{"id":50824,"date":"2018-07-17T13:01:52","date_gmt":"2018-07-17T10:01:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/?p=50824"},"modified":"2025-06-17T18:08:02","modified_gmt":"2025-06-17T15:08:02","slug":"this-generation-will-not-pass-away-what-did-jesus-mean","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/en\/2018\/07\/17\/this-generation-will-not-pass-away-what-did-jesus-mean\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cThis Generation Will Not Pass Away\u2026\u201d \u2013 What Did Jesus Mean?"},"content":{"rendered":"

(Matthew 24:34)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cAssuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

These words from Jesus were part of His response to His disciples when they asked Him about the end of the age (Matthew 24:3). He had just given them a detailed prophecy of what would happen before His return. This message was not only for His immediate audience, but for all believers, especially in the last days. It is a call to spiritual alertness<\/strong> and a reminder that God\u2019s Word never fails (Isaiah 55:11).<\/p>\n

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1. The Signs of the End Times: Birth Pains Before the Return<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Matthew 24:6\u20138:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd you will hear of wars and rumors of wars\u2026 For nation will rise against nation\u2026 and there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Jesus described these global events as “birth pains”<\/strong> (Greek: \u014ddin\u014dn<\/em>), meaning they will increase in frequency and intensity as the end approaches\u2014just like labor pains before a birth. This teaches us that history is moving toward a divinely appointed climax<\/strong>\u2014the return of Christ and the full establishment of His Kingdom (Daniel 2:44; Revelation 11:15).<\/p>\n

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2. Apostasy and Cold Love: A Spiritual Decline<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Matthew 24:10\u201312:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd then many will be offended, will betray one another\u2026 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The moral and spiritual decay described here reflects the great falling away<\/strong> (apostasy) mentioned in 2 Thessalonians 2:3<\/strong>. This decline will affect even believers who are not rooted in the truth. The Greek word for \u201clove\u201d here is agap\u0113<\/em>\u2014divine love\u2014which implies even those in the Church may grow cold unless they remain in Christ (John 15:5-6).<\/p>\n

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3. The Destruction of Jerusalem: A Historical Fulfillment<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Luke 21:20\u201324<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

\u201cBut when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This prophecy was fulfilled in 70 A.D.<\/strong> when Roman forces destroyed Jerusalem and the temple. Jesus wept over the city (Luke 19:41\u201344) because it missed its day of visitation. This was also a partial fulfillment of Daniel 9:26\u201327<\/strong>, which pointed to judgment and dispersion because of unbelief.<\/p>\n

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4. The Restoration of Israel: The Fig Tree Blossoms Again<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Matthew 24:32\u201333:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cNow learn this parable from the fig tree\u2026 when its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Biblically, Israel is symbolized by the fig tree<\/strong> (Hosea 9:10; Jeremiah 24:5\u20137). The blossoming of the fig tree in this parable is widely understood as a prophetic picture of Israel becoming a nation again<\/strong>, which happened miraculously in 1948 after nearly 2,000 years of dispersion\u2014fulfilling Ezekiel 36:24\u201328<\/strong> and Isaiah 66:8<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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5. \u201cThis Generation Will Not Pass\u2026\u201d \u2013 What Generation?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Matthew 24:34:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cAssuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The Greek word used for \u201cgeneration\u201d is genea<\/em>, which can refer to:<\/p>\n