Mat 24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
There is no problem. Jesus said it. Therefore it must be true. ;) :)
I've always believed that he was speaking of the generation of the fig tree. (another reference in the text) The generation that would be here when the end comes. Clearly he wasn't telling the disciples that they would see it.
I encourage us to remain in faith through Christ, so that God the Holy Spirit guides our understanding of His Word, instead of our soul guiding our understanding independent of His work in us.
There is no problem. Jesus said it. Therefore it must be true. ;) :)
Well let's take a look at this statement that you agree is true.
The Greek word for generation is Genea. Strong's number 1074; noun whose original meaning was generation, that is, a multitude of contemporaries. In NT Gr. genea literally means space of time, circle of time, which only in a derived sense signifies the meaning of a time, a race; then generally in the sense of affinity of communion based upon the sameness of stock. Race or posterity (Acts 8:33). Generation (Matthew 1:17), occurs with special reference to the physical or moral circumstances, speaking of an age or time referring to the spiritual state of society at the time (Hebrews 3:10, cf. Luke 7:31; 11:31; Acts 13:36). The connection alone must decide whether the sense is limited to the state of society at a certain time or to race or stock. The word genea in Matthew 24:34 meant the type of Jew with whom Jesus was conversing during that particular time (Matthew 21:23; 23:29). He was telling them that this generation or type, such as the Sadducees and Pharisees of that day, would not pass away until all these things occurred and until His coming again in His parousia (Strong's 3952), Second Coming. He was prophesying the destruction of their nation (Matthew 24:15-28) (emphasis mine, reference The complete New Testament Word Study by Spiros Zodhiates, Th.D.)
So understanding in context what the word generation means we can see that Jesus was not talking specifically about those saints he saw and was speaking to face-to-face. Add to this what Jesus said prior about the specific signs in the heavens, the gatering of his elect, and the parable of the fig tree we can be certain that he was not speaking of the contemporaries of Peter and James.
And then let's take a look at what Jesus had to say after "this generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled." He spoke of two being in the field or grinding at the mill and one being taken and the other left. Where in history do we have record of something of this uniqueness happening? Do you not think our history books (biased as they may be) would not mention this phenomena?
Common sense (although not so common anymore) and good study makes it pretty obvious that these events spoken of by Jesus have not occurred just yet.