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Additional research of the Greek meaning generation:
"This Generation" and it's Preterits Exegetical Misuse
by Bob DeWaay
Several years ago I published an article about
Matthew 24:34 where I claimed that “this generation”
was a pejorative term about rebellious Jewish leadership.
In today’s article I will support that claim by providing a range of meaning study of the term “generation” (Greek genea) as used in the New Testament. I will show that the term “generation” is most often used in the New Testament in a qualitative (people of the same kind) not quantitat ive (people of the same time) sense. The Greek word for generation is found 37 times in the NewTestament. Only five of these are outside of the gospels and Acts. As with most words, it has a range of meaning depending on its context. When used in the plural, it denotes “succeeding generations of people” whether past or future and is used that
way 8 times in the NT.
Of the 29 other instances of its use, the term clearly means during someone’s lifetime or era — twice ( Acts 8:33 about Messiah and Acts 13:36 about David’s generation). It is the other 27 instances that will be important to help us understand how Matthew used the term in Matthew 24:34
.
This passage is identical in the synoptics: “ Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass a way until all these things take place ” ( Matthew 24:34 Luke 21:32 Mark 13:30 ), all from the Olivet discourse.
The passage in Matthew is most commonly cited by preterists as proof that the prophecies Jesus gave had to have been fulfilled within forty years or a generation of people then living (70 A.D. they say).
Taken that way, the term “generation” is a quantitative time modifier only. I will provide evidence that this interpretation is wrong. Besides these three cases under dispute, there remain 24 other times that genea is used in the New Testament. These will be the key to understanding Matthew 24:34 and the synoptic parallels.
The term genea is used most often in the New Testament in a pejorative sense. In those cases when “generation” is used pejoratively (often with modifiers like “evil, unbelieving, perverse,” etc.) it functions as a qualitative statement about a group of people. Though often, but not always, addressed to people then living, the key idea is the spiritual condition of the people, not the number of their years or the time of their living. The meaning in these cases is “an ethnic group exhibiting cultural similarities —‘people of the same kind.’”
When used this way in the New Testament, the similarities are always bad characteristics. There are some cases where the ideas of “people of the same time” and “people of the same kind” are combined. For example, in Luke 11:29-32 we see a negative characterization of those who demanded a sign: And as the crowds were increasing, He began to say, “This generation is a wicked generation; it seeks for a sign, and yet no sign shall be given to it but the sign of Jonah.
For just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so shall the Son of Man be to this generation.
The Queen of the South shall rise up with the men of this generation at the judgment and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, something greater than Solomon is here. The men of Nineveh shall stand up with this generation at the judgment and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.”
Though clearly referring to those who witnessed Jesus yet did not believe Him, the key idea is their wickedness—not just when they were alive. I say that because “this generation” does not apply to all Jews or all people then living. Some believed; those will not be condemned at the final judgment.
Amazingly, all 24 of the cases of the use of “generation” in the New Testament that do not refer to 230 succeeding generations or obviously to someone’s lifetime, are qualitative or have a strong qualitative component.
In none of these usages does “generation” mean “all people without exception alive at the same time” nor do they mean “all Jews without exception.” The qualitative idea is seen, for example, in this passage: “And his master praised the unrighteous steward because he had acted shrewdly; for the sons of this age are more shrewd in relation to their own kind than the sons of light ” (Luke 16:8 ). The NASB translated “ genea – generation” as “kind.” Paul used the term the same way here: “ that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world ” (Philippians 2:15).
He is discussing a type of person, not a period of history. This passage applies to all Christians throughout church history. When conducting a range of meaning study, as we are here, it is of foremost importance to know how the same author used a term, particularly in the same piece of writing and in similar contexts.
Therefore, how Matthew used genea in passages previous to Matthew 24:34 is the strongest evidence for his meaning there. The first four usages (excluding 1:17 where the plural is used referring to ageneaology) are in Matthew 12:39-45:
But He answered and said to them, “ An evil and adulterous generation craves for a sign; and yet no sign shall be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet; for just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster, so shall the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh shall stand up with this generation at the judgment, and shall condemn it because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. The Queen of the South shall rise up with this generation at the judgment and shall condemn it , because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon ; and behold, something greater than
Solomon is here.
