GENERATIONAL VIEW OF HISTORY,
A BIBLICAL UNDERSTANDING

In this study we will come to a better comprehension of the Biblical importance of having a generational understanding of history.  Because in reality, we could be only one generation away from becoming a pagan world!  This is because if our generation fails to pass on the eternal truths of our Lord, then the next generation will not know Truth, who is Jesus as is revealed in His Word.

According to history, total paganism did not occur in just one generation but rather evolved from one generational change to another until “Absolute Truth” over time becomes mere “History”!

Here is a graft that more clearly describes Generational Changes:

1^st Generation “Absolute Truth”

2^nd Generation “Conviction”

3^rd Generation “Belief”

4^th Generation “Doctrine”

5^th Generation “Opinion”

6^th Generation “Theory”

7^th Generation “History”

SCRIPTURES CONCERNING GENERATIONS

Old Testament

Hebrew: dore dore a revolution of time, an age, generation

Scripture References

Genesis 7:1 “And the Lord said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.”

Deuteronomy 1:35 “Surely there shall not one of these men of this evil generation see that good land, which I swear to give unto your father.”

Psalms 24:6 “This is the generation of them that seek Him, that seek Thy Face, O Jacob. Selah.”

Psalms 71:18 “Now also when I am old and grey headed, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to everyone that is to come.”

Psalms 95:10-11 “Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, it is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known My ways: Unto whom I swear in My wrath that they should not enter in My Rest.”

New Testament

Greek: generation genea an age, period, nation, time, generation

Scripture References

Matthew 11:16-17 “But whereunto shall I liken this generation?  It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows, and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented.”

Matthew 12:41 “The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgement with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and, behold, a greater than Jonah is here.”

Matthew 12:42 “The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.”

Matthew 12:45 “Then goeth he (unclean spirit), and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.  Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.”

Matthew 23:33-36 “Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?  Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city.  That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zachariah son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the Temple and the altar.  Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.”

Matthew 24:32-36 “Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When this branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.  Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.  But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.”

Mark 8:11-12 “And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him, a sign from heaven, tempting him.  And he sighed deeply in his Spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign?  Verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation.”

Mark 8:38 “Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

Mark 13:30 “Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.  Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.  But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.  Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.”

Luke 7:31 “And the Lord said, Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation?  And to what are they like?  They are like unto children sitting in the market place, and calling one to another, and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not wept.”

Luke 11:28-29 “But Jesus said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the Word of God, and keep it.  And when the people were gathered thick together, he began to say, This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonah the prophet.”

Luke 11:30 “For as Jonah was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation.”

Luke 11:31 “The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation, and condemn them: for she came from the utmost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.”

Luke 11:32 “The men of Nineveh shall rise up in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and, behold, a greater than Jonah is here.”

Luke 11:49-51 “Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute: 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 16:8 “And the Lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.”

Luke 17:24-25 “For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day.  But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation.”

Luke 21:29-33 “And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; when they now shoot forth, ye see and know your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.  So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.  Verily I say unto you, this generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled, Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.”

Acts 2:40 “And with many other words did Peter testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.”

CONCLUSION

Psalms 71:1, 5-6, 9, 14-18

“In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.  For thou art my hope, O Lord God: thou art my trust from my youth.  Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth.  But I will continually, and will yet praise thee more and more.  My mouth shall shew forth they righteousness and thy salvation all the day; for I know not the numbers thereof.  I will go in the strength of the Lord God: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only.  O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works.  Now also when I am old and grey headed, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to everyone that is to come.”