This Generation by Roswell Fenner Cottrell

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 4, 1866

“This Generation.”

By Roswell Fenner Cottrell

“Now learn a parable of the fig tree. When her branch is yet tender and putteth forth leaves ye know that summer is nigh: so likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.” Matt. xxiv, 32-34.

The generation here spoken of cannot be the people living at the time when Jesus uttered these words; for the things promised were not fulfilled in their day. The signs in the sun, moon and stars were not seen during the lifetime of that generation, neither did the Son of man appear to them, coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. These facts have induced some to interpret the “generation” as meaning the race of the Jews. They have not passed away or become extinct as a people, and will not till the second coming of the Lord.

This position may be perfectly satisfactory to some minds, but when carefully examined with the context, it will appear to be only an evasion of the evident meaning and design of our Saviour’s words. Our Lord was teaching that when certain signs in heaven should appear, his coming would be near, and the declaration that the generation referred to would not pass away, was evidently intended to assure the hearts of believers concerning the nearness of the day of his coming. When the signs predicted are fulfilled, his coming is near. How near? “Even at the doors.” How near is that? “This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.” To say that the race of the Jews would not pass away till these things were fulfilled, would have no bearing upon the nearness of the advent. They would, in all probability, exist a thousand years to come, should time continue. The Saviour would not introduce such foreign and irrelevant matter into his discourse. He did not break the thread of his connected discourse by putting in the assertion, that the Jews would exist on the earth till the second advent, solemnly affirming it by the use of the “amen,” or “verily,” just to lengthen out his discourse and make the Bible a larger book. This solemn asseveration has some bearing on the subject of discourse; but the fact that any certain race of men would exist throughout the whole dispensation, i. e. for more than eighteen hundred years, is an idea so foreign to what our Saviour was saying, that it could give no assurance of the approach of the advent, whether near or remote, or that the event would ever come at all.

The Saviour’s declaration concerning the generation mentioned, certainly had a direct bearing upon his subject, and, if so, he must mean to affirm that the generation, or mass of mankind, existing on earth at the time referred to, would not pass, before his glorious coming in the clouds of heaven. He evidently used the term generation as it is most commonly used in the Scriptures. I give one example; “One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh; but the earth abideth forever.”

The Saviour’s word being true, he did not mean the generation living at the time the prophecy was given; for the signs and events did not appear to that generation. But the present generation are witnesses of the fulfillment of these signs. This then is the generation which is not to pass, but is to see the glorious coming of the Lord.

Jesus spoke to his disciples as to the whole Christian family throughout the dispensation. He told them of events that would transpire long after those who then listened to his voice would be dead, even down to the end. And as he passes down the stream of time, he comes to the period of the appearing of the signs in the heavens, which are followed by his glorious coming. “Now,” said he, “learn a parable of the fig-tree.” Its putting forth is a sure precursor of summer. Then in making the application, he said, “So likewise ye.” Who are intended by “ye?” those who then heard his voice but never saw the signs, or those who should live at the time of their occurrence and should see them? The next words answer this question, namely, “When ye shall see all these things.” By the term, ye, that part of the Christian family are addressed who live at the time of the fulfillment of the signs. The first disciples never saw them, nor any others, till we come down to 1780-1833. In 1833, the last of the three great signs appeared. The words of our Saviour come directly to us, who are witnesses that these signs have appeared. “So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.” How near is that? “Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.” This is perfectly rational and easy; and I can see no other rational interpretation of the language. In like manner Paul uses the term, we, to represent the Christians who will be living at the time of the coming of Christ and the resurrection. Said he, “We which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.” 1 Thess. iv, 15.

The conclusion is, the last generation of earth is here. The signs have appeared, and the Son of God will come to this generation. Let us now earnestly make the inquiry, “Who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth?” Let us make the necessary preparation now, lest we be of that number who shall flee to hide from his presence, saying to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; for the great day of his wrath is come, and who shall be able to stand?”

R. F. COTTRELL.