Now when the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places, seeking rest, and does not find it. Then it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came'; and when it comes, it finds it unoccupied, swept, and put in order. Then it goes, and takes along with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first. That is the way it will also be with
this evil generation.”
The qualitative dimension to these usages is undeniable. It was spoken in response to the Pharisees demanding a sign. Its application is not limiting “ generation” to people alive whoever they may be or for however long they may live, but applies to those (like the parallel passage in Luke previously discussed) who refused to believe Christ and remain ed therefore under God’s judgment. The next usage in Matthew is in 16:4: “‘An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign; and a sign will not be given it, except the sign of Jonah.’ And He left them, and went away.”
This is a repetition of the previous condemnation in chapter 12 and also characterizes people by their spiritual qualities not merely when they lived in history (people of the same kind is the more prominent idea, not people of the same time). The sign of Jonah is a reference to the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. That event is the sign that He is the Messiah. This sign applies to every generation, not just to those of the first century. Paul said, “Jews seek for signs” but Paul preached Christ crucified (1Corinthians 1:22, 23 ). The cross of Christ became the definitive sign and those who reject that sign (anytime in church history) come under condemnation .
In Matthew 17:17 we read: “ And Jesus answered and said, ‘O unbelieving and perverted generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him here to Me’ ” This was not spoken directly to the disciples alone, but to the
general unbelief He found in Israel. Some scholars think “unbelieving and perverted” are allusions to Deuteronomy 32:5, 20.
The same Greek word for “perverted” is found in both Matthew and the LXX of Deuteronomy. The allusion to Deuteronomy shows the idea of corporate solidarity. Their unbelief when Jesus was present doing mighty deeds echoes the unbelief of those who were delivered from Egypt by God’s mighty deeds and then grumbled in the wilderness. Moses wrote, “ They have acted corruptly toward Him, They are not His children, because of their defect; But are
a perverse and crooked generation ” (Deuteronomy 32:5 – “generation” is genea in the LXX). Since this was part of Moses’ song it was not just for people then alive but future generations: “ For I know that after my death you will act corrupt ly and turn from the way which I have commanded you; and evil will befall you in the latter days, for you will do that which is evil in the sight of the Lord, provoking Him to anger with the work of your hands” (Deuteronomy 31:9 ). The people in Jesus’ day had the same characteristics as those in Moses’ day and those carried on after Jesus’ ascension just as they did after Moses ’ death. The next usage of genea in Matthew is also in a passage that links current negative qualities to people with similar qualities from other times in Israel’s history:
Therefore, behold, I am sending you prophets and wise men and scribes; some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city, that upon you may fall the guilt of all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. Truly I say to you, all these things shall come
upon this generation .” (Matthew 23:34-36)
This passage is clearly cross generational. It goes from the distant past (Cain’s treatment of Abel) to the future (I am sending . . . you will kill). What characterizes “this generation” in Matthew 23:36 (the closest parallel usage of genea to that in Matthew 24:34
) is not how many years certain people were alive, but their spiritual qualities. Those who rejected Jesus and had Him killed are of the same kind as those who killed the righteous throughout Old Testament history and those who would kill Jesus’ representatives in the future. What all these people have in common is not the era of history they live in, but their negative, spiritual characteristics.
This is a vivid example of the qualitative use of “generation” in Matthew and elsewhere in the New Testament and in the Old as well.
Having seen that throughout Matthew genea is used qualitatively, often in connection with pejorative adjectives, we have established how Matthew used the term within its range of meanings. Let us therefore examine Matthew 24:34 and see if there is reason to believe Matthew suddenly changed his usage. The passage says “ Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass a way until all these things take place .” Which generation? – Those who happened to be alive whoever they might be? The only other time we find that usage of genea in the New Testament is in Acts 8:33 and 13:36 when it is attached to the lives of specifically mentioned persons (Messiah and David). Everywhere else the term “generation” used in the singular it has qualitativ e connotations. Preterits who take this incident in Matthew 24:34 to be ONLY quantitative do so against the contextual evidence in Matthew.
