By Allan Cornford
Copyright © 2023 Allan Cornford. (Standard Copyright License.) All rights reserved. Independently Published through KDP
When reading the Bible, I’ve long come to the conclusion, that unless the surrounding context dictates otherwise, the simplest understanding of the plain written text, is generally the right one.
Take the term ‘this generation’ for example.
For although I was originally taught that Jesus was referring to a generation in the far distant future, our generation for example, a simple reading of the plain written text, declares otherwise.
Jesus was referring directly to the generation of folks in his presence.
Which is exactly what his disciples believed.
For good old-fashioned common sense alone, should be enough to convince us that the early disciples did not believe that Jesus wasn’t being entirely honest with them, when he used the term, ”this generation”.
Likewise, logic and reason should tell us they did not believe that what Jesus really meant, was folk who wouldn’t be born for at least another two millennia, would be the generation who would see him coming in the clouds.
And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. Mark 13:26
Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done. Mark 13:30
In an attempt to get around this dilemma, the naysayers will turn to the Greek text.
I have even been told that Jesus didn’t tell folks back in the day, that they would see him coming in the clouds at his return.
Because what Jesus really meant was, that folks would see him going up in the clouds at his ascension.
Evidently, or so I was told, it’s a translation issue, for in the Greek language, the word ”coming” really means ”going”.
Hence those darned King James Bible translators, didn’t know whether they were coming or going half of the time, and have much to answer for, wouldn’t you say?’
The Translators of the King James Bible
Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation. Matthew 23:36
That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation; Luke 11:50
Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. Luke 21:32
Jesus was referring to the fulfilment of all the Old Testament prophecy concerning himself, which would include the seventy weeks determined by Daniel, to make an end of sins.[….].and seal up the vision and prophecy.
Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. Daniel 9:24
And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed! Luke 22:22
Who determined this prophecy?
That’s right, it was Daniel.
Hence the seventy weeks have already been fulfilled.
Jesus also told those at the time how the law and the prophets ended with John, after which the gospel of the kingdom of God would be preached.
The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it. Luke 16:16
Yet he also warned his disciples that they wouldn’t have enough time to preach this gospel throughout all the cities of Israel, before the Son of man would be seen coming in the clouds.
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 10:23
In light of this warning, as well as the fact that on numerous occasions Jesus told those in his presence that many would still be alive to witness his coming, Jesus returned in the clouds within a few decades of his ascension to heaven.
Most likely a period of 40 years, which is generally accepted as being God’s number of testing and cleansing.
In the days of Noah for example, torrential rain fell from the heavens above over a prolonged period of 40 days and 40 nights.
The Israelites were wandering in the desert for 40 years, Jesus Christ was tempted in the wilderness for 40 days and 40 nights, and for the people Jesus addressed, to know and remain faithful in Christ for the final 40 years before his return.
This then, would have been coincident with the fall of Babylon aka Jerusalem, in 70 AD.
We are often told that Rome is the city which sits upon the seven hills (mountains), that the ‘whore’ is the Vatican, or even Mecca, and that the killing of prophets and saints is a reference to what Rome or some anti-Christian world power will do.
Miles Williams Mathis: ROME – Library of Rickandria
When one looks at the subject carefully however, there is only one city on earth that fits the bill, and that is the City of Jerusalem, which is also built on seven hills or mounts.
At the time of the apostles, Jerusalem did have a lot of power over many kings of the earth, because Jerusalem was the center of worship of God, as well as being a center of commerce.
Jerusalem (spiritual Sodom and Egypt) the great city where the Lord Jesus was crucified, is none other than Babylon!
How do we know?
When writing to the church at Jerusalem, Peter referred to ‘that great city’ as Babylon.
And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. Revelation 11:8
The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son. 1 Peter 5:13
Biblically it is neither Rome nor Mecca, but Jerusalem alone, who is charged by Jesus, with the unholy offence of killing the saints and the prophets.
Furthermore, Jesus told those in his presence that they were the generation which would be required to answer for the slaying of each and every Old Testament prophet.
For the Law and the Prophets ended with John the Baptist.
The law and the prophets were until John:
since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it. Luke 16:16
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Matthew 23:37
That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation.
From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation. Luke 11:50-51
In 70 AD, when judgement came upon Babylon, aka Jerusalem, and ‘that great city’ fell, we are told, that in her was found the blood of the prophets, which Jesus said would be required of the generation he had directly spoken to.
And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth. Revelation 18:24
This was the same generation whom Jesus assured, that some would still be alive to witness him coming in the clouds, and likely concurrent with the rapture of believers and the first resurrection.
Little wonder then, that Peter addressed these early Christians, as a ”chosen generation”.
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light: 1 Peter 2:9
If Jesus required pay-back from those he was speaking to at the time, it makes perfect sense that he would return in their generation.
Logically speaking, this is what the disciples must have expected.
There is nowhere in Scripture, to indicate that the blood of all the Old Testament prophets slain from the foundation of the world, would be required from a future generation more than 2,000 years later.
Especially in light of the fact, that the prophets were until John the Baptist.
In fact, this 2,000 plus year gap, which cannot be found anywhere in the Bible, is perhaps the greatest hoax to have been played upon millions of Christians world-wide to date.
And I too, once fell for it, hook, line and sinker.
Even though I inwardly knew that ”this generation” referred to the generation of people that Jesus was directly speaking to.
At the end of the day, both the historicist and the futurist view of the fulfilment of end-time prophecy, depends entirely upon who the term, ”this generation”, refers to.
Traditionally, our generation today, and the many generations before us, have all been taught it referred to them/us.
