TELL AND SHOW
WHICH GENERATION?
Yeshua mentions a generation in His parable of the fig tree in His Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24:32-35 (NKJV) “”Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. 33So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near–at the doors! 34Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. 35Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.” This passage of Scripture begs the question, which generation is Yeshua talking about?
All students of the Scriptures know that the fig tree is the Hebrew nation of Israel. The branch of course is the tribe of Judah, those who moved back to Israel and declared and fought for her independence in 1948 CE. Israel was tender then, and was tender for many years. She was still tender during the Suez Canal War in 1956. Israel did not begin to expand and put forth leaves until the Six Day War of 1967. From that summer forward, Israel had a little real estate breathing room. Of course, the stupid leadership of Israel immediately began to give their recently conquered land back to her enemies. Israel was not quite as tender in 1973 during the Yom Kippur War. She could have easily conquered Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan. She should have.
If a generation is only about 40 years in length, was Yeshua talking about the generation that saw Israel become a new nation? Apparently not, we are 64+ years past that generations’ time. But that generation, our parent’s and grandparent’s generation, had an obligation to recognize the prophetic significance of Israel becoming a nation again, the first in human history to ever do that. That generation had an obligation to tell us, the last generation on earth as we know it. Psalm 48 correlates to 1948 CE. Read what it has to say on this matter. Read the whole Psalm, but here’s the verses we want to notice today: Psalm 48:11-13 (NKJV) “Let Mount Zion rejoice, Let the daughters of Judah be glad, Because of Your judgments. 12Walk about Zion, And go all around her. Count her towers; 13Mark well her bulwarks; Consider her palaces; That you may tell it to the generation following.” Look at that word “following”. It has a powerful meaning for us today. It is Strong’s number 314, acharon, and means: hinder; generically late or last; specifically (as facing the east) western. Do you see it? Did you catch that? Our parent’s and grandparent’s generation was supposed to notice the prophetic significance of Israel becoming a nation again, SO THEY COULD TELL IT TO US, THE LAST WESTERN GENERATION ON PLANET EARTH!! I believe some of that generation did fulfill their duty to us. Are we responding properly to this revelation? That’s debatable. So, if 1948 was not the correct generaton, which one was it?
Was Yeshua talking about the generation that saw Israel expand its borders in 1967? That was the first time Israel really put forth leaves, by a rapid expansion of her borders in just six days of war. But that can’t be the starting marker for “this generation”, because we’re already about 46 years past that event. That generation (I’m included in that generation.) also saw the Yom Kippur War in 1973. These were marvelous events in Israel’s modern history, but were they the leafy fig tree events that Yeshua was concerned about? I don’t believe so.
Most all of us prophecy and Bible students have overlooked the major event in Israel’s modern history that introduced “this generation”. When did summer draw nigh unto modern Israel? Well, does anyone recall 1978, when President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt flew unannounced into Israel, at great risk of being shot down, and offered the government of Israel terms of peace? Do you remember the 1978 Camp David Accords, and the Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty that was finally signed on March 26, 1979? Israel and the Middle East enjoyed relative peace for about 30 years, until the Arab uprisings began in 2011. Are you tracking with me now? Do you see where we’re headed with Yeshua’s prophecies in Matthew 24?
Psalm 78 correlates to 1978 CE. Read the whole Psalm, but we want to look at the first seven verses: Psalm 78:1-7 (NKJV) . . . Give ear, O my people, to my law; Incline your ears to the words of my mouth. 2I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old, 3Which we have heard and known, And our fathers have told us [Remember the 1948 generation?]. 4We will not hide them from their children, Telling to the generation to come the praises of Yahweh, And His strength and His wonderful works that He has done. 5For He established a testimony in Jacob, And appointed a law in Israel, Which He commanded our fathers, That they should make them known to their children; 6That the generation to come might know them, The children who would be born [Our children], That they may arise and declare them to their children [Our grandchildren], 7That they may set their hope in Yahweh, And not forget the works of Yahweh, but keep His commandments.” Well, you see where I’m going now, don’t you? Look at that GENERATION TO COME! It’s the SAME HEBREW WORD acharon, THE LAST WESTERN GENERATION!!
Children and grandchildren, you’d better be jumping up and down praising Yahweh right now. This is it, we’re it, we’re the last western generation on earth as we know it! Praise Yahweh, bless Yeshua! Yahweh is working out world events, through Israel specifically, to arrange for Yeshua’s return to earth. I hope you’re all getting ready to meet your Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ, Yeshua HaMashiach! Yeshua is coming back soon. Prepare your hearts, minds, and spirits through praise and worship. Yahweh has not forgotten us and is faithful to fulfill ALL HIS PROMISE PROPHECIES!
If you know anything about the migrations of the lost 10 tribes of Israel, you know they migrated to and settled in Europe, Great Britain, and the Americas. WE’RE IT! We are the last western generation that Yeshua prophesied about and TO in Matthew 24:34. Whether or not we are raptured/resurrected before, during, or after the Tribulation, matters not at all. Whether or not we’re martyred before, during, or after the Tribulation, matters not at all! If we are about 35 years into “this generation”, then SOON, WE WILL BE WITH YESHUA FOR ALL ETERNITY!! That matters to us all. How did Paul say it? 2 Corinthians 5:7-8 (NKJV) “For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with Yahweh.” Encourage yourself in the Lord. Yahweh is about to come through on His personal guarantee. Read all about it in 2 Corinthians 5.
Special thanks to Pastor F.M. Riley for opening up the mystery of “this generation”.
Gene Benjamin II
January 17, 2013 CE