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. 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, (Matthew 16:27, 28).
Jesus promised to come in his kingdom before some who stood in his presence died. That means he promised to come in the lifetime of those living in his day. The phrase, “some standing here,” emphatically declares that the kingdom of God would arrive before those disciples died.
This interpretation raises problems for futurists and Rapture Ready dispensationalists. Here are some difficulties they must resolve:
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How a Rapture aligns with an imminent return of Christ.
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Why Jesus said nothing of the postponement of the kingdom
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How to maintain the integrity of Christ in the light of the death of these first century disciples.
When does Jesus Come in His Kingdom?
This hotly debated subject need not be difficult. Obviously it is a question of time. How does a the Rapture doctrine fit in an imminent first century time frame? This is a question dispensationalists do not forthrightly answer. Jesus’ words are clear. The king would come before some standing in his presence died. In fact, all the New Testament writers taught the kingdom would come in their generation.
Dispensationalist argue that because of Jewish unbelief and the rejection of Jesus as the Messiah, God change his mind on the time of the kingdom’s arrival.
In other words, these guys acknowledge that when Jesus announced the kingdom as being at hand, it was in fact at hand per Mark 1:14, 15. But, according to them, something unexpected happened. The Jews rejected Jesus. This according to the Rapture Ready proponents skewed God’s plan.
They argue that prophecy went afoul, Jesus failed his mission to establish the kingdom, the church was offered as a substitute. However, a quick survey of key prophecies exposes the this attempt to sidestep the word of God. Was Jesus’ death an accident? Not according to Isaiah 53. God promised it. Therefore had Jesus not died, God’s plan fails. Hence Jesus affirmed his death in Jerusalem was according to written plan, (Luke 18:31).
Further, the notion that man’s unbelief can alter the fulfillment of prophecy finds no validity in scripture. “For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect? Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. As it is written: “That you may be justified in Your words, and may overcome when You are judged.” (Rom. 3:3, 4)
Why The Claim of a Postponement of the Kingdom
Dispensationalist backed themselves into the proverbial corner by arguing for a kingdom made with man’s hands. They want a kingdom of this world. They hope for Jesus to return to earth and sit upon a literal throne in the city of Jerusalem. They want at hybrid kingdom, partly like all the nations round about, but with a heavenly touch. Jesus categorically rejected an earthly kingdom. The Jews forcefully attempted to crown him an earthly king which the Lord refused.
Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone. (John 6:15)
Earlier, in his ministry, Jesus routed Satan on his offer to be made king over all the kingdoms of the world. Likewise, he knew the history of a “king on earth.”
According to 1 Samuel 8:5–7, Israel’s desire for a king on earth was paramount to a blatant rejection of God’s reign over them. Hosea argued that God gave Israel an earthly king in his anger and took him away in his wrath, (Hosea 13:11). Why then would Jesus seek to anger God by proclaiming himself an earthly king? Yet, this is the heart and soul of the dispensational doctrine!
Finally, to argue that Jesus did not return in his kingdom before some standing in his presence died means that God’s word cannot be trusted. Scholars and skeptics, Christians, Muslims and Jews raise the claim of integrity against the scriptures all based upon Jesus’ promise to return in the first century.
They believe he failed because according to them, the world did not end. They are mistaken. The world prophesied to end did in fact end. The apostles claimed the end of the ages had come upon them, (1 Cor. 10:11). Jesus predicted, not the end of the planet, but the end of the Jewish age.
That age ending event occurred when Rome destroyed the city, bringing an end to 1500 years of covenantal history in the destruction of the priesthood, temple and city in A.D. 70. That is also the time Jesus came in his kingdom.
What a foolish thing, Jesus’s Kingdom is in Heaven, did the people during His time not see Him enter His Kingdom when He assended into Heaven? He said “my Kingdom is not of this world”
Nobody knows the time or day when the Lord will come to judge. So when someone says “it’s on this day” or “it’s not going to happen” you can bet your life that there is no light in them.
Behold, the wolves in sheep’s clothing, the watchers of the walls. They will try and steal your cloak. Retreat to the fortress and let God do battle with them!
First, you are correct in saying that Jesus’ “kingdom
is not of this world,” John 18:36. However, being “not
of the world” does not mean something or someone
cannot be “in the world.”
Jesus was not “of the world” but he was “in the world.
To the Jews he said:
“And He said to them, You are from beneath; I am from
above. You are of this world; I am not of this world,”
(John 8:23) So it is possible to be “in the world” but
not “of the world.”
Further, how could the kingdoms of the world, become
the kingdoms of the Lord if his kingdom were not in the
world?
Secondly, Jesus went to receive a kingdom and to return:
“A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for
himself a kingdom and to return…Luke 19:12-27). Thus, the
ascension only addresses “going to receive the kingdom, but
not the return.”
Once again, Jesus said, some who stood with him in the
first century would not die, until they saw him COMING in
his kingdom. Do you affirm that any 1st century disciples
are yet alive on earth today?
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.
“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. (Mt. 16:27, 28) Compare Mark
9:1; Lk. 9:26, 27; 2 Tim. 4:1.
Thirdly, John said he was “in the kingdom” (Rev. 1:9) John
was on earth, not in heaven. See where the family of God
is in heaven and on earth, (Eph. 1:10).
Fourthly, As Daniel prophesied, the time would come for the
“saints” on earth to possessed the kingdom,
(Dan 7:22; Lk. 12:32. Paul records that they were in fact
receiving the kingdom in the first century.
“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot
be shaken, let us have grace…” The word receiving, from
the Greek “paralambanontes” is a present tense participle
describing action going on at that present time.
Fifthly, again you are correct in saying “no one knew the
day or the hour” of Christ’s return in judgment. (Mt. 24:36).
However, you may notice that we did not affirm knowledge
of the “day and hour. ”
What Christ taught was that he knew the “generation” in
which his coming would occur. “Assuredly, I say to you,
this generation will by no means pass away till all these
things take place.” (Mt. 24:34)
In Luke’s account of the Olivet discourse, he adds that
when they saw all the signs, they would know that the
kingdom of God had drawn near, (Lk. 21:28).
Luke also records Jesus’ emphatic statement concerning that
generation. Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no
means pass away till all things take place, (Lk. 21:32).
He came during the same 1st century generation that he gave
the sign of the prophet Jonah, (Mt. 12:39-40).
If someone told you they are coming to visit you next year
(2009), that’s a general time. Could you by that information
alone, know the “day and hour” the visit will take place? No,
because they haven’t revealed that information.
In like manner, Jesus gave the generation, saying it would be
in the lifetime of those first century hearers, but he did not
reveal the “day and the hour.”
In light of this, what you have written expresses assumptions,
fears and a lack of scriptural documentation to support your
claims.
Great response to get readers to use the internal evidence of scripture to support claims and beliefs. Unless there is a decision made to engage open dialogue and opportunities for new learning, beliefs will not change and growth is stagnant.
Was the promise for a Physical return or spiritual return. For example John was taken in spirit , saw and wrote about the return of Christ (See book of Revelations). I don't know if Jesus reveled this to any others of the diciples.
Didaskalos
Jesus return was spiritual. The Book of Revelation, i.e. the "Apocalupsis" or "unveiling" of Christ is the "Revelation" sent to all the churches to describe the nature and events associated with that spiritual coming. The events are also described largely in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21.
Just as though scientists can’t accept the idea of infinity and believe everything must have a beginning and an end so it seems that religious scholars can’t believe there is no limit to what God can do.