What Jesus Really Means by “This Generation Will See the Signs of the End Times”
This is often misunderstood and taken out of context
Jesus said something that many people still talk about today.
He said:
“Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.”
(Matthew 24:34)
It’s a short sentence. But it raises a big question:
What did he mean by “this generation”?
This is one of the big questions I get and the argument is that Jesus is a “False prophet” because he said that and was referring to the generation when he walked the earth (this is not true and I will show you why)
What Was Jesus Talking About?
Before Jesus said that line, he had just described a list of signs.
He said that before the end comes, we would see:
False prophets and teachers
Wars and rumors of wars
Famines and earthquakes
People turning against each other
A time of great suffering
The sun going dark and stars falling from the sky
His return in power and glory
All of this is found in Matthew 24. It’s called the Olivet Discourse.
Jesus was talking about the future—what would happen before the world as we know it ends.
What Does “This Generation” Mean?
This is the part people disagree on.
Some say Jesus was talking about the people alive when he spoke.
But if that’s true, then the events didn’t happen like he said.
Jesus died around 30 A.D.
Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 A.D., which was about 40 years later.
But not all the signs Jesus listed happened then. He talked about things that still haven’t happened.
That’s why many think “this generation” doesn’t mean the people back then.
A More Likely Meaning
Many Bible teachers believe Jesus meant this:
The generation that sees the signs begin will see all of them.
In other words, once the end-time events start, things will move quickly.
That group of people—the one that sees the first signs—will also see the end.
It won’t take hundreds of years. It won’t stretch across many generations.
Think of it like this:
If a tree starts blooming, you know summer is near.
Jesus used that same picture. He said when you see the signs of the fig tree, you know the end is close.
The problem with arguing this the other way is justifying that Jesus was a false prophet and how can he be the Son of God if he is a false prophet. It is important to go back to scripture to get the context as it is written not as we want to think it is trying to say
Why It Matters
This isn’t just about figuring out a timeline.
It’s a warning.
Jesus didn’t give this teaching so people could just debate about it.
He wanted people to wake up.
He wanted them to stay alert.
He said it clearly: be ready.
If the signs are happening, things could move fast.
That means we shouldn’t put off thinking about these things.
If Jesus is right—and we believe he is—then the generation that sees the signs will also see him return.
Are We That Generation?
Some people think we’re already seeing the signs.
They point to global unrest, disasters, and moral confusion.
But we don’t know for sure.
Jesus said no one knows the exact day or hour—not even the angels.
But he did say we should watch.
That means pay attention.
Look at what’s happening in the world.
Compare it with what he said.
And be ready for his return, whenever it is.
Final Thought
Jesus wasn’t trying to scare people.
He was being honest.
He was saying, “These things are going to happen. But I’m telling you so you won’t be surprised.”
And when he said, “This generation will not pass away,”
he meant that once the end-time signs begin, everything will move fast.
So the message is simple:
Be alert.
Don’t ignore the signs.
And stay ready.
That’s what Jesus wanted us to understand.
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Well said! We’re already starting to see some end times