Sixteen times do we read of `this generation' in the Gospels, besides other expressions like, `an evil generation';

`adulterous and sinful generation'; the men of Nineveh and the queen of the south shall rise in judgment with this

generation, and shall condemn it'; `of this generation shall be required the blood of ALL the prophets which was

shed from the foundation (or overthrow) of the world' (Matt. 23:34-36; Luke 11:49,50). This seems to indicate

something more than a reference to those who were born and lived during the time of the Lord on earth. Hebrews

3:10 speaks of the Lord being grieved with `that generation', and the reader will find many parallels in the Old

Testament. Further, the words of Colossians 1:26; speaking of the mystery being hid `from the ages, and from the

generations', will help us further in seeing that the word has a wider meaning than the primary idea.

The words of verse 34, `be fulfilled', should be rendered, `begin to be', or `may have begun to arise'. If we

glance back to verses 29-31 we shall see what was to `begin to arise'. The sun was to be darkened, the moon was

not to give her light, the stars were to fall from heaven, the powers of the heavens were to be shaken. Some may say

that these things have not yet taken place. True, but they `began to arise', although cut off through Israel's failure.

This may seem an assertion without foundation, but we believe a comparison of two passages of Scripture will help

The margins of most of our Bibles refer us back from Matthew 24:29 to Joel. In Joel 2:10,28-31, we read words

very similar to those of Matthew 24:29. There, wonders shown in heaven have a prelude on earth. The spirit was to

be poured out upon all flesh.

`Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see

visions: and also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. And I will

show wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into

darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come' (Joel 2:28-31).

Peter on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2 positively declared that the outpouring of the Spirit then manifest was

what had been prophesied by Joel. He not only quotes the references of Joel to the spiritual gifts, but makes a

complete quotation concerning the whole of these wonders with reference to the sun, moon and stars. In all there

are fourteen items. Seven of them have been fulfilled; seven of them await fulfilment. They will be fulfilled when

Israel repents (Acts 3:19-21). The coming of the Son of man is preceded by these things.

The `generation' of Matthew 24:34 is in view in Acts 2:40, `Save yourselves from this untoward generation'. It

is perfectly true therefore to say that the generation alive during the ministry of Christ, and during the period

covered by the Acts, did not pass away without these things `beginning to be'. They will be resumed when the time

comes, and Revelation 1 goes on from Acts 2 and 3, the interval of Israel's rejection not being reckoned. Just as

surely as the Lord could say, `This generation shall not pass', so He could say, `Heaven and earth shall pass away,

but My words shall not pass away'.

`The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great

noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned

up' (2 Pet. 3:10).

Here the connection with Matthew 24:35 and 43 is evident, strengthened moreover by Peter's allusions to the

Flood and to Noah.

Some men, not seeing the break that has come in the dispensational dealings of God, have said, `Where is the

promise of His coming?' They maintain, with wilful ignorance, that all things have continued right through without

a break since the beginning of the creation. Their wilful ignorance of the interposition of judgment at Genesis 1:2,

and again at the Flood, prevents them from seeing that once again the Lord has allowed a break to come in, in the

unfolding of His purpose. `The Lord is not slack concerning His promise'. The thousand years or so of Israel's

blindness are but a day; the apostle Paul in all his epistles written after Acts 28, treats of the purpose of God in the

long interval between Acts and Revelation.

Reader, the fig tree seems about to bud. If so, the present parenthetical dispensation draws near to its conclusion.

While we see no prophetic word concerning this period in Matthew 24, yet by application we may learn the same

insistent message, `Watch therefore, for ye know not the hour'. We have considered the moral principle of the

parable (the Fig Tree), and we will now consider the type (Noah and his days).