In Jesus’ discourse on the sign of the end times, He makes a statement that often raises a question about who is He talking about, that statement is Matthew 24:34.

The verse says, “Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.”

Over the years of my ministry I have heard people ask, Did Jesus mean that the apostles were to see the second coming? or Were the disciples unfaithful in some way and they didn’t hasten the return of Christ as they should have? or Did Jesus really return in secret while those followers were still alive?

The answer is found in the previous verse, “So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors” (Matthew 24:33).

We could paraphrase these two verses like this, “When my followers see these signs begun, their generation will not pass until it reaches the crescendo of my return.”

You can read it by looking back over all the signs that Jesus mentions to surmise that what He is saying is that when you begin to see these things you will also see my return.

These events to take place in the end will be rapid ones. Which is also why in Matthew 24:22 Jesus said, “And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.”