"Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."
- New International Version
How many of those standing there have still not tasted of death?
Regards,
The Kingdom is already here. It came at Pentecost. I know you don’t agree - let me explain.
The US invaded Iraq to defeat Saddam Hussein. One Day one, we controlled a little territory, after 3 months, a significant amount, and after 6 months, the whole country, but there were meanwhile still opposition. During this phase (what military type call pacification), the enemy did everything he could do to cause hurt, pain and suffering.....but at some point, the war is *over*.
We are in the “pacification” phase of the Kingdom of God. Jesus has won the victory, and the end is in sight, but meanwhile the enemy has his strongholds. Yes, they are very strong, and in most cases the enemy can gain back territory.
BUT - Jesus himself will come back and finish the battle here on earth in last days.
Just because we have not yet complete victory does not mean this is not the Kingdom.
Recall, Satan’s dominion is the earth. Jesus’s death and resurrection made it possible for a believe to go from being a subject of the dark forces to a subject of the Light of the world.
Scripture is perfect. Our understanding is not.
This is immediately suggested. "Christ’s coming," and "Christ’s coming in his kingdom," must be phrases used with a variety of meanings and with a variety of references. We begin to feel that it must be used as a proverbial phrase. Various explanations of our Lord’s meaning have been given. Examine three. I. CHRIST CAME IN HIS KINGDOM AT THE TRANSFIGURATION. This meaning is suggested by the fact that the narrative of the Transfiguration immediately succeeds, and the evangelist appears designedly to set them in close connection. That was a very sublime manifestation of his glory, but it is difficult to understand how it could be called a "coming of the kingdom." Moreover, there is no point in saying that some would be spared to the coming of the kingdom, when all were to be spared over the Transfiguration. That explanation cannot be regarded as satisfactory. II. CHRIST CAME IN HIS KINGDOM AT THE DAY OF PENTECOST. That is properly regarded as the actual starting of Christ’s new and spiritual kingdom. In part it may fulfil the reference of our Lord. But here again the difficulty occurs that the apostolic band was intact at the Day of Pentecost, with the exception of the traitor Judas, who had "gone to his own place." It is hardly possible to rest satisfied with this explanation. III. CHRIST CAME IN HIS KINGDOM AT THE FALL OF JERUSALEM. "This was a judicial coming, a signal and visible event, and one that would happen in the lifetime of some, but not of all, of those present." John certainly lived beyond this event. "In a sense which was real, though partial, the judgment which felt upon the Jewish Church, the destruction of the holy city and the temple, the onward march of the Church of Christ, was as the coming of the Son of man in his kingdom." This is altogether the most satisfactory suggestion; and we need only suppose that Christ was carried away in his thoughts beyond the present, and was helped in thinking of the sufferings that were immediately before him, by comforting visions of the success and glory which would follow his suffering and his sacrifice in the world’s by and by.—R.T.
--Pulpit commentary
Shall not taste death, till they see the Son of man. The reference is not to his final coming to judge the world, but to his spiritual coming to establish his kingdom. This was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost. Mark (Mar_9:1) shows the meaning by substituting, "Till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power." The "coming of the Son of man in his kingdom" means, therefore, the same as "the kingdom of God come with power." Compare Act_1:8, and Luk_24:49. The kingdom came with power on the day of Pentecost (Act_2:1).
--BW Johnson
What is it to you if He wants him to live until He returns?
“How many of those standing there [when Jesus spoke Matthew 16:28] have still not tasted of death?”
Matthew 17:1-2 (NKJV)
Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.
This is the very next verse (and the original text did not have chapters and verses). The author is clearly connecting these two events.
Peter later describes this very event this way:
2 Peter 1:16-18 (NKJV)
For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.
Further, other passages support the possibility that some who were present then will also be present at the end of this age. There are two witnesses who will prophesy for three-and-a-half years near the return of Christ. One of these appears to be Elijah, an Old Testament saint who did not die. We know at least one other—Enoch—who did not die. It is quite possible that some who were present when Christ spoke these words, and similar ones, did not die. For example, the record of John’s death is uncertain. And there were many in the early church, according to the scriptures, who thought John would not die. According to Tertullian, John escaped certain death after being thrown into a caldron of boiling oil. He said John was unharmed, and the onlooking crowds converted to Christianity because of this miracle.
Interestingly, John was told he would prophesy again in the passage in Revelation just before the two witnesses are introduced:
Revelation 10:11 (KJV)
And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.
(Some translations render this differently, possibly because there is no record of John prophesying after writing Revelation, which is the end of the biblical canon.)
Perhaps it can be looked at in the wording when Stephen was stoned “to death”...
Acts 7: 59While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.
Instead of saying he died, it states that Stephen fell asleep - IOW, he did not taste death.