Jesus Commanded His People to Know the Generation
I. THE COMMAND TO KNOW THE GENERATION
33 When you see all these things, know that it is near--at the doors! 34…This generation will by no means pass away till all
these things take place…36 Of that day and hour no one knows. (Mt 24:33-36)
33 When you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door. (Mt 24:33, NAS)
A. My opinion is that we are in the early days of the generation in which Jesus will return. In other words, I believe that
there are people alive today who will see the return of Jesus. No one can know this with absolute certainty. By observing
the biblical signs of the times, we can know the generation of Jesus’ return yet without knowing the day or hour. My
opinion that we are in the final generation is based on observation of the scriptural signs, not on a personal revelation.
B. I classify the signs of the times into three categories. Sign events are the most convincing. We focus our attention
on the first two because they are biblical events and trends.
1. Sign events: actual events predicted in Scripture that alert us to the timing of His return. These include Israel
becoming a nation, the revealing of the Antichrist, etc.
2. Sign trends: escalating negative trends in society (civil disorder), the earth (earthquakes) and heavens (sky) and
positive trends in the Church such as the harvest in the nations (Mt. 24:14) that signal the generation of Jesus’ return.
Some of the negative trends are part of what Jesus called the beginning of sorrows or beginning of birth-pangs (Mt. 24:8).
3. Prophetic experiences: subjective personal experiences that alert us to the end times.
(Do not put undo importance or focus on these because they are subjective and fallible.)
C. The most complete teaching of Jesus on the end times is called the Olivet discourse because Jesus was sitting on
the Mount of Olives when He gave this great prophecy. The most complete record of it is in Matthew 24-25. Mark and
Luke gave a much shorter account of this prophecy, yet included a few more details (Mk. 13; Lk. 21). Jesus also taught
on the end times in Luke 17.
1 His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple. 2 And Jesus said to them, "Do you not see all these
things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down." 3 Now as
He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be? And what
will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?" (Mt. 24:1-3)
D. In the Olivet discourse (Mt. 24-25; Mk. 13; Lk. 21) Jesus prophesied of the great crisis of the destruction of
Jerusalem in 70 AD and the end of the age together in one great prophecy. Some emphasize one of these two time
frames at the exclusion of the other. The destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD parallels what will occur in the generation
in which the Lord returns.
E. Jesus gave 12 negative trends that indicate the generation in which He will return (Mt. 24:4-8; Mk. 13:8; Lk. 21:11,
25). Matthew described seven trends (false christs, war, ethnic conflict, economic warfare, famines, pestilences, and
earthquakes), Luke described four (fearful sights, great signs in the heaven, distress in the nations and the sea) and
Mark added one (trouble).
5 Many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many. 6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars…
for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation (Gk. ethnos or ethnic conflict) will rise against
nation, and kingdom (economic warfare) against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes…8 All
these are the beginning of sorrows (birth pains; NIV). (Mt. 24:5-8)
11 There will be great earthquakes in various places…there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven…25 Signs
in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves
roaring… (Lk. 21:11, 25)
8 There will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows. (Mk. 13:8)
F. In the Olivet discourse, Jesus gave a very positive trend that indicates the generation in which He will return
(Mt. 24:14). The leading mission organizations project from statistical data that the gospel will be presented to all 6,000
people groups (ethnic) for the first time by 2015.
14 This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations (ethnos or ethnic groups)
and then the end will come. (Mt 24:14)
G. Jesus gave several sign events that indicate the generation of His return (Mt. 24:15-20). The abomination of
desolation refers to the Antichrist putting an image associated with himself in the rebuilt temple in Jerusalem and then
commands the nations to worship him as God (as he shows himself as God by doing miracles). The Church will “see it”
standing in the holy place of the temple and will understand that it signals the beginning of the Great Tribulation
(2 Thes. 2:3-9).
15 When you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place"…16 then
let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains… (Mt. 24:15-16)
H. In Scripture, Jerusalem is the reference point or the primary timing indicator in God’s prophetic timetable for the
end times. The state of Israel had to be re-established to fulfill many end-time prophecies (Dan. 9:24, 27; Joel 3:2, 12;
Zech. 12:3; 14:2). Israel was scattered to the nations from her land in AD 70. On May 15, 1948, Israel became a nation
in one day. The return of Jews to their homeland to establish the state of Israel is the most striking event in biblical
prophecy.
8 Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall the earth be made to give birth in one day? Shall a
nation be born at once?...Zion…gave birth to her children. (Isa. 66:8)
I. Jerusalem being under the control of the Jewish people is necessary for the fulfillment of many prophecies
(Dan. 9:24, 27; Joel 3:2, 12; Zech. 12:3; 14:2). In June 1967, as a result of the Six Day War and for the first time in
2,000 years, the Jewish people gained control of Jerusalem.
J. My opinion is that the beginning of birth pangs started either in 1948 when Israel became a nation or in 1967
when Jerusalem came under Israel’s authority.
