Taking a Second Look at the Second Coming, Second Edition

The following discussion will depart from what is normally taught in many circles relating to the final coming of Christ, specifically as it relates to the disciple’s question. We do not believe the final coming of Christ comes into play until 24:36ff.. The focus in chapter 24:4-35 revolves around world events and circumstances that will lead to the destruction of the temple and the desolation of Jerusalem. This approach will eliminate a lot of the confusion caused by eschatological sign seeking which has often caused many to try and predict and determine the final coming of Christ.

A lot of confusion is cleared up when we see that the word generation in every other place where Jesus uses it, directly applies to the first-century people He was addressing. Why would it be any different in this passage? In other words, those who were listening to Jesus’ voice at that time would see all the things that He had predicted. To substantiate this point, it is important to panoramically look at the following verses and contexts in Jesus’ ministry to demonstrate that the word generation refers directly to the people Jesus was addressing in the first century.