Yet the generation living during the time of His ministry, were told directly by Jesus, that some of those in his presence, would still be alive, to witness His coming in the clouds.
Logic and reason therefore dictate, that the early disciples believed, wholeheartedly, that the term ”this generation”, referred directly to themselves.
In fact, from the New Testament alone, there is no valid reason whatsoever to suggest otherwise.
The first generation of Christians, expected Jesus Christ to return within their own lifetime.
Peter in fact, was so convinced that he would write to his fellow believers to inform them they were a chosen generation. 1 Peter 2;9
And even Jesus himself declared:
”Surely I come quickly”.
He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly.
Amen.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus. Revelation 22:20.
What right do we then have, to even assume, that Jesus, who warned this generation that he would be seen coming in the clouds, was not true to his word?
Even though I assumed this myself for many years.
Indeed, when writing a letter of encouragement to his fellow believers in Christ, John reminded them, how they could be certain that they were living in the final days.
Because many a Christ-denier had appeared on the scene, of which Jesus had warned would be one of the many signs to watch out for, leading up to his return.
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. 1 John 2:18
Time and again throughout the gospels, Jesus assured his audience that some of them would still be alive to witness his coming in the clouds of heaven.
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 16:28
And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. Matthew 24:30
Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. Luke 21:32
Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done. Mark 13:30
And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. Mark 13:26
This would be in reference to the prophet Daniel’s night vision, who saw one like the Son of man come in the clouds of heaven.
I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. Daniel 7:13
John records in the Book of Revelations, how even those who pierced him, would see Jesus as he comes in the clouds.
This too, would be the fulfilment of Old Testament prophecy, and Jesus told the generation he was speaking to, that all would be fulfilled, and how some of those listening to him, would still be alive to witness his return.
And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. Zechariah 12:10
Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him.
Even so, Amen. Revelation 1:7
Those who pierced him of course, were the Roman soldiers, while Jesus hung on the tree according to John 19:34.
RELIGION: CHRISTIANITY: Cross or Tree? – Library of Rickandria
Hence, they were still alive when Jesus returned.
As too was Caiaphas the high priest.
Caiaphas[a] (/ˈkaɪ.ə.fəs/;[b] c. 14 BC – c. 46 AD) was the High Priest of Israel during the first century. In the New Testament, the Gospels of Matthew, Luke and John indicate he was an organizer of the plot to kill Jesus. He is portrayed as presiding over the Sanhedrin trial of Jesus. The primary sources for Caiaphas’ life are the New Testament and the writings of Josephus. The latter records he was made high priest by the Roman procurator Valerius Gratus after Simon ben Camithus had been deposed.
For having confirmed who he truly was, Jesus had previously told Caiaphas directly that he would see the Son of man coming in the clouds.
And Jesus said, I am:
and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. Mark 14:62
There is so much internal evidence within the Scriptures themselves, which would indicate that the entire New Testament, including the Book of Revelations, was written and completed several years earlier than we’ve always been led to believe.
Which immediately throws the proverbial spanner into the works, and overturns man’s traditional, theological applecart.
For according to what the majority of us have always been taught, there should be no internal evidence to support such a claim.
Yet that evidence has always been there, hidden away in plain sight.
But we failed to see that evidence, not because it was not there, but because it was not supposed to be there.
For that would mean the end-time prophecies, which by far the majority of Christians, are looking forward to today, were actually fulfilled more than two thousand years ago.
And that would be unthinkable.
Hence why many would argue that Jesus didn’t actually mean what he said.
His followers would not literally witness the Son of man arrive in the clouds, for that was merely a figure of speech.
What Jesus really meant, was that the people would see the result of his coming judgement against Jerusalem.
”Coming in the clouds”
was simply synonymous with the destruction and wrath of God.
Therefore, they would witness the destruction, but not the Son of man in the clouds himself.
Even though Jesus had declared otherwise.
But that is merely a cop-out, and much like saying that the disciples did not literally see Jesus when he was taken up to heaven in a cloud.
And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. Acts 1:9
For the term ‘taken up in a cloud’, is simply synonymous with Jesus disappearing in a puff of smoke.
In Acts 1:11 the angels tell the disciples that Jesus will return in the same way they saw him ascend up into heaven.
In other words, they would see Jesus return from heaven, in the same manner as they saw him rise up to heaven, in the clouds.
Many would argue that when the Bible says that God was to come on the clouds of heaven that this expression did not mean that he was actually coming on literal clouds.
This is not true, for the clouds that mask the brightness of God’s presence are indeed literal clouds.
For in the Book of Exodus when God appeared to the Israelites he did so amidst literal clouds.
If this were not so, how then, could the Israelites follow these clouds to the Promised Land?
When reading the scriptures there’s no doubt that the early disciples and followers of Jesus, expected to see him return in the not-too-distant future.
The apostle John was even told directly that he was to remain alive on earth until the day when Jesus would return.
Peter, on the other hand, was told by Jesus, that he would suffer and be put to death, but in a manner that would bring glory to God.
This spake he, signifying by what death he [Peter] should glorify God.
And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me. John 21:19
Jesus saith unto him [Peter], If I will that he [John] tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me. John 21:22
Between them, these two disciples represent:
”the dead in Christ”
who would be the ”first” to rise (i.e. the first resurrection), and the living which remain, and be instantaneously changed and caught up (the rapture) into the air, to join the first resurrection at His return.
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 1 Corinthians 15:52
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 alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
CONTINUE
BOOK: EXCERPT: Lucifer’s Flood & the Little Season – The Jew First – Library of Rickandria
BOOK: Lucifer’s Flood & the Little Season – Library of Rickandria
BOOK: EXCERPT: Lucifer’s Flood & the Little Season – This Generation