Within various religions throughout the world, there are millions of sincere Christians who believe a 'final generation' or 'last generation' will start at the time of Christ's second presence. This question is important to all those who take seriously Jesus' words referring to signs identifying a 'generation period' from the start of his second presence and the end of the age.

"Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of your presence (or coming) and of the conclusion of the world age?” Jesus, after enumerating a list of signs, says "Truly I say to you that this generation will by no means pass away until all these things happen" Mat 24: 3-34.

This period stating from his 'second presence' until the end of the 'world age' would be contained within one generation, during which many identifying events would occur. Two questions can reasonably be asked - how long does this generation last and when does it start?

1) HOW LONG IS A BIBLE GENERATION?

The Greek word genea is translated generation, or age. Its general application in the Bible is 'a time period covered by each successive generation', for example  "all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations" Matthew 1:17 King James Version. One generation would generally be considered the time between the father's birth and the birth of his first son and heir.

A further application of this word genea (generation) as used in the Bible refers to a “race or multitude of contemporary people all living during one definitive period of time”.  It seems to be in this sense that Jesus uses the term generation at Matthew 23:34 and Luke 21:32. The Bible provides internal evidence that helps define the length of this type of generation. 

SCRIPTURAL EXAMPLES OF 'DEFINITIVE' GENERATIONS

1)  The generation that came out of Egypt in the Exodus.

" Yhwh's anger blazed against Israel he made them wander about in the wilderness for 40 years, until all that generation that was doing evil in the eyes of Yhwh came to its end" Numbers 32:13. This generation covered those between the age of  20 and 60, a 40 year period  Numbers 14:29-33.


2)  Jesus' reference to the last Jewish generation in the first century.
 
"All the righteous blood spilled on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar will come on you. Truly I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation" Mat 23:35-36. This 'generation' (or age) ran from 30AD to 70AD when the Roman army destroyed Jerusalem, a 40 year period within which all the events Jesus prophesied for this Jewish generation occurred.

This generation was made responsible for their actions as Jesus, at Matthew 23:36, is referring to the Jewish generation of his day. Jews alive at that time were collectively accountable for their actions.  They had greatly grieved and offended God by their lack of respect for His messenger, rejecting and murdering His anointed king. The nation would answer for their acts, they were given 40 years' notification of its coming end.  Jews old enough to understand what Jesus was saying in April of the year 30, witnessed all the events Jesus predicted. It finished with the end of the Jewish system 40 years later, when the Romans destroyed the temple and Jerusalem in 70 AD and brought an end to the Jewish system, all within a 40 year generation period.

Scriptural evidence supports the simple logic that a contemporary bible generation has a definitive time period of 40 years.  According to Matthew 24:3-34, Jesus also speaks of a future 'generation', a period between his Second Presence (Advent) and the Conclusion of a world age.  All things prophesied to occur between these two events would also be contained within a 40 year generation.

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2)  WHEN DOES THIS FINAL GENERATION START?

New 'wine' information on God's Kingdom timetable is now revealing new light on this generation.  The most important date in all human history is the death of Jesus Christ in the year 33 AD.  On the basis of  Christ's ransom sacrifice, rests the entire schedule of the Kingdom plan.  This date is set at the centre of the plan.  This Kingdom administration has been under construction for almost 4,000 years now.  It commenced when Yhwh started to lay out His timetable by way of a blood lineage that would lead to the all important redeeming ransom sacrifice.

The plan's timetable started in the year 1968 BC when God agreed a contract with Abraham while he was living in Ur in the land of the Chaldeans (Nehemiah 9:7-8).  Abraham agreed to relocate so that his future descendants could be used to create a lineage chain that would stretch 2,000 years (Acts 7:2-5). It was later sealed by circumcision on Abraham's approved descendants.  He was informed that through his blood line a descendant would come who would bring great benefits to all mankind.  After some 40 generations of linking circumcised fathers over a period of 2,000 years, it ended with the arrival of the predicted blood line descendant of Abraham, Jesus Christ.  Two thousand years after the covenant was initiated with Abraham the foretold benefactor, Jesus Christ, would provide the all important ransom sacrifice by his death,  obtaining the promised benefits for all mankind.  This first 2,000 year contract of the plan ended in 33 AD.

ABRAHAM COVENANT 1968BC                                                                                                                                             33AD |_____________________________________________________________________________| |                                                                                                                                                          | |<-------------------  Abraham contract providing a special 2,000 year blood line   ------------------>| of 40 linking generations.

