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Jesus said "this generation shall not pass till all these things be fulfilled" (Matt 24:34, Mark 13:30, Luke 21:32) and "there be some standing here which shall not taste of death till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom" (Matt 16:28, Mark 9:1, Luke 9:27). Some claim these are failed prophecies since Jesus did not return in the first century. Was this prophecy fulfilled according to His word?

Topics

PROPHECY

Key sub-entries relevant to this study:

Sure fulfillment of prophecy: - EZK 12:22-25,28 — "The days are at hand, and the effect of every vision... the word that I shall speak shall come to pass; it shall be no more prolonged" - HAB 2:3 — "the vision is yet for an appointed time... though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come" - MAT 5:18 — "Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled" - MAT 24:35 — "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away" - ACT 13:27,29 — Jewish leaders fulfilled prophecy by condemning Christ

Miscellaneous fulfilled prophecies (extensive list including temple destruction, Jerusalem's fall, various historical events verified against prophetic word). The pattern: God's word does not fail; apparent "delays" have specific purposes.

TRANSFIGURATION

  • Of Moses: EXO 34:29-35
  • Of Jesus: MAT 17:2-9
  • Of Stephen: ACT 6:15

Relevance: The Transfiguration (MAT 17:1-9; MRK 9:2-8; LUK 9:28-36) immediately follows Jesus's "some standing here" statement in all three Synoptics. Peter explicitly links the Transfiguration to Jesus's "power and coming [parousia]" in 2 PET 1:16-18.

KINGDOM OF HEAVEN

Parables of the Kingdom: - Sower/wheat & tares: MAT 13:24-30,38-43; MRK 4:26-29 - Mustard seed: MAT 13:31,32; MRK 4:30,31; LUK 13:18,19 - Leaven: MAT 13:33; LUK 13:21 - Treasure/pearl: MAT 13:44,45 - Net: MAT 13:47-50 - King reckoning: MAT 18:23-35 - Ten virgins: MAT 25:1-13 - Talents: MAT 25:14-30

Key statements: - "My kingdom is not of this world" — JHN 18:36 - Children of the kingdom — MAT 18:3; 19:14; MRK 10:14; LUK 18:16 - Keys of the kingdom — MAT 16:19 - Does not consist of meat and drink — ROM 14:17

Relevance: The "kingdom" language in Matt 16:28 ("see the Son of man coming in his kingdom"), Mark 9:1 ("kingdom of God come with power"), and Luke 9:27 ("see the kingdom of God") raises the question of whether the "kingdom" is a visible earthly return or a spiritual/heavenly reality that could be "seen" before the disciples' death.

JERUSALEM (Destruction Section)

Destruction foretold by Jesus: - MAT 23:37,38 — "Behold, your house is left unto you desolate" - MAT 24:15 — Abomination of desolation standing in the holy place - MRK 13:14-23 — Parallel account of the abomination - LUK 13:35 — "your house is left unto you desolate" - LUK 17:26-37 — Days of Noah/Lot parallel; judgment on "this generation" - LUK 19:41-44 — Jesus weeps over Jerusalem; "enemies shall lay thee even with the ground... not leave in thee one stone upon another" - LUK 21:20-24 — "When ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies... until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled"

OT Prophecies of Jerusalem's destruction: - DAN 9:24-27 — Seventy weeks; "the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary" - JER 7:32-34; 26:18; 32:29,31,32

Relevance: Jerusalem's destruction in AD 70 is widely recognized as partial fulfillment of the Olivet Discourse. The question is whether "all these things" (panta tauta) in Matt 24:34 includes only the events up through Jerusalem's fall or also the cosmic signs and parousia.

JUDGMENT (THE GENERAL)

Key references establishing the final judgment as future: - DAN 7:9,10 — Throne judgment scene (Ancient of Days) - MAT 16:27 — "Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father... reward every man according to his works" - MAT 25:1-46 — Parables of readiness; sheep and goats judgment - MRK 13:32 — "of that day and that hour knoweth no man" - 2PE 2:4,9; 3:7,10-12 — Judgment reserved for the future - REV 1:7 — "he cometh with clouds; every eye shall see him" - REV 20:11-15 — Great white throne judgment

Relevance: If the final judgment is still future, then the parousia cannot have occurred in AD 70, supporting the view that "these things" in Matt 24:34 does not include the Second Coming itself.

VISION (Transfiguration Section)

  • Peter, James, and John: Of the transfiguration of Jesus and the appearance of Moses and Elijah — MAT 17:1-9; LUK 9:28-36
  • Of Daniel: Of the Ancient of Days — DAN 7:9-27

Relevance: Matt 17:9 calls the Transfiguration a "vision" (horama). This fits the pattern of prophetic vision as a preview of future reality, which may be how Peter understood the Transfiguration as evidence of Christ's parousia (2 Pet 1:16).

JESUS, THE CHRIST — KINGDOM OF (Selected)

Prophecies concerning universality of the kingdom: - DAN 7:13,14,18,22,27 — Son of man receives everlasting dominion - MAT 16:28 listed among "unclassified prophecies concerning the kingdom" - 2PE 1:11 — "everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ"

Secular notions concerning the kingdom: - MAT 18:1-3; 20:20-23; JHN 6:15; ACT 1:6,7 - The disciples expected an earthly political kingdom; Jesus redirected this expectation

ADVENT / SECOND COMING

  • Nave's directs to "JESUS, SECOND COMING OF" (under JESUS, THE CHRIST main entry)
  • Connected to MILLENNIUM: ISA 65:17-25; ZEP 3:11-13; REV 20:1-15
  • No standalone topic for "generation" in Nave's
  • The word appears in context under EGYPTIANS (DEU 23:7,8 — "eligible in the third generation") and EDOMITES
  • Biblical usage centers on contemporaries/age-group, not "race" in any Nave's context