Insightful Musings on theScriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Greetings, dear ones.

This is not a fresh production, but it sure impresses me as relevant.

Obviously, I was released from the jail Saturday night. We had a good time there with the guys being more responsive than I anticipated.

On with the work. Have a good day doing yours.

Love, Dad/Ray.

While I make no dogmatic claims as to how to interpret and apply everything we hear in Jesus’ words (along with other prophetic writings), I still think it is appropriate to consider and try to formulate some general ideas relative to meaning and fulfillment. So I’ll carry on here with some of my current leanings.

When Jesus says THIS GENERATION, which generation does He mean? At first it would seem that He means the one He’s speaking to. But verse 24 could offer a key toward resolving the question more accurately. “Jerusalem will be trampled on…until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.” So the focus moves to a period of time in the future which we assume began about 70 a.d. with the destruction of Jerusalem and the dispersion of the Jews to all parts of the world. Then Jesus goes on to describe some general events that will characterize the period following the “times of the Gentiles.” Of particular significance to me is the phrasing that says, “Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world…” The fact that man now has at his disposal the incredible technology to absolutely destroy this planet generates the highest level of global apprehension ever known. Then Jesus adds to His description this comment in verse 27: “When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” He says something similar in verse 31. So it is reasonable to believe that Jesus is announcing the coming of a generation that will see these end-time prophecies begin to take place. And that generation is the one that witnesses such beginnings meant by THIS GENERATION. Therefore, it is very possible that THIS GENERATION is THIS generation—the one we’re in right now. How so? Because we are seeing things begin to come together socially, politically, internationally, technologically, and spiritually like no generation has ever witnessed before!

Does this resonate with you? Does this passage have any influence on your desire to be alert and ready? (Read again verses 8-9.) I don’t know about you, but I have a sense that we are fast approaching the finish line of the “times of the Gentiles” which could also be called “The Church Age.” I have a hunch that the count-down for THIS GENERATION has already begun—and possibly near completion. Think about it.