Mark

[Jabez]

Mark 13:30
Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.

I just read Mark and noticed when the disciples asked about the end of times,how does this verse fit?

[Reba]

That depends on if one believes the words of Jesus Christ as written.

[JudgeNot]

I have been taught that the "generation" of which Jesus speaks is the "church age" (in which we live now).
It sounds good to me – but it is as I have always been taught, so I don’t have a lot to compare it to (which is one of the reasons I joined this forum).  

Does this sound plausible to those of you who attend other churches?

[ollie]

I have been taught that the "generation" of which Jesus speaks is the "church age" (in which we live now).
It sounds good to me – but it is as I have always been taught, so I don’t have a lot to compare it to (which is one of the reasons I joined this forum).  

Does this sound plausible to those of you who attend other churches?

Yes. The church age, the Christian era, the period of time of God's grace.

Strong's Number: 1074
Transliterated: genea
Phonetic: ghen-eh-ah'

Text:  from (a presumed derivative of) 1085; a generation; by implication, an age (the period or the persons): --age, generation, nation, time.

[Allinall]

I find it interesting that contextually, Jesus is speaking of the destruction of the temple - not end times.  Also interestingly enough, if the generation was literal, the destruction He spoke of did happen.  70 A.D. when Titus destroyed the temple...just like Jesus prophesied.  Just a thought...

[2nd Timothy]

I tend to agree with you somewhat Allinall.  The generation that heard him speaking did not pass until 70AD when the temple was destroyed.  However, there seems to be a problem with what was said that did not happen by 70 AD.  Such as the Sun being darkened, the moon not giving her light, stars falling etc etc.   I have heard it said that the fig tree might represent Israel.  Such as when Israel was to become a nation again.  Thus when you see the branches yet tender and put forth leaves, the generation that see THIS will see everything else mentioned.  I'm not sure about this though. However, the generation that saw Israel become a nation in 1948 is alive today.  It is hard to claim that the generation Jesus spoke to witnessed all those events including the son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.  Is Israel ever refered to as a Fig tree anywhere else in scripture?  The fig tree seems to clearly be the key to understanding it.

Grace and Peace!

[2nd Timothy]

Been thinking about this some more.  Another passage speaking of the fig tree in Mark is chapter 11:13

Mar 11:13  And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet.
Mar 11:14  And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.

Later Jesus uses this same tree as an example of faith.  

In Hosea we can see where Israel is described as a fig tree.

Hos 9:10  I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers as the firstripe in the fig tree at her first time: but they went to Baalpeor, and separated themselves unto that shame; and their abominations were according as they loved.

The temple was not destroyed until 70AD putting an end to Jewish worship and sacrifice which God did not accept anymore.  Jesus was the sacrifice to be accepted, and after some time (God was patient), when the Jews refused Jesus as Gods sacrificial offer, God made it impossible for them to continue offering the wrong sacrifice when he allowed Rome to destroy the temple.  In Mark 13:2 Jesus tells them the temple buildings(see also Mat 24:1) would be destroyed, which happend in 70AD.  

Then after he described numerous events he said....

Mar 13:28  Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near:
Mar 13:29  So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors.
(just like they know by the signs of nature that summer is near, by the signs I am giving you, shall you know that the end is near)
Mar 13:30  Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.

ALL these things will be done, which 70 AD cannot account for.  

SO...

If this refers to when Israel was to be rebuilt, or rebud as it were, we all know that happened in 1948 when Israel was declared a state.  Many Bible scholars believe that is the case.  I don't know for sure, but it does make sense.  Again, IF that is fulfillment of Jesus' parable of the fig tree, then the generation that witnessed it will see the rest of the signs Jesus spoke of.  

Its a difficult passage for sure, also the one in chapter 11:13.  Any other thoughts?

Grace and Peace!

[Allinall]

I tend to agree with you somewhat Allinall.  The generation that heard him speaking did not pass until 70AD when the temple was destroyed.  However, there seems to be a problem with what was said that did not happen by 70 AD.  Such as the Sun being darkened, the moon not giving her light, stars falling etc etc.  I have heard it said that the fig tree might represent Israel.  Such as when Israel was to become a nation again.  Thus when you see the branches yet tender and put forth leaves, the generation that see THIS will see everything else mentioned.  I'm not sure about this though. However, the generation that saw Israel become a nation in 1948 is alive today.  It is hard to claim that the generation Jesus spoke to witnessed all those events including the son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.  Is Israel ever refered to as a Fig tree anywhere else in scripture?  The fig tree seems to clearly be the key to understanding it.

Grace and Peace!

