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NASB | Matthew 16:28 ¶ "Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom." |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Matthew 16:28 ¶ "I assure you and most solemnly say to you, there are some of those standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom." |
Bible Question:
BradK, Thanks for your response it was helpful. It seems from your quote of Spurgeon that he was possibly a partial preterist. However, I can't agree with the quote you used from The Bible Knowledge Commentary. I don't think Jesus could have been referring to the transfiguration because not enough time passed to make this prophecy, of some of the disciples not dying, relevant (six to eight days). I have a few more questions about this. Do you believe that Jesus could have been unsealing the previously sealed book of Daniel in Matt. 24:15 for that generation? If so, it would indicate that "this generation" was indeed living in the time of the end. Also, do you consider Matt. 24:32-34 and James 5:7-9 parallel passages? If the preterist is correct, Jesus was telling His 30AD audience that they would be able to recognize the signs of His coming when He, as Judge, would be standing "at the door". Then James tells his audience 20-30 years later that they should be patient because the coming of Christ was near and that the Judge was standing "at the door". A 70AD coming would certainly fit that scenario. Also, I have asked a few people to explain to me how the NT writers could be inspired by God to write to their audiences about the imminent coming of Christ (and they all did) if God didn't intend to send Christ back for thousands of years. Surely God could have used language like he used in Daniel and said that it wouldn't take place for long period of time. Thanks again for your time. |
Bible Answer: Hello Coper44, In my understanding, the major hurdle in Preterism is the (earlier)dating and time of Revelation. Dr. Gary Cohen in his work, "Understanding Revelation" notes, "That it was written by the apostle John (Rev.1:1, 4,9) at about A.D. 95-96 is firmly substantiated by the testimony of Irenaeus (ca. A.D. 170). The tradition of the Church Fathers uniformly confirms Irenaeus' words. The advocates of an earlier date, A.D. 68-70 (F.W. Farrar, Schaff, et. al.), do so claiming that the internal evidence better seems to fit Nero's time, which assertion is both highly subjective and questionable." Bible.org ansers the following question regarding Matt. 16:28: "Question: Do Mat. 16:28 and Mark 9:1 discredit the second coming of Christ and the millennial kingdom? Answer: I believe these passages do refer to the coming kingdom of which some of the disciples would get a preview in the transfiguration that immediately followed. But this does not negate the reality of a future millennial reign of Christ as it is clearly taught in Revelation 20. Revelation specifically speaks of a literal thousand-year reign of Christ on earth. Some, however, spiritualize this and many if not most of the books of Revelation. In other words, they take the Bible in a normal way until they come to prophecy, and then they spiritualize the prophetic passages to fit their bias. To answer your question, I’ll just include comments from some commentaries on these verses. 16:27-28 (Mark 9:1; Luke 9:26-27). As Jesus continued to instruct His disciples, He spoke prophetically of His second coming when He, the Son of Man, would return in His Father’s glory with His angels (cf. Matt. 24:30-31; 2 Thes. 1:7). As “the Son of . . . God” (Matt. 16:16) He possesses a divine nature, and as “the Son of Man” He possesses a human nature (cf. comments on 8:20). At that time the Lord will reward His servants for their faithfulness. Speaking of His return led Him to state that some disciples standing there with Him would be permitted to view His coming kingdom before they experienced death. This statement has caused many to misunderstand the kingdom program, for they wonder how the disciples saw the Lord coming in His kingdom. The explanation is found in the following event, the transfiguration (17:1-8). [Walvoord, John F., and Zuck, Roy B., The Bible Knowledge Commentary, (Wheaton, Illinois: Scripture Press Publications, Inc.) 1983, 1985.] 28. To stress the reality of his coming and kingdom as an incentive to men to follow him, even in suffering, Christ gave the promise of verse 28. This coming of the Son of man in his kingdom is explained by some as the destruction of Jerusalem and by others as the beginning of the Church. But referring it to the Transfiguration meets the requirements of the context (all Synoptists follow this statement with the Transfiguration, Mk 9:1; Lk 9:27). Furthermore, Peter, who was one of those standing here, referred to the Transfiguration in the same words (II Pet 1:16-18). Chafer calls the Transfiguration a “preview of the coming kingdom on earth” (L. S. Chafer, Systematic Theology, V, 85). 17:1-13. The Transfiguration. At this strategic moment in the ministry of Jesus, when he had evoked from Peter the true designation of himself (16:16), and had announced his coming death and resurrection, there was granted to three disciples this most remarkable experience. [Everett F. Harrison, The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, New Testament, (Chicago: Moody Press) 1962.]" Speaking the Truth in Love, BradK |