by In 3 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
At one point in the JC recording, the "apostate" (I think his name is Rick) states that the Kingdom was established on Pentecost, based on Mark 9 where Jesus says "I tell you some standing here will not taste death until they see the Kingdom coming."
The elders say this was the transfiguration. Rick states Jesus didn't say it would be a vision; the transfiguration was a vision.
Can someone please elaborate on this idea with scriptures?
Thanks!
It says they would not see death until they saw his Kingom come with power. They were not told that they would see his glory in a vision (that DID come next). They would see the establishment of his Kingdom. This was shown to have happened on Pentacost. I am leaving my desk at the moment but do some research on it and I will give you an explanation from the Bible in detail tomorrow.
The verses immediately following that line in the 3 accounts give the context clue... They (the apostles) refer it to the transfiguration themselves. Words like "Accordingly", "in actual fact, ... after these words" are used to make the link.
Cheers
This is not without controversy. Some view this to mean that Christ was due to return within that generation (such as at 70 CE). Check the Greek Interlinear, using the word "Accordingly" to link the statement to the event may not be justified.
The statement by Jesus seems to suggest that some would be dead, but not all -- otherwise why say such a thing?
Paul also wrote at 1 Thess 4 (NIV):
13 Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. 14 We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage each other with these words.
