from not hearing what the Lord says to the disciples. By the term "generation" in a genealogy (as Matt. 1), or where the context requires it (as Luke 1:50), a life-time no doubt is meant: but where is it so used in the prophetic Scriptures - the Psalms, etc.? The meaning herein is moral rather than chronological; as, for instance, in Psalm 12:7, "Thou shalt keep them, O Lord; Thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever." The words "for ever" prove a prolonged force; and accordingly the passage intimates that Jehovah shall preserve the godly from their lawless oppressors, "from this generation for ever." It is a distinct and conclusive refutation of those who would limit the phrase to the short epoch of a man's lifetime. So, in Deuteronomy 32:5; Deu 32:20, we find generation similarly used, not to convey a period, but to express the moral characteristics of Israel. Again, in the Psalms we have "the generation to come," which is not confined to a mere term of thirty or a hundred years. So also in Proverbs 30:11-14: "There is a generation that curseth their father. . . There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes," etc., where the character of certain classes is considered; even plainer, if possible, is the usage in the synoptic Gospels. Thus, in Matthew 11:16, "Whereunto shall I liken this generation?" means such as then lived, characterized by the moral capriciousness which set them in opposition to God's testimony, whatever it might be, in righteousness or in grace. But evidently, though people then alive are primarily in view, the moral identity of the same features might extend indefinitely, and so from age to age it would still be "this generation." Compare Matthew 12:39; Mat 12:41-42; Mat 12:45, which last verse shows the unity of the "generation" in its final judgment (not yet exhausted) with that which emerged from the Babylonish captivity. Again, note chapter 23: 36, "Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation" - a generation which would continue till all the predictions of judgment that Christ uttered shall be fulfilled (chap. 24: 34). As it is plain from what has been already shown, that much remains to be accomplished, "this generation" still subsists, and will, till all is over. And how true it is! Here are the Jews - the wonder of every thoughtful mind - not merely a broken, scattered, and withal perpetuated race; not only distinct, spite of mighty effort from without to blot them out, and from within to amalgamate with others, but with the same unbelief, rejection and scorn of Jesus their Messiah as on the day He pronounced their sentence. All these things - speaking of their earlier and their latest sorrows - should come to pass before that wicked generation shall disappear. "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away." That which incredulity counts most stable, the scene of its idolatry or )f its self-exaltation, shall vanish; but the words of Christ, let them be about Israel or others, shall abide for ever."
[end quoting Wm Kelly; bold, underline and bracketed inserts mine; parentheses original]
____________
[note: the Olivet Discourse is covering the Subject of the future tribulation period FOLLOWING "our Rapture," except for about 12 or so verses in Luke 21:12-24 which cover the 70ad events, now past-history from our perspective... this means that there are TWO DISTINCT "SEE-then-FLEE" incidents being spoken of, one in the 70ad events, the other far-future (from when written/spoken) which is also "future" to "our Rapture" event, with that (their [*future*] "SEE-then-FLEE") occurring at mid-trib, when 1260 days will be remaining until His Second Coming to the earth--many will come to faith IN/WITHIN/DURING those 7 trib years (FOLLOWING "our Rapture"), so this passage is not saying many of Israel won't be coming to faith throughout the trib yrs... many indeed WILL BE (just to be clear).]
I thank you brothers and sisters in Christ.
A quick scan of my dictionary shows me that the word "generation" is a highly ambiguous word possibly describing any number of periods of time. As most here have proposed I also believe Jesus was describing the period from when he spoke the word generation until his second coming. i.e., "the generation of corrupt, cursed & sinful humanity shall not pass away until all of the signs of Jesus's coming shall have been fulfilled ."
A quick scan of my dictionary shows me that the word "generation" is a highly ambiguous word possibly describing any number of periods of time. As most here have proposed I also believe Jesus was describing the period from when he spoke the word generation until his second coming. i.e., "the generation of corrupt, cursed & sinful humanity shall not pass away until all of the signs of Jesus's coming shall have been fulfilled ."
