Reading… and Thinking

“Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it is near, right at the door. I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.”

— Mark 13:29-33 (NIV)

An important principle is revealed here, regarding God’s prophetic revelations. The disciples asked what the signs would be, and Jesus was happy to tell them. He gave them a detailed sequence of events that would precede his return in glory to assume the Kingship over the Kingdom of God. So, all we need to do is to look for the signs, and we’ll know when he’s coming.

Sounds simple, but it’s wrong! As he wraps up the signs, he says, “But you still won’t know when I’m coming!” Which is in agreement with parables he told on other occasions, indicating that even his servants will be taken by surprise when he comes.

So what’s going on here, and what’s the point of this series of signs?

I don’t believe it was pointless to give the signs. They do give a picture of events right before his coming, and this enables us to understand that we’re in the last days. And that’s important, because he says very plainly that circumstances will be tough for the elect. He gives us the signs to bolster our faith in trying times. He says the trouble will take two forms: direct persecution, and false claims that Christ has come. If we know the prophecies, we’ll be able to withstand both of these. On another occasion, Jesus said, “I tell you now before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe.” (John 14:29)

So, from Jesus we learn that the purpose of Bible prophecy is to increase faith, when the prophecies are being fulfilled. It’s not to enable us to predict the future. This is the important principle about handling prophecy referred to earlier.

Another question arises from this passage, and it’s one that has been a stumbling block for some. Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.” It’s very clear that the generation he was talking to did come to an end, without his return. Is this, then, a failed prophecy? And therefore should we conclude we need not pay attention to Jesus?

The resurrection of Jesus is powerful testimony that he is indeed the Son of God, and what he said is true. (See Acts 13:32-41 & 17:30-31, Romans 1:2-4.) So what did he mean about “this generation” not passing away before the signs happening? There are two other ways of looking at this promise, and both may be true:

1. Much of what Jesus foretold occurred, during the Jewish revolt of AD 66-70. The Christians were paying attention, and heeded the advice of verses 14-16 – they saw the signs, and they got out of Jerusalem, thereby avoiding the horrific siege and destruction of the city by the Romans in AD 70. This, of course, was literally within the generation of those who heard Jesus give the prophecy. At that time Jesus was “right at the door” in terms of visiting God’s judgments on the people who had rejected him.
2. It’s undeniable that, although there was a preliminary fulfillment in AD 70, the ultimate fulfillment will include the return of Jesus Christ as King (verses 26-27). When Jesus said “this generation”, he could easily be referring to the generation in the last days that sees the signs. That is, once the sequence starts, it will run to its conclusion with the return of Jesus and the resurrection of the dead, within a generation.

This second point is exciting for us. The signs Jesus gave are happening in our world today. His coming, therefore, is very near! But still, we cannot establish the date, as he said. There is wisdom in this, so that we stay in expectation. We need to heed what Jesus tells us: “Be on guard! Be alert!” It could be at any moment.