I. Will Occur In This Generation: MT 23:36; 24:34; LK 17:25

A. Generation: Gr: Genia,

1. Translated 42 times, "generation(s)"; 1 time, "kind": Lk 16:8
2. Examples of usages: Mt 1:17; Eph 3:5; Mt 12:41-42; Mt 23:36; Mk 8:12; Lk 11:29

B. It Is Quite Obvious That Jesus Refers To 30 Ad Generation:

1. In the parallel of Lk 17:25 He says, "First Christ must be rejected by this generation"
2. Jesus said this generation will be held especially responsible for his crucifixion
   • Mt 23:34-36 You will crucify prophets I send, guilt upon will be on this generation
   • Lk 13:31-35 it cannot be that a prophet perishes outside of Jerusalem, Oh Jerusalem...
3. To make this refer to 1947 AD is totally contrary to the context.

C. Three Basic Interpretations Of Generation In Mt 24:34:

Three interpretations		Comments
1	-About 40 years -Average age of first time fathers -Time between generations in genealogy	Agrees totally with Bible's usage: Lk 17:25 To Greeks, generation was 30-33 years (Herodotus 2:142; Heraclius Ch 11)
2	-Generation refers to the entire "race" of Jews	Where does Bible use the word this way "This race is a wicked race?" Lk 11:29
3	-"This generation" In Mt 24:34 refers to some distant future 40 year period, (ie.1990's)	Jesus' hearers did see signs & did flee city! Why apply it to any other generation?

II. Heaven & earth vs Jesus words

1. Perhaps Jesus interjects, for the first time, a comment on the ultimate end of the world
2. More likely it is simply a figure of speech like He used in Mt 5:18

III. No man knows hour

1. At first it appears "this hour" refers back to when heaven and earth will pass away
2. when we understand that heaven and earth was a figure of speech, it becomes obvious the reference is to the signs that would take place in that generation.

IV. One Left-One Taken:

1. Unbeliever taken to destruction, Christians left when warning signs were heeded in 70 AD by fleeing city
2. This certainly doesn't teach anything like the popular "rapture theory"

V. Keep alert

Here Are Some Parables Jesus Applied TO 70 AD:

PARABLE	MEANING
Like lightning	Highly visible to all
Parable Of Fig Tree	Signs, but be alert
Like Days Of Noah & flood	No signs so be alert
Like Days Of Lot & Sodom	No signs so be alert
Like Thief	No signs so be alert
Like Master Returning To Slaves	No signs so be alert
Like ten virgins	No signs so be alert
Like talents	No signs so be alert
Mt 24:36 "no man knows the hour"	No signs so be alert