THIS GENERATION by James White

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Sep 9, 1880

THIS GENERATION

By James White

In that prophetic discourse of our Lord recorded in the twenty-fourth of Matthew, in answer to the question from his disciples, "What shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?" he leads us forward, step by step, from the destruction of Jerusalem, A. D. 70, past the periods of the martyrdom of the church of Christ under Pagan and Papal Rome, next mentioning the darkening of the sun and of the moon, which occurred May 19, 1780, the falling of the stars, which took place November 13, 1833, and then makes the statement, "Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass till all these things be fulfilled." Verse 34. Here we make points as follows:—

1. That which is embraced in the phrase, "all these things," was not fulfilled in the days of those whom Christ addressed.

2. The generation named could not refer to those who lived in the days of Christ's flesh, for he said of that generation, "There shall no sign be given it but the sign of Jonas, the prophet." Luke 11:29. It is evident that our Lord refers to the generation who were to see the signs fulfilled, and who were to be instructed by the parable of the fig-tree. "Now learn a parable of the fig-tree. When his 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 [He, margin,] is near, even at the doors. Verses 32, 33.

The parable of the fig-tree is probably the most forcible figure that could be used by our Lord to illustrate this subject. When the trees of the field begin to put forth their leaves, and the tender grass springs up, and the ground is being covered with its green, velvet carpet, we know that summer is nigh. It is a certainty with us that summer is coming when we see these signs in nature. We know that summer is nigh. "So likewise," or, with the same certainty, we may know that Christ's coming is at the doors when the signs in the sun, moon, and stars, are fulfilled. In this prophetic discourse, Christ leads the minds of his disciples down over the events of the Christian age, mentions the signs in the sun, moon, and stars, which were to appear in the last generation, and then declares that this generation shall not pass away till all these things be fulfilled.

In like manner, Paul carries his brethren forward to the resurrection, when he says, "We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump." 1 Cor. 15:51, 52. Or, "Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air." 1 Thess. 4:17. The things here mentioned by the apostle did not take place in his day. They have not yet taken place. Notwithstanding, he speaks of them as though they would take place in his day, and he have a part in them.

Also, in like manner is the mind carried backward in Ps. 95:10: "Forty years long was I grieved with this generation." The generation here spoken of provoked the Lord in the wilderness, long before David lived. He goes back and speaks of it as though it were present. In this manner our Lord goes forward, and speaks of the last generation as though it were present.

The phrase, "this generation," does not mark any definite number of years. The Lord designed to teach that the people who should live at the time of the fulfillment of the prophecy concerning the falling stars, in 1833, should hear the proclamation of the coming of Christ, based partly upon the fulfilled signs, and should witness the scenes connected with his coming.

The proclamation of the coming and kingdom of Christ is given to the last generation. God did not send Noah to preach to the next to the last generation before the flood, but to the last. The very generation which was destroyed by the waters of the flood saw Noah build the ark, and heard his warning voice. So God has raised up men to give the solemn warning to the world at the right time to give force to the warning. And the very generation of men that live after the three great signs are fulfilled, and who hear and reject the warning message from Heaven, will drink the cup of the unmixed wrath of God. And those of this very generation who receive the message, suffer disappointments, and endure the trials of the waiting position, will witness the coming of Christ, and exclaim, "Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us." Isa. 25:9.

With what emphasis our Lord gave utterance to this sentiment. It is a rebuke upon our unbelief. As we read it, God help us to believe it; "Verily I say unto you, this generation shall not pass till all these things be fulfilled." And as though this were not enough to lead us to unwavering faith, he adds these forcible words: "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away."

J. W.