“This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled”

A study with Matthew 24 Part 5 Verses 32-43

[Study Aired January 13, 2020]

Mat 24:32  Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: 
Mat 24:33  So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. 
Mat 24:34  Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. 
Mat 24:35  Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. 
Mat 24:36  But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. 
Mat 24:37  But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 
Mat 24:38  For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, 
Mat 24:39  And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 
Mat 24:40  Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 
Mat 24:41  Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 
Mat 24:42  Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. [Mat 24:36] 
Mat 24:43  But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. [Rev 16:15]

This section of Matthew chapter 24, along with every other section of this prophecy, is telling us what is happening to this generation that shall not pass until all these things are fulfilled, said this way: “Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.”

The “This generation” is speaking of those who are predestined to be judged first in this life (1Pe 4:17, Eph 1:12 , Joh 15:16, Rom 8:28-30), and that judgment is expressed through parables that hide Gods purpose and meaning from those who are not meant to understand these things that are hidden from the world at this time by God’s design (Mat 13:10-11).

1Pe 4:17  For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 

Eph 1:12  That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

Joh 15:16  Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. 

Rom 8:28  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 
Rom 8:29  For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. [1Jn 4:17, Eph 1:4]
Rom 8:30  Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. 

Mat 13:10  And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? 
Mat 13:11  He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. [Psa 8:4 , Luk 19:44]

We can rejoice in knowing that Christ is associating “This generation that shall not pass” to a fig tree and his branch that is yet tender and putting forth leaves (Mat 24:32), making the point clear that this is an event happening to a small elect group who have been called to this blessing (Luk 12:32). The next comparative parable starting in verse 37 (Mat 24:37) that demonstrates God is dealing with a little flock at first declares: “But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be“. Then for added confirmation this is talking about believing and blinded Christians, two women grinding at the mill are spoken of starting in verse 40 (Mat 24:40), one is taken the other is left; meaning one is caught unawares, that being the one who is taken, and the other being left representing the small remnant whom God has blessed and given eyes to see and ears to hear how this generation is to keep the sayings of this prophecy in every age, so that we are always ready and about our Father’s business as Christ was (1Th 5:4).

(The world is seeking Christ with blind hearts (2Ti 3:7) not knowing that He is found and understood by being about our Father’s business (Luk 2:49), a business that can only be accomplished within those who have God’s holy spirit within them (Rom 8:9) as Christ accomplishes that work within us both to will and to do of His good pleasure (Php 2:13). That is why we are able to read, hear and keep the sayings of the prophecy today in this generation (Rev 1:3), with eyes that God has mercifully enlightened to see the truth (Mat 13:11).

2Ti 3:7  Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 

Luk 2:49  And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business? 

Rev 1:3  Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. [“my Father’s business“]

Mat 13:11  He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. 

We are told to “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come” of Matthew 24:42, a verse that corresponds with Matthew 24:36). We are told to “know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up” in Matthew 24:43, a verse that corresponds with Revelation 16:15.

Mat 24:36  But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. 

Rev 16:15  Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. 

Let’s now look at this second-to-last section of verses of this chapter of Matthew 24 keeping in mind, “This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.”

Mat 24:32  Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: 
Mat 24:33  So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. [Hab 2:2-4]

The “yet tender” and “putteth forth leaves” time of this fig tree’s growth tells us “that summer is nigh“, and this parable as we will see is connected to the generation that “shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled“. The growth of that fig tree is given to those who are of that generation who are having their faith tried in the fire so that they can grow and go unto maturity in the Lord.

When we know that we are in sinful flesh (Psa 51:5), we will want to cover ourselves by dying daily (Rev 16:15 , 1Co 15:31), and when we understand the need for the sacrifice of Christ in our lives, for the need for a physician to heal us spiritually (Mar 2:17, Joh 9:39) “when ye shall see all these things“, it will be with the mindset that we will see the need to purchase gold tried in the fire so we can have eyes that see and ears that hear (Rev 3:18). It is when we are assured “that it is near, even at the doors“(Rom 8:16), meaning Christ our hope of glory is within (Col 1:27, 1Jn 4:2) and the holy spirit is working in us (Php 2:13), that we can fill up what is behind of His afflictions for his body’s sake which is the church, through this process of being spiritually healed by Christ’s word (Col 1:24 , Joh 17:17).

Adam and Eve covered themselves with the leaves of a “fig tree” that is symbolic of their own works of discerning good and evil without the burnt offering of Christ, symbolized by the skin of the lamb that was given to them for a covering (Gen 3:7 , Gen 3:21). 

The “fig tree” can be symbolic of both Israel of old (2Ki 18:31, Psa 105:33, Isa 36:16, Jer 5:17, Hos 9:10, Amo 4:9), and as it is in this parable, the “fig tree” (Mat 24:32) representing the new man in Christ, “the Israel of God” (Luk 13:6-9, Gal 6:16) who is covered by works of righteousness that are now attributed solely to Christ as he or she knows “that summer is nigh” and have been blessed to pray that their flight is not in the winter or during the sabbath where symbolically we are being told no spiritual work can be accomplished (Mat 24:20). Because we can see all these things for what these parables mean we can “know that it is near, even at the doors“. What is near? “That summer is nigh“, and that summer represents the life of Christ within us that can bring forth that growth, that tender branch that brings forth leaves for the healing of the nations within me today (Rev 22:2).

