This Generation

“When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city. For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written. How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
“There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” He told them this parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near.
“Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
“Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”
Each day Jesus was teaching at the temple, and each evening he went out to spend the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives, and all the people came early in the morning to hear him at the temple. Luke 21:20-38



In the earlier part of this discourse, Jesus told the disciples that the ongoing stresses and natural disasters that were happening and were soon going to accelerate in the earth were NOT indicators of the end. Those are the normal groanings of an accursed earth, in which evil seems to flourish as populations increase. There was a terrible calamity coming soon for Jerusalem, but that would be just one wave of the discipline that would be administered to Israel, because of their rejection of God's Messiah.

In the latter part of the discourse, though, that we see here, He told of the great tribulation, which will occur immediately before His second advent. It is not a pretty picture. It is frightening and dreadful to think about. He addressed it to "this people," the Jewish nation, to whom the Old Testament prophets had issued these dire warnings over and over, throughout their rebellious existence. And it had happened before, on a lesser scale. The nation had been besieged, and the people taken captive, dispersed into other countries as slaves and had lost their national identity. They would be restored and prosper for a period of time, until the rebellion again reached maximum saturation. Then the cycles of discipline would bring about their destruction yet again, but God never abandons His people! There are promises He made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and God keeps His promises. So they undergo these horrendous punishments, but a remnant is always preserved, who do believe in the faithfulness of God.

In verse 32, "this generation" did not refer to the people living in Jerusalem at the time Jesus spoke these words. The Greek word used here can mean "race" or "family" and is indicative of the Jewish people, whom God has preserved in spite of terrible persecution, through the ages. And this promises their preservation until the Lord returns. "The times of the Gentiles:" the period of Gentile domination of Jerusalem, from before the first advent of Christ through the rapture of the Church and the great tribulation. Israel is a nation today, but not the priest nation to God that it was in the Age of Israel, when Saul, David, Solomon and their offspring were the kings over a prosperous and influential people. They are largely dispersed among other nations throughout the globe and are treated as a racial and political minority. Interestingly, however, they never completely lose their identity. Jews are Jews wherever they are in the world. That is evidence of God's preservation of His people. Satan needs to eliminate them from humanity for that very reason. As long as they exist as a people it is proof of the grace provision of God, and that God keeps His promises. This Satanic conspiracy to annihilate the Jews is the reason for the intense persecution they have always suffered. Their own disobedience and rebellion against God is the reason for their intense discipline from God in times of judgment.

So, Jews, when you see THESE THINGS (verses 20-30) happening, you'll know the kingdom is near. And these things will happen. Heaven and earth will pass away, but Jesus' words will not pass away (verse 33). Count on it. Watch for it. Be ready.

And the people were getting up early each morning and coming to the temple to hear Him!