Notice the following in Matthew 24:1-3 -- Jesus is shown the temple buildings and remarks to his disciples, "Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down." Then the disciples came to him privately and asked: "Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?" While some scholars may quibble about "the end of the age," there can be no doubt that the Jerusalem temple is discussed in at least some of Jesus' answers. This being so, the expression "this generation" in verse 34 actually refers to that generation to whom Jesus was speaking. Matthew 23:34-36 also has to be included in the context of this passage:

Matt 23:34 (NKJV) "Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, 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, 35 "that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. 36 "Assuredly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation."

Many do not realize that Jesus is speaking as a prophet and is using prophetical language which is sometimes more emphatic than we are used to hearing and reading. Consider the destruction of Babylon which took place around 500 BC. Isa. 13:9-10

Behold, the day of the Lord comes,

Cruel, with both wrath and fierce anger,

To lay the land desolate;

And He will destroy its sinners from it.

For the stars of heaven and their constellations

Will not give their light;

The sun will be darkened in its going forth,

And the moon will not cause its light to shine.

In Matthew 24 Jesus was talking to his disciples. It was they who would see, they who were being told, and it was their generation. History records the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD as well fitting into the mold of "there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be" Matt. 24:21

This is not the only time Jesus has warned his Jewish brethren and we must remember Jesus was born and died under the Law of Moses. He came to teach "the lost sheep of the house of Israel" (Matt. 15:24)

Matthew 16:27-28 says,

"For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works. 28 "Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom."

The above passage cannot refer to the events in Acts 2 because this is when the kingdom was established. If Jesus was to come in his kingdom, it had to have been after it was established. When this is compared to Jesus' statements in Matthew 24:30-35, a very compelling argument in continuity of teaching emerges which shows Jesus warning his people of the great destruction which is about to come upon them because of their wickedness.

Verse 30 --"Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, 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."

Verse 34 -- ""Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place."

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