p. 34 | THIS GENERATION by R. M. Kilgore

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 3, 1876

THIS GENERATION.

By R. M. Kilgore

This expression, found in Matt. 24:34, has led many to conclude that the entire chapter met its fulfillment at the destruction of Jerusalem.

The chapter, with the one following, contains a discourse given by our Lord in reply to two questions propounded by his disciples: “When shall these things be?” and, “What shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?” Christ pointedly answers both of these. The predictions given in answer to the first, relating to the destruction of the temple and city of Jerusalem, were accomplished by the Roman armies, without a preceding sign, in A. D. 70. Dan. 9:26; Matt. 24:15; Luke 21:20.

The second question was answered by a recital of events to occur from that time till the second coming of Christ at the end of the world, or the Christian age. Christ carried the minds of his disciples forward from the time of their flight from the city, through the long period of tribulation of 1260 days (years) while the church was to be nourished in the wilderness; verse 22; Rev. 12:6; he noticed the rise of false Christs and prophets who should, if possible, deceive the very elect; and, lastly, he spoke of the signs which were to appear, the darkening of the sun and moon, and falling of the stars, foretokening his coming, and the shaking of the powers of the heavens.

The fulfillment of these events embraced a period of more than seventeen hundred years; and this period must include more than one generation. Now, to which one of these did Christ refer when he says, “This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled?” Why, says the objector, he refers to the generation to whom he is speaking. But wait, let us see. In Mark, 8:11, 12, we read: “And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from Heaven, tempting him. And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? Verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation.” In Matt. 16:4 and Luke 11:29, he makes the single exception of the sign of the prophet Jonas.

Now we would ask: Would Christ, after he had told that wicked and adulterous generation that there should no sign be given to it, at any subsequent time, give them, in the sun, moon and stars, signs by which they might know when Jerusalem was to be destroyed? This would make Christ stultify himself, and show him to be a false prophet, witnessing against himself. Let those think thus who can.

Where are the facts which support this view? Does history furnish us with the evidence that that generation, previous to A. D. 70, saw a supernatural darkening of the sun and moon, or the stars falling from heaven? that they witnessed the shaking of the heavens and the earth? or that all the tribes of the earth mourned when Jerusalem was besieged and made desolate? No such testimonies are recorded. And surely there was one tribe, or nation, the Romans, who were not mourning when their armies were riding triumphantly into the city, and shouting victory over the besieged.

And we ask again, What shall we do with the predictions recorded by the seer of Patmos, Rev. 6:12–17, in A. D. 96, twenty-six years after Jerusalem was destroyed, when he speaks of the same events of which Christ has spoken above? Surely here is another false prophet if these things were fulfilled prior to A. D. 70. But here, again, it is Jesus Christ himself who testified these things to his servant John. Chap. 1:1. Therefore, this testimony proves positively that Christ, in Matt. 24, did not give these signs in the sun, moon, and stars, to the generation living previous to the destruction of Jerusalem.

But how natural and reasonable that Christ should carry the minds of his disciples, by these events following in their order, down to the people or generation which should see the last sign fulfilled—the falling of the stars in 1833—and then speak of this generation as the one that should see the consummation and the end. He had passed over the periods lived by other generations, and it would be highly proper for him thus to speak. It is a principle endorsed by all scholars that the adjective “this” refers to the thing nearest or last mentioned.

In the language of another, “We do not believe that the phrase, ‘this generation,’ marks any definite number of years. Some suppose that our Lord designed to teach that some who were witnesses of the dark day in 1780 would live to witness the second coming of the Saviour. But it is our opinion that the Lord designed to teach that the people who should live at the time of the fulfillment of the last sign (the falling stars of 1833), and should hear the proclamation of the coming of Christ, based partly upon the fulfilled signs, 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 unmingled wrath of God. For such the seven last plagues are reserved. And those of this very generation who receive the message, suffer the 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.’”

R. M. KILGORE.