What do we make of these verses?

Matthew 16:28; Mark 9:1; and Luke 9:27


Jesus (talking to his disciples) seems to be implying that his return would be within their lifetime....that they (at least some of them) would still be alive when the Second Coming would occur.


Now....I'm not trying to make anyone question their faith here. Nor am I trying to poke holes in scripture. I'm a believer. But as Christians, we often come across passages in the Bible that we want to ask questions about.


So my question is....do you think Jesus was referring to the Second Coming? If not, what do you think he was saying here?


Any and all answers are appreciated. 🙂

Perhaps to His Resurrection and dthemany saints who came out of their tombs, and after forty days His ascension?

If the people standing here include those who have read the Bible, then this sentence is true.

If this sentence is only literal, then the apostles have seen the son of man.

Jesus is indeed telling the disciples that He would return within their lifetimes, which He did, just not in the way that many people today think He was “supposed” to.

He returned in power in 70 AD, ended Levitical Judaism with the destruction of the Temple, and allowed the Jews who rejected Him to be killed or sold into slavery. He had warned them repeatedly that He would do exactly that.

Reading in context with the previous few verses, Jesus appears to definitely be talking about His second coming.

I think there are two possibilities.

1. One or more Apostles are still alive. Remember, Jesus Himself said this is a possibility:

John 21:21-22
New King James Version

21 Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?”
22 Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.”

2. John INDEED saw Jesus return to reign with His Angels. In fact, he wrote a whole Book about it! It’s called, Revelation of Jesus Christ.

Matthew 16: 28

speaking of HIS resurrection. Jesus was saying in this chapter to take up your cross and follow me. After Jesus said to them

“Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”

prior to HE asked them "Who do men say that I am? " Peter under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit told him,

“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”


then it says : in verse 21

"From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day."

right before VERSE 28 JESUS SAYS:

For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.

that has not happened yet.

Acts 1:11

who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”

It’s a legit statement and there is nothing that would question my faith ...only my understanding.

Everything Jesus taught went along the prescribed lines of the prophecy presented in the OT regarding the return of Himself (Christ).

People ascribe many things to, and about Christ through their own human minds. But we have to stay within the confines of the written Word, for the truth. And the truth is….. Jesus Christ, as a man, was limited in knowledge…. limited, from what he learned of the scriptural prophecies of Himself and what the Father told Him.

It is either that or he lied ….and Jesus Christ did not lie!

Mat 24:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

What Christ knew of his return…. (after His resurrection) was, it would be rather soon according to prophecy and there would be some still alive.

BUT ….There was a surprise party given by God in honor of his resurrection..... and there was one gift given at that party A gift that apparently Christ did not know of at the time.

The gift, or secret (mystery) was this time period….. the age of grace to which we now live in. It came with incorruptible seed of spirit within….. Jews and gentiles being fellow heirs and of the same body (one body 1 new man)…… and salvation by grace…..with many assorted benefits.

There is nothing (no prophecy) in the OT or the gospels regarding this time ….it was a secret kept hidden in God.

Everything that Christ stated and all prophecy of OT will take place (resume) once this age of grace is completed…..it is only held in abeyance for now.

A couple of ideas come to mind:

1. Peter James and John saw the glory of Christ at the transfiguration.
2. John again saw the glory of Christ as he was given the contents of the book of Revelation.
3. Paul, though not yet a believer or an apostle, saw the glory of Christ on the Damascus road. He also died and was taken to heaven and while in heaven he saw things he was not permitted to speak about. He subsequently was resuscitated and came back to this life.

Dear Going Nowhere,
You asked:
So my question is....do you think Jesus was referring to the Second Coming? If not, what do you think he was saying here?

Mark 9:1 And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.

Absolutely, yes. Christ was teaching that some people in His presence would still be alive at His "second coming". And they were.

I will explain that statement in detail. The second coming of Christ is a part of the "great mystery of Christ and His church" (Eph 5:32). That great mystery is the most hidden truth in scripture and has only been revealed to a "few".

Take a look at what the Book of Revelation says about the second coming:

Rev 1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for THE TIME IS AT HAND.

