Rational Agnostic
Well-Known Member
Matthew 16:28 states: "Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."
Some Christians attempt to argue that this prophecy is fulfilled in Matthew 17, in the transfiguration story which states:
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.
4 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”
5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”
6 When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” 8 When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.
9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”
The problem with this is that the story clearly has nothing to do with Matthew 16:28, which states:
"Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man COMING in his kingdom."
The word COMING implies a return after a departure. Yet there is no return, and hence no "coming" alluded to anywhere in the transfiguration story. Jesus was already with the disciples and simply changed form, according to the verses, therefore he could not be "coming" from anywhere. It is strange to me that apologists even attempt to make Matthew 16:28 about the transfiguration, when clearly, it is a false prophecy about the return of Jesus.
Some Christians attempt to argue that this prophecy is fulfilled in Matthew 17, in the transfiguration story which states:
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.
4 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”
5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”
6 When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” 8 When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.
9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”
The problem with this is that the story clearly has nothing to do with Matthew 16:28, which states:
"Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man COMING in his kingdom."
The word COMING implies a return after a departure. Yet there is no return, and hence no "coming" alluded to anywhere in the transfiguration story. Jesus was already with the disciples and simply changed form, according to the verses, therefore he could not be "coming" from anywhere. It is strange to me that apologists even attempt to make Matthew 16:28 about the transfiguration, when clearly, it is a false prophecy about the return of Jesus.