You have a very valid point there Brother.  In the Luke and Mark accounts, the disciples ask specifically when the things Jesus just said would happen, would in fact happen.  It's in the Matthew account that we find the additional question about the end times - which explains the continued answer found in each account.  It seems that Jesus answers both questions.  I've heard it related as to how it would apply just to the point I made, but I'm not entirely convinced.  My thought was that we don't often consider the context in which Jesus was speaking, and hence spiritualize that generation when we don't need to.  He answers both questions posed.  Good point Brother!

[Jabez]

The more and more i read,iam convinced that generation is now,not literly my but alive now.I know noone knows when he will return,but do you think that was a hint?Not of the exact date or year but a frame of time?

[2nd Timothy]

The more and more i read,iam convinced that generation is now,not literly my but alive now.I know noone knows when he will return,but do you think that was a hint?Not of the exact date or year but a frame of time?

I would tend to agree with you Jabez.  Jesus apears to be saying that a particular generation would not pass until all the events he spoke of would come to pass.  Considering Daniel and Revelation speak of a 7 year period (a relatively short time) which include the same things he spoke of, it only stands to reason.  I realize that some here don't view this as I do, but I personally believe that generation is alive today.  I don't wish to spark up a debate, thats just my view.  

Grace and Peace!

[Reba]

I remember being tought a bibical generation was 40 years.     1948 + 40 = 1988

[2nd Timothy]

I remember being tought a bibical generation was 40 years.    1948 + 40 = 1988

I have heard this also Reba.  Although 40 years have come and gone, most of the generation that was alive to witness the events in 1948 are still alive today (have not passed).


Grace and Peace!

[Petro]

Mark 13:30
Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.

I just read Mark and noticed when the disciples asked about the end of times,how does this verse fit?

jabez,


Mk 13
24  But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,
25 And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.
26  And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.
27  And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.
28  Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near:
29  So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors.[/b]
30  Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.

The generation  that;  shall see these things come to pass (vs 29)   What things??

Verses 24-26 answers who that generation is, that shall not pass away, till all these things be done.

Depending on whether you accept this passage to be speaking of Jesus's return to reign on the earth, or whether this is the end of all time, will determine whether it is the generation prior to the millenial reign of Christ or last generation on the earth, prior to eternity being ushered in.

It is a difficult passage of scripture to understand, my own take on this is, that it is the generation which sees Jesus returning to earth an therefore Messianic in nature.

This is the parallel passage to Mat 24, Lk 21

Verse 25, is indelibly linked to Heb 12:26-28;

26  ........................Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.
28  Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, ........................

This is exactly which is,  what will happen upon His return, the kingdom is whereever the King rules.




Blessings,
Petro

[Reba]

Gen 37:8-9

8 And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words.

9 And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me.
KJV

[Sower]

I find it interesting that contextually, Jesus is speaking of the destruction of the temple - not end times.  Also interestingly enough, if the generation was literal, the destruction He spoke of did happen.  70 A.D. when Titus destroyed the temple...just like Jesus prophesied.  Just a thought...

How did you arrive at this conclusion: "...contextually, Jesus is speaking of the destruction of the temple - not end times"?

The context is the entire chapter Mark 13:1-37, and verse 30 occurs towards the end.  The connection between the destruction of the temple (A.D. 70) and "the end of the age"
[genea]" is the coming of the Son of Man (v.26).  

The second coming of Christ heralds the "end of the age" or the "end of the world as we know it", not merely the end of the Church age, which actually ends just before the "abomination of desolation" is set up by the Antichrist in the temple at Jerusalem (Mk. 13:14).  Satan cannot take control of this world through the Antichrist until and unless the restraining power of the Holy Spirit through the Church and through His own presence on earth is removed temporarily, when the saints are raptured into heaven (1 Thess.4:13-18; 2 Thess.2:1-12).

Had the King James translators used the word "age" instead of "generation" they would have been justified in doing so, and it would have been clearer.  However, we can always go back to the Greek text and determine that this word, as explained by another poster (Judgenot), can have a variety of meanings, including "age".

In other words, the Lord said "THIS AGE [GENEA] [OF GRACE] SHALL NOT PASS, TILL ALL THESE THINGS BE DONE [FULFILLED]". The age of grace began with the coming of Christ to earth the first time in humiliation (Jn. 1:17) and will end with the coming of Christ is "power and great glory" the second time (Rev. 19:11-16). "Behold, He  cometh with clouds [of saints and angels]; and EVERY EYE SHALL SEE HIM, and they also which pierced Him; AND ALL KINDREDS OF THE EARTH SHALL WAIL BECAUSE OF HIM. Even so. Amen" (Rev.1:7).

The expectation of the Second Coming is a wakeup call to believer and unbeliever. Believers must be ready to stand before the Judgement Seat of Christ after they are raptured.  Unbelievers must be ready to face the "wrath of the Lamb" and then the Great White Throne Judgment. Christ will judge ALL, since the Father has put the judgment of the human race into His hands (Jn.5:22).