Hi

I was wondering if anyone had some thoughts on the context of Mark 13
v 24-30. The interesting thing is that these things will happen
in 'This Generation'. What does that mean?


Mk 13.24-30. "But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will
be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; 25 the stars of
heaven will fall, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 26
Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great
power and glory. 27 And then He will send His angels, and gather
together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest part of
earth to the farthest part of heaven. 28 Now learn this parable from
the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender, and puts
forth leaves, you know that summer is near. 29 So you also, when you
see these things happening, know that it is near——at the doors! 30
Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away
till all these things take place."


I have always viewed mark 13 as a passage as a whole. To me the
important phrase is "This Generation". Which can have a variety of
meanings:

1. It is the actual 'physical' generation of those who were living
then. If this is the case there is good case for the Pretetist view.

2. It could mean "This Generation that SEES these things happen."
This would mean that the signs would be fulfilled within a
generational span, so to speak. They would be a actual generation,
but, it may mean a 'future' generation, as against the actual
generation who heard the words. This puts it either within the
Pretetsit or futurist timeframe.

3. It could be a figure of speach. In the Gospels we read of
a 'adulterous' / 'evil' / 'evil and perverse' / 'evil and adulterous/
generations. It could mean the rebelious, apoaste, unbelieving jewish
people, as they have revealed themselves in the past, are revealing
themselves in the present and will continue to reveal themselves in
the future. This too would give rise to a pretetist view or a
futurist view.

It has to be said that although i am Amil this passage literally read
does give rise to good reason to start to look objectively at
pretetism (sorry i can't spell).

At present i side with the second meaning, but, this passage is not
as clear cut as all would want it to be.

Cheers