Shalom partner and friend of Israel,

There is a generation, chosen from the foundation of the world, to reveal God’s glory… A people designated, to manifest the very character of His substance. All creation eagerly waits, with earnest expectation, for the unveiling of this "elect seed." The Prophets declared it, the Law foreshadowed it, and Yeshua (Jesus) revealed it.

"You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; so that you may set forth the wondrous deeds, displaying the virtues and perfections, of Him Who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light," 1 Peter 2:9.

The Scriptures teach that the ‘final generation’ of this age WILL witness the fulfilment of a staggering number of prophecies pointing to the soon return of the promised Messiah. For thousands of years men have studied the Bible’s ancient prophecies and wondered if they would live to witness the return of Christ to redeem the earth. Many today are longing for the return of Yeshua (Jesus). Naturally, sceptics remind us that past generations also looked for His Second Coming but never saw the promise fulfilled. Why should we believe our generation will witness the return of Christ when other generations were disappointed…? Yeshua and the other prophets described numerous prophecies that would occur in the lifetime of those who would see Him return with their own eyes! Is ours the generation that will see Christ coming for His Church…? Are we the ‘fig tree’ generation…? The rebirth of Israel is one of the most extraordinary and unlikely of all the prophecies in the Bible. Christ foretold the rebirth of Israel in His famous prophecy of the "fig tree" budding that was declared in Matthew 24:32-35. No other ancient nation ever ceased to exist for a period of centuries and then returned to take its place on the stage of world history… "Who has heard such a thing? Who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? Or shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion travailed; she brought forth her children," Isaiah 66:8. Most nations evolved gradually over the centuries, such as Egypt or France. In the time of the ancient prophecies, no one had ever witnessed a nation being created "in one day." Yet, in his prediction, Isaiah prophesied that Israel would come into existence in "one day." The prophecies of Isaiah and Ezekiel were fulfilled precisely as predicted on May 15, 1948.

First, we need to deal with one of the most problematic and perplexing religious questions and this is… Who are God’s Chosen People? Are they the Jews? Or, are they the Christians? The Holy Scriptures give plenty of evidence for both. And, at present we certainly see two camps of people. Both groups have some claim to the title, "Chosen People" and it seems that the God of the Bible throughout holy history has been dealing with both. They are the Jewish nation and people who are His Covenant people. And, there is another group extending out to the Christian/ Messianic Congregation in every nation around the world.

Yet the Bible speaks of one-elect, never two. They may be two groups as we see them now… But as God sees them coming to Him the "Chosen People" are one undivided passing parade. All of them belong to the family of faithful Abraham by a deep and binding "blood covenant" relationship. As we shall see, this "blood covenant" goes   beyond bloodlines and race.

While the Chosen people were associated with the DNA of the family of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in former times the grace that brought human beings into a "blood covenant" relationship with YHVH – Yahweh; God, (the God who always was and ever shall be), overflowed beyond Israel into the nations even as the Jordan river overflows its banks all the days of the harvest. This overflow of the Holy Spirit beyond national Israel into the heathen nations happened in a major epic way on the Day of Pentecost.

This overflow of God’s Holy Spirit took the grace of Jehovah God beyond the boundaries of Israel and this was prophesied in Isaiah 49:6. The Holy Spirit is no respecter of persons. God has always dealt with people according to what is going on in their hearts. He deals mercifully and in righteousness with any who come to him, from whatever people group. He draws them to Himself and they are born again. They come into Jehovah God’s nation as… a "melo-Hagoyim," a company of many races and nations.

