A GREAT LITERAL PROPHECY.
(Continued from last week.) IN our last we were brought in our study of Matthew 24 to "this generation" in verse 34. It was developed in that study that the specific signs in the sun and moon and falling stars occurred in May 19, 1780, and Nov. 13, 1833; for this there is abundant historical testimony. We also learned that in connection with, and in addition to, these specific signs, foretold in Joel 2 and in Rev. 6:14-17, twenty years after the destruction of Jerusalem, there are numerous other omens of Christ's coming foretold in the prophetic word. Among these are abounding iniquity, backsliding and spiritual declension among Christians, "distress of nations," "perplexity," fearful convulsions of nature, increase of knowledge, of crime, of riches, of social unrest, of capital and labor troubles, of Socialism, of Catholicism; Mormonism, Spiritism, false peace-and-safety cry, preparation for war, last-day scoffers, and the preaching of God's last warning message. That as many of these are mentioned by our Lord Himself in His prophetic discourse, as all were inspired by His Spirit, as He knew that all these would be in evidence in the very days when men saw the great signs in the sun, moon, and falling stars in the light of His words, He must have included them among "all these things" in His great lesson. Read again verses 32-35: "Now from the fig tree ["and all the trees," Luke] learn her parable; when her branch is now become tender, and putteth forth its leaves, ye know that the summer is nigh; even so ye also, when ye see all these things, know ye that He is nigh, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all these things be accomplished. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away." We know the parable. It is evident to any one who ever observed the tree budding of spring. When the buds and leaves put forth, we know that summer is nigh. A cold frost at night may seem to negative our belief, but we know that just on beyond lies waiting summer. With the same positiveness when we see all these signs,—now in tremendous evidence,—we may know that He is nigh, even at the doors. These signs are the footsteps upon the sidewalk, the opening of the gate, the walk to the steps, the ascent of the steps to the door. Here stands the Master waiting for a lost world to reach out for His healing power, that they may welcome Him when He appears in glory. Then to emphasize the nearness of that coming when these things are seen,—not to becloud it,—He continues, "Verily, I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away till all these things be accomplished. Heaven and earth may pass away, but My words shall not pass away." What generation? We know that this question has been obscured by the constant inquiries. What does a "generation" mean? How long is a generation? To the first question it is replied that "generation" means race or nation, and our Lord meant that the Jewish race or nation would not pass till Christ came and gathered His own. But while the term may have that for one of its several meanings, it would make nonsense of our Lord's lesson so to apply it here. He tells us that when certain signs occur, His coming is nigh, and then, knowing that men would question, He emphasizes it by saying that a certain "generation" which He defines as "this generation" shall not pass away till His coming should occur. He must mean—He could mean no other—a certain time in which a class of people should live who would see these signs and witness His coming. He did not mean that generation represented by the disciples before Him; for sixty years afterward John gives the same signs to occur way down the centuries, just prior to Christ's coming. Rev. 6:12-17. Note the use of the term, not "generation," but "this generation," in other scriptures: God said to Noah, "Thee have I seen righteous before Me in this generation," (Gen. 7:1); that is, among the people who lived at that time. Of those who started out from Egypt, the Lord said, "There shall not one of these men of this evil generation see the good land, . . . save Caleb," etc. This certainly means the men who left Egypt with Caleb. Also, "unto this generation" (Ps. 71:18); "whereunto shall I liken this generation" (Matt. 11:16), those before Jesus as He spoke. See also Mark 8:12; Luke 7:31. The latter text has evident reference to a period of time. One more, Ps. 95:10: "Forty years long was I grieved with this generation." What generation?—That of the wilderness wandering. "How long is a generation?" We do not know. Some, from Genesis 15, have said one hundred years; from Israel's experience, forty years; from Noah's time, one hundred and twenty years; from Psalm 90, seventy years; from Matthew 1, about forty-two years; from the average of human life, about thirty to thirty-five years. All these are vain speculations. What is the meaning, then, of Matt. 24:34? Just this: That some, at least, of the people who see in the light of God's Word these signs included in this discourse which Jesus gave, shall not pass from among earth's living till Christ shall come again. Where does that generation begin?—It seems evident to us that it is synchronous with the last great threefold message of Rev. 14:6-14, the proclamation of the Gospel of the kingdom in its fullest sense. This generation, witness of God's tokens, bearer of His message, shall not pass till Christ shall come. Years we are in that generation, and the Master still tarries. But His chariot is near. The various events foretokening His coming are the rumbling of His chariot wheels, and soon He will come. In a little while His message of warning shall be given to every nation of the world, and those who will not have Him reign over them will have allied themselves with iniquity forever, and then the Master will come, take His children home, and enter upon the eternal reign of peace. What May We Know As to His Coming?
[In the light of Matt. 24:36-51, we will consider this question next week.]