“THIS GENERATION SHALL NOT PASS.”
By W. Ings
Some may question the truthfulness of the the Saviour’s words to his disciples when answering the questions put to him by the twelve, in regard to the signs of his coming and the end of the world. The first sign to be given was the darkening of the sun, which had its fulfillment on the 19th day of May, 1780, and other signs followed which we find clearly brought to view in the twenty-fourth chapter of Matthew. And to give his words more force, for the benefit of those living when these signs should be fulfilled, he says, “Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.” Some suppose that the generation must include those who actually witnessed the dark day; and the skeptic will say that on this supposition, the prediction has failed, because none are now living who witnessed that strange event. But even on this ground, the prophecy has not failed; for we find persons still living who were not only living then, but were old enough to be impressed with the strange character of the occurrence. In taking up a secular paper we find that Indiana can boast of a man one hundred and fourteen years of age. Ohio claims another who has lived equally as long; and Illinois sends the announcement that she has a citizen one hundred and fifteen years old. The former must have been about the age of twenty and the latter twenty-one when the dark day occurred. Now in view of these facts is it not consistent to suppose that if Christ should remain away for ten years longer there would be men living who saw the first sign fulfilled? W. INGS.