So we see in Isaiah 49:6, Israel’s prophet speaking of His Light, Messiah, and those who served under Him, having a worldwide global outreach. And, while the Chosen People included Jew and non-Jew, people of Israel's DNA and people not of Israel’s DNA, they are still one discrete "Chosen" people as they come to God by grace through faith in the atoning blood of Israel’s promised Sacrifice Lamb, Yeshua. The "Chosen" people called out from whatever racial background… are new creatures in a binding personal and national "blood covenant" relationship with Israel's Messiah.  The God of Israel is a BIG God with BIG plans… and He is abundant in mercy to all who come to Him in genuine repentance for their sins. He knocks at the door of their heart. Those who invite Him to come inside their lives and take over at the throne and altar of their heart and their lives are changed forever. The Holy One of Israel has always entered the lives of any person who repents and opens themselves up to Him by faith. Such people receive the promised redemption that comes by the atoning blood of Israel’s promised Sacrifice Lamb... Yeshua (Jesus).

It is important, for every student of the Scripture, to acknowledge that the Bible is mathematically perfect, and God's truth exact and systematic… Knowing this will allows us to recognize what appears to be a disharmony, in the Scripture, is in reality a "hidden treasure." Remember, "it is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the glory of kings is to search out a matter." (Proverbs 25:2; 1 Corinthians. 2:9; Ephesians 1:17; Colossians 1:9)

In Matthew chapter one there is a mystery hidden within the lineage of Joseph the husband of Mary the mother of Yeshua (Jesus). This account is introduced as "the book of the generation of Jesus Christ," the Son of David, the Son of Abraham. (Matthew 1:1) Verse seventeen shows us the listing can be divided into three groupings: The first segment starts with Abraham …and ends with David. The second division begins with David …and concludes with the deportation into Babylonian. The third and final section commences with the removal from Babylon and consummates with Christ. We are told each of these three segments, contain fourteen names, totalling to forty-two generations (Matthew 1:17).

What is so mysterious about the genealogy of … Matthew 1? Let us tally the names listed, according to the pattern found, in verse seventeen. The first grouping, verses 2-6, concurs with the clear statement of verse seventeen, by containing fourteen generations. The second segment, verses 6-11, is also in agreement by showing fourteen generations. However, the third and final section, beginning in verse twelve and ending with Yeshua (Jesus), who is called the Christ, contains only thirteen generations. The conflict is apparent. While verse seventeen shows the total number of generations should come to forty-two, the count has revealed there are only forty-one names in the complete listing. The discovery of this seeming discrepancy leaves us to question… Did Matthew make a mistake by miscounting the generations he listed? Or have the translators erred by leaving out a name found in the original text? After diligently looking into this matter one must conclude, the answer is an unequivocal, No! — On both counts! Still others may question the absence of the five kings in this genealogy. However, God removed them from the record for very specific reasons. This leaves us with the question… Where is the missing generation?

Since Yeshua (Jesus), whom God designated both Lord and Christ, is the forty-first generation, He must be the Pro-creator, or Father of the forty-second generation. The Prophet Isaiah further announced, "They assigned Him a grave with the criminals and with a wealthy man when He was dead. It was Jehovah who purposed to crush and afflict Him; although He had done no wrong, neither was deceit in His mouth. Yet, when Jehovah makes His soul an offering for sin, he will see his seed, he will prolong his days, and the purpose of Jehovah will prosper in His hand." Isaiah 53:9, 1Peter 2:22 With respect to the "missing generation" David prophesied; "A seed will serve Him; it will be accounted to the Lord for a generation. They will come, and declare His righteousness to a people, yet to be born. They will proclaim it is finished!" Psalm 22:30 …there is a "seed," which serves God, and it is categorized as a generation of the Lord! Unquestionably this speaks of the seed promised to Yeshua in Isaiah's prophecy. It is the forty-second generation of Matthew 1. David’s prophetic declaration further reveals it is a corporate seed. Not an individual, but a people chosen by God before the disruption of the world, holy and flawless in His sight (Ephesians 1:4).

