What does Luke 21:32 mean?

This is one of the most confusing verses in the Bible. Jesus is talking about how His followers can determine when the "Son of Man" will return. The signs will be as obvious as the leaves that grow on trees before summer. When they see the supernatural events in the heavens and on earth, the time will be near (Luke 21:25–31). Now, Jesus seems to say the present generation will witness these events.

Scholars have offered many ways to understand this reference. Dr. Darrell L. Bock, for instance, lists several possible interpretations (Bock, Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament) of the phrase "a generation:"

1. •The disciples present—Peter, Andrew, James, and John (Mark 13:3)—will still be alive. This doesn't fit history. James dies shortly after Jesus ascends into heaven (Acts 12:1–2), and it appears most of the disciples will be killed before the destruction of the temple, which Jesus places before His return (Luke 21:20–28).


2. •Jesus is referring to the fall of Jerusalem and the temple in AD 70. It's true that at least John was still alive at this point, but Matthew makes it clear Jesus is talking about His return (Matthew 24:33).


3. •"Generation" doesn't refer to an era of people but a people group. That people group is alternately identified as the Jews, humanity, Jesus' disciples, or the "evil generation" of Luke 11:29–32. Although that's possible within the context, it would be an extremely unusual meaning of the term "generation" considering it doesn't include an identifying adjective.


4. •The fall of Jerusalem in AD 70 is so linked to the tribulation and the return of the Son of Man that they are a single event, and so since at least John will be alive in AD 70, he can be said to have witnessed the event in general. Again, Jesus makes a distinct break between AD 70 and His return in Luke 21:24–25, so this interpretation would probably be too subtle.

There are a couple of other possible interpretations. One is that the end will come quickly. The generation that witnesses the supernatural events of Luke 21:25 will also witness the return of the Son of Man. One dispensational view is that "generation" refers to Jesus' followers of the church age, the dispensation of grace, which begins in Acts 2:1–4. Either is possible, but we honestly don't know which is true. Daniel may have known, but God told him, "But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, until the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase" (Daniel 12:4). God will reveal what is needed at the right time.