Mathew 24: 33, 34 says: "So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place."

What are all the things referred to? They are listed previously in chapter 24

         Mathew 24:5For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am the Christ,'...

         Mathew 24:6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars.

         Mathew 24:7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, >and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.

Have we not already seen the above fulfilled?

        Mathew 24:9 "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake.

        Mathew 24: 15 "So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place ( let the reader understand),>

        Mathew 24:21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. 22And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved.

        Mathew 24:29 "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

Mathew 24:30 Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

Mathew 24:31 And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the close of the age?"

Since this is an answer to a two part question, it is reasonable to assume that all the above will happen prior to Christ second coming to reign on Earth. I believe that Mathew 24:5-7 have been fulfilled. One could suggest that Mathew 24:9 are to take place after the rapture, if one believes in "Pre-Tribulation" rapture.

There appears to be a consensus that Tribulation, the time between the Rapture and Christ second coming to rule the Earth is 7 years.

Assume that the clock started when Israel was formed as a nation (May 15 1948)[Put in your own number] and that a generation today lives 75 years [Put in your own number]. Then Christ will return to rule in 2023. If you use the length of the "Tribulation to be 7 years, Then the "Rapture" can take place as early as 2016. Oh! That is 5 years away. Not necessarily; that is the end of the generation. Christ says it will happen before the generation passes away.

Whenever you want to start the clock take that date and add 75 years (or what you think is the life span) and then subtract 7 years.

What is the basis for starting the clock on May 1948? The events prophesied require Israel to be a nation, to relate conceptually. To God and the prophets, Israel is (and was) the center of the World. Reference is made time and time again to Israel being the Fig Tree. God says I will plant Israel there.

Six times in the Old Testament the fig tree is used as a symbol of Israel (Judges 9:10-14; 1 Kings 4:25; Jeremiah 24:1; Hosea 9:10; Micah 4:4; Zechariah 3:10). The Jewish rabbis and Christ's disciples knew that the fig tree was a symbol of Israel…. (Grant R. Jeffrey, Apocalypse, pages 125-126.)

If you knew it was going to be next month what would you do?

        Lead someone to the Lord

        Tell someone you loved them

        Forgive someone

        Show your Love

        Walk as Christ did in His last days?

So do it now while you still have time.

Two other references: the fig tree to symbolize Israel's religious history. The fig tree is used as a symbol of Israel in both the Old and New Testaments.

If you have comments or questions, contact me

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