God through fore-knowledge has pre-destined this seed to be placed as a corporate son into the family of God, and all creation waits with eager anticipation for their unveiling (Romans 8:19; Ephesians 1:3). Before the foundation of the word God destined this "chosen generation"… they are conformed to the image of the "Firstborn"… so, that Yeshua (Jesus Christ) becomes the "original seed" in many brethren (Romans 8:18, 29; Colossians 1:27). This promised seed are to declare the Lord’s righteousness to a people… yet to be born. Bearing witness to all creation that is obligated to the debt of sin, this seed will declare; "It is paid in full." It is this "seed—generation," who… will restore, rise up… and repair the depletions of many generations. They will be named the "Priests of the Lord" even "Ministers of God." All who see them will acknowledge; "they are the seed whom the Lord has blessed!" Isaiah 61:4 …and express Yeshua’s obedience to death at Calvary fulfilled the Father's purpose and assured Him of seeing His seed, or descendant… This prophetic promise is a vivid and explicit reference to "the missing generation" of Matthew 1…

We know that Christ did not live out the full length of His generation, which raises the question: "Who shall declare his generation? For his life is taken from the earth." (Acts 8:33; Isaiah 53:8). Christ said in Luke 11:30; "For as Jonas was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation." That raises an interesting question! Has God appointed a "man of God" to be a sign to each generation of people? Yeshua (Jesus) who was "cut off" or killed as prophesied in Daniel 9:26, was to represent the evil generation of His day. How long would Christ’s generation have been if He had not died an early death?

Most Bible scholars believe Christ was crucified between; 30-33 A.D. If, that was the case, the wicked generation that the time of Christ represented was judged 40 years later when Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans in 70 A.D. The last vestige of Jewish resistance was wiped out at Masada in 73-75 A.D. The destruction prophesied upon the generation that crucified the Lord was complete. Historians tell us that Christ was born sometime before the turn of the century (2-8 B.C.) with 4 B.C. being the most popular view. Assuming that the generation that Christ described had expired by 75 A.D., the length of that generation would have been between seventy and eighty years.

When God spoke the promises to Abraham and his seed, He did not say, "to seeds," as referring to many seeds… but with reference to one; He said… "and to your seed, which is Christ!" (Galatians 3:16; Acts 2:30) When, Paul refers to "one seed," he is speaking of …God’s promises being made to ‘one variety,’ as opposed to many varieties of seed. The category is clearly defined as Christ! An example is… if we had two packets of seed, one containing carrot, squash, radish, and watermelon seed and the other containing forty kernels of corn, which packet contains only one seed? Unquestionably the packet of corn! Why? Because, every seed is identical! Both Yeshua (Jesus), who is pure and those who are being purified are all out of one seed: for this reason He is not ashamed to call them brothers. (Romans 8:29; Hebrews 2:11) Moreover, as the forerunner and finisher of the faith, Christ, obtained the promise becoming the source and origin of our life. Because of this He is also called… "the everlasting Father." (Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-14; Colossians 1:15; Revelations 3:14) Prophetically… the Firstborn Seed said; "I and the children whom God gave me" will make evident his wondrous accomplishments. By this we will display his virtue and perfection. (Isaiah 8:18; Hebrews 2:13; 1 Peter 2:9) In Christ we are all children of God through faith… For as many as have been initiated into union with Christ, have put on Christ!  Now, since we belong to Christ, it follows we are Abraham’s seed . . . which is called Christ . . . and heirs of the promise, even joint-heirs with Christ. (Galatians 3:16- 29; Romans 8:17)

The word Christ is a transliteration from the Greek language. If we were to translate this word into our common language we would better understand what is being said concerning "the seed of promise." It should be rendered "anointed," and is synonymous with the Hebrew word "Messiah." This term is used in the Hebrew Scripture for those who are "the Lord’s anointed ones." Specifically, it was used only in reference to the "kings, priests, and prophets" who were considered to be God’s anointed.

