There are many beautiful expressions in the Bible that slip
by translators for one reason or another.
One of these is the phrase “a generation of generations” (dor dorim). Most translate it “through all generations”
or something similar. This does capture the idea in a general sort of way. But
as Jesus taught, in God’s Word even the smallest letter and stroke of the pen is
important (Matt. 5:18). In fact, this
simple expression captures an amazingly beautiful insight into the resurrection: that the final generation of mankind will be a single generation made up of many generations.
The future age in which he will reign is described in remarkable
prophetic detail. Psa. 72:6 says that “he will descend like rain on the shearing
[of sheep in the spring*]; as abundant
showers that drip on the earth.” From
a poetic point of view, this describes his reign as a beautiful time of
refreshing. But as prophecy, it points
to the return of the Messiah, who will descend from heaven with all his holy
ones at the beginning of the Millennium (Zech. 14:5, Acts 1:11, 1 Thess. 4:16).
* The Hebrew word for “shearing” here can also be translated
“mowing” (of grass), both of which point to the springtime, the rainy season in
Israel.
The next verse says “The
righteous will sprout in his days, and an abundance of peace until the moon is
no more” (Psa. 72:7, see also 72:17 “while
the sun endures”). Messiah will
reign until the moon (and the sun) are no more.
This is also the teaching of Revelation, that the Messianic kingdom will
last until the sun and moon, and even the earth itself, are removed by the
power of God (Rev. 21:1). This same idea
is repeated in Psa. 72:5, “They will fear
you with (the presence of) the sun and before the moon, a generation of
generations.” The Messianic kingdom will
remain as long as the sun and the moon endure.
So what about that last part, “a generation of generations” (Psa. 72:5)? What does this tell us about the Messianic
kingdom? In the Millennium, the
righteous of all time will be raised to life (1 Thess. 4:15-17) and will reign
in Jerusalem with the Messiah (Rev. 20:4).
This will literally be a single generation (the people all living at one
time) made up of all the generations of the righteous from all time, a
generation of generations that will continue to live even after the New Heavens
and New Earth appear.* What a beautiful
and incredibly accurate way to describe the final generation of mankind!
* That none of the unrighteous will be included in the final
generation was clearly taught by Jesus himself.
In Luke 20, he described the final generation as “those considered worthy to attain to that age and to the resurrection from
the dead…” (Luke 20:35). This is
also the implication of his teaching that at the coming of the Son of Man, all
who are not caught up in the resurrection of the righteous will be destroyed,
as in the days of Noah and Lot, when the judgment of God “destroyed them all” (Luke 17:27, 29,30). For more on this topic, see our book on The
Revelation of Jesus Christ to John.”
This is not the only place this idea appears in the Bible. Isaiah 51 also speaks about God’s coming
judgment and destruction of the heavens and the earth: “Lift
up your eyes to the heavens, and look at the earth below; for the heavens will
be dispersed like smoke, and the earth as a worn-out garment” (Isa. 51:6). The focus here, too, is on the coming of the
Messiah, the Arm of the Lord: “For me the coastlands will wait, and for my
arm they will wait in hope” (Isa. 51:5b).
When Messiah comes, the wicked will be destroyed, “for a moth will eat them like a garment, and a worm will eat them like
wool” (Isa. 51:8a). But those “who know righteousness, a people that have
my Law (Torah) in their heart” need not be afraid (Isa. 51:7a). Who are these that have God’s Torah (his
Law, teaching) in their hearts? This is
the new covenant of Jeremiah 31:31-34 (Heb. 8:7-13), the Law of Messiah, given
not just to Israel, but also to the Gentiles (the nations): “Pay
attention to me, my people; and listen to me, my nation, for a Law (Torah) will
go out from me, and I will cause my justice to rest as a light for the peoples”
(Isa. 51:4).
And why do these new covenant believers not need to be
afraid of the coming destruction? “My righteousness will be forever, and my
salvation (yeshuah) for a generation of generations (dor dorim)” (Isa.
51:8b). God’s salvation, identified here
prophetically as Yeshua (the Hebrew name of Jesus), is for a generation of
generations. Who are they? The final generation made up of all the
righteous of all generations. It is for
them that Jesus came, and with them Jesus will be forever.
The third time this expression appears is in Psa. 102, which
also speaks of the coming destruction of the heavens and the earth: “Formerly
you established the earth; the heavens, too, are a work of your hands. They will perish and you will remain;
and as a garment they will all wear out, as clothing you will change them, and
they will be changed” (Psa. 102:25-26).
The book of Hebrews tells us that these verses refer specifically to the
Son of God (“But to the Son he says:”
Heb. 1:8a, 10-12). But much else in this
Psalm also refers to the Messiah. Verse
13 prophesies his resurrection: “You will arise, you will have compassion on
Zion; for the time to show her favor, the appointed time, has come” (Psa.
102:13). This compassion will extend to
the Gentiles: “And the Gentiles (the nations)
will fear the name of the LORD; and all the kings of the earth your glory”
(Psa. 102:15).
But the time will soon come when he will return in glory: “For
the LORD will build up Zion; he will appear in his glory” (Psa.
102:16). That this is talking about an
event in the future is made clear in vs. 18:
“Let this be written for the last
generation*; and a people yet to be created will praise the LORD” (Psa. 102:18). When will his return take place? “At the
gathering of the peoples together and the kingdoms to serve the LORD” (Psa.
102:22). This is the final ingathering
of the righteous that will take place at Jesus’ return (Matt. 24:31).
* “Last generation” is also how the
Septuagint (LXX) translates the phrase dor
acharon, though the more common translation “the generation to come” also
indicates one special generation in the future.
This is when the Psalmist says, “My God, do not make me go up in the midst of my days; your years are
with a generation of generations (dor dorim)” (Psa. 102:24). The Psalmist doesn’t want to be cut off from the
Lord (compare Psa. 102:10,23). Instead he
wants to be with the Lord in the final generation of generations. This meaning is confirmed by the last two verses: “And
you are the same, and your years will have no end. The sons of your servants will abide; and
their seed will be established before you” (Psa. 102:28-29). God’s servants, an awesome final generation
of generations, will dwell with him forever.
(For more on this topic, see the index categories Prophecy and Millennium.)
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(For more on this topic, see the index categories Prophecy and Millennium.)
Home | Seminars | Teachings | Media | About Us | Support | Search
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