When Jesus wanted to make a time constraint, He said “ some of you standing here will not taste death until . . .” (Matthew 16:28 referring probably to the Mount of Transfiguration ). Eight previous usages in Matthew ALL had qualitative connotations as we have shown. Why would this suddenly change without notice? The answer? It has not.
If we take “this generation” in Matthew 24:34 to mean the same thing it does in Matthew 23:36 and elsewhere—rebellious and unbelieving Jews as epitomized by their leadership, then we can make sense of it in the context of Bible prophecy. Jesus is predicting that the Jewish leadership and most of their followers would remain on the scene of history and remain in their unbelieving condition until the prophecies in Matthew 24:1-33 have come to pass. They will then pass away. How a nd why? Because Messiah will return and bring judgment on the unbelieving, banishing them from His Kingdom and will gather together the believing remnant and “all Israel will be saved.”
Paul made this important statement: “ For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery,lest you be wise in your own estimation, that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fulness of the Gentiles has come in; and thus all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, ‘The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will remove ungodliness from Jacob ’” (Romans 11:25-26 ). The hardening of national Israel, which is what makes t
hem a crooked and unbelieving generation, is partial and temporary. There always has been a believing remnant. Those are not included in “the generation of His wrath” (Jeremiah 7:29). Here is what Jesus predicts:
The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire; in that place there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear (Matthew 13:41-43)
The same “Israel” that is partially hardened now will be “saved” – national, ethnic Israel. When Messiah bodily reigns on the earth it will be over a righteous Israel, not a wicked and perverse generation. Our range of meaning study has concluded that genea is used more often in the New Testament as a qualitative term than a chronologically quantitative one. Our study in particular of the gospel of Matthew shows that Matthew uses it in that way. We have also shown that taking the usage in Matthew 24:34 to be within that same range of meaning makes perfect sense in that context and fits with what we know about Bible prophecy from other passages. Therefore, the typical preterist interpretation is contrived and fails to consider the preponderance of evidence in the New Testament for the meaning of genea in such contexts.
JWsStraightTalk
I would hope that the brothers here take time and read the information below. I think it will only prove once again the WTS did not do their home work, and/or kept with an agenda of promoting their generation instead of the truth. The wheat and the weed are not one generation according to 70 or 80 year period. That statement alone should make a person considered what a generation is? Nor is the body of Christ a generation, put together by human times tables. The body either exist or it does not exist since Christ, it either is one or it divided up into human prophecy during various generation?
Nevertheless, it goes to show, none of us have it correct yet, and if we say we do, than much like the WTS we will find ourselves decieved!
Research the Greek Word Generation:
Meaning of Greek Word Generation Commnents from e-
Jehovah's Witnesses Forum by Member Jahsdisciple; 0
3-20-2010 at 11:27 PM.
Original Greek Meaning of the Word "Generation"
Matt24:34...This Generation will by no means pass a
way.
This expression has been talked about a lot so I de
cided to look at the “Interlinear Bible” and the Strongs Hebrew and Gree
k dictionary in the hope that I might get a better understanding of thi
s sentence...and especially the word “GENERATION”
What was revealed is simply a revelation !
Here is how it reads in the Interlinear Bible. “Tru
ly i say to you,in no way will this generation pass away until all these
things have occurred.”
What was Jesus trying to convey here ? To get the point we have to
look at the context and the meaning of the word 'generation' The root
meaning of generation : Word number 1074..by implic
ation..an AGE.
So what is an “AGE” ? “ Historic period: an era of
history having some
distinctive feature; EG"we live in a litigious age"
There are 2 parts to this.
1/ As this AGE,Its an historic period or ERA
2/ that it would be marked as such as “having some
distinctive features”
The historic period or Age or Era had some distinct
ive features that made it possible to KNOW its was that Historic peri
od mentioned by Jesus.
So,an AGE or ERA can be marked by certain features.
