The explanations provided in the previous chapter fail to adequately excuse Jesus’ promise to return in his generation. However, let us consider the possibility that Jesus did indeed communicate his intention to return within his generation.
It is important to note that Jesus emphasized his promise with utmost certainty, indicating his desire for it to be clearly understood and trusted. His words, “I tell you in solemn truth that the present generation will certainly not pass away” were chosen deliberately to leave no room for ambiguity.
Throughout his ministry, Jesus consistently sought to ensure that his disciples understood his teachings. He would explain parables to them (Luke 8:10) and promised them the guidance of the Holy Spirit to lead them into all truth, especially concerning future events.
John 16:13 (WNT) But when He has come–the Spirit of Truth–He will guide you into all the truth. For He will not speak as Himself originating what He says, but all that He hears He will speak, and He will make known the future to you.
Jesus took active measures to address any potential misunderstandings and clarify his message. By examining how the disciples understood Jesus, we gain insight into how Jesus intended to convey himself.
What the Disciples Thought
After Jesus rose to heaven, the disciples wrote to the first century believers. They explicitly and repeatedly told Christians that his coming was near because they heard Jesus say precisely this. The following are some of the many scriptures written to the first century church, substantiating the promise of a soon return of Jesus.
Acts 2:15-17 (WNT) For this is not intoxication, as you suppose, it being only the third hour of the day. 16 But that which was predicted through the Prophet Joel has happened:
17 “And it shall come to pass in the last days, God says, that I will pour out My Spirit upon all mankind; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall have dreams;
Acts 17:31 (BLB) because He set a day in which He is about to judge the world in righteousness…
Acts 24:15 (BLB) there is about to be a resurrection, both of the just and of the unjust.
Acts 24:25 (WNT) But when he dealt with the subjects of justice, self-control, and the judgement which was soon to come
Romans 4:23-24 (BLB) Now it was not written on account of [Abraham] alone that “it was credited to him,” 24 but also on account of us, to whom it is about to be credited
Romans 8:13 (BSB) For if you live according to flesh, you are about to die
Romans 8:18 (YLT) For I reckon that the sufferings of the present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory about to be revealed in us;
Romans 9:28 (BLB) For the Lord will perform the sentence He is concluding and bringing swiftly upon the earth.”
Romans 13:11-12 (BSB) The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day has drawn near.
Romans 16:20 (BSB) The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.
1 Corinthians 7:29 (BLB) Now I say this, brothers: The season is shortened;
1 Corinthians 7:31 (BLB) For the present form of this world is passing away.
1 Corinthians 10:11 (WEB) Now all these things happened to them by way of example, and they were written for our admonition, on whom the ends of the ages have come.
1 Corinthians 15:51-52 (WEB) We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed.
1 Corinthians 16:22 (BLB) “Maranatha!” [The Lord comes!]
Ephesians 1:21 (DBH) Far above every Rule and Authority and Power and Lordship, and every name being named not only in this age, but in that about to come;
Philippians 4:5 (WEB) The Lord is at hand.
Colossians 1:23 (BSB) the hope of the gospel you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven (Compare Matthew 24:14; Romans 10:18; 16:26; Colossians 1:5-6; 2 Timothy 4:17; Revelation 14:6-7; cf. 1 Clement 5,7)
Colossians 2:17 (Julia Smith Translation) Which are a shadow of things about to be; and the body of Christ.
1 Thessalonians 4:15,17; 5:4 (BSB) …we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord… …we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air… …But you, brothers, are not in the darkness so that this day should overtake you like a thief.
1 Thessalonians 5:23 (BLB) may your entire spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Thessalonians 1:6-7 (BSB) After all, it is only right for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, 7and to grant relief to you who are oppressed and to us as well. This will take place when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels…
1 Timothy 4:8 (JST) devotion …having promise of life now, and that about to be.
1 Timothy 6:14 (BSB) Keep this commandment without stain or reproach until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ,
1 Timothy 6:19 (WEB, with insert) laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time [about (mellon)] to come, that they may lay hold of eternal life.
