Posted by Bibleman [Bibleman] on October 31, 1999 at 16:25:54 {MDPAlM8llYMRXA6xmpscslyACFuF8c}:
In Reply to: **The Flim-Flam Men posted by 5GJW on October 31, 1999 at 15:30:44:
Hello 5GJW,
Your comment about the generation mentioned being the one of Jesus' day is a common idea and belief among "preterists."
So just wanted to clarify that those events had to happen during the "last days" which by chronology, based upon the "7 times" prophecy, wouldn't occur until the 20th century no matter what date you settled on for the fall of Jerusalem, either 607BCE, 587BCE or the correct date, 529BCE.
Furthermore, the single event, that one-time event that was to shock the world didn't happen during that generation. A "great tribulation" that would nearly exterminate all "flesh" of Judea, that is of the natural Jews. That one-time event that would shock the world, only to occur once, never to occur again, was the HOLOCAUST. That was the "greatest tribulation" of all time for the Jews.
So Jesus in speaking of that generation meant the lifetime of 80 years (Ps. 90:10) of someone born when that generation would begin which would have been with the first sign of a world war, which was "nation against nation and kingdom against kingdom." That world conflict took place with WWI in 1914, thus all the signs, including the preaching of the good news should have been over and the "END of that system of things" occur before 1994. The "system of things" being referred to, though, was not this worldly system of things or the end of the world, but as Luke references, the system of things or "era" was the era of the "appointed times of the nations" or the "gentile times." Thosse gentile times did END when the Messiah took up kingdom power.
Based upon the fulfillment of the 1335 days which would occur 45 years after the Jews returned to Palestine at the end of 1290 days, the kingdom would have been set up in 1992, which did occur before that generation beginning in 1914 ended 80 years later in 1994.
So the Bible prophecy works out just fine when you have the correct interpretation. Since the WTS doesn't, and they still think the "end" and "great tribulation" are future events, they are trying in vain to extend that "generation" which is irrevocably begun in 1914.
Cheers,
Bibleman