Jesus was saying that the Great tribulation is an AGE or ERA
of history marked by certain events. THE CONTEXT shows that Jesus is
talking about the events of the AGE or ERA of history known as th
e last days.
Verse 34 is surrounded by those events,that as the defini
tion above explains, is marked by some
distinctive feature(s). This is most certainly the case with the Last Days.
ALL the things mentioned surrounding V34 are clear indicators that those living at the
time were IN / experiencing the Last Days.
Whats so special about this comment by Jesus, is th
at he was saying that all the features that would make up that AGE,
would not only identify it as that time...but
also ALL the events would happen. Thats what V34,35 are saying.
V35 “the heaven and the earth will pass away,but my
words will not at all pass away.” Jesus was trying to convey that the AGE or ERA of h
is presence would be marked by certain events. Then to make a p
oint about how ALL the events mentioned (plus the ones to be mentioned later in
Revelation) will come true,he says : ALL the “disti
nctive features that mark the Generation,AGE ,ERA of history to be such.
.. will happen.
PLUS,to then back this thought up,says,”the heaven
and the earth will pass away,but my words will not at all pass away”
ALL the events that would make it “ an era of history having some
distinctive feature “ would all happen. Without them ALL
happening,how can we say that it is a “ an age / er a of history having
some distinctive feature” ? We cant ! So in order for this to be true,ALL
the events Jesus mentions would have to happen.
It cant very well be an “ historic period: an era of history having some
distinctive feature “..if some of the features were missing...then it
wouldn't be that “ historic period: an era of history having some
distinctive feature “..which is why Jesus then says
what he did in V35.
ALL of my words will come true !
If Jesus wanted the expression “generation” to have
another meaning,he would have emphasized it with V35. In V3
5 He was doubly making a point because there was so much to
happen in this period of time. Especially when we consider Revelat
ion was yet to be given. Was Jesus using the word generation / AGE / ERA as
some part of a calculation intended for some future use ? Was he even
hinting as to second meaning of the word 'generation” ? NO. He di
dnt even use a word with any ambiguity. He was saying that the per
iod with all the signs was an historic period: an era of history having some distinctive
feature “..
It was a special AGE / ERA with special features which are mentioned
in the surrounding verses of Matthew 24.. The signs proved the AGE /
ERA was special..Historic..and the AGE that Jesus had spoken about
was upon those living at that time because they could refer to all the
special features happening around them.
Emphasizing a point. In the bible verse numbers are put there to help us
find a spot in scripture. These 2 verses,34,35 are ONE point Jesus
is making. In the first part of his sentence starting V34 he i
s saying that the Age or Era would be significant...because he uses a wor
d that means that. He is saying its filled with Historical events that
mark it as such. The context also proves this AND that the Age or Era wo
uld not pass away till all the things He is speaking about that mark
it as such happen. THEN to back-up this thought, He adds a guarantee i
n V35. That heaven and earth would pass away before any of his
words don't come true about the just mentioned : “Historic peri
od: an era of history having some distinctive feature”
What point was he trying to make ? Its clear !
He wasn't emphasizing anything except what the historic period would
contain....” distinctive features” and that all of them would happen as
he said they would...THUS marking it as an “Historic period: an era of
history having some distinctive feature” Another scriptural example of the term generation being used.
Often to understand the meaning of a word,we can go
to other examples of the very same word being used in anothe
r setting by the same person. This way it becomes clear what its tru
e meaning is. Another use clarifies its intention and why someone
like Jesus would use it. Matt 12:39 “A wicked and adulterous generation,keep
s on seeking for a sign” What was Jesus saying here ? That the people
in general from this AGE or ERA of history were wicked and adulterous in
their attitude.
And in using the term 'generation' he was saying that it was an AGE, “historic period: an era of history having some distinctive feature” and that “distinctive feature” was their wicked and adulterous attitude in wanting more signs without appreciating that the on
es they had already seen were telling them who Jesus truly was.
HE DID NOT MEAN ,that the generation of that time would live for
70,40,20 years and prove they were adulterous. No ! He meant that
the people of that AGE or ERA ..those living at THAT time...were
marked by a“distinctive feature”... that is:being wicked and adulterous.