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The Greek word translated as "generation" could also be translated as "nation" or "race". So what Jesus was saying is that the nation of Israel would be present until all that was prophesied in this chapter was fulfilled. The nation-state of Israel came into existence in 1948, and will be on earth at the Second Coming of Christ.
Usually, you're pretty solid with your reasoning, but here, you're far out on a limb. There is absolutely no textual support for interpreting Jesus' use of "generation" as either "nation" or "race"; such an interpretation is entirely eisegetical. Just because a word has an alternate meaning does not mean that alternate meaning can be employed whenever the primary meaning causes problems for a particular view.
^ Everything in Matthew 24-25 is speaking of that which occurs FOLLOWING "our Rapture" [that is, after the departure of "the Church which is His body" in the rapture] (yet future)... and is covering the time period leading UP TO and preceding His Second Coming TO THE EARTH. This means that the Olivet Discourse is not covering the Subject of "our Rapture" and is not describing US ("the Church which is His body"). Rather, those Jews and Gentiles who will be coming to faith IN/DURING/WITHIN the future tribulation period... and certain aspects of the text describe those NOT believing (I believe v.34 is one such verse... but it could be speaking more broadly, I suppose... of both believer and those not believing, of the Jews/Israel... whereas chpt 25:30-46 speaks of "the nations [/Gentiles]" of that same time-slot, with vv.40,45 speaking of the "believing remnant of Israel").
Well if "generation" had applied to the generation when Christ was on earth, it would mean everything was fulfilled by 70 AD (Preterism). But since that is patently false, we need to turn to the alternative meaning.
Strong's Concordance
genea: race, family, generation
Original Word: γενεά, ᾶς, ἡ
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: genea
Phonetic Spelling: (ghen-eh-ah')
Definition: race, family, generation
Usage: a generation; if repeated twice or with another time word, practically indicates infinity of time.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 1074: γενεά
...used especially of the Jewish race living at one and the same period:
Strong's Concordance
genea: race, family, generation
Original Word: γενεά, ᾶς, ἡ
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: genea
Phonetic Spelling: (ghen-eh-ah')
Definition: race, family, generation
Usage: a generation; if repeated twice or with another time word, practically indicates infinity of time.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 1074: γενεά
...used especially of the Jewish race living at one and the same period:
^ Aside from that, those believing (and still-alive at the time of His Second Coming to the earth) will ENTER the earthly MK age in mortal bodies (I believe ONLY those who have come to faith [i.e. "saved" persons] will ENTER the MK age), capable of reproducing/bearing children... and it is those later BORN to them who are not BORN "automatically righteous" who will be the only ones susceptible to "death" in/during the MK age... so we can see that "death" will still exist on the earth during the MK age, though it will be much more RARE (reserved only for the rebellious). So, it does not seem that the context is speaking of the time FOLLOWING His "RETURN" to the earth (during when He will judge and reign--the 1000-yr MK age), even though "death" will still exist during the MK age. IOW, I do not believe He is speaking of "humanity" in general in this wording (v.34).
The generation who see all the events described in the Olivet discourse in Matthew 24, Luke 21, and Mark 13, will not pass away, before the devils world order on earth comes to an end, and the Lord then commences to reign on earth. This is supposed to occur sometime after the beasts 1,260 day one world order government.
Revelation 11:15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
Revelation 11:15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
Mathew 24:34 cannot happen before Mathew 24:14 had happened. It is but recently that the gospel of the kingdom have started to be proclaimed throughout the whole world.
The generation who sees the signs of His coming, that will not pass away until the return of Jesus / Yeshua, is the last generation on earth who outlive the great tribulation.
Matthew 24 (ESV)
14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
29 "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. 32 "From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates. 34 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. 36 "But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.
The generation who sees the signs of His coming, that will not pass away until the return of Jesus / Yeshua, is the last generation on earth who outlive the great tribulation.
Matthew 24 (ESV)
14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
29 "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. 32 "From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates. 34 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. 36 "But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.