Following his death, Jesus first visible presence ended but was continued with an invisible presence period in association with and support of his anointed brothers, all adopted Sons of God.  "Then Jesus came to them and said, "All power in heaven and on earth is given to me. So go and make followers of all people in the world. Baptize them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach them to obey everything that I have taught you, and I will be with you always, even until the end of this age." Matthew 28:18-20 New Century Version.  During his 'presence' in the first century, the signs Jesus gave, pertinent to the Jewish nation, all took place.  The first century Jewish age ended in 70 AD with Jerusalem's destruction, all within a 40 year generation period.

ABRAHAM COVENANT FOLLOWED BY A UNIQUE GENERATION         1968 BC                                                                                                                                30 AD                                                              70 AD          |                                                                                                                                            |<------------- 40 year generation -------------->|           |______________________________________________________________________|____________________________________|            |                                                                                                                                            |  Jesus 1st  |                                                     |           |                                                                                                                                            |   visible    |<- Jesus 1st invisible presence ->|         |                                                                                                                                            |  presence  |                                                     |                 |                                                                                                                                          30 AD       33 AD                                           70 AD                          |<----------  2,000 year Abraham blood line contract leading to Jesus providing benefits ------------->|

Once Christ's execution had been carried out, the foundation of the Kingdom plan had been laid. The second half of the plan could then be constructed upon it.  A second Kingdom contract was offered by Jesus in 33 AD for the adoption of 144,000  'Sons of God' who would become living stones for building into God's royal administration and temple. This Kingdom contract also lasts for 2,000 years ending in 2033, when all 144,000 Sons of God will have been adopted.

KINGDOM COVENANT    33 AD                                                                                                                                               2033    |_____________________________________________________________________________|    |                                                                                                                                                          |    |<-------------   2,000 year Kingdom contract for the adoption of 144,00 Sons of God   ------------>|

                          

Following a further John the Baptist's six month preparation work, (see John the Baptists Ministry). Jesus in the year 2030 turns his attention to completing the number required to fill the 144,000. The Kingdom covenant comes to its end after 2,000 years in the year 2033. Just prior to its end Jesus' prophesied second presence (advent) starts and a second harvest of anointed brothers completes the required 144,000 number, see The Early and Late Rain James 5:9.  This Second Presence period will again last until the end of an 'age' in 2070, when Armageddon brings an end to the world systems, which will then be taken over by Kingdom rule, all within a 40 year generation.

KINGDOM COVENANT PLUS A GENERATION 33 AD                                                                                                                                    2030                                                            2070 |                                                                                                                                              |<---------- 40 year generation -------------->| |_______________________________________________________________________|__________________________________ | |                                                                                                                                              |                                                                     | |                                                                                                                                              | < --------  Jesus 2nd presence -------------->| |                                                                                                                                                |              |                                                       | |<-------------  2,000 year  Kingdom contract for the adoption of 144,00 Sons of God ---------------->|                                                      |                                                                                                                                                                 2033                                                2070                                                                                                                                                         2033                                                2070

God's 4,000 year Kingdom timetable is perfectly balanced on the year 33AD.  The first Abraham contract lasted exactly 2,000 years, sign posting a lineage to the ransom sacrifice; 1968BC to 33AD.  Upon this paid ransom, a second 2,000 year Kingdom contract was validated in order to construct an administration within the full limit of the appointed time; between 33 to 2033.

ABRAHAM AND KINGDOM COVENANTS BACK TO BACK         1968 BC                                                                                                33 AD                                                                                                            2033                      |_______________________________________________________|__________________________________________________________|   |                                                                                                              |                                                                                                                    |   |<---- 2,000 year Abraham contract creating a special blood line ---->|<-- 2,000 year Kingdom contract for adoption of 144,00 Sons of God -->|

The year Yhwh set for the death of His son is the central point on which His entire 4,000 year plan hangs.  It is the absolute key date. This second contract, the Kingdom construction contract, is presently still in force and awaiting on its completion of the contractual 144,000 living stones used to build His Kingdom administration.


Jesus first visible presence started in 29/30. His second presence can be expected to start 2,000 years later in 2029/2030, along with the  commencement of the final generation.  For further information on the Bibles timetable of Jesus Second coming (advent or second presence)  and the start of the final generation see: KINGDOM OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHRISTIANS OF ALL DENOMINATIONS