I read arguments from skeptics and believers and it only resulted in continued confusion. Believers say Jesus was talking about the generation that sees the signs and skeptics say Jesus was talking about the generation living at the time. What say you?
Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. (Mark 13:30-31 NAB
His prophecy comes in two parts
the first part is about the system in the first century which saw a destruction by Rome. It was the temple which was completely destroyed in 70ce that Jesus first part of the prophecy refers to:
Matthew 24:
1 Departing now, Jesus was on his way from the temple, but his disciples approached to show him the buildings of the temple. 2 In response he said to them: “Do YOU not behold all these things? Truly I say to YOU, By no means will a stone be left here upon a stone and not be thrown down.”...
15-22
“Therefore, when YOU catch sight of the disgusting thing that causes desolation, as spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in a holy place, (let the reader use discernment,) 16 then let those in Ju‧de′a begin fleeing to the mountains. 17 Let the man on the housetop not come down to take the goods out of his house; 18 and let the man in the field not return to the house to pick up his outer garment. 19 Woe to the pregnant women and those suckling a baby in those days! 20 Keep praying that YOUR flight may not occur in wintertime, nor on the sabbath day; 21 for then there will be great tribulation such as has not occurred since the world’s beginning until now, no, nor will occur again. 22 In fact, unless those days were cut short, no flesh would be saved; but on account of the chosen ones those days will be cut short
His prophecy also has fulfillment in the 'final part of the days'...which would be a future time period long after the 1st century:
7
“For nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be food shortages and earthquakes in one place after another. 8 All these things are a beginning of pangs of distress.
9 “Then people will deliver YOU up to tribulation and will kill YOU, and YOU will be objects of hatred by all the nations on account of my name. 10 Then, also, many will be stumbled and will betray one another and will hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and mislead many; 12 and because of the increasing of lawlessness the love of the greater number will cool off. 13 But he that has endured to the end is the one that will be saved. 14 And this good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come.
In both time periods, the generation refers to those who would be living at that time and who would see the events Jesus prophesied:
32
“Now learn from the fig tree as an illustration this point: Just as soon as its young branch grows tender and it puts forth leaves, YOU know that summer is near. 33 Likewise also YOU, when YOU see all these things, know that he is near at the doors. 34 Truly I say to YOU that this generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will by no means pass away.
The first generation are the ones who heard Jesus words and actually saw the destruction of Jerusalem and its temple in 70CE.
And in the last days, the generation living during the entire time period known as the 'last days' will likewise see a similar, earthwide, destruction. The generation begins with those who saw the beginning of the last days and continues through to those who will see the end of the last days.
