"35 That upon you may come all the righteous
blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood
of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the
altar.
36 Verily I say unto you, All these things
shall come upon this generation.
37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest
the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would
I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens
under her wings, and ye would not!
38 Behold, your house is left unto you
desolate."
Within this text, there is the expression "this generation." "This generation" basically refers to the generation that lived when Jesus was living in this world. Therefore, Jesus says in text that the destruction of Jerusalem would happen in his generation when he was actually alive in the world. The length of one generation according to the Bible is about 40 years. When we look at history, we find the destruction of Jerusalem (in AD 70) by the Roman army happened forty years after Jesus' death on the cross (in AD 30). This destruction of Jerusalem is a historical fact, but it also serves as a model of the end time. Because the Bible talks about the end time like this:
"Lu 21:20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh."
"This generation" written in the Bible is the generation when Jesus lived. This generation seems something special and meaningful and seems simple to understand because we can find many instances of "this generation" in the Bible.
Matthew 12: 38-45
"38 ｦ Then certain of the scribes and of the
Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.
39 But he answered and said unto them,
An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall
no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:
40 For as Jonas was three days and three
nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and
three nights in the heart of the earth.
41 The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment
with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the
preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.
42 The queen of the south shall rise up
in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came
from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and,
behold, a greater than Solomon is here.
43 When the unclean spirit is gone out
of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.
44 Then he saith, I will return into my
house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty,
swept, and garnished.
45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself
seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell
there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so
shall it be also unto this wicked generation."
There have been many generations from the beginning of the world until now. In Japan, there have been many generations i.e. Meiji, Taisho, Showa. But, in the new testament, it treats "this generation" as though it were something special. Why? What is "this generation?" What kind of age is it? If God has something to say concerning this age, we would hope to see what it is.
Jesus was talking about this generation in relation to the judgment of Jerusalem. In addition, the men of Nineveh and the queen of the south are described in relation to the judgment upon "this generation." Therefore, we understand "this generation" is the generation to be judged by God. Furthermore, we know one more fact. "This generation" in which Jesus lived serves as a model of the end time generation. The Jerusalem in which Jesus lives serves as a model of the church in the end time. Therefore, we can find one more fact from the above. If we study about this concept of "this generation in which Jesus lived," this will give us some indication about the end time generation. Now, we should look as to why "this generation" has been emphasized so much in the Bible. Why did Jesus repeatedly mention "this generation"? Because embedded within the scriptures dealing with "this generation" are hints and keys to our own generation as the end time generation.
So, to study about "this generation (Jesus' generation)" is to study about the end time generation. Jesus said we should understand parables. So, let's read and understand the parable about this generation.
In text which is our topic for today, Jesus talks about the judgment upon Jerusalem to be done in "this generation." I think the judgment upon Jerusalem is a figure of the judgment to be done in the end time. In Revelation, it has a new Jerusalem which is a model of the true church. In addition, it talks about Babylon and tares. The description about Babylon is very similar to the description about Jerusalem written in Ezekiel. That is to say, we can know that the Babylon to be judged in the end time is the Jerusalem on earth, the church to yet be judged.
In the generation of Jesus, Jerusalem is abolished and burnt by Roman solders. Why was Jerusalem, God's city, judged? The biggest reason she was judged was that they had refused Jesus and killed him.
What ever happened in Jesus's generation will happen in a simliar way in end time again. I think many scriptures suggest this. Let's look at some of them one by one.
1. Entrance To Jerusalem And His Being Welcomed By The People
Jesus was greatly welcomed by the people at Jerusalem As one pharisee said, "the world is gone after him". (John 12:19) The people went after him. I think this is a prefiguring of the revival at the end times. At that time, the world will talk plenty about the name of Jesus. Within this revival, Jesus will come into Jerusalem or the church by means of his agent the Holy Spirit. But, in no time the people will soon oppose Jesus and the Holy Spirit. They will be in opposition against the true God because they are under the influence of the work of the Pharisees and scribes. In comparison, at the end times it will be Bible commentators, theologians, or church leaders who will be opposed to the work of the Holy Spirit. They will ultimately stop the work of Holy Spirit who will remove his presence from this world.
2 Persecution
In that generation, there will arise persecution. The time will come when Christians will be surrounded by armed people. It will be similar to when Jesus was surrounded by those who had swords and lance at the garden. As it is written, "when Jerusalem is surrounded by an army," the time of tribulation will come.
3. Betrayal
As sure as Judas, one of the 12 disciples, betrayed Jesus, so will the betrayal of God's people and their falling away from the faith happen. In addition, they will betray their spiritual brothers and sisters, for it will happen as it is written that "brother will betray brother."
4. The Flight Of The Disciples
Just as the eleven disciples ran away from Jesus, the running away of the disciples will happen in the end time. If we could use the word "run away or flee" with Jesus' disciples back then, we could also say this group belonging to Jesus "broke away." This is the fulfillment of the prophecy below.
:Luke 22:31,32
"31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold,
Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy
faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren."
Jesus says "when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren." Therefore, not everybody will lose their faith eternally. Many people will return back to Jesus like the eleven disciples.
Mark 14:51,52
"51 And there followed him a certain young man,
having a linen cloth cast about his naked body; and the young men laid
hold on him:
52 And he left the linen cloth, and fled
from them naked."
Revelation 16:1
"15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame."
Matthew 27: 59
"And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped
it in a clean linen cloth."
Some disciples will go away giving up everything but somehow in their "nakedness" their life will be saved. This word "linen cloth" is used as a word for the clothe that wraps Jesus' corpse. Therefore, it may have a relationship to "martyrdom." We need to pray so that we would protect our life though we had abandoned our righteousness or a right confession of our faith. Let's do not reveal the shame of one's nakedness as per the description of Revelation
5. The Denial Of Peter
Matthew 26: 34 "Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice."
Mark 13:35
"Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the
master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing,
or in the morning:"
Some disciples will deny Jesus like Peter. But, be careful. Because there is a possibility that Jesus will come again on this very hour "at the cockcrowing."
6. The Mocking People
The people, who once worshipped Jesus in earnest, now have become persecutors of him. The Israelite people who once had received healing, deliverance of evil spirits and teachings from Jesus have now put Jesus on the cross. This is the fulfillment of Jesus' word about this generation.
Matthew 12:43-45
"43 When the unclean spirit is gone out
of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.
44 Then he saith, I will return into my
house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty,
swept, and garnished.
45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself
seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell
there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so
shall it be also unto this wicked generation."
At end of the world, there will also be a time when the church will be freed from evil spirits and will be "empty, swept, and garnished." I suppose this is the time of the end time revival. But since she is described as "empty," I suppose this refers to driving away the Holy Spirit. As a consequence, the spiritual condition of the church will be worsened as compared to the condition before the revival.
7. His Death On The Cross
Martrydom will occur at the end time just as sure as Jesus was crucified to death on the cross. The biggest reason for the judgment upon Jerusalem is that they killed Jesus. Likewise, the biggest reason the church must be judged in end times is that she has struck out and killed God's servants.
8. The Declaration In Front Of "The High Priest"
Jesus said in front of high priest: "Matthew 26:64 Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven." It talks about Jesus' second coming. Therefore, his second coming will take place in this age.
9. The Judgment Against Jerusalem
After all of these things, there will be a judgment against Jerusalem. Likewise, there will be a judgment on God's house, the church. This will happen as per the following scripture: " For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God."
Let's do the Lord's will in this end time.
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