If you have not read Stories Versus Truth, you may want to read that before reading this.

Jesus is Falsely Accused of False Prophecy

Mark 9 is not a false prophecy by Jesus.

Jesus said "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." Some have said that Jesus was just wrong, but let God be true and every man a liar.

The coming of Christ is not the same as the triumphant return of Christ.

Most of the misunderstanding of Jesus? statement is tied to some very speculative end-times theologies regarding what is termed, "the second coming of Christ." Jesus will return for sure. This is Scriptural. The word, "coming," often does not refer to the triumphant return of Christ, however. There is obviously another form of coming that is literally the abiding presence to which Greek words such as parousia and erchomai seem to refer. The Greek, parousia, literally means abiding presence, but has been theologically changed to mean "advent or returning."

Speculation never gets it right. We need to stay connected to the living Vine.

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Jesus' prediction that some would not see death before they saw Him coming in power and glory was fulfilled within a few days. This is recorded in three different places:

In Mark 9:1, Jesus says, "shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power." In the Mark 9 verse 2, Peter, James, and John say the Kingdom of God come with power.

Mark 9:1-7 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 taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth 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 thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah. For he wist 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.

In Matthew 16:28, Jesus said, "There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom." In Matthew 17:1, Peter, James, and John saw the Son of man coming in His Kingdom.

Matthew 16 ²⁸Verily 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.

They did see Him coming in His Kingdom.

Matthew 17:1-6 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah talking with him. Then answered Peter, and said to Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah. While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.

In Luke 9:27, Jesus said, "there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God." In Luke 9:28-31, Peter, John and James saw the Kingdom of God.

Luke 9:27-31 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 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 Elias: Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem. 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 thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah: not knowing what he said. While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud. And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.

Peter, in his second letter, described how he and the others had been eyewitnesses of the power and coming of Jesus.

Some theologians have confused the coming of Christ with His return. He will return, but His coming is also very real and available right now.

2 Peter 1:16-18 For we have not followed 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 there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.

This is an obvious reference to what Peter, John, and James witnessed on the mount of transfiguration: Luke 9:27-31, Matthew 17:1-6, and Mark 9:1-7

The answer is simply this: there is a difference between the coming of Christ, when it is used in this sense, and the return of Christ. Though theologians inadvertently created an equivocation by confusing the two comings, this is a reflection on the weakness of the human mind, not the reliability of the Bible.

The Bible stands.