Expert: Dennis Herman - 9/2/2008

Question
Hi Dennis, thanks for being available.  I think this is a follow-up related to my previous Q.  Luke 21:32 has got me stumped.  Is it explainable?

Answer
KJV Luke 21:32
32.  Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.

This is going to take some time to look into the meaning of this generation.  I will have to check the original Greek words to see if there is a clue there and post a follow up answer.


KJV Luke 21:32
32.  Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.

The first step is to look at the Strong's literal version of this verse and study each word to see if there is an alternative meaning that may change the text.  In this case every word appears to have been properly interpreted.

One of the rules of interpretation states that if a statement is physically impossible, it must have a spiritual interpretation.  The generation that heard these words from Christ did pass away, that would point one to look for a spiritual meaning to this text.  I looked up the following key words to see if they held a spiritual explanation.  This is a small sample of what I was able to find.

FULFILLED

KJV Luke 22:15-16
15.  And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer:
16.  For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.

KJV John 15:25
25.  But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.

KJV Galatians 5:14
14.  For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

KJV James 2:23
23.  And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

PASS AWAY

KJV James 1:10
10.  But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.

KJV Job 6:15
15.  My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, and as the stream of brooks they pass away;

KJV Psalms 58:8
8.  As a snail which melteth, let every one of them pass away: like the untimely birth of a woman, that they may not see the sun.

The two words considered showed the meanings to be of a literal nature.  Fulfilled means to complete.  Pass away means to be consumed or done away with.  Both are used much as we would have expected.

One very strange thing about this text is the fact it is repeated in the books of Matthew and Mark.  When God repeats something three times it usually means pay attention.  It may not be this verse that the Lord is telling us to pay attention to but the verses that precede this statement.  

KJV Matthew 24:34-35
34.  Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
35.  Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

KJV Mark 13:30-31
30.  Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.
31.  Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

The Lords words will never pass away.  In this instance the verse seems to say exactly what it says.  For the time being the meaning of this verse seems to be hidden.  This would be one of those very good questions to ask once we all get to Heaven.


I did a little follow up on this question and found an answer from another source.  The other comment was written in the late 1800's and claimed that the "generation" referred to those that witnessed the stars falling the the sky turning black.  I think they missed the boat on that comment.  Following is a link that explains when these prophesies may have occurred.  http://hystar.wordpress.com/2008/08/20/matthew-2429-the-sun-be-darkenedthe-stars...