Understanding more… As the human body is a unity and yet has many parts, and all the parts, though numerous, form only one body, so it is with Christ also! For one Holy Spirit has initiated us into one body. It makes no difference whether we were Jews or Gentiles, slaves or free, male or female, we have now become ‘one new man’ in Christ Yeshua (Jesus). (1 Corinthians 12:12-14; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 2:11-22)

Yeshua (Jesus) revealed this concept when He spoke of reproducing the life of this ‘unique Seed.’ He said: "if the seed-corn does not fall into the earth and die, it remains alone… but if it dies, it will bring forth many seed," John 12:24. The principal is clear, "what is sown is not brought to life, except it dies first," 1 Corinthians 15:36. But… if it dies it will become multiplied many times! When someone plants a kernel of corn it grows up. First - the blade, then the ear, and finally the mature corn in the ear. We might say… ""One kernel becomes a corporate expression of the original corn?" Likewise, God sent forth Yeshua (Jesus) as a unique seed of life in the earth. He was planted in death so that in Resurrection He might become …"the first born among many brothers," Romans 8:29.

2018 will mark seventy years from Israel’s Statehood on May 14th, 1948. Jewish sages have remarked that modern Israel’s years should be reckoned in the same way as the man mentioned in Psalm 90:10: "The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away." They have written that the formative generation of Israel is nearing 70 years and is therefore, almost at an end; after that, they say, world events will usher in Messiah and the Kingdom.

There is a Hebrew phrase that is usually translated in the Old Testament as, "the generation to come." This idiom is taken from some form of "Ha Dor Ha Acharon" the most direct translation of this phrase is; "the last generation." "…so that the generation to come of your sons that shall rise up after you, and the stranger that shall come from a far land, shall say (when they see the plagues of that land, and the sicknesses which Jehovah has laid on it) the whole land shall be burned with brimstone, and salt; it shall not be sown; nor shall it sprout; nor shall there be any grass in it. It shall be like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboim, which Jehovah overthrew in His anger, and in His wrath, even all nations shall say; ‘Why has Jehovah done this to this land? For what is the heat of this great anger?’" (Deuteronomy 29:22-24).

Here, we have a prophecy of latter-day Israel, ravaged by sin and time, its people dispersed and despised… The generation mentioned here is the generation that will come back to restore the Land. As we have seen, the first stage of this re-gathering has already begun. This passage must be referring to "the last generation." It is most important to understand that "Ha Dor Ha Acharon" can just as easily be translated as, "the last generation," since the word "acharon" means, "hindmost, last in order, last of a series" or simply, "last." It is clear that this prophecy is referring to the last generation – the one that comes back to prepare Israel to bring in the Kingdom Age.

Other variations of this expression are also found within the framework of Israel’s latter-day re-gathering. Psalm 48 offers an excellent example of the placement of the "last generation" into a prophetic context. This Psalm is focused upon Mount Zion, the Temple Mount. It opens upon a chorus of praise for Jerusalem and the Holy Mountain… The New Testament’s Olivet Discourse reminds us of what Yeshua (Jesus) said about this idea, which holds a very special place in the hearts of Christians everywhere. Its setting on the Mount of Olives invokes a dramatic vista in the mind of the reader, as Yeshua answered His disciples’ questions concerning the future. In His reply to them, He made a remark that has stimulated a number of conjectures over the years. He said, "This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled," Matthew 24:34. His pronouncement refers to what has been called "the last generation." This is the generation that witnesses events leading up to the Great Tribulation. Is ours the generation that Yeshua (Jesus) spoke of…?

As He spoke to them, Yeshua was well aware that the meaning of a "generation" would be something of a mystery to his hearers. But He spoke in a context that had meaning to them. One imagines them seated in the shade of an ancient olive tree, as they gazed across the Kidron Valley toward the magnificent complex of concourses, stairways, porticos, palaces and courtyards. The centrepiece of their attention was the Temple, itself. Construction on this huge project… considered one of the wonders of the ancient world… had begun some fifty years earlier! At the time Yeshua (Jesus spoke), it would still be almost twenty years before the completion of the whole Temple complex. Tragically, the completed development would only last about a year before being completely destroyed by the Roman forces of Titus and Vespasian in A.D. 70. As Yeshua addressed the inner circle of His followers, He spoke of future world wars, famines and diseases. In this context, He mentioned the latter-day re-birth of Israel, something the disciples could not have understood at the time. He commented upon Daniel’s prophecy of the antichrist in the Temple. He used the term, "great tribulation," to describe the events surrounding Israel’s re-gathering. He even spoke of His Second Coming in the clouds of glory. It was at this point, that He spoke one of his most famous parables:

The "Fig Tree" Generation… In the parable of the fig tree, Yeshua (Jesus) talked about a generation of people (Jews and Gentiles) that would be living at the time He returned to earth to establish His kingdom. With Israel back in their land after almost 2000 years of dispersion and other end-time prophecies coming into focus... the Jewish people now living in Israel could very well be the generation Christ was talking about?