II. LEARN THE PARABLE OF THE FIG TREE: KNOW THE GENERATION OF HIS RETURN
32 Learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that
summer is near. 33 So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near--at the doors! 34 Assuredly, I say to
you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but
My words will by no means pass away. 36 "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels…but My Father
only. (Mt 24:32-36)
A. There is only one generation in which God’s people will see all the trends and events of Mt. 24 occurring at the
same time at an alarming measure on a global basis. Jesus commanded His people in that generation to know that His
coming was near. For the first time in history, most of these trends and some of the necessary developments of the
political events (especially related to Israel being a nation) are happening at an unusual measure at the same time on a
global basis. Two greatest signs events are Israel becoming a nation and the gospel being preached to all nations
(Mt. 24:14).
B. We are called to know the generation. A biblical generation ranges from 40 to 100 years (Gen. 15:13-16;
Ps. 90:10; Mt. 1:17; Acts 7:6).
C. No one should ever set specific dates for the day or hour of Jesus’ return.
III. JESUS REBUKED HIS GENERATION FOR NOT DISCERNING THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES
A. Jesus rebuked His generation for not discerning the signs of His first coming. Asking for a sign was legitimate
because Joel prophesied that God would send signs just before the Messiah came (Joel 2:30). The Pharisees’ hypocrisy
was in asking for signs beyond those Jesus did, to test Him.
1 The Pharisees…came testing Him asked that He would show them a sign from heaven…2 Hypocrites! You know how to
discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times. 4 A wicked and adulterous generation seeks
after a sign… (Mt. 16:1-4)
B. Paul taught that the Church should know the times and seasons related to Jesus’ second coming.
1 Concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you…4 But you, brethren,
are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief...6 Therefore…let us watch and be sober.
(1 Thes. 5:1-6)
C. Common lie #1: Since we are not able to know the day or hour of Jesus’ return, we should not try to know the
signs of the generation in which Jesus returns. Jesus and Paul emphasized the know-ability of the prophetic signs of
the end times (Mt. 24:32-34; Lk. 21:25-29; 1 Thes. 5:1-6; 2 Thes. 2:1-11). Scripture requires those in the generation
the Lord returns to know it.
D. Common lie #2: Every generation believed they were the last one. In only one generation (the first century) has
the majority of God’s people believed in a sustained way that they would see Jesus’ return. It is true that a very small
number (possibly less than 1%) in many generations believed this. Some emphasized it after a great crisis occurred,
but that emphasis did not last.
E. Positive spiritual trends indicating the generation Jesus returns include the gospel preached to all nations
(Mt. 24:14), the salvation of Israel, the global prayer and worship movement (Isa. 62:6-7), the bridal identity (Rev. 22:17;
Mt. 25:1-13), the outpouring of the spirit of prophecy (Acts 2:17), unparalleled understanding of end-time prophecy
(Jer. 23:20; 30:24; Dan. 11:33; 12:10) and the global youth focus in the kingdom in which fathers turn their hearts to love
and serve the younger generation (Mal. 4:5-6) including the fatherless (abortion, orphans, human trafficking).
F. Negative spiritual trends indicating the generation Jesus returns include the harlot Babylon worldwide religion
(Rev. 17:2-6), the falling away from the faith: (Mt. 24:9-13; 2 Thes. 2:3; 1 Tim. 4:1-2; 2 Tim. 3:1-7; 4:3-5); persecution
against believers, lawlessness abounding (Mt. 24:12; Rev. 14:18); human trafficking (Rev. 18:13; Joel 3:3); and
pornography, etc.
G. Political signs events include Israel becoming a nation in May 1948 and gaining control of Jerusalem in
June 1967 with all nations gathering against them (Zech. 12:3, 9; 14:3, 12).
IV. JESUS CALLED US TO WATCH AND PRAY
A. We are exhorted to watch and pray, ten times related to preparing for the end times (Mt. 24:42; 25:13; Mk. 13:9,
33, 34, 35, 37; Lk. 21:36; 1 Thes. 5:6; Rev. 16:15). To watch is to cultivate faith and understanding that agrees with what
the Word and the Spirit says about Jesus’ return.
35 Watch…for you do not know when the master of the house is coming--in the evening, at midnight…in the morning…
37 What I say to you, I say to all: Watch!" (Mk. 13:35-37)
B. We prepare by watching what the Spirit is saying in Scripture, in circumstances and in our life.
1. Scripture: search out what the Bible says (OT and NT), about the signs of His coming. There are over 150
chapters in the Bible that focus on the end times. Compare this to the four gospels which total 89 chapters that give us a
record of Jesus’ ministry at His first coming. The 150 chapters on the end times reveal His ministry related to His second
coming. Many neglect these 150 chapters without considering they come from the same Bible, reveal the same Jesus
and manifest the same power of the Spirit as the gospels.
2. Circumstances: with a heart of faith, watch the sign events and trends that are predicted in Scripture progressively
unfold. Set your heart to be an “anointed observer” of these.
3. Personal life: be alert to the Spirit’s stirring and challenges in your personal life and ministry. Many unique things
are happening at a high level at the same time for the first time in history, yet this alone will not move a spiritually dull
heart. We are to keep alert to our communion with God so as to always be in a disposition to agree with the Spirit.
C. Peter warned the saints to first be aware of the dangers of a scoffing or mocking spirit.
3 Knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days… (2 Pet. 3:3)