Rev 22:7 Behold, I COME QUICKLY: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

Rev 22:10 And he saith unto me, SEAL NOT the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for THE TIME IS AT HAND.

If the time for the second coming of Christ and the teachings of the Book of Revelation are still future, how can anyone, especially those who lived and died over the past 2000 years, ever hope to KEEP THE SAYINGS OF THE PROPHECY?

Was Christ mistaken when He said "I come quickly"? Two thousand years is not quickly.

The truth is the prophecies were fulfilled in the 1st century A.D. and have continued to be fulfilled over and over again since that time. For Christ's Elect of this age, Christ has already come or is presently coming or will come in the future.

Rev 1:4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne...

Rev 1:8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

The second coming of Christ to His Elect (First Fruits) will continue over and over again until the last chosen person has been saved and this age comes to an end.

The book of Revelation, along with ALL End-time prophecy teachings, are not teaching about outward coming world events as most people believe. They are teaching on the pathway to salvation. The events described in the Book of Revelation and End-time prophecy teachings are spiritual events, meaning that they happen "within" a person.

Luke 17:20-21 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

This scripture above is teaching on the second coming of Christ. It is a spiritual coming to His Elect, those who have been chosen from the foundation of the world. They are the only ones who Christ is saving in this present age. This age is only for the harvesting of the First Fruits of His harvest of mankind. The rest of mankind will have to wait for their salvation which will come at the end of the harvest season (end of the final age). They simply were not chosen to be "First Fruits" which are harvested early.

Here is another verse that speaks of the second coming of Christ:

Heb 9:28 So Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

The first time Christ appeared to mankind was when He was in the flesh. The second time He will appear to mankind will be when He is "spirit". Under the New Covenant, Christ comes without observation and He comes "within" us. The Old Covenant is physical but the New Covenant is spiritual. Physical human eyes will never see Christ again:

Acts 3:20-21 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.

The phrase "heaven must receive" is referring to the spiritual nature of Christ now that He has been resurrected. He will never visibly appear to this world again. At His "second coming", He "appears" spiritually within a chosen believer. This means that He will no longer be "veiled" from them. At this time, Christ will heal the chosen believer's spiritual blindness. In other words, He will give them "eyes that can see". Christ will be revealed through scripture. For those believers, they will find hidden "treasure".

Prov 2:1-5 My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.

Matthew chapter 24 is one of the great "end-time" teachings in scripture. Look at what Christ says about those events:

Mat 24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.

Notice how similar this verse is to the ones you quoted in you post.

Until a believer can "see" spiritually ("eyes that can see"), the book of Revelation and all End-time prophecies will remain a mystery. We must "keep the sayings" of the Book of Revelation and the End-time prophecies or salvation will pass us by in this age.

There is much more to the "great mystery of Christ and His church" than what I presented above. The core teaching of this great mystery involves the Early and Latter Rain of the Spirit. I can go into detail on this mystery if you have an interest.

Joe

I think it has to do with the revelation. Jesus wasn't giving them a clue about the timing of his return here- that isn't the main subject- like CS1 was saying, the context was that he was telling them about when they would follow him to the cross- that is the subject.
There's no proof; however, I highly doubt John was the only one to see the revelation. Think about it- why would John send it only to the 7 churches in Asia, unless the other churches were covered by another prophet. The revelation is too important to have only been revealed to them.

Mark 9:1


And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not ltaste death muntil they see the kingdom of God after it has come nwith power.”

As I read it, Jesus is refering to Himself being with them. When Jesus came to earth to preach His Gospel, the Kingdom of God "with power" came with Him. He IS GOD!

Interesting question. I think the reason it’s confusing is because of the way the verse is translated. In English it looks like an oversimplified statement. It adds a lot of details that seem to give the impression that it means something other than what it says.

This verse plainly says, “some of you won’t see the kingdom of God until you die.” Which isn’t a particularly revelatory statement; everyone already knew that anyway.

What’s actually being implied is that (1)one or more them won’t die at all or (2)that one or more of them won’t see the kingdom of God when they die. It turns out both possibilities have scriptural support.

