This Generation

When Jesus said, "This generation shall not pass before all these things be fulfilled", which generation did He mean?

Could it be that when Jesus spoke of "this generation", He spoke of the generation that would see "all these things" which He'd just mentioned come to pass.

The things which He'd just mentioned were: apostasy, earthquakes, wars, famines, the siege of Jerusalem, great tribulation upon Israel, the days of vengeance, the abomination causing desolation standing in the Holy Place of the Temple, the subsequent destruction of the Temple and scattering of the Jews, Jerusalem being trodden under foot by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled, distress upon nations, and the preaching of the Gospel all over the world accompanied by persecution.

It was said that these things would happen before the apostles would even had a chance to finish preaching to every Israeli town. The generation to which Jesus spoke was the generation that saw all those things happen. Therefore they knew it was the last time. From that moment on, the last day could potentially come at any time - but no man knows the time, season, day nor hour which the Father has put in His own power.

Having seen in their generation the fulfilment of all prophecy and the fulfilment of everything spoken of by Daniel and Jesus, they knew that the end was now at the doors, just like anyone ought to know that summer is near when he sees the fig tree and all the trees sprouting new branches. Notice that Jesus didn't specify the fig tree, He mentioned all the trees (see Luke's account); and rather than mention the rebirth of Israel He mentioned instead the destruction of Jerusalem.

Jesus summed up prophecy and vision in His generation, just like Daniel prophesied the Messiah would do, and all within his prophesied 70 'weeks' timeframe. The timeframe given by Daniel was the reason Jesus was able to preach saying, "The time is fulfilled..."

The time was fulfilled then. Jesus was the promised Messiah. The entire Gospel age, beginning with the ministry of John the Baptist, is called "the last days". A timeframe was given for the fulfillment of those things, but no timeframe was given for the day of His coming. We are told only that the interim would be a period of distress upon nations and the continued preaching of the Gospel.

But this doesn't mean other things aren't to happen before the end. Some things were revealed to John and to Daniel which they were told not to write. It is not for us to know. Instead we've received power to be His witnesses. And then He that shall come shall come and will not tarry.

Is that a possibility?

Nevertheless, if a man thinketh he knoweth anything, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know it!