Before knowing whether or not a prophecy has come true, we must first understand exactly what is being prophesied. So let us consider the details of this prophecy.
Context: The Questions
Jesus was asked a specific question, which is the question upon which he wandered in explanation until coming to the point in due time.
1 And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples
saith unto him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings
are here! 2 And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou
these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another,
that shall not be thrown down. 3 And as he sat upon the
mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and
Andrew asked him privately, 4 Tell us, when shall these
things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be
fulfilled? (Mark 13:1-4, KJV)
Actually, that's two questions. Like many people might today, Jesus begins answering with the second question, before getting back to the first one.
Essentially, the two questions, and answers, deal with two separate time periods. They are addressed by Jesus in this passage, as seen in his own words. The prophecy for verse 30 begins back in verses 2 (included above), and later, 14.
The Two Times
14 But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation,
spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him
that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the
mountains: 15 And let him that is on the housetop not go
down into the house, neither enter therein, to take any thing out of
his house: 16 And let him that is in the field not turn
back again for to take up his garment. 17 But woe to them
that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
18 And pray ye that your flight be not in the winter.
19 For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not
from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time,
neither shall be. 20 And except that the Lord had shortened
those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom
he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days. 21 And then if
any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there;
believe him not: 22 For false Christs and false prophets
shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were
possible, even the elect. 23 But take ye heed: behold, I
have foretold you all things. 24 But in those days, after
that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not
give her light, . . . (Mark 13:14-24, KJV)
Notice that Jesus is speaking of a time of "affliction" and "tribulation." He specifically tells his disciples not to go back into their house for their garment, but to flee Judaea immediately upon seeing "the abomination of desolation . . . standing where it ought not."
In verse 24, Jesus begins to go forward in time beyond this "tribulation" to events that would occur afterward. In verse 30, however, he comes back to the tribulation theme.
Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all
these things be done. (Mark 13:30, KJV)
One generation, Biblically speaking, is comprised of 40 years.
And the LORD's anger was kindled against Israel, and he made them
wander in the wilderness forty years, until all the generation, that
had done evil in the sight of the LORD, was consumed. (Numbers
32:13,KJV)
This 40-year prophecy is paralleled in Ezekiel 4, where the entire chapter addresses the besiegement of Jerusalem and the dire consequences within the city to take place. Ezekiel gave two times for this to occur, but only the latter time, that of 40 years, remained unfulfilled as of Jesus' day.
And when thou hast accomplished them, lie again on thy right side, and
thou shalt bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty days: I have
appointed thee each day for a year. (Ezekiel 4:6, KJV)
In the time of Christ, "Judah" was all that remained of the Jews; the ten tribes of the northern kingdom having intermingled with the surrounding nations, a portion remaining among the Samaritans. And what, then, was Judah's "iniquity"?
There was no greater sin that could be attributed to Judah than that of crucifying the Savior. By so doing, they started the prophetic clock, and true to the prophecy, 40 years later (one generation), their beloved city of Jerusalem was destroyed, including the Second Temple, by the armies of Titus, the Roman general.
In that temple, not one stone was left upon another. The prophecy was exactly fulfilled. And it was fulfilled to that generation.
Conclusion
The prophecy Jesus makes, and which his disciples ask him to explain, is found at nearly the beginning of the chapter, and the later statements he makes must be understood within that context. The prophecy which applied to that "generation" denoted a period of 40 years, at which time the stones of the temple would be thrown down. This prophecy was literally fulfilled.
Those Christians living in Jerusalem, when they saw the armies of Titus having surrounded their holy temple and city, retreating, understood Christ's words, and escaped quickly for their lives. None of them perished in the conflagration which followed shortly thereafter as Titus returned. The events of destruction in Jerusalem which followed were a fulfillment of Jesus' prophecy. A second fulfillment, or application, of this prophecy and with additional details for what should occur "after that tribulation" of this first fulfillment, is yet to take place.