1. Jesus suggests that Peter will never die, then Jesus seems to neither confirm or deny it when it this saying spreads among the brethren. John 20:21-23

2. Judas Iscariot did not see the kingdom of God when he died. It was better for him that he had never been born at all after what he did. Mark 14:21

That’s supposed to be John 21:21-23

This passage also raises a similar meaning to the one you cite. Only here it is expressly referring to the coming of the Lord. It is the Lord speaking to Peter, after the resurrection, about John and what the Lord said to Peter about His coming before the death of John.

Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them; the one who also had leaned back on His bosom at the supper and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?” So Peter seeing him said to Jesus, “Lord, and what about this man?” Jesus said to him, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!” John 21:20-22

John died in his bed in approximately 96 AD.

Just realized I made a mistake in this post. Point number two should be that Jesus suggested that John (the disciple whom Jesus loved) would never die.

"Therefore this saying went out among the brethren that that disciple would not die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but only, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you?” This is the disciple who is testifying to these things and wrote these things, and we know that his testimony is true. John 21:23-24

It may seem a small point to be accurate - but if we say something it must hold a true meaning else we are party to the very mistake that was reported in the churches at the time of John. Jesus didn't indicate that John would never die - some in the church did. John wrote this account so he corrected the error. What was true however, is that Jesus did tell Peter that John would not die until he returned or to use the Greek text:

εξηλθεν ουν ο λογος ουτος εις τους αδελφους οτι ο μαθητης εκεινος ουκ αποθνησκει και ουκ ειπεν αυτω ο ιησους οτι ουκ αποθνησκει αλλ εαν αυτον θελω μενειν εως ερχομαι τι προς σε ουτος εστιν ο μαθητης ο μαρτυρων περι τουτων και γραψας ταυτα και οιδαμεν οτι αληθης εστιν η μαρτυρια αυτου John 21:23-24

ἔρχομαι conjugated verb to come.

It matters because otherwise we are endlessly talking in circles. Even if we are free to do so.

“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.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭16:28‬ ‭

“And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elijah talking with him.

Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah .

While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭17:1-5‬ ‭KJV‬‬

three standing there did see him annointed in his heavenly kingdom.

“And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power. And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭9:1-2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

the power came at pentocost

“Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭17:21‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God.

And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray. And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭9:27-29‬ ‭KJV‬‬

one side note pertaining to the term generation which seems to suggest the same


“Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭24:34‬ ‭KJV‬‬

beginning of the Old Testament

“This is the book of the generation of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭5:1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

beginning of the New Testament

“The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭1:1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

A generation in Gods eyes is different from a generation of man A generation in Gods eyes is the length of a testament he has given and it lasts until the testament has been fulfilled the ot was a generation and the new is a generation

You said:
“Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭24:34‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭1:1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

A generation in Gods eyes is different from a generation of man A generation in Gods eyes is the length of a testament he has given and it lasts until the testament has been fulfilled the ot was a generation and the new is a generation

I mostly agree with your comment on Mat 24:34. However, the "generation" He is speaking of is His Elect, the First Fruits, who are going to be saved in the next age (church age). They are that "generation" who will not pass away until they see the second coming of Christ. The first to see the fulfillment were the ones in the upper room on the Day of Pentecost and the prophecy has been fulfilled in the lives of each chosen believer since that time.

I refer you to my post above for a more complete answer.

Joe

that’s a good theory i don t believe in a church age , and elect age and all that all have been made one now

the church is his elect whether they were Jew or gentile before whoever accepts Christ and the gospel is the elect of God and can become part of the one kingdom until the world ends upon his return jew or gentile whoever accepts Christ becomes his elect

“Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3:9-16‬ ‭KJV‬‬


But that’s just how I believe the church itself is the elect of God whoever identifies here

“For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭3:27-29‬ ‭

abrahams heirs are the elect the ones who come by the promise of Christ not his natural seed but those of faith

I believe near the end before he returns many Jews will convert to Christianity and be saved but that’s what will
Make them the elect like they rest of the church

just my opinion though not wanting to argue or anything