The generation was any and all who were alive during the 3.5 years of
Jesus ministry... which means the word “generation” is NOT age
specific..it has nothing to do with anyones age.
This supports the Greek meaning which is talking about an historic ti
me period. THOSE LIVING AT THAT TIME no matter what their age
...because they were witnessing the miracles of Jesus and miss
ing the point were wicked and adulterous . Their generation..Historic
AGE..ERA was marked by this one distinctive feature. And, its very interesting that
Jesus miracles were in a very Historic period of 3. 5 years.
The generation, historic AGE / ERA he was speaking about in relation
to being wicked and adulterous, were those in the period of 3.5
years...thats the period the miracles were happening.
So,that Historic AGE / ERA of history covered the time period the
miracles happened...3.5 years. In using this term “generation”..which also means A
GE or ERA of history...,he wasn't asking his readers or listener
s to start guessing how long that wicked and adulterous generation,Historic AGE or ERA
were going to live. OR that it had started at some mathematically
calculated time/starting point. Those of that AGE /ERA were of any
number of years ..20-100 years . THAT ISNT THE POINT !
In saying this “generation”,he was saying :
“
A wicked and adulterous generation,always seeking signs”
“
A wicked and adulterous (historic) AGE,always seeking signs”
“
A wicked and adulterous ( historic ) ERA,always see king signs”
These 3 expressions are the same thing because that s what the word
generation means,implies...Thats its meaning !
He DIDNT say that you had to be of a certain age to be part of the “
wicked and adulterous generation “ If you had the distinctive feature of
being wicked and adulterous you were part of that historic Age or Era marked by the feature of being a wicked and adulterous generation.
Your age had nothing to do with it ! In using the word he used,Jesus showed it was an at
titude that marked you..NOT YOUR AGE !
In using this example of the same word being used in a different context,we
clearly understand what Jesus was getting at. Using a Greek dictionary
also helps us to let go of a single meaning that is an ENGLISH
understanding of the word Generation ,when we need to see Jesus was
saying something totally different by looking at what the Greek word is and
its meaning.
Context and the same word being used in another set
ting is proof of this. In both cases,He was talking about: An historic per
iod: an era of history having some distinctive feature.
A generation / AGE / ERA of history having some dis
tinctive feature.
This period is marked by historic features NOT the
passage of time by a certain group of people of a certain age.
Matt 24:34 This understanding now allows us to see what the ve
rse...what Jesus is getting at.
Interlinear Bible. “Truly i say to you,in no way will this generation pass away
until all these things have occurred.” ...in no way will this historic AGE pass away until
all these things have occurred.” ...in no way will this historic ERA pass away until
all these things have occurred.”
The very things that made this period unique by its
many “distinctive features”, would all come true because its those fe
atures that make it unique. Jesus was in the middle of describing so many uniqu
e things that would mark the “Lords Day” All the signs/events mad
e it an “historic period: an era of history having some distinctive
features” And this would include most things mentioned in Revelation.
ALL these combined make up the total of Jesus presence.
V35 “the heaven and the earth will pass away,but my words will not at all pass
away.” ALL of those words would come true ! ALL of the features would happen !
All together,those signs /events make that generation..”Historic AGE..ERA of history having some distinctive feature ”
NO OTHER time period in History will be marked by such “distinctive
features”..because no other period with all the “distinctive features”
would tell us we are living in the last days...that Jesus would be ruling
in heaven as King of the Kingdom.
What could be a more unique generation,historic age ,era of history
having some “distinctive features”... than those living in those
days,signaling that Jesus is now the enthroned King ? NONE !
This is why 34 and 35 are important in connection with this special
time.
All those of any age living in that historic AGE / ERA would know by the things surrounding them that they are in the last days..AND also that the Generation / AGE / ERA of the last days would come to a completion by all the signs/events happening
in their total . That the new world would come after that. ALL of Jesus words
would be fulfilled including the END of this generation,historic AGE /
ERA of the Last Days.
This is of great comfort to those living in that time. If we were living in such a time,we would be happy when its over...since, unless those days were cut short no flesh would be saved.
