Hi Blake,
Sorry for late reply. Was on travel then had lot of work waiting for me when I got home. Such is life.
So, your premise is that John didn't taste death because he was taken to heaven and saw the Lord return in the future? That's a very clever work around. I have to hand it to you on that one. You are warm in that it was indeed John who did not taste death before Christ returned in his kingdom as John was the only one of the 12 left alive by 70 AD. But there is a major problem with your view...
I am fine using the KJV but the NKJV meaning is the same. Let's look at the passage again and a few related passages. I'll defer to the KJV if that helps.
Mat 16: [SUP]28 [/SUP]Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.
John 21: [SUP]22 [/SUP]Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.
Mark 13: [SUP]26 [/SUP]And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory... [SUP]30 [/SUP]Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.
The event in question is Christ returning in His Kingdom, right? If John witnessed this event from heaven, he would be seeing Christ leaving, not returning.
Please lets just stay with one or the other... It is like circular reasoning some people use.... including you.
Mark 13:1-2 tells us of the destruction of the temple and Jerusalem.
Mark 13:3-4 tells us that His disciples ask two important questions of Jesus..."4 Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?"
The first question was NOT answered.(here)... but the second Question was answered in the rest of Mark 13.
Mark 13:5-8 warns us as he did in every Gospel,"Take heed that no one deceives you". He then tells of the world conditions up until the 2 advent.
Mark 13:9-13..Jesus describes what Israel will have to endure between the time he Ascends to heaven and the 2nd advent.
Mark 13:14...a warning of the Abomination of Desolate (meaning the Abomination that brings Desolate) as spoken by Daniel...Before I go on, the AoD spoken of by Daniel 11:31 is of the AoD that will happen in 167 BC by Antiochus Epiphanies.
But at the same time he is referring to a future AoD by Daniel 9:27, stating in Mark 13:14 :"....... standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,)" This is where the Antichrist will stand in the Holy of Holies (a temple will have to be there for this to happen and since 70 AD, the temple has been destroyed, a new one will have to be rebuilt.)
Now PW, in Mat 24: 15 "When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet,
stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand
"
One more point,,,,, Matthew and Mark are close to the same..No, he did not answer his disciples about the time here either.
However in Luke 21:8-23 tells them what they want to know.
No PW if you want to debate the scripture, great. WHat is next Matthew 24 or many be John 21 or maybe both.....he result will be the same.... No Abomination of Desolate" happened during the 70AD destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple.
WHat say YOU?