Mat 24:34  Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. 
Mat 24:35  Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

“All these things” must be fulfilled in this generation with which Christ is working, and what must be fulfilled is the tearing down of the old temple within us (Mat 24:2) and the building up of the new temple that can only occur by being given a new heaven and a new earth (Rev 21:1) which replaces the old heaven and earth that “shall pass away“. It passes away by the new creation being formed through the keeping of the sayings of the prophesy (Rev 1:3), which statement reveals the process of judgment that comes about that tears down the old temple, through reading, hearing, (Mat 13:16) and keeping (Joh 8:31-32) the saying of Christ, the words that “shall not pass away“. 

“Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away” is just another way of showing us that “the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it” through His eternal words which will not pass away (Joh 6:68).

Mat 24:36  But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. 
Mat 24:37  But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 
Mat 24:38  For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, 
Mat 24:39  And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

Very specifically, Christ tells us of His return, both inwardly and dispensationally, “Of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels^G32 of heaven, but my Father only.” 

Inwardly we know God is the one who gives the increase (1Co 3:6) which comes at a time He has predetermined for us (1Pe 1:20, Eph 1:4, Eph 2:10), and so we are warned not to be presumptuous in regard to our labour in the Lord where we journey to a far city, Jerusalem above (Eph 2:6), and labour together for the meat that shall not perish (Joh 6:27), experiencing growth that comes about through Christ working in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure of watering and planting, which all precedes the increase given from our Father in heaven (Jas 4:13-15).

Right after Christ declares “that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only“, He continues on with this parable pointing to the building of the ark which is the symbolic event of old representing how we must be working out our own salvation today, knowing that it is Christ who is working this work within us, even as we move with fear to the saving of our own and others’ spiritual houses (Heb 11:7, 2Pe 1:1)

Php 2:12  Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 
Php 2:13  For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Heb 11:7  By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. [Psa 40:10, Isa 56:1, Rom 10:10]

2Pe 1:1  Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: 

We were all “eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark“, which is a reminder that Noe, who represents Christ, has entered into our temple, represented by “the ark“. When this initially happened, we “knew not until the flood came, and took them (us) all away“, which is what God’s word does to the many beasts within us that need to be brought into subjection two by two by the grace and faith of Christ (Gen 7:9 , Eph 2:8). 

The flood that represents Christ’s words coming into our life systematically takes away all the false doctrines within God’s elect as we are baptized with the fire of His word that cleanses and sanctifies us in this age (Joh 17:17). That word is sweet in our mouth but bitter in our belly (Rom 6:3 , Rev 10:9, Eze 3:3). The world is not experiencing this fiery baptism by God’s word today [the bitter in the belly part] but will experience the water baptism of John during the rule and reign of Christ, and then the spiritual baptism of fire in the lake of fire at the end of the age where the rest of the world will learn it is a bitter thing “that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts”  (Mat 3:11, Rev 19:20 , Jer 2:19). We are admonished therefore in Revelation 2:24-25) to hold fast to God’s word until He comes.

Rev 2:24  But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden. 
Rev 2:25  But that which ye have already hold fast till I come. 

Mat 24:40  Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 
Mat 24:41  Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 

The elect of God and those who say they are spiritual Jews and are not (Rev 3:9) are represented by these two groups mentioned in this verses that simply tell us: “then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left“. 

That “synagogue of Satan” of (Rev 3:9) is initially within us and can only be destroyed by the brightness of Christ coming into our lives (2Th 2:8) so that we are not taken or “tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive” (Eph 4:14).

“Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left” reminds us that while we are “in the field“, which  represents the world (Mat 13:38), a work is being accomplished by God “grinding at the mill” within two folds, one that God has predestined to “be taken” [Joh 10:16] and “the other left“[Luk 12:32].

Joh 10:16  And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

Luk 12:32  Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 

Mat 24:42  Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. [Mat 24:36]
Mat 24:43  But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. [Rev 16:15]

Mat 24:36  But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. 

Rev 16:15  Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. 

These last two verses of our study tonight focus on the urgency of staying spiritually awake and praying always that we may be counted worthy to escape those things that are going to come upon the earth (Luk 21:36, Hab 2:2-4).

Luk 21:36  Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. 

The angels^G32 or ‘messengers’ of God “know not what hour your Lord doth come“, as it is declared in Matthew 24:36.

Mat 24:36  But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels^G32 of heaven, but my Father only. 

The lesson of urgency cannot be any brighter than it is in this last verse of our study tonight: “But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up“. The confirming words of this scripture in the book of Revelation tells us the same thing (Rev 16:15) and describes that generation that “shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled“.

Rev 16:15  Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. 

The “goodman of the house” is none other than Jesus Christ, our hope of glory within, who is the author and finisher of our faith (Php 1:6, Heb 10:35 , Heb 11:26), who knows how to bind all the powers and principalities within us “except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house” (Mar 3:27), so that we can and will overcome through him (Mar 3:27 , Eph 6:12, Eph 1:21). He is the reason we can be more than conquerors and be convinced we are truly “This generation [that] shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled“.

Php 1:6  Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: 

Heb 10:35  Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. 
Heb 10:36  For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. 
Heb 10:37  For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.

Heb 11:26  Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. 

Mar 3:27  No man can enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house.

Eph 6:12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 

Eph 1:21  Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
Eph 1:22  And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 
Eph 1:23  Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.