Thats not how it is today. But if we found ourselves in such a time,Jesus words telling us that the Great Tribulation was going to have a definite end,that it would be short,helps us to endure. You wouldnt have to concern yourself about your age and how long you were going to live. If you were alive in that AGE / ERA,you could be certain that it was going to be short: Jesus said “Unless those days were cut short”
Jesus Likened this period to a season. No-one wonders if many that saw the start of the season summer, were going to die because of it extended nature. A season is short. Very few people die in Summer because of its duration compared to those that live
to see the end of it.
When you see the signs of summer,you know you are in the season of
summer,because summer doesn't start on one particular day. All the
things that happen in summer happen...and then summer finishes. It
passes. BUT you can be sure that everything that has to happen in
summer WILL happen because thats what happens in Summer. Matt
24:32
And this is exactly what Jesus is saying about the Last Days. He isdescribing an historic AGE or ERA that once you saw the events,you would know you were in it. The events tell you so. Its like a season and you don't wonder if its going to be a long drawn out period. ITS SHORT.
It only gets complicated when we use the word 'generation' in the ENGLISH sense...
and this isn't the word Jesus had in mind..OR EVEN USED !
Researching the meaning shows a totally different idea. The same word used by Jesus in Matt 12:39 proves what the word means and what Jesus intended to say. The ENGLISH meaning of generation is NOT the same as the Greek...and not the word Jesus was using.
Its NOT a life span..its an Historic AGE or ERA of history having some
distinctive features”..and its short .
Those living in that time are witnessing the generation / AGE / ERA of
history ,no matter their age...and all the things Jesus said would
happen in that short period of time would ALL happen because thats
what makes it an “ historic period: an era of history having some
distinctive features”
This period is marked by historic features NOT the passage of time by a certain group of a certain age.
JWsStraightTalk
I would like to state I have no agenda in this subject accept to say without a doubt this subject of this “generation” has mislead millions since Christ.
I think its interesting a number of years ago I read a book from Ray Franz's publishing house by a brother whom associated with Ray in researching various subjects.
He had written an entire book about the signs the WTS uses to promoted the generation that would see the end of this world. In his research in his book, he made a starling comment! The signs during this age/era or generation were the very thing Christ warned his disciples that could mislead them and would mislead many. Whereas the WTS looked constantly to find signs to prove Christ was here!
Now if the information is correct about the age or era not being a generational time frame of 70 or 80 years that would explain why no one has gotten it right in every generation since Christ? Thinking they were that generation, because signs mislead them just as Christ said would happen, which also proves to be another sign that the entire age since Christ has been mislead by these signs.
In other words, the WTS got it exactly backwards, people would read the signs and be mislead by those signs. I can't remember the name of the book, but if a person could find where Ray published his books, I am certain a person could still get it.
Daniel
JWsStraightTalk
Matt.24:32 "Now from the fig tree learn this parable. When its branch has now become tender, and puts forth its leaves, you know that the summer is near. 24:33 Even so you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
24:34 Most certainly I tell you, this generation{The word for "generation" (genea) can also be translated as "race."} will not pass away, until all these things are accomplished. 24:35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
Here are some problems we are faced with. .1) Christ is the new creation the news heavens and earth started with Christ death and resurrection.
God YHWH created all things new “in Christ”. 2.) the old heavens and earth, which were represented by the earthly temple and the law was removed, by Christ death and resurrection. Christ fulfilled the law and put away the sacrifice of the old earthly temple of God's. He started a new creation, a new temple in his body, and its members. Worshiping in Spirit and truth.
The signs also changed, and/or were fulfilled when the new heavens and earth were put over his body members in Christ, which old signs ended in the destruction of God's earthly temple. And 3.) God did not put new wine into old wine skins. This is the reason after Christ none of his apostles spoke of those signs again in any of their writings point specific, verbatim.
We must take the scriptures that the apostles wrote and make them fit into those old signs, that is, the new heavens teaching into the old heavens and its signs fulfilled in Christ. The WTS makes those signs the main event for our day. Yet, the main event for those in the new temple and under the rulership of the new heaven in Christ, with a new covenant, and new law did not. The main event for them was keeping the old covenants and its laws fulfill out of the new creation.
