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This Generation

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 28, 1874

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 44, No. 7.

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“This Generation.”

By R. F. Cottrell

The Saviour does not trifle with his disciples by seeming to answer the question, “What shall be the sign of thy coming?” while at the same time he intends to keep them in ignorance. He intends to be understood. He does not solemnly assert that “heaven and earth shall pass away, but my word shall not pass away,” in connection with words of a hidden meaning, words which he did not intend should be understood. Therefore we can understand what he means by “this generation.” And there is but one reasonable interpretation of it.
He did not mean the generation living at the time when he uttered these words; for an overruling Providence causes the pen of the historian to record the fulfillment of prophecy, and no such signs appeared in those days.
He did not mean that the Jews or the Christians should exist as a people to the second advent; for the existence of either of them throughout the dispensation would be no sign of the nearness of the event. It is to assure us that the event is near, even at the doors, that he says, This generation shall not pass away till it actually transpires. Has the advent been even at the doors for eighteen hundred years. Jews and Christians have existed all this time. This interpretation gives no light on the approach of the advent. It is vain. It only hides the awful meaning of the Saviour’s words—words which he designed should be understood, relating to the time of his coming.
The only reasonable interpretation is, that when he reached in the prophecy the time when the predicted darkening of the sun and moon, and the falling of the stars, should become facts of history, the people living at the time shall not all die before the advent.
We have reached the time; the signs have appeared; men that are now living will live to the close of the dispensation. This is evidently what the Saviour meant; and he says to every disciple of his, “Know that it is near;” and he designs that they shall know it. He does not trifle; he does not deceive. R. F. Cottrell.