“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” (Matt 24:34-35).

Shortly after the  “Left Behind” series ended, Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins published a non-fiction book called “Are We Living In The End Times?” in response to the many questions they received from folks who read their record breaking series. Their goal was to provide insights into Biblical prophecy that would help readers conclude that the correct answer to the question raised in their book’s title is a resounding YES.

As I was reading the book, I came across a point that I think bears a closer look. It addresses the length of a Biblical generation and is significant due to the popular (mis)interpretation of Matt 24:34 referenced above. Many folks take this verse to mean that the Lord will return within the span of one generation from the time when the first sign appears.

This “one generation” idea has Biblical precedence since all the major prophecies pointing to the first coming were fulfilled within the generation in which the Lord was born. So right away everyone starts speculating on the length of a Biblical generation and that’s where the trouble starts.

But the terms “generation” and “life span” are not equivalent, and Jesus never said the signs would all be fulfilled within the span of one generation, but within the lifetimes of the generation being born when they begin.  He said, “this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.”

What’s A Generation?
When the Israelites refused to go into the Promised Land for fear of the Amorites the Lord condemned all the adults except for Caleb and Joshua to death. He said they’d wander in the desert one year for every day the 12 spies were in the land and during that time all the adults age 20 and over would die. The spies were in the land for 40 days so the term of punishment was set at 40 years. During that 40-year period, the Israelites conducted an average of 85 funerals each day to remind them of their failure to obey until all the adults had died (Num. 14). This event led us to speculate that the length of a generation is 40 years when in fact the Lord had really limited the life span of those adult Israelites to coincide with the term of the punishment.

Then there’s the passage in Genesis where the Lord tells Abraham that his descendants would spend 400 years in Egypt as slaves before coming out with great wealth. And then “in the 4th generation your descendants will come back here (Canaan) for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure” (Gen. 15:13-16). This passage appears to equate 400 years with 4 generations, making a generation 100 years long, but this is not the case. The numbers 400 and 4 refer to two different things. True, the Israelites were in Egypt for about 400 years, but a careful study shows that after Moses led them out, the Israelites who finally crossed the Jordan with Joshua were the 4th generation from the one in which Moses was born.

This mystery can be solved with a quick trip to the dictionary, where the length of a generation is defined as “the average interval of time between the birth of parents and the birth of their offspring.” These days no one would wait till age 40 to begin having children, but in Biblical times that was often the case.  It took that long for men to learn a trade, build a home, and get themselves financially secure enough to start a family.  And of course the key to the definition lies in the word average, so we know we’re dealing with generalities here.

So What’s The Point?
There are three possible interpretations of Matt. 24:34 based on the meaning of the Greek word translated “generation”.  The first is that it applied to the generation alive when Jesus was speaking. But remember, the context of Matt. 24 was the second coming and the end of the age, neither of which took place within the lifespan of the generation alive at the time.

The Greek word for “generation” can also mean “race” so some people interpretMatt. 24:34 to mean that the Jewish race would not become extinct before the Lord returns.  While this has been the case, it certainly doesn’t qualify as much of a sign to say that as long as there are Jewish people living on earth it means the Lord could come back.

The third and most logical interpretation of  Matt 24:34 is that the generation being born when the fulfillment of the end times signs begins would still be alive at the Lord’s return.  Notice Matt. 24:34 doesn’t say that no subsequent generations would be born, nor does it say that all the signs would be fulfilled before the birth of the next generation. It says the signs will be fulfilled within the lifetimes of those who are born about the time the first sign appears.

For this to be the specific sign the disciples were asking for, there would have to be a Biblical clue that gives us an idea of the time involved, and as it happens, there is a Biblical reference to the length of a person’s life.  Psalm 90:10 says the length of our days is 70 years, or 80 if we have the strength.  A look at current UN research confirms that 70 years is just about what the world wide average lifespan is today, with the longest lifespans averaging around 80.  So there you have it.

