This Generation by Uriah Smith

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, Cal. · Aug 30, 1883

This Generation.

By Uriah Smith

It is not strange that the words of Christ, "This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled," should arrest the attention of students of prophecy; but it has seemed to us strange that any one should adopt, by way of explanation, the long-drawn-out and illimitable idea that the generation means the generation, or race, of the Jews.

That portion of the Saviour's discourse in which this statement occurs, consists of a series of propositions designed to lead the mind to the great fact of his second coming, and to show especially the proximity of that event. The sun and moon were to be darkened, the stars to fall, the powers of heaven to be shaken, the tribes of the earth to mourn, and the Son of man to appear in heaven. Now when ye see these things (not the coming of Christ itself, but these things named before, which were to constitute signs of that coming), know that his coming is very near. How near? Why, this generation is not to pass till all is fulfilled. Thus this statement becomes the climax of those declarations which are to show the nearness of Christ's coming.

But let us attach to it this idea that it refers to the race of the Jews, and what does it become? Let us see. When certain things come to pass, know that Christ is near. How near? Why so near that the Jews as a race will not have ceased to exist before he comes. But how long have they existed already? About thirty-four hundred years. May they exist as much longer? Yes, for aught that appears in their own history to the contrary. Then where is the force of this statement as showing the nearness of his coming? It is worse than lost. Our Lord was not such a reasoner. This looks to us about as it would be for a man to try to tell another concerning his approach to Chicago, and after giving him the last station, he tells him he is then about entering Chicago. How near? says the man. Oh! replies the first, this railroad, which extends from Boston to San Francisco, will not have ended before you reach Chicago!

How easy, consistent, and forcible to come down with the discourse to the time when the signs appear, to the generation before whom they are set forth as signs, which is the present generation, and understand this to be the generation meant; then the declaration falls upon our ears with startling emphasis: This generation shall not pass away till all these things be fulfilled. U. S.