Perhaps this Generation…? Luke’s version of the "fig tree" parable, mentions the fig tree (Israel) and all the trees, (nations of the world - Judges 9:8-20) states: "And He spoke a parable to them: Behold the fig-tree and all the trees. Now when they sprout leaves, seeing it you will know that summer is now near. So also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly I say to you, this generation shall not pass away until all these things are fulfilled. The heaven and the earth shall pass away, but My Words shall not pass away," Luke 21:29-33.  It’s safe to say that from the day He made this pronouncement, right down to the present day, men have not ceased trying to understand precisely what He was saying.

Not only are we to watch the "fig tree" (national Israel), but we are to watch other trees (nations of the world), as well… If Israel is represented by the fig tree, the other trees would be the nations that rise up at roughly the same time Israel became a nation… Recent history reveals precisely this kind of development. At the midpoint of the twentieth century, most of the current "nations" were third-world domination of tribal illiteracy. In the last fifty years or so, they have rapidly grown (both in numbers and capability) to become important players on the world scene. The following brief look at the U.N. membership roster shows just how rapidly their numbers have grown. Their rapid growth meets the Biblical prediction that they would "shoot forth." ‘Trees’ that had languished under the long winter of the dark ages of the state of working under duress or without freedom and by colonialism are now realizing modernization through international banking and high-tech telecommunications. Real-time satellite transmission and the Internet have brought them into the cultural medium of the twenty-first century.

As the angel told the prophet Daniel; "But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased" (Daniel 12:4). And, just as predicted in Luke 21, we have now seen the latter-day multiplication of nations erupting with unprecedented speed. He added that when this phenomenon was observed, "summer is now nigh at hand." Summer, of course, is the time of harvesting the fruit of the trees. And Yeshua (Jesus), Himself, said, "… the harvest is the end of the world." Here, He refers to the completion of the "age," from the Greek word ‘aion.’ In context, He is speaking of the grain harvest as a metaphor of the final judgment. It should be remembered that summer is the season when both grain and fruit are harvested: "The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world" (Matthew 13:38-40). 

There are many expressions of the harvest as judgment in the Day of the Lord. One of the clearest is found in Micah: "Woe is me! For I am as when they have gathered the summer fruits, as the grape gleanings of the vintage: there is no cluster to eat: My soul desired the first ripe fruit" (Micah 7:1). Here, Micah expresses the same thought as did Jesus in His famous discourse. He speaks as the plaintive voice of national Israel at the time of judgment, when the tiny nation faces the persecution of a massive world system during the Great Tribulation. When the nations spring forth as trees, the harvest judgment is near. This is the generation of which Yeshua spoke!

If the length of David’s generation, Christ’s generation, and those living today is 70-80 years (a 3000 year span), it would be reasonable to conclude that the generation Christ was talking about… in the parable of the fig tree will also be 70-80 years in length.  If as the fig tree in this parable represents the nation of Israel, as many prophetic scholars believe, and the generation that is described has a lifespan of 70 to 80 years, then we see several strong indicators that the generation Christ was talking about has already been born…! That would mean that the return of Yeshua (Jesus) to establish His reign for a thousand years is close at hand!

The indicators we have seen include… the rebirth of Israel as a nation in 1948 (Isaiah 66:8)… the Jerusalem controversy in the end times (Zechariah 12:1-3)… preparations for rebuilding the Jewish Temple (Revelation 11:1, 2) ongoing negotiations for a peace treaty between Israel and the Palestinians (Daniel 9:27). The Most Significant End-Time Prophecy… is the end-time events described in the Olivet Discourse and the Book of Revelation could not have taken place without Israel back in their land. Israel’s return to the land of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the 20th century after dispersion by the Roman armies in 70 A.D. is the most important event that signals the soon return of the Messiah. Israel’s rebirth as a nation has also served as a catalyst for other end-time prophecies that are beginning to converge on the world scene.

