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G ....I just cannot understand the
Lord's words in In Matthew 24:34. The use of the word
"generation" truly confuses me. I know that it is the word
"genea" in Greek, but it sounds as though the end times will
come before the generation that the Lord was addressing
would die. I've really spent much time and some prayer on
this . . . can you help me?
Dear Jon : From Matthew 24 and "This Generation" by
Thomas Ice
The Correct View
Now why does " this generation" in Matthew 24:34
(see also Mark 13:30; Luke 21:32), not refer to Christ' s
contemporaries? Because the governing referent to " this
generation" is " all these things." Since Jesus is giving an
extended prophetic discourse of future events, one must
first determine the nature of " all these things" prophesied
in verses 4 through 31 to know what generation Christ is
referencing. Since " all these things" did not take place in
the first century then the generation that Christ speaks of
must be future. Christ is saying that the generation that
sees " all these things" occur will not cease to exist until
all the events of the future tribulation are literally
fulfilled. Frankly, this is both a literal interpretation
and one that was not fulfilled in the first century. Christ
is not ultimately speaking to His contemporaries, but to the
generation to whom the signs of Matthew 24 will become
evident. Dr. Darrell Bock, in commenting on the parallel
passage to Matthew 24 in Luke' s Gospel concurs:
What Jesus is saying is that the generation that
sees the beginning of the end, also sees its end. When the
signs come, they will proceed quickly; they will not drag on
for many generations. It will happen within a generation. .
. . The tradition reflected in Revelation shows that the
consummation comes very quickly once it comes. . . .
Nonetheless, in the discourse's prophetic context, the
remark comes after making comments about the nearness of the
end to certain signs. As such it is the issue of the signs
that controls the passage's force, making this view likely.
If this view is correct, Jesus says that when the signs of
the beginning of the end come, then the end will come
relatively quickly, within a generation.
Thank you. I really appreciate
your help. My spirit has always accepted, but my mind, at
times, rebels. God bless your ministry. Jon
G... My mission is to find out just
what the Book of
Genesis
is all about. I understand that
in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth and
then he created Adam and Eve. But I have been told to use
any resources possible and get different opinions and find
out "exactly" what the Book of "Genesis" was all about. Can
you help me. ?
Dear Melody, The Book of Genesis was written by Moses at
the Commandment of God (Ex 17:14, 34:27) to reveal to man
the origin of the Heavens and the Earth and all things
therein and to record the history of the Fall of man, the
Curse on the earth and the sinful career of the Earth.
It contains the records or "Generations of" the Line
chosen by God to accomplish His plan for man's Redemption,
namely to bring forth the Messiah who would redeem mankind
from the Curse. Genesis lays the groundwork for the entire
Bible and a knowledge of this Book is required to understand
the rest of the Books that follow..... Be sure to watch our
Creation video at www.wcie.net/bible.studies.htm/sgTimeline.htm
...hope this helps
I came across your web site and I
have enjoyed very much. I'm in the process of writing a book
its generally focused on the book of Genesis Im trying to
read through the entire completely so that my book is more
complete but Im getting discouraged. Do you have any tips or
advice on how to study this book better
Christy,...Genesis is the most remarkable Book of the
Bible. It begins with the fact that there is one God and
that He is the Creator of the universe. It is the story of
the human race as it passes from the state of innocence to
the state of sin. In Genesis 3:15 we have the first promise
of a Redeemer who is to be the Savior of the fallen race.
Another remarkable feature is the historical line through
which the Redeemer will "bruise the serpents head" and
restore the lost race to God. This historical line is
carried forward from Seth, (the son of Adam and Eve), to
Judah, the Tribe from which the Messiah will come. If we
desire to trace the marvelous unfolding of God's redemptive
plan which is the central fact of the Bible, we must begin
in Genesis.
G What
was the profession of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John before
they were called by Jesus?
Dear Diody, Matthew, also known as Levi, was a public
official, a tax collector,for the Romans was called to be an
Apostle. His Gospel
was in Greek and written about 37 A.D.in Judea.
Mark,or John Mark,the son of Mary, a Christian Jewess,
went with Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary
journey and was with Paul at the time of his first
imprisonment in Rome. His Gospel was written with facts
obtained from Peter in 62 A.D.. Traditionally written in
Rome. for the Romans or Gentiles 63 to 66 A.D
Luke, was a Physician from Antioch, Syria. He was Paul's
companion on the second missionary journey. His Gospel was
written for the Greeks about 58-63 A.D.
John, a fisherman, a son of Zebedee, was born in Betsaida
of Galilee, he was the "Disciple whom Jesus loved" Banished
to Patmos by the Emperor Domitian. After his death he
returned to Ephesus where he wrote his Gospel about 90 A.D.
G Where
did the gold
come from? Were there mines
nearby?
Dear Lattie, Gold is found in the Aqaba Granite on either
side of the Red Sea and between the Nile and the Red Sea.
Ophir ( probably founded by a son of Joktan ) produced gold
from the time of Job (22:24). Israel's fleet traded with
Ophir. The journey took three years. ... hope this helps
Thanks for your reply. That's a lot of
gold ain't it? Yes, that helps.
G
... What do you think is
the heart of Jesus' ministry and teaching and where could I
find examples of this in the New Testament?
Dear Michelle, In John 6:22-71 ....
Jesus concludes His public ministry in Capernaum and
Galilee. Here He explains His Spiritual character and
Mission. He was rejected by the crowds and many of His
disciples murmured at Him and no longer followed Him. This
is called "The Great
Galilean Crisis". The rest of
His ministry was devoted to training the Twelve ( mainly
outside Galilee)
G
...I
need 2-3
games
that Jesus would have played. Am doing a workshop with 3rd
-5th graders. Any help you can give would be much
appreciated.
Dear Carolyn : Jesus said:... "But whereunto shall I
liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in
the marketplace and calling unto their fellows, and saying,
"We have piped unto you and ye have not danced; we have
mourned unto you and ye have not lamented. For John came
neither eating nor drinking and they say, he has a devil.
The Son of man came eating and drinking and they say, Behold
a man gluttonous and a winebibber, a friend of publicans
& sinners.." Matthew 11:16-19a
Jesus, along with his brothers and sisters and other
children in the village of Nazareth played games like
children of today. They played " dress up" games of dancing
and mourning...wedding and funeral....Jesus said his
listeners were like stubborn children who refused to
participate! ... Children in that day also played ball games
in teams where a ball was tossed in the air and players
tried to catch it
G
... What were Paul's
accomplishments wnen he was
in
Galatia?
Dear Gertha, .... It was on his
second missionary journey that Paul's intention only to pass
through Galatia was frustrated by illness. He was kindly
received and cared for and they welcomed his message and
were responsive to his teachings. After he left, these
people were lead astray by Judaizing teachers, the enemies
of Paul. They taught that the benefits of the Gospel could
be received only by meeting the requirements of Judaism and
that through this door only could they enter the Christian
fold. They said that the Law was abiding and was not
abrogated. It was to correct these false doctrines and to
win these people back to the simplicity and purity of the
Gospel that Paul wrote
his Epistle to the
Galations.
G
...It is said that Pilate
was sent to Gaul
where he committed suicide.
Where is Gaul?
Dear Hans, Gaul or Gallia (now
France) was conquered by Julius Caesar between 58 B.C. and
52 B.C.... see map below
Dear Sir: I want to thank you
for the information, that was very nice. God Bless you and
have a nice day.
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