Subsequently, this is why for most people the book of Revelation seems so out of context to all the point specific signs given on earth for the old heavens and earth by Christ. The old signs have without doubt mislead entire nations upon earth when applied to the anointed temple body of Christ.
Once again this is the reason none of us have all the information yet we have a hazes outline that we must apply to signs around us in our time period, which may or may not be accurate? Moreover, false religion is mixing two separate covenants for some two thousand's years just as the WTS has done from its own conception.
We must always remember those signs were not for the world, they were for God's temple on earth, and a remant; the world was affected, caught off guard, like a snare. The same is true of God anointed Spirit temple, we should not let the world drive the temple. The temple is one temple alive in Christ, if its divided it not by YHWH its by men of flesh that see the world as the issues, not the Christ. We are saved in Christ, we do not need signs to be saved in Christ, the flesh is dead in Christ and we are a new creation in a body cherish. Signs, have mislead more people on earth than just about anything else, which is why we were warned by Christ that we could be mislead by signs, we walk by faith, we must be in faith to be in Christ the faithful stward of God where the proper food will be given us by Spirit. Let us not be shaken by a report of some sign given by a prophet, we have recieved an unshakable kingdom, have we not?
Daniel
JWsStraightTalk
Prophecy From Old Wine skins How Sweet the Drunkenness Is!
Luke 5:37 No one puts new wine into old wineskins, or else the new wine will burst the skins, and it will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed. 5:38 But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved.
The strength of a mighty structures is found in the elemental fibers of each stone it is built upon. Many since Christ have tried to mix two elements that cannot be mixed and build a lasting structure for eternal life.
John 6:63 It is the spirit who gives life. The flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and are life.
Romans 2:28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh;
Romans 8:8 Those who are in the flesh can't please God.
God started his structure with new stones, he did not take some of mankind stones, that is, from their fleshly mind, the works created from the fleshly mind and incorporate them into his structures. No! He stated: “I am creating all things new!” He did not state he was making new from the old, he did not state: “ I have taken the wisdom of mankind efforts in finding the truth, and I am building upon it, as my eternal resting place”.
Revelation 21:5 He who sits on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." He said, "Write, for these words of God are faithful and true."
2 Peter 3:13 But, according to his promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.
This thought was highly offense to a very old society, the Jewish system of things with it's illustrious history. Why did God need something new, why not reform the old, is it not good? The key to understanding the truth is found above. One does not put new wine into old wine skins, what will be the outcome? The skins will burst, and the wine ruined. God's new wine from the life of Christ was not going to be put into religion, not even the Jewish religion, why? Because those old heavens and earth could bring nothing to perfection, the power of the laws was not, was not, to perfect the flesh, the flesh was corrupted like leavened bread is with yeast, putting new wine in religion, and/or the power of what the laws formed would ruin both.
John.2:8 He said to them, "Now draw some out, and take it to the ruler of the feast." So they took it. 2:9 When the ruler of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and didn't know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the ruler of the feast called the bridegroom, 2:10 and said to him, "Everyone serves the good wine first, and when the guests have drunk freely, then that which is worse. You have kept the good wine until now!"
1 Corinthians 4:20 For the Kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.
1 Corinthians 15:56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
Hebrews 9:9 which is a symbol of the present age, where gifts and sacrifices are offered that are incapable, concerning the conscience, of making the worshipper perfect;
Hebrews 10:1 For the law, having a shadow of the good to come, not the very image of the things, can never with the same sacrifices year by year, which they offer continually, make perfect those who draw near.
The power of the law was sin, putting new wine from a sinless man into old wine skins created more death, it made nothing new. One does not put fresh water into polluted to clean it. One must purify the polluted water, not add to it with fresh! How was the Jews going to take sin out of what the law created, when the law itself could not do that after two thousand's years?
Blood was needed to make us new, how by redemption from our sins against God's law. The law only created in us more sin by judging us as sinner whom could not keep the law at all!
