Page 34 - Eschatology - Masters revised

Tel Aviv Museum and announced the creation of the state of Israel. Israel became a nation again after
1878 years of wandering among the gentile nations!

However, if I read Luke 21:24 correctly, Jesus further narrowed the date of the “budding of the fig tree”
by saying that the end of the age of the Gentiles is accompanied by the Jewish re-establishment of
Jerusalem, which is followed by signs in Heaven and Earth, and, that the generation then living will not
die off until the fulfillment of all things takes place. Now here is the wild part. Jerusalem was recaptured
by the Jews in 1967 during the Six Day War; it is no longer in Gentile hands.

So, we can ask the questions, how long is a generation? Will the generation that saw Israel become a
nation be alive when Jesus comes? This concept is usually drawn from Matthew 24:34, “I tell you the
truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.” The previous
verses, Matthew 24:1-33, describe end-times events in relation to Israel. As a result, some interpreters
thought that the end times would begin when Israel was “reconstituted” as a nation (which happened in
1948). However, as more and more time passed from 1948, the time span of a “generation” began to
lengthen and lengthen. It has now been more than 60 years – which is far beyond any standard
definition of a generation.

The biggest problem with this teaching is that it completely misunderstands Matthew 24:34. What the
context appears to say is that once the end-times events begin to happen, they will happen quickly or in
a generation. Further, Jesus’ prophetic words in Matthew 24 seem to have a “double fulfillment.” Some
of the events occurred in A.D. 70 when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem and Israel. Other events
(24:29-31, for example) have clearly not yet occurred. Some of Jesus’ words occurred shortly after He
spoke them (this generation will not pass); others have not yet occurred. It is not scriptural to teach that
the generation that sees Israel become a nation will also see the second coming of Jesus Christ. This may
v
be the case, but Scripture does not specifically say so.

Seven Signs Jesus is Coming Sooner Than You Think
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4a9hg_FnXxs

Let’s Practice…

1-4. Give four reasons why Israel is an important location on the planet earth:

5. What were the nature of events and when did Israel cease to be a nation?

6. What were the nature of events and when did Israel become a nation once again?

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