"Is the generation since 1948, when Israel became a nation, the one to see the coming of Jesus?"

This question is referring to Luke 21:7-32. The disciples ask Jesus when are the end-times going to take place. ....And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?

Jesus answered with a list of things that will take place first before His return can take place. They include:

Many coming in Jesus' name, saying they are the Christ

Wars, commotions, and rumors of war

Earthquakes in divers places

Famines

Pestilences

Fearful sights and signs from heaven

Christian persecution

Family betrayal

Hatred of Christians

Jerusalem surrounded by armies

Great distress against Israel and the Jews

Jews defeated by the sword and dispersed again

Jerusalem overrun by Gentiles

Signs in the sun, moon, and stars

Distress of nations

Tsunamis

Heart attaches produced from fear

Then Jesus returns. The Lord said after all this happens that, "This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled."

     Most people start the countdown at the time Israel becomes a nation in 1948 because in this passage Jesus said just like a fig tree in bloom you now summer is nigh, you can also know that His return is imminent when you see these signs come to pass. However, Israel becoming a nation is not the correct count down year. I say that for several reasons. First, and most obvious is that a person alive and cognizant of the fact (therefore a witness) in 1948 would be at the youngest 65 years old. A good bulk of that generation is dying off and the list above has not been fulfilled completely. There may be a few people from the generation of Israel becoming a nation who will witness the rapture but the bulk of that generation will have passed away already.

     Also, if you look in context the Lord speaks of Jerusalem (not the whole country of Israel, that is Judaea and Jerusalem). Read the reference in Jeremiah 24:1-10. It clearly speaks of Jerusalem being the fig In context in the withering fig tree in Matt. 21, it is Jerusalem. Look at the prophecy in Isa. 66. The Lord clearly says it is Zion (Jerusalem) that gives birth: for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.  Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith the LORD: shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb? saith thy God. Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her... Isa:66:9-10.

     That means the starting point for the count-down began when Jerusalem was conquered and taken over with real authority by the Jewish people in 1967: the Six Day War. That allows time for the above list to be fulfilled in the next two decades with the bulk of that generation being alive. If you really study end-time prophecy you will know that Solomon's Temple still has to be built and the Jews giving sacrifices in the temple. That has not taken place yet. We should see that taking place in the next few decades. When you see that take place then you really need to keep your lamp trimmed, burning, and full of oil....the time is really close. Also, the scripture says when that time is close, Christians who are watching and waiting will know who the Anti-Christ is and he will be on the world scene at that time.