THIS GENERATION—THE PERIOD OF ITS APPLICATION.
By O. Nichols
THE generation of Matt. xxiv, applies to a class of people that are connected with certain events of a particular period, which are the signs of Christ's coming. "Verily I say unto you, this generation shall not pass till all these things be fulfilled." The phrase "all these things" refers to the signs and the events which are specified in verses 29, 30. "Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened and the moon shall not give her light; and the stars shall fall from heaven; and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken; and then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven," &c. "And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh." Luke xxi, 28. "When ye see all these things, know that he (margin) is near, even unto the doors. Truly I say unto you, this very generation will not pass away till all these things are fulfilled." Whiting's Translation. Nothing in the Bible is more definite and clearly expressed than the period of this generation. It commenced with the beginning of these events—the darkening of the sun and moon in A. D. 1780, and continues throughout their whole period, even until the Son of man is seen coming in the clouds of heaven. There is now living a remnant of the generation that witnessed the first signs—the darkening of the sun and moon—seventy eight years ago; and according to the course of nature, they cannot continue many years longer; but when we rely upon the words of Christ, that it shall not pass away until all these events are fulfilled, we have a strong pillar to rest our faith upon that is not easily shaken. O. NICHOLS.
Dorchester, Mass. REMARKS The difference of opinion that exists concerning the intent of the phrase "this generation," among those who give it an application to our own days, we look upon as not of essential importance, since none claim that anything very definite is brought to view by it, and since either view represents the generation as fast ebbing away, and makes the end to be, therefore, very near at hand. Concerning the view set forth above, it might be asked how many the generation would include; whether it would embrace those who were in the earliest stages of infancy at the time the sun was darkened, or whether it would include only those who were at that time of such an age as to retain the memory of the event, and to understand the feelings which its occurrence excited among the people. If it includes absolutely all whose ages do not date this side of the event, it must take in the youngest who were then living. But persons of one, two, or three years, at least, could retain no knowledge of the event; and to all such, it is as much a matter of history, as to us. So far, therefore, as a personal knowledge of the event is concerned, they are no better qualified to belong to the generation, than we, whose lives have fallen in a later time; for they are dependent, as well as we, for a knowledge of the event, upon the records of history. But if we recognize those only as belonging to that generation, who were able to understand the nature of the event, and retain the memory of it, we might be at a loss where to draw the line among those then living, and it may be a question how many such are still alive. If we apprehend the Saviour's teaching, an essential feature of the generation which he is addressing, is "the seeing of these things." When ye see these things &c., lift up your heads for your redemption draweth nigh. But we are not aware that these things were particularly seen, or regarded, as signs and precursors of the great day of the Lord, till the First Angel commenced his proclamation, and the attention of the people was called to them as such. We are therefore inclined to the opinion that the generation of which the Saviour declares that it shall not pass away, embraces all those in a situation to understand the proclamation of the First Angel, and who were taught to look upon the signs in the sun, moon and stars as precursors of the great and notable day of the Lord. It would be but just and reasonable to suppose that the great body of those who heard that proclamation as it went forth, who received the message with scorn and its heralds with contempt, who persecuted the honest souls who walked up to the light they had, who mocked and exulted over their disappointments and their trials—it would be but right and proper, according the best conception we can have of things, that the mass of these should live to behold the triumph of the little despised flock, and to be themselves overtaken by that destruction from the presence of the Lord which they have so long affected to despise. Such we believe will be the case. We do not believe this generation will pass away, or in other words, that the great body of those who have personal knowledge of the Advent movement of the past, will give place to, and be supplanted by, a generation of their posterity who have not such knowledge, ere all these things are accomplished, and the Lord fulfills his promises in the deliverance of his people. Should this application be correct it shows, no less than the view above taken, that the consummation of the believer's hope cannot be far distant.