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Conversation #031
The Kingdom
Dear Truth Seeker
You wrote:-
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I have a few questions; Jesus told his disciples that some would not see death until His kingdom had come. What does that mean?
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My understanding of those events follows:
Matthew 16:28; 17:1-3
Verily I say to you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in His kingdom. And after six days Jesus takes Peter, James, and John his brother, and brings them up into an high mountain apart, and was transfigured before them: and His face shone as the sun, and His raiment was white as the light.
And, behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah talking with Him.
Jesus was clothed with the light of heaven on that mountain, as He will appear when He shall come "the second time without sin to salvation." Hebrews 9:28. For He will come "in the glory of His Father with the holy angels." Mark 8:38. In this way, the Saviour's promise to the disciples was fulfilled. Upon the mount the future kingdom of glory was represented in miniature - Christ the King, Moses a representative of the risen saints, and Elijah of the translated ones.
So, just as John the Baptist was an Elijah in picture, those three represented the kingdom of glory and the disciples saw the kingdom before they died.
Another version of the same experience gives us some more detail.
Mark 9:1-8
And He said to them, Verily I say to 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 takes with Him Peter, and James, and John, and leads them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and He was transfigured before them. And His raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.
And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.
And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for you, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah. For he wist [knew] not what to say; for they were sore afraid. And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son: hear Him." And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves.
Much later, Luke put this story together for us, adding another reason for the meeting.
Luke 9:27-33
[Jesus said] 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 [a figure of speech for a holy period] 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.
And, behold, there talked with Him two men, which were Moses and Elijah: who appeared in glory, and SPOKE OF HIS DECEASE [death at Calvary] which He should accomplish at Jerusalem [sympathising with Him].
But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw His glory, and the two men that stood with Him. And it came to pass, as they departed from Him, Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah:" not knowing what he said.
So these three witnesses tell us that the words of Jesus came true soon after He spoke them.
I'll be back later with the other queries.
Bye,
Ron
oooOooo
To the reader,
If there is anything not clear to you as you read my answer, please feel free to mail me and ask about it. I promise not to send you anything but a direct answer to your question. I won't argue about it, just share with you what I have seen.
I won't ask you to join a new church or offshoot either!
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