This Generation

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What Did Jesus Mean by “This Generation”?

Understanding Matthew 24 Through a Preterist Lens

For many believers, Jesus’ words in Matthew 24 have always carried a sense of mystery:
“Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.”
(Matthew 24:34)

Across the centuries, Christians have offered several interpretations. Some push the meaning far into the future, thinking Jesus was speaking of a generation that has not yet arrived. Others view “generation” as referring to an entire race of people. But a growing number of believers take Jesus’ words in their simplest, most natural sense — that He was speaking to the people standing right in front of Him.

This is where the Preterist understanding comes in.

1. What Did “This Generation” Mean in the First Century?

In Scripture, the phrase “this generation” is used consistently.
It always refers to the people living at that time — the current, living generation.

Jesus used the same phrase many times:

  • “This generation seeks a sign…”

  • “How will you escape the judgment of hell?”

  • “All these things will come upon this generation.”

In each case, He was addressing His own audience — the leaders, the crowds, the disciples, the people of first-century Judea. There is no hint that He suddenly changed the meaning in Matthew 24.

If the phrase always meant the people alive right then, it makes sense to read Matthew 24 the same way.

2. What Events Was Jesus Talking About?

A Preterist reading sees Matthew 24 as Jesus preparing His disciples for the catastrophic events leading to the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70, including:

  • Wars and political turmoil

  • False messiahs and false prophets

  • The persecution of believers

  • The “great tribulation”

  • The fall of the Temple and the end of the old covenant system

The disciples asked two questions:

  1. “When will these things happen?” (the destruction of the Temple)

  2. “What will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?”

Jesus answered both questions together because they were connected.
The “coming” He spoke of was not the end of the physical world but the coming in judgment against Jerusalem, just as the Old Testament described Yahweh “coming” in judgment on nations through historical events (Isaiah 19:1; Micah 1:3–4).

3. Why Would These Events Happen in “This Generation”?

The prophets had warned Israel for centuries. Jesus Himself confronted the religious leaders of His day for rejecting God’s message, persecuting the prophets, and resisting the Messiah.

He said:

“All the righteous blood… will come upon this generation.”
(Matthew 23:36)

This was not spoken to a future group far removed from the first century — it was said to the scribes, Pharisees, and crowds right there, in real time.

Forty years later, just as Jesus declared, Jerusalem was destroyed by Rome, ending the age of the Law and fulfilling His prophecy.

4. Why This Matters Today

Seeing Matthew 24 through a Preterist lens does not belittle Jesus’ words — it strengthens them.
It shows:

  • He was a true prophet.

  • His warnings came to pass exactly as He said.

  • God was faithful to His promises and judgments.

Understanding “this generation” as the first-century audience helps us see the reliability of Scripture and the unfolding of God’s plan in history.

It also frees modern Christians from fear-based prophecy teaching and helps us focus on living out the gospel in the present age rather than constantly expecting a looming global catastrophe.

5. Final Thoughts

The Preterist view is not about denying future hope.
It’s about taking Jesus seriously when He said His words would be fulfilled within the generation that heard them.

He spoke truth.
History confirms it.
Scripture supports it.
And believers today can find incredible peace when they see that God’s promises were never broken — they were fulfilled.our text here...