Thank you for the question on Matthew 16:27–28, “How come Christians preach the Bible but do not believe what Jesus himself says in Matthew 16:27-28 that He will be back before the generation he is preaching to dies out? He did not return and they are all dead, don’t you agree?”
As I read Matthew 16:27–28, I am not certain if you cited the correct passage regard Jesus’ statement that he will return before the the generation that he was speaking to.
Matthew 16:24–28 says this, “Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life[f] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done. 28 “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.” (A searchable online Bible in over 150 versions and 50 languages). Bible citations are in the New International Version.
As I read this passage, Jesus declares that he will return in his Father’s glory with his angels and reward each person according to what each person has done.
Here are some thoughts for your consideration:
- Jesus does not that THIS GENERATION will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.
- Jesus does say that SOME who are standing here will see the Son of Man coming in his glory.
- Jesus fulfills this declaration in the transfiguration of Jesus in his glory with Peter, James, and John. Matthew 17 says this, “After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus” (NIV).
The answer or question is this: Did the transfiguration of Jesus with three of his disciples with Moses and Elijah being present on the top of the mountain fulfilled the statement of Jesus? The reader has to decide whether this was fulfilled or not. In my opinion, this was fulfilled. The fullness of that kingdom is yet to come.
As one reads Matthew 24, Jesus states that no one knows the day or time of the coming of the Son of Man. “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man” (NIV). Again in Acts, Jesus says this, “Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (NIV).
Jesus states that the Father has set the times or dates by his own authority for his return. Neither Jesus nor the angels know the times or dates of the return of the Messiah. It appears that the coming of Jesus will not happen until the Gospel is preached to the ends of the earth. In the lifetime of the apostles, the Gospel was not preached to the whole world. Today, that is within the realm of possibility with our modern technology. Can Jesus return in our generation? It is more likely than ever before. If Christians fail to proclaim the Gospel, can it be that the return of Jesus will be ever further delay for God desires that the all the people group to hear the salvation message of Jesus. The return of Jesus will mean the Great Tribulation on earth which will be horrific time of judgments for the sins of the world.
SUMMARY: The transfiguration of Jesus with Peter, James, and John, Moses, and Elijah is the fulfillment of Jesus’ statement.
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