Rom.7:8 But sin, finding occasion through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of coveting. For apart from the law, sin is dead. 7:9 I was alive apart from the law once, but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.
7:10 The commandment, which was for life, this I found to be for death; 7:11 for sin, finding occasion through the commandment, deceived me, and through it killed me.
7:12 Therefore the law indeed is holy, and the commandment holy, and righteous, and good. 7:13 Did then that which is good become death to me? May it never be! But sin, that it might be shown to be sin, by working death to me through that which is good; that through the commandment sin might become exceeding sinful.
James.3:10 Out of the same mouth comes forth blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. 3:11 Does a spring send out from the same opening fresh and bitter water? 3:12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, yield olives, or a vine figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh water. 3:13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his good conduct that his deeds are done in gentleness of wisdom.
Religion wants to make itself new by using God's word, it takes the judgment from the bible enforces it upon its subjects and creates a better flesh with so called less sin. Then boast in being made new in the reformed flesh, the same is true of every institution that has ever been created by fallen flesh, it makes people new to its rules, but not created new as God requires for everlasting life by his power. Here is the problems the Jews thought God was going to reform their religion and still do, all false religion seeks rival does it not? All governments seek rival, and all commerce seeks rival that is not being made new. No God said he was creating all things new in heaven and upon earth, but how?
Isaiah 48:6 You have heard it; see all this; and you, will you not declare it? I have shown you new things from this time, even hidden things, which you have not known.
Isaiah 62:2 The nations shall see your righteousness, and all kings your glory, and you shall be called by a new name, which the mouth of Yahweh shall name.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new.
God killed the old, he did not reform the old, he created a new man in Christ Jesus a new creation, as “One” not many, not many seeds of religion, not many people, but one person, and all made sinless through his life. His life, is the power of God's kingdom, not the power of religion found upon this earth using some new wine in old wineskin. Here is the logic of the fleshly mind, we had a clean religion that has gotten polluted, God is going to clean the pollution out of our religion and truth will be restored. That is stating God set up an earthly kingdom, by putting his Holy Spirit into a religious government that uses his word to control the power in their peoples flesh, so then God is responsible because men in their fleshly minds placed His name upon their religion to clean it up by taking his Holy Spirit mixing it into corruption to clean up the corruption reforming it to it's prior glory upon earth!
1 Corinthians 6:5 I say this to move you to shame. Isn't there even one wise man among you who would be able to decide between his brothers?
1 Corinthians 5:6 Your boasting is not good. Don't you know that a little yeast leavens the whole lump?
1 Corinthians 10:21 You can't both drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You can't both partake of the table of the Lord, and of the table of demons.
Revelation 18:2 He cried with a mighty voice, saying, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, and she has become a habitation of demons, a prison of every unclean spirit, and a prison of every unclean and hateful bird!
That is a lie! God does not take yeast from this world and incorporate it into his kingdom. God kills the corruption, by the blood of his one seed, in one body, Christ Jesus as incorruptible life that gives life to us, whom are dead in our flesh to God. We are not waiting the truth, we are in the truth, Christ Jesus life (Spirit) or we are dead to God. If we are in Christ we have life, not our life, his life which cannot die, that life is sinless and is the truth.
Romans 8:6 For the mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace;
Romans 8:9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if it is so that the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if any man doesn't have the Spirit of Christ, he is not his.
The concept of saving this flesh, by prophecy is a lie! If your not saved in Christ all the prophecy in the world from polluted false religion cannot save anyone let alone you. The apostasy is teaching life is outside of Christ where God's say it don't exist, where the flesh exist in its own glory of choosing good and evil! The apostasy has been here on earth since Christ left this earth found in mankind flesh that opposes and pollutes God's word, but not God's Holy Spirit because it cannot live lie nor touch any unclean things.
Hebrews 6:18 that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have a strong encouragement, who have fled for refuge to take hold of the hope set before us.
Hebrews 11:6 Without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing to him, for he who comes to God must believe that he exists, and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him.
Galatians 4:29 But as then, he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now.
1 John 4:1 Beloved, don't believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.