THERE ARE TWO FULFILLMENT FOR "THIS GENERATION":
1. The reference to that generation beginning with a world war (i.e. "nation vs. nation and kingdom vs. kingdom") that would not end until Christ's return, thus limiting all the signs and the 2nd coming to within an 80-year period. That is, from 1914-1994.
2. The fact that some persons from the 12 tribes of Israel along with others like John and Paul who were selected never to die over the centuries, means that some from that generation of Jesus' time have never died and thus that fulfills that literally, some from his own generation would still be alive upon his return -- only they would not have a normal lifespan, but one that extended over 1900 years until his return.
So for some, this is why preterism doesn't work when one simply presumes that when Jesus said some from this generation would still be alive when he arrived would be within a normal person's lifespan.
But, again, we also have the reality. Christ did return in 1992, and that does not contradict the "this generation" not dying out before his return.
But here is a criticism of preterism. Clearly there is a context that many would have to be resurrected upon Christ's return, perhpas the majority. These resurrected would join those of the elect still alive when Christ arrives. So that indicates under the best circumstances that Christ would not return until many had died out, that is, the majority of that generation. But also, for this to be fufilled in the 1st Century it would mean some who had died within a normal lifetime would also have been resurrected shortly thereafter. But for what? Are they still alive now?
So anyway, the CHRONOLOGY establishes the precise year of Christ's return, which is 1992-1993 and so "this generation" never passing away until then simply means someone from that generation would never die, which is what Christ said.