When’s He Coming?
In any countdown to the 2nd coming the year 1948 is viewed as the obvious starting point, because the rebirth of Israel is widely accepted as the preeminent sign of the end times. But as we’ve seen, the biggest mistake we’ve made is in adding only 40 years to 1948 when in fact a better number, based on Biblical evidence, is 70-80 years. That would put the 2nd coming somewhere between 2018 and 2028, within most of our lifetimes. Keep in mind that the rapture and 2nd coming are only related to the extent that one must precede the other. The Rapture of the Church is not a date specific event and it could literally happen any moment now.  But there are still several other major events that must occur before the 2nd coming.

But to me the real kicker in the Matthew passage we began with is verse 35.  Jesus said, “Heaven and Earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away”(Matt 24:35). This is as strong a commitment as you’ll find anywhere in Scripture. The Lord will return as promised, and soon. Even Heaven and Earth are not as permanent as His promise.

People ask, “If the Lord’s return is a foregone conclusion (Matt. 24:36), why is it important for me to pray for it”   In this study we will answer this question, using the Parable of the Persistent Widow as our guide.

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’

“For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care about men, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually wear me out with her coming!’ “

And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” Luke 18:1-8)

Let’s Put This In Its Proper Context
The background for this parable is found in Luke 17:20-37.  A pharisee had asked the Lord, “When will the kingdom come?”  This question established that the context for all that follows is the coming kingdom.  In response the Lord told him that he shouldn’t think of the kingdom as something he could watch for, because the kingdom is “within you.”

When Luke wrote this, the Holy spirit prompted Him to use an interesting word for the one we translate “within” because it also means “in your midst.” In the general sense I believe Jesus was speaking of phase one of the Kingdom, the “invisible” phase that consists of born again believers all over the world.  But in the specific sense He was also speaking to the Pharisee, telling him that the personification of the kingdom was standing right there in front of Him.

Then He told His disciples that one day soon they would long to see one of His days (days like this one when He was with them) but would not see it (Luke 17:22). He continued with an abbreviated description of events leading up to the time of His return.  The rest of Luke 17 is sometimes called “the little apocalypse” because it speaks of end times events like it’s a summary of Matt 24.

After that He told them the parable of the persistent widow. His point was that if even a corrupt judge could eventually be persuaded by the persistence of a widow, someone without standing or influence in their day, how much more likely would the Lord be to respond to the persistent prayers of His people?

It’s Not The Only Time We’ve Been Told That
“Pray without ceasing,” Paul wrote in 1 Thes. 5:17. Good advice. Earlier the Lord had given us similar instruction.

“Ask and it will be given to you;” He said, “Seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

“Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” (Matt; 7:7-11)

It’s funny in a way, how the Lord longs for our participation in His plan. He knows what we need before we ask (Matt. 6:8) yet He wants us to ask.  He knew we were going to pray for salvation before He created the world, yet He wants us to say the sinner’s prayer (Romans 10:17).   His return is a foregone conclusion, yet He wants us to keep praying for it, and to never give up till the day it happens. It’s almost as if He’s saying our prayers could influence the timing.

If so, it wouldn’t be the only time. Through His disciples He told the Jews in Jerusalem that as the time for the Great Tribulation draws near, to pray that it will not begin on a Sabbath or in the winter (Matt. 24:20). Does that mean He would alter the start date of the worst period of judgment ever to befall humanity to accommodate the needs of what will surely be a religious minority? Does prayer really have that kind of power?

To drive home the point He began in the widow’s story, the Lord closed with a question. “However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”(Luke 18:8).  Though His return is certain, will there be anyone left with the persistence to still be praying for it when He comes?

Prayer Power
The prayers of righteous people are powerful and effective, the Bible tells us (James 5:16), sufficient to forgive sins and heal the sick.  And, if the above examples are any indication, to influence the timing of God’s plan as well.  But the lack of persistence in our prayers can indicate a lack of desire as well as a lack of faith.  Do people not pray for the Lord’s return because they don’t really want Him to return yet, or because they don’t think He’s going to, or both?

The widow hounded the judge to a point where he thought her obnoxious, and he answered her request just to get her off his back.  Jesus was telling us God rewards our persistence as well.  And Paul said there’s a crown in store for all those who long for the Lord’s coming (2 Tim. 4:18).

Pray without ceasing.  Ask and it will be given to you.  Be persistent, especially when praying for His return.  Let the Lord know that at least in some hearts, there’s still faith on Earth.  Maybe if enough of us persist in this, we can hasten the day of His coming.