As we have seen the pieces necessary for development of ‘the end-time prophetic puzzle’ began to fall in place between the middle of the 19th and first half of the 20th century when the Jewish people began coming back to their homeland in record numbers. A movement called Zionism encouraged the Jewish people to return to the "Promised Land" and brought about the Balfour Declaration in 1917, a statement by Great Britain that supported a home for the Jewish people. After much negotiation and endorsement of a partition resolution by the United Nations in 1947, the rebirth of Israel (Isaiah 66:7-9) took place on May 15, 1948. Following a period of wars between the Jewish and Arab nations in 1948, 1956, 1967, and 1973, peace negotiations have been ongoing and will continue until a covenant (Daniel 9:27) is confirmed between "the prince that shall come" (Antichrist) and the Nation of Israel.

There is yet another reference to the last generation, using the same Hebrew term. It is found in Psalm 102... Again, this Psalm refers to the restoration of Zion. Note that it speaks of the very building blocks ("stones") in the ancient architecture of Zion. The rebuilding of Zion is the heart of this prophecy: "But You, O Jehovah, shall endure forever; and Your memory to all generations. You shall arise, and have mercy on Zion; for the time to pity her, yea, the set time, has come. For Your servants take pleasure in its stones, and pity its dust. So the nations shall fear the name of Jehovah, and all the kings of the earth Your glory. When Jehovah shall build up Zion, He shall appear in His glory. He will turn to the prayer of the forsaken and not despise their prayer. This shall be written for the generation to come; and the people who shall be created shall praise Jehovah.  (Psalm 102:12-18)

It would be hard to find a prophecy as distinct and specific as this one. The rebuilding of Zion is the destiny set out "for the generation to come," in other words, the last generation. When Jesus told His disciples, "This generation shall not pass away, till all these things be fulfilled," He was speaking of the generation of the "fig tree," and "all the trees." If the leaves of the fig tree can be said to have sprung forth in 1948, then the generation is now sixty-six years old. Of course, no one can be certain about the actual birth date of the last generation… On the other hand, there is hardly any doubt that we are witnessing the conditions surrounding the initial restoration of Zion. We must, therefore, be in the last generation, and it is a mere five years until Israel reaches the grand old age of seventy … the years of a man.

Christians who take the Bible seriously should be actively watching the prophetic shadows that are appearing in today’s headlines! The primary purpose of God’s prophetic Word is to point people to Christ, "the author and finisher of our faith."

A Chosen Generation… as we entertain the possibility that we may be the generation Yeshua (Jesus) was talking about in the "fig tree parable" nearly 2000 years ago, we are admonished by the Scriptures to …"watch and be prepared!" As stated clearly by Yeshua in Matthew and Mark, no man knows the day or the hour of his coming but the Father only. The same Yeshua (Jesus), however, was very angry with the Pharisees and Scribes for NOT discerning "the signs of the times" and not knowing the "time of their visitation." In these thought-provoking and challenging times in which we are living, we need to be informed and discerning like… "the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do…" (1 Chronicles 12:32).

One day there will be a generation of Christians that will escape the grip of death and be ushered into heaven, the "final frontier" for believers. The generation that is "left behind" will face the ruthless tyranny of a global dictatorship. The world stage is now being set for the closing act of this dispensation, and the climax of world history, Christ’s return, is drawing near. As God’s children, we may very well be the generation that is chosen to "escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man" (Luke 21: 34-36). That possibility is certainly worth pondering!

We hope that you enjoy and become more informed by our work. We serve an awesome God and we are humbled by this opportunity to bring you this information. With Shalom to you and your family always,

Alf & Julie Saunders

15^th June, 2014

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