There are over 100 verses throughout the New Testament confirming that Jesus would return within the generation / lifetimes of the people He spoke directly to during His ministry in the 1st century.
Once one becomes aware of them they stand out like a beacon on the pages, and one’s left wondering how they ever missed them and now that one sees them, they can’t be ignored. Here are some of the main verses below.
Some of the key words have been capitalized for extra emphasis, to draw attention to what was being said and note all the personal pronouns as well, because Jesus was talking directly to the REAL PEOPLE standing right in front of Him, telling THEM what was coming in THEIR lifetimes, as likewise the apostles did in their letters.
- Matthew 10:23: "But when they persecute YOU in this city, flee YE into another: for verily I say unto YOU, YE shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, TILL THE SON OF MAN BE COME."
- Matthew 16:28: "Verily I say unto YOU, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till THEY see the Son of man COMING IN HIS KINGDOM."
- Matthew 24:34: "Verily I say unto YOU, THIS GENERATION shall not pass, till ALL THESE THING.
- Matthew 26:64: *Jesus saith unto HIM, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto YOU, Hereafter shall YE see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and COMING IN THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN."
- Mark 9:1: "And he said unto THEM, Verily I say unto YOU, That there be some of THEM that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till THEY have seen the kingdom of God come with power."
- Mark 13:30: "Verily I say unto YOU, that THIS generation shall not pass, till all these things be done."
- Luke 9:27: "But I tell YOU of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till THEY see the kingdom of God."
- Luke 21:32: "Verily I say unto YOU, THIS GENERATION shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled."
- John 21:22-23: "Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he TARRY TILL I COME, what is that to thee? follow thou me. Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, he shall not die; but, if i will THAT HE TARRY TILL I COME, what is that to thee?"
- Romans 13:11-12: "And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to AWAKE OUT OF SLEEP: for now is OUR salvation nearer than when WE believed.
- 1 Corinthians 7:29: "But this I say, brethren, THE TIME IS SHORT: it remaineth, that both they that Adus wives be as though they had none;"
- 1 Corinthians 10:11: "Now all these things happened unto THEM for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, UPON WHOM the ENDS OF THE WORLD ARE COME."
- Philippians 4:5: "Let your moderation be known unto all men. THE LORD IS AT HAND."
- 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17: "For this we say unto
YOU by the word of the Lord, that WE which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then WE which are ali. and remain shall be caught up together with them in th clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall WE ever be with the Lord."
- 1 Thessalonians 5:23: "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God YOUR whole spiritand soul and body be preserved blameless UNTO THE COMING OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST."
- James 5:8-9: "Be YE also patient; stablish YOUR hearts: for the COMING OF THE LORD DRAWETH NIGH. Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest YE be condemned: behold, the judge STANDETH BEFORE THE DOOR."
- 1 Peter 4:7: "But the END OF ALL THINGS IS AT HAND: be YE therefore sober, and watch unto prayer."
- 1 John 2:18: "Little children, IT IS THE LAST TIME: and as YE have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; WHEREBY WE KNOW THAT IT IS THE LAST TIME."
Hopefully this is starting to paint the picture. Jesus (and the apostles) all said, over and over again, in lots of different kinds of ways, that He (Jesus) was going to return in the generation / lifetimes of the people He was speaking directly to. (In the 1st Century)
The plain reading of Scripture does not in any way imply or suggest that Jesus was talking to our generation in 2025 (or whatever future generation another 2000 years away).Honestly speaking, Would that have made the slightest sense in the context of what was being said? No, it wouldn't.
His closest friends the apostles, and every other believer around at the time ALL believed and preached that Jesus would return within THEIR generation; that's what He and the Holy Spirit had told them. Starts to feel odd that we today, pretend they were talking to us.
This should be enough for all of us who proclaim to be followers of Christ to believe Jesus did what He said He would, Christ is and was not a liar!
The night is far spent, THE DAY IS AT HAND: let US therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let US put on the armour of light."
In Revelation 20 we read that Satan will be allowed to deceive the nations for a little season. It’s okay to research this and seek truth.
“And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, and shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.”
Revelation 20:7-8
There is much to learn and see regarding the Millennial kingdom that took place here on earth. I know this can seem far fetched but like the saying says, “It’s easier to believe a lie than to admit you’ve been lied too.”