Luke 21:32

Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all things be accomplished Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

Throughout this discourse, Jesus was giving prophecies related to two future events: (1) the destruction of Jerusalem with its temple, and (2) his Second Coming in glory; therefore, Jesus' use of the word "generation" in this passage requires it to be understood in two senses. It has a perfect application to both events when so understood.

This generation... meaning the people then alive on earth, would not pass away before Jerusalem was destroyed some forty years afterward. "This generation," in the sense of the Jewish people, will not pass away before Christ comes in glory. There can be no reasonable objection to this use of a word in two somewhat different senses, for the word "Israel" is itself so written and understood by the inspired authors of the New Testament.

JESUS FORETOLD THE PASSING OF AGES BEFORE HIS RETURN

One of the most common errors among the sophisticated with regard to Jesus Christ is the notion that our Lord thought that his Second Coming was an event in the near future, with the result that the early church expected Christ to come in glory during their own lives. It is true, of course, that some of the early church did expect the speedy return of Christ in their own times; but that was not due to anything that Jesus either did or taught, nor to anything that the holy apostles preached or wrote. In fact, the early church was guilty of the same sin of inattention to what Christ had emphatically taught that is today being committed by the people making the same mistake that some in the early church made. The chapter before us emphatically reveals that countless ages were to go by before the final coming of Christ in glory. Geldenhuys has this wonderful summary of it:

Jesus taught that even before the destruction of Jerusalem a considerable time would elapse (Luke 21:12), and that thereafter again a considerable time, when one after another of the Gentile nations (plural) would, in turn, rule over Jerusalem (Luke 21:24); and only when the "times of the Gentiles" are fulfilled (Luke 21:24) (obviously a long period), will the signs of Luke 21:25ff come, and only after that his second advent.[36]

Not merely in this chapter, but upon other occasions Jesus plainly taught that ages were to pass away before his second coming. Note:

This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world; and then shall the end come (Matthew 24:14).

Now after a long time the lord of those servants cometh (Matthew 25:19).

And this gospel must first be preached to all the nations (Mark 13:10).

Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, that also which this woman hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her (Mark 14:9).

If that servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming ... (Luke 12:45).

It is in the border context of what Jesus here did that one finds the most certain proof of all that Christ envisioned ages, not some short span, as elapsing before the Second Advent. And what did he do?

(1) He combined prophecies of the destruction of Jerusalem in such a manner as to make the first event a type of the latter.

(2) He most circumstantially outlined what would happen before Jerusalem was destroyed, even predicting the martyrdom of some of the Twelve BEFORE that event which took place forty years after he spoke.

(3) By choice of an event forty years in the future, making it a type of his Second Advent, and by the declaration of an interval between them which would allow time for successive "nations," as indicated by the word "times" (plural), to hold dominion over Jerusalem, the Lord made it certain that all future peoples would be able to discern his clear meaning, namely, that ages, not mere years or decades, would pass before his return.

The very obvious truth of all this, however, does not prevent the old satanic lie from being circulated that Jesus himself was deceived in thinking he would return within a few months, or years, after his crucifixion.

It was the divine wisdom of our Lord that led him to meld the prophecies regarding Jerusalem and the Second Coming, providing just enough uncertainty that each generation in turn might suppose the end to be possible in its own day.

Heaven and earth shall pass away ... This is a positive declaration that an end, or termination, shall come to the earth and its environment. "The end of the world" was mentioned in the great commission (Matthew 28:18-20), and an apostle said, "According to his promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness (2 Peter 3:13). (See more on this in my Commentary on Matthew, Matthew 28:18-20.)

My word shall not pass away ... None but God could have such a certainty regarding his word; and the passing ages have only confirmed the superlative truth of this statement. Nineteen centuries and more have gone; and evil men will spend half a lifetime trying to prove one little fragment of the gospels to be false, but such is a hopeless endeavor. The sun, moon, and stars will disappear more quickly than the word of Jesus Christ our Lord.