2 Timothy 3:1-2,5-6,8-9 (BSB) In the last days terrible times will come. 2 For men will be lovers of themselves… Turn away from such as these! They are the kind who worm their way into households and captivate vulnerable women… these men oppose the truth… But they will not advance much further. For just like Jannes and Jambres, their folly will be plain to everyone.
2 Timothy 4:1 (YLT) I do fully testify, then, before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who is about to judge living and dead at his manifestation and his reign
Hebrews 1:1-2 (BSB) But in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things…
Hebrews 1:14 (BLB) Are they not all ministering spirits, being sent forth for service for the sake of those being about to inherit salvation?
Hebrews 2:5 (JST) For not to the angels has he subjected the habitable globe about to be, of which we speak.
Hebrews 6:5 (JST) And tasted of the good word of God, and powers of the life about to be
Hebrews 6:7-8 (BLB) For land having drunk in the rain coming often upon it and producing vegetation useful for those for the sake of whom also it is tilled, partakes of blessing from God. But that bringing forth thorns and thistles is worthless and near to a curse, of which the end is unto burning.
Hebrews 8:13 (BSB) By speaking of a new covenant, He has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear.
Hebrews 9:8-10 (BLB, with insertion) By this the Holy Spirit was signifying that the way into the [heavenly] holy places has not yet been made manifest, the first tabernacle still having a standing, 9 which is a symbol for the present time, in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered, not being able to make perfect in regard to conscience the one worshiping, 10consisting only in foods and drinks and various washings—ordinances of the flesh being imposed until the time of reformation. (Compare Galatians 4:19; Ephesians 2:21-22; 3:17; 4:13)
Hebrews 9:26 (BSB) But now He has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of Himself.
Hebrews 10:1 (JST) the law having a shadow of good things about to be
Hebrews 10:25 (BLB) …as you see the Day drawing near.
Hebrews 10:27 (BLB) …and fury of fire being about to devour the adversaries.
Hebrews 10:37 (DBH) For “In just a very little while, he who is coming will come, and will not delay
Hebrews 13:14 (DBH) For here we have no abiding city, but instead seek the one about to come.
James 2:12 (BLB) So speak and so act as being about to be judged by the Law of freedom.
James 5:1,3 (BLB) Come now, you rich, weep, wailing over the miseries that are coming upon you… You have treasured up in the last days.
James 5:7-8 (BSB) Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. You, too, be patient and strengthen your hearts, because the Lord’s coming is near.
1 Peter 1:5 (WNT) whom God in His power is guarding through faith for a salvation that even now stands ready for unveiling at the End of the Age.
1 Peter 1:20 (WEB) who was foreknown indeed before the foundation of the world, but was revealed in this last age for your sake,
1 Peter 4:5,7 (WEB) They will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead… But the end of all things is near. Therefore be of sound mind, self-controlled, and sober in prayer.
1 Peter 4:17 (WNT) For the time has come for judgement to begin
1 Peter 5:1 (WNT) I who am their fellow Elder and have been an eye-witness of the sufferings of the Christ, and am also a sharer in the glory which is soon to be revealed.
2 Peter 1:19 (BSB) We also have the word of the prophets as confirmed beyond doubt. And you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
2 Peter 2:3 (BSB) Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.
2 Peter 3:3,5 (BSB) in the last days scoffers will come… But they deliberately overlook the fact
2 Peter 3:10-12 (BSB) But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar, the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and its works will be laid bare. 11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to conduct yourselves in holiness and godliness 12 as you anticipate and hasten the coming of the day of God, when the heavens will be destroyed by fire and the elements will melt in the heat.
1 John 2:8 (BSB) For the darkness is fading and the true light is already shining.
1 John 2:17 (BLB) And the world is passing away, and its desire; but the one doing the will of God abides to the age.
1 John 2:18 (BSB) Children, it is the last hour; and just as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have appeared. This is how we know it is the last hour. (Compare Matthew 24:23-34)
1 John 4:3 (BLB) and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not of God, and this is that of the antichrist, which you heard that is coming, and now is already in the world. (Compare 2 Thessalonians 2:7)
Jude 1:4,14-15 (BSB) For certain men have crept in among you unnoticed—ungodly ones who were designated long ago for condemnation…. Enoch, the seventh from Adam, also prophesied about them: “Behold, the Lord is coming with myriads of His holy ones 15 to execute judgment on everyone, and to convict all the ungodly
Jude 1:16-19 (BSB) These men are discontented grumblers, following after their own lusts; their mouths spew arrogance; they flatter others for their own advantage.
17 But you, beloved, remember what was foretold by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ 18 when they said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow after their own ungodly desires.” 19 These are the ones who cause divisions, who are worldly and devoid of the Spirit.
Revelation 1:1 (BSB) …which God gave Him to show His servants what must soon come to pass.
Revelation 1:3 (BSB) …because the time is near.
Revelation 2:25 (BSB) Nevertheless, hold fast to what you have until I come.
Revelation 3:10 (BLB) I also will keep you out of the hour of the trial being about to come upon the whole inhabited world, to try those dwelling upon the earth.
Revelation 3:11 (BLB) I am coming quickly. Hold fast to what you have, so that no one may take your crown.
Revelation 12:5 (BLB) And she brought forth a male son, who is about to shepherd all the nations with a rod of iron
Revelation 18:24 (WEB) In her [the Great City Babylon] was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all who have been slain on the earth” (Compare Matthew 23:35-36; Luke 11:50-51).
Revelation 22:6 (BSB) Then the angel said to me, “These words are faithful and true. The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent His angel to show His servants what must soon take place.”
Revelation 22:7 (BSB) Behold, I am coming soon.
Revelation 22:10 (BSB) Do not seal up the words of prophecy in this book, because the time is near. (Compare Daniel 8:26)
Revelation 22:12 (BSB) Behold, I am coming soon
Revelation 22:20 (WNT) “He who solemnly declares all this says, “‘Yes, I am coming quickly.'”
The argument that something allusive was meant by their words “near,” “about to come,” “have come,” “will not delay,” “is at hand,” “is the last hour,” and “the time is near” does not make good sense. By their actions, the disciples proved they expected his soon return.
Actions Speak
The disciples acted in a way that showed they expected the return of Jesus in their lifetime.
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They did not get drunk because they did not want to be caught off guard by Christ’s arrival (1 Thessalonians 5:1-8).
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They would meet together more and more frequently as they saw the day approaching (Hebrews 10:25).
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They commanded Christians to be prepared for swift action (1 Peter 1:13).
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They encouraged those afflicted that Jesus would return and give them relief from their persecutors (2 Thessalonians 1:6-7).
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They did not make long-term investments in the world because they expected its current form to end soon (1 Corinthians 7:29-31).
1 Corinthians 7:29-31 (BSB) What I am saying, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none; 30 those who weep, as if they did not; those who are joyful, as if they were not; those who make a purchase, as if they had nothing; 31 and those who use the things of this world, as if not dependent on them. For this world in its present form is passing away.
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They avoided marriage to live more comfortably with the end coming (1 Corinthians 7:26).
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They avoided taking the rich to court for their crimes since they would soon receive justice from God (James 5:9).
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As their generation was about to expire, there was concern that Christ’s coming appeared to be delayed (2 Peter 3:4,8-9). The early Christians would not be concerned about a delay if they did not expect his return in their generation.
As shown, the disciples did not merely say Jesus was going to return soon; they acted in the belief that they were about to experience his arrival.
The disciples’ understanding of Jesus’ words, as demonstrated by their words and actions, supports the belief that Jesus meant his return to occur within their generation. Jesus did not intend for his disciples to misunderstand him and even provided the Holy Spirit to reveal future events to them.
This clear alignment between Jesus’ words, the Holy Spirit, the disciples’ understanding, and their actions leaves little doubt that the promise of His return within their generation was not a misinterpretation but rather an expectation deeply rooted in His